Qure4u’s RPM solution is part of its MyCarePlan patient engagement and virtual care platform to manage comprehensive health. AT&T Professional Services is handling the set-up, delivery and management of the Qure4u ready-to-use RPM kits. The kits include a Bluetooth-enabled blood pressure cuff and the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite with mobile device management solution for enhanced security. The tablets transmit vitals from hypertension patients to their healthcare providers using the Qure4u platform, enabling care teams to closely monitor the patients. Hypertension can lead to two of the biggest killers in the U.S. – heart disease and stroke. Qure4u plans to include additional peripherals in the RPM kits as the program quickly grows.

For patients, Qure4u’s RPM solution means easy access to improved healthcare with the peace of mind that comes from daily assurances and support. For healthcare providers, the benefits include ready access to patient data and the ability to act on it in near-real time; increased staffing efficiencies; better management of chronic conditions; and reimbursement.

Why is this important? As the healthcare industry works to lower costs and produce better patient outcomes, it’s turning to technology and innovation like RPM. Reliable, highly secure connectivity is a must for doctors to access actionable patient health data which may help avoid preventable emergencies and manage chronic illnesses. That’s what FirstNet, Built with AT&T, delivers. FirstNet is the only nationwide, high-speed broadband communications platform dedicated to and purpose-built for America’s first responders and the extended public safety community. It’s Built with AT&T in a public-private partnership with the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) – an independent agency within the federal government.

Qure4u joins FirstNet as an extended primary user – organizations and agencies that could be called on to help support public safety during emergency response. Extended primary users include healthcare, public works, essential government services, school security, transportation, and utilities. The work they are called on to perform ranges from mitigation, remediation, clean-up, and restoration to the provisioning of other services required during the time of an emergency or its aftermath. Eligibility for extended primary user status is rigorously reviewed before service is approved, to help ensure that FirstNet’s unique capabilities remain dedicated to first responders and those who support them.

What are people saying? 
“More doctors are embracing remote patient monitoring, because they’re realizing the many benefits. For patients, it’s about peace of mind and daily assurance and better quality of care. For doctors, it’s ease of access to patient data, the ability to act in near real-time, better efficiencies, and reimbursement. And at the core of this vital service is what AT&T is all about: creating reliable and highly secure connectivity. We keep the lines of communication open so healthcare professionals can communicate where and when it matters. We enable healthcare through connectivity.” – Joe Drygas, VP of AT&T Healthcare Industry Solutions

“Secure, reliable connectivity is paramount to help ensure at-risk patients receive the high level of care they need. A quarter of the healthcare organizations Qure4u supports today are Federally Qualified Health Centers, community health centers, and critical access hospitals caring for rural patient populations. It’s vital that our platform can reach all of those patients, regardless of geographic, socioeconomic, or technological barriers. We can provide ubiquitous healthcare connectivity with FirstNet and AT&T, device partnerships with vendors committed to the field like Samsung, and lifecycle management for everything from kitting to order fulfillment. We are excited to collaborate on this mission to bring greater health equity to rural communities.” – Bradley Dick, Chief Information & Security Officer, Qure4u

“Remote patient monitoring has the potential to transform the patient experience, improve health outcomes and save patients and providers money. Together with AT&T and Qure4U, we’ll be able to help high-risk patients in underserved, rural communities safely and securely monitor their health, empowering their doctors to make more informed decisions based on patient data.” – Dr. Hon Pak, Chief Medical Officer of Samsung Electronics America

About AT&T Communications
We help family, friends and neighbors connect in meaningful ways every day. From the first phone call 140+ years ago to mobile video streaming, we @ATT innovate to improve lives. AT&T Communications is part of AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T). For more information, please visit us at att.com.

About Qure4u 
Qure4u’s complete digital health platform, with contactless “digital front door” solutions, offers patients and providers a scalable, EHR-embedded ecosystem to support the entire patient journey. Remote check-in, Virtual Waiting Room™, Digital Health Key™, Qure4u DriveUp™, data sharing, telehealth, pre- and post-procedure prep, remote patient monitoring, secure communication, and care plan features close the gap for patients and providers between office visits. By enabling patients with self-service tools to manage their health from anywhere, Qure4u drives practice efficiency and enhances clinical insight. The company’s solutions improve patient engagement, outcomes, and satisfaction. Qure4u was recently recognized as one of the MedikaLife Top 50 Most Impactful Tech Innovators for Digital Healthcare in 2021 and won the 2020 athenahealth Client Feedback Award. For more information about Qure4u, visit www.qure4u.com.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies. The company is redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, digital appliances, network systems, and memory, system LSI, foundry and LED solutions. For the latest news, please visit the Samsung Newsroom at news.samsung.com.

FirstNet and the FirstNet logo are registered trademarks of the First Responder Network Authority.  All other marks are the property of their respective owners. 

Media Contact
Jess Clifton
FINN Partners
jess@ten22pr.com
678-360-9043

SOURCE Qure4u

The post AT&T, Samsung and Qure4u Team Up to Deliver Remote Patient Monitoring with FirstNet® for High-Risk Patients appeared first on Medika Life.

