PHOENIX, AZ, January 23, 2026 – Istios Health today announced the expansion of its virtual infectious disease support partnership with UP Health System to include UP Health System – Portage and UP Health System – Bell. This development follows more than five years of collaboration with UP Health System – Marquette, where Istios Health’s network of affiliated infectious disease specialists has delivered virtual coverage that supports improved patient care and outcomes to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Under the expanded collaboration, Istios Health will continue to support virtual infectious disease consultation and clinician collaboration across the UP-Health System. At UP Health System – Marquette, the expanded scope includes broader inpatient coverage and outpatient infectious disease services. At UP Health System – Portage and UP Health System – Bell, services will focus on peer-to-peer collaboration and consultative support for emergency department physicians and local care teams, helping manage patients on site when appropriate and reducing the need for unnecessary transfers to higher-acuity facilities.
“Istios Health was founded to make high-quality specialty expertise accessible to clinicians and patients regardless of geography,” said Nikos Nikolopoulos, co-founder and CEO of Istios Health. “Our long relationship with UP Health System – Marquette is a strong example of what can be achieved when remote specialists collaborate closely with hospital teams. Expanding this support to Portage and Bell hospitals reinforces our shared commitment to strengthening infection management and antimicrobial stewardship across the Upper Peninsula.”
Istios Health’s model delivers expert infectious disease guidance where it is needed most, helping hospital clinicians manage highly complex and potentially life-threatening infections. Through our integrated private practice partnership model, affiliated physicians provide timely consultations that support optimal antimicrobial selection and foster team-based decision-making across care settings.
“We are proud of our partnership and our ability to drive improved patient care and clinical outcomes, and of the impact it has had on delivering timely access to specialty expertise, strengthening clinical teamwork with UP Health care teams, and supporting operational excellence,” said Dr. Madhu Murthy, co-founder and Chief Physician Officer of Istios Health.
About Istios Health
Istios Health is a national, physician-led specialty network that strengthens specialty care delivery and expands access to clinical research where patients are treated every day. The company partners with independent specialists, healthcare facilities, and life sciences organizations to connect and scale clinical expertise, real-world evidence, telehealth, and research infrastructure in an integrated model. By unifying independent practices into a technology-enabled network, Istios Health helps hospitals maintain reliable specialty coverage, supports physicians in sustaining and growing independent practice, and enables clinical research to operate seamlessly alongside patient care.
About UP Health System
UP Health System serves Michigan’s Upper Peninsula by combining community hospitals and specialty care services to deliver high-quality healthcare. The system includes UP Health System – Bell, UP Health System – Portage, and UP Health System – Marquette, and focuses on comprehensive care across a broad range of medical specialties. UP Health System is part of Lifepoint Health, a leading healthcare company that operates more than 60 community hospital campuses across the United States. UP Health System – Marquette operates as part of Duke LifePoint Healthcare, a joint venture between Lifepoint Health and Duke University Health System that combines community-based care with academic clinical leadership.