As the healthcare landscape shifts toward more value-based, person-centered care models, one organization stands out for its unique approach to serious illness care management—VyncaCare. Operating in five Western states, VyncaCare is redefining how supportive and serious illness care is delivered by combining technology with compassionate, physician-led care that spans virtual and in-home settings.
In a recent fireside chat at the Continuum conference, VyncaCare CEO Darren Schulte shared deep insights into the company’s evolving model, its roots in advanced care planning, and the opportunities ahead to reshape the experience of care for both patients and providers.
A Mission-Driven Model for Fragmented Populations
Most healthcare professionals in traditional home health, hospice, and senior living settings are all too familiar with the consequences of fragmented care: missed goals, avoidable hospitalizations, and underserved rural communities. VyncaCare is tackling this fragmentation head-on by offering a five-pillar approach to serious illness care management:
- Clinical Care
- Behavioral Health
- Social Support
- Care Coordination
- Advanced Care Planning
This integrated model supports both adults and children and is structured to engage patients who may not meet criteria for hospice but are clearly vulnerable—those navigating chronic conditions, multiple comorbidities, and frequent transitions between settings.
What makes this approach especially compelling is its hybrid format: care is delivered both virtually and in-person, ensuring flexibility, continuity, and meaningful engagement across various touchpoints.
From Software to Clinical Delivery: The Evolution of VyncaCare
Interestingly, VyncaCare didn’t start as a care delivery company. Founded in 2013 as a health tech firm, the company initially focused on developing tools for advanced care planning. Its software is still used today by over two dozen health systems, enabling clinicians and patients to complete and share crucial documents—like advance directives and POLST forms—seamlessly through electronic health records.
But the transition into serious illness care management came in 2021, when VyncaCare acquired ResolutionCare, a virtual palliative care practice in Northern California. With that acquisition came a bold pivot: expanding from palliative-only services into supportive, longitudinal care that blends high-touch human connection with technology-enabled efficiency.
This expansion laid the groundwork for what VyncaCare is today—a fully integrated clinical practice that meets patients wherever they are.
A New Lens on Medicaid and Underserved Populations
With more than half of VyncaCare’s patient population covered under Medicaid, the organization is proving that it’s possible to deliver high-quality serious illness care management in a financially sustainable way. Darren Schulte’s prior experience at Centene—one of the nation’s largest Medicaid managed care organizations—helped shape this vision.
During his tenure at Centene, Darren observed a common pain point: vendors and providers were each addressing pieces of the puzzle, but no one was bringing together the full continuum of care. That insight fueled his transition to VyncaCare, where he saw an opportunity to build a model that addressed medical, behavioral, and social needs in an integrated, data-driven way.
“Technology only works if you also control the care delivery,” Schulte noted. “You can’t just build software that says someone is high-risk. You need to go into the home, see how they’re living, and act on that insight.”
Technology-Enabled, Not Technology-Dependent
At its core, VyncaCare is a clinical organization—but one that understands the power of data and artificial intelligence to guide decision-making and improve outcomes. From Darren’s earlier work with Apixio (a company using AI to analyze unstructured clinical notes) to the predictive models now being developed at VyncaCare, there’s a deep belief in using technology not to replace care—but to inform, optimize, and personalize it.
This philosophy is particularly relevant in serious illness care management, where proactive, timely interventions can reduce unnecessary hospitalizations and elevate the patient experience. For example, identifying when a patient is trending toward decompensation—before a crisis hits—allows the care team to adjust medications, involve a social worker, or initiate end-of-life discussions as appropriate.
Creating a Better Experience for Providers
One often-overlooked dimension of serious illness care management is the experience of the care team itself. VyncaCare has made it a priority to reduce administrative burden and burnout by giving providers the tools and support they need to do meaningful work—not just documentation.
By streamlining workflows and building a culture of purpose-driven care, the organization is attracting top-tier clinicians and retaining them—a critical differentiator in a market where burnout rates are high.
“Providers don’t want to fight with outdated EMRs or get bogged down in billing tasks,” Schulte said. “They want to help people. We’re building systems that make that possible.”
Looking Ahead: Scaling with Purpose
As VyncaCare continues to grow, its focus remains on thoughtful expansion and operational excellence. The team is working to bring more technology leaders into the fold, optimize hybrid care delivery, and solidify partnerships with payers and providers alike.
The company’s goal is not just to be another vendor in the ecosystem, but a true clinical partner in serious illness care management—especially for those often left behind by traditional systems.
“We’re just getting started,” said Schulte. “There’s a huge opportunity to improve the lives of people with serious illness. We have the right foundation, and now we’re scaling it with purpose.”
Final Thoughts
VyncaCare is charting a new course in serious illness care management—one that blends human connection with data-driven precision. By embedding advanced care planning into the care continuum, embracing a hybrid delivery model, and keeping providers at the center, they’re proving that better care is possible.
As the healthcare industry continues to shift toward value, integration, and equity, VyncaCare offers a powerful example of what the future of serious illness care management can look like: smarter, more compassionate, and fundamentally patient-centered.
