U.S.-based healthcare firm Worldwide Resource Solutions (WWRS) has opened its first 24/7 virtual healthcare operations site outside the United States, located at the GBF Center in Bridgetowne, Quezon City.
A subsidiary of staffing giants Medical Solutions and Worldwide HealthStaff Solutions Ltd., WWRS is rolling out remote patient sitting and virtual nursing services from the Philippines in response to persistent labor shortages in U.S. hospitals, marking a significant move in cross-border healthcare delivery.
“Virtual sitting is already being done in the U.S. What’s never been done before is delivering that service using staff halfway around the world,” said Ron Hoppe, president of WWRS and CEO of Worldwide HealthStaff Solutions.
The new site will initially deploy 20 full-time virtual sitters, consisting of non-licensed healthcare professionals with at least two years of clinical experience, who are tasked with monitoring up to 15 patients each via live video feeds. The sitters are trained to identify risky behaviors and alert bedside teams in real time, providing an extra layer of patient safety.
Patti Artley, chief clinical officer of Medical Solutions, said the sitters act as remote extensions of hospital care teams.
“They might notice a patient trying to get out of bed or showing confusion. The sitter can verbally redirect them and call the staff if needed,” she explained,” said Artley.
WWRS’s Bridgetowne facility is equipped with fail-safe tech systems and is nearing ISO security certification, which the company expects to secure this July. All monitoring will take place onsite to ensure quality control and data protection.
The initiative also opens doors for Filipino healthcare workers. Many new hires are recent nursing graduates preparing for licensure.
“It gives them experience in a U.S. healthcare setting without leaving the country,” added Artley.
Founded in May 2024, WWRS now employs over 600 staff across two Metro Manila sites. It expects to surpass 100 virtual care personnel as demand grows, with future services to include ICU monitoring, discharge planning, and chronic disease management handled by U.S.-licensed Filipino nurses.
“This is the first time anyone’s done this. It could be the foundation of a new global standard in virtual care,” Hoppe stated.