New Associate Chief Medical Officer Leads Effort to Reduce Lengthy Hospital Stays and Improve Patient Satisfaction

Updated on August 10, 2024

myLaurel, a leading healthcare provider of home-based acute care for high-complexity and frail patients, announced the appointment of Clay Watson, M.D., as Associate Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Watson is double board-certified in infectious disease and internal medicine. 

In his new role, Dr. Watson will lead the clinical direction for myLaurel’s interdisciplinary care teams, ensuring the delivery of high-quality care for elderly patients with frail and medically complex chronic conditions. He will also oversee efforts to prevent readmissions and reduce hospital utilization for high-risk populations through the company’s service offerings — Acute Care at Home™, Recovery at Home™, and Rapid Advanced Care™. Additionally, Dr. Watson is responsible for enhancing efficiency and expanding clinical capabilities by using data, clinical review, and quality metrics.

“MyLaurel is committed to being the premier solution partner for hospitals and health systems, insurers, and risk-taking entities such as ACOs and provider groups,” said Juan Vallarino, CEO of myLaurel.  “Dr. Watson’s expertise perfectly aligns with our mission to deliver exceptional care to high-complexity and frail patients.” 

Prior to joining myLaurel, Dr. Watson served as a Medical Director and a Chief Medical Officer at Optum, part of the UnitedHealth Group family of businesses, where he successfully oversaw national operations and led transformative initiatives in care management and clinical efficiency.

“I am dedicated to enhancing the quality of care myLaurel provides,” Dr. Watson stated. “I’m excited to be part of a team solving leading industry challenges, and I look forward to driving clinical excellence at myLaurel to help improve the overall healthcare system.” 

Dr. Watson earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology and Neuroanatomy from Colorado State University and his Doctor of Medicine from New York Medical College.

About myLaurel 

Headquartered in New York, NY, myLaurel is a pioneering healthcare company dedicated to elevating patient experiences and fostering significant cost efficiencies for hospitals, health systems, ACOs, and payers along the eastern and southern coasts of the U.S. myLaurel partners with payers, health systems and providers and puts their fees at risk. myLaurel offers its unique care model to more than 100,000 covered lives. Specializing in tailored home-based care solutions, the company focuses on enhancing health outcomes for patients with frailty and complex conditions. For further details about myLaurel, please visit www.mylaurelhealth.com.

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