Millions of elderly people with advanced illnesses receive uncoordinated care and die in institutions away from the comfort of home. In contrast, Prospero Health delivers loving, team-based medical care in the home to people living with serious, complex health conditions – helping them flourish in their later years through the coordination and provision of medical, social, and spiritual support. This model helps avoid costly hospital visits and other medical expenses for both patients and payors. Created in 2019, Prospero was purchased by Optum in 2022 and integrated with Landmark Health.
After over a decade in nursing, Supreeti joined Prospero in 2020 as one of its very first team members in the Illinois market. “The model was so innovative and holistic,” she says. “We cared for patients and their families for their whole journey, which included a lot of education, hand-holding, and support.” Her role involved not only clinical care for patients, but also collaborating with team members in social work and behavioral health, who could bring in mental health or even spiritual resources. As a result, Supreeti says, “working with Prospero was personally very profound and fulfilling.”
A seasoned veteran of the healthcare industry, Doug began his career as an attorney, initially following in the footsteps of his father, who as a lawyer was a passionate champion of the underdog. Eventually, his father was diagnosed with lymphoma and was taken to the ER over a dozen times with complications from the disease. “It’s a terrible way to treat a condition that could have been treated so much more proactively while keeping him comfortable at home,” says Doug. Motivated by this experience, Doug co-founded Prospero with Triple Aim. “The man who took care of me deserves better than this,” he says.
Theresa’s 20-year career as an internist and palliative medicine physician has spanned academics, startups and large health systems, both providing direct home-based patient care and leading teams at the national level. Empowering interdisciplinary teams to partner with the community and serve patients and caregivers to address their physical, emotional and social health needs is her passion, and she joined Prospero in 2021 to continue this work for vulnerable older adults. “I was instantly drawn to Prospero’s mission that aligned so closely to my values as a clinician,” Theresa shares.
