For the 1 in 6 individuals facing fertility challenges, navigating the path to appropriate care often means confronting long wait times, information overload, and fragmented healthcare systems. Virtual care platform Frame is addressing these barriers through a new strategic collaboration with laboratory services leader Labcorp.
The partnership, announced today, combines Frame’s virtual care and coordination with Labcorp’s comprehensive fertility testing services, creating a streamlined pathway for patients exploring their fertility options.
“The fertility care journey can be complex and overwhelming, particularly in its early stages,” explains Jessica van der Wal, co-founder and CEO of Frame. “Our approach integrates reliable diagnostic testing with clinical guidance to reduce barriers, address patient anxiety, and enhance accessibility across the fertility care continuum.”
A Collaborative Approach to Fragmented Care
Frame positions itself as a bridge between patients and various providers in the reproductive health ecosystem, connecting OB/GYNs and primary care physicians as well as fertility specialists.
“We maintain collaborative relationships with in-person care providers rather than operating independently,” van der Wal explains. “The typical OB/GYN has 10-15 minutes allocated for patient interactions given reimbursement challenges, which is insufficient to address the complexity of fertility-related questions many patients have.”
Through the Labcorp partnership, patients can now also access comprehensive fertility testing – including hormone panels, semen analysis, and genetic carrier screening – with results virtually reviewed by a Frame provider who guides next steps.
Van der Wal’s vision emerged from her own fertility challenges: “After navigating a particularly difficult fertility journey myself, I built on my professional experience in healthcare to transition into fertility with the professional objective of developing solutions for patients experiencing similar challenges.”
Streamlining the Patient Journey
For patients, the process typically begins with a referral from their in-person provider. “We’re integrated directly into the provider’s electronic medical record system, allowing for seamless patient referrals with a single action,” van der Wal notes.
Once referred, Frame’s team can provide truly personalized care through this integration. Patients interact with Frame through a consumer-friendly app that provides education, asynchronous messaging with providers, and care coordination. “We extend the in-person care but with a comprehensive focus on understanding fertility factors,” explains van der Wal. “This includes facilitating appropriate laboratory testing, providing evidence-based education, and offering after hours messaging support – essentially continuing the care that was initiated by their physician but with specialized fertility expertise.”
The Labcorp collaboration addresses a critical gap in the process: “Many patients encounter significant wait times when seeking specialist appointments, often extending to several weeks or months,” van der Wal explains. “Our testing bundle enables patients to concurrently complete comprehensive laboratory assessments, receive clinical interpretation of their results, and benefit from coordinated care planning for their next steps.”
This approach particularly benefits fertility specialists. As Dr. Debbra Keegan, Medical Director of CCRM Fertility’s East Coast region, explains: “When patients come in already educated about fertility health and with testing in hand, it’s invaluable. It allows us to personalize their plan more quickly.”
Beyond testing, Frame provides comprehensive support, including care coordination and emotional guidance through care coordinators and board-certified fertility coaches. “We also provide comprehensive information about regional care options, how to manage the stress of it all and financial considerations,” says van der Wal.
Partnerships for Impact
Frame’s model, which supports more than 5,000 in-person care providers across the U.S., reduces the time to fertility treatment by at least one month while cutting administrative burden on clinic staff by over 50%, according to the company.
“Our central objective is ensuring patients receive the right care at the right time in their fertility journey,” van der Wal emphasizes. “We focus on facilitating connections to in-person healthcare providers while maintaining consistency throughout the care continuum.”
“By combining our leading diagnostic and genetic testing capabilities with Frame’s innovative care model, we aim to help more individuals and couples access the information and services they need to achieve their family-building goals,” adds Michael Minahan, senior vice president and general manager, Women’s Health and Genetics at Labcorp.
With increasing demand for fertility services and continued strain on specialist availability, collaborations that streamline the diagnostic process and enhance care coordination represent an important development in addressing long-standing challenges in reproductive healthcare.