As a result of this, there are many possible complications of hospital stays: hospital-associated infections, pressure ulcers, delirium and disorientation, and long-term, there may be cognitive deficits well after the hospital stay has ended. Elderly patients are especially vulnerable to these complications.

And so, wouldn’t it be great if some patients can be “hospitalized” at home? This is providing hospital level services, but at the patient’s own home. This approach has already been tried, and there is good evidence that it leads to better outcomes for patients. A recent study out of the UK reiterated this point.

A trial conducted in the United Kingdom enrolled 1055 patients (mean age 83) and randomized them to hospital at home plus comprehensive geriatric assessment versus standard hospital admission. They had similar rates of living at home, but those randomized to being hospitalized at home had a lower rate of admission to long-term care at six months. In both groups, the most common presenting problem was acute functional deterioration due to infection.

This is significant. If we can reduce the number of patients admitted to long-term care, the better it will be for patients and better for the overall healthcare system. Of course, the patients treated at home would not be sick enough to need more advanced care that can only be provided in an actual hospital, such as critical care services or advanced cardiac care.

Still, this innovative approach has great potential to create capacity in the healthcare system, especially if we see another Covid wave in the winter or we suffer another global pandemic (which, truly, is bound to happen eventually). For example, if there are patients with Covid who are not that sick and only need oxygen, they can be treated at home with oxygen and perhaps some IV medications such as antibiotics or even remdesivir. And, they can be cared for with Telephysicians who can electronically round on them every day.

I already know of hospital systems that did just that with mildly-ill Covid patients: sent them home on oxygen to be monitored by Telephysicians. It was a life-saver for an already overwhelmed hospital with literally dozens of critically ill patients with Covid.

This “hospital at home” concept needs to be greatly expanded. The biggest barrier, however, is reimbursement. This needs to change. If we are to innovate, then payment schemes need to innovate as well.

Thankfully, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the government program that administers Medicare, has an “Acute Hospital Care at Home” program, and more hospitals are participating in the program. If this system is to work, the payments to hospitals at home — with the proper oversight to prevent fraud and abuse — should be on par with payments to physical hospitals.

The Covid-19 pandemic has forced healthcare to rapidly innovate, such as the more widespread adoption of telehealth and telemedicine services. I myself have worked many tele-ICU shifts caring for Covid patients across the country. This will ultimately benefit the entire healthcare system, leading to better care and better outcomes. And part of this innovation should be a greatly expanded “Hospital at Home” program.

Reference:

Shepperd S, Butler C, Cradduck-Bamford A, et al. Is Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment Admission Avoidance Hospital at Home an Alternative to Hospital Admission for Older Persons? : A Randomized Trial. Ann Intern Med 2021.

The post Hospital at Home Has Great Benefits for Elderly Patients appeared first on Medika Life.

His mission has its roots in personal loss; his father died of cancer at a young age. When Jeff discovered that the cancer was largely a result of lifestyle choices, it demonstrated how unhealthy behaviors go unaddressed until it is too late to intervene.

It led to the realization of how backward our traditional health care system has become: it’s really a reactive sick care system that treats people after they’ve already become sick, rather than a proactive health care system that works to keep people healthy and prevent illness through primary prevention.

Jeff’s belief in the critical importance of prevention led him to establish several innovative health care startups prior to founding his current company, Newtopia, a tech-enabled habit change provider that helps health insurers prevent disease and save costs through sustainable habit change instead of late-stage condition management.

As Jeff says:

Health care providers often offer patients lifestyle-related platitudes — eat healthier, exercise more, get more sleep, reduce stress — but they are not trained or incentivized to take the time to really get to know their patients and their unique needs and work with them to make the daily choices that will build new, incremental healthy habits. So how do we make sure that these recommendations actually turn into change in people’s lives? A new front door and front line is required. Changing and stacking habits requires both a hyper-personalized approach (taking into account factors such as genetics, medical history, social determinants of health, behavioral profile and personal preferences, for example) and a strong human connection supported by technology to ensure inspiration, build confidence and accountability..

Jeff is committed to helping health insurers re-envision their investment in health and realize the greater returns of creating pro-health and pro-wellbeing workplace cultures. By addressing the unhealthy life choices that are a major risk factor for many noncommunicable diseases –
including obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke – health insurers can proactively intervene to change the trajectory of chronic disease development, saving lives and reducing costs.

According to Michael Palmer, the former Chief Innovation and Digital Officer at Aetna, and current Newtopia Board member:

Jeff proved his solution works – for Aetna he netted out over $1,500/year in medical cost savings per member per year, kept over 70% of them engaged to achieve their goals, and materially reduced risk of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease for a large percentage of our at-risk people. We even co-published the results of a randomized controlled trial – and Aetna would only put our stamp of approval on a solution that is proven safe, effective and economically beneficial. In addition to finding the secret sauce of personalized habit change, Jeff has built an inspiring team of health coaches, technologists and habit change gurus who will likely change the trajectory of healthcare for good.

Prior to founding Newtopia in 2008, Jeff was co-founder and chief operating officer of Cleveland Clinic Canada, a collaboration between the Cleveland Clinic Foundation and Canyon Ranch, and Canada’s leading destination for preventive health and lifestyle management; co-founder and chief operating officer of Life Screening Centers Inc., a cancer screening and prevention company; and co-founder and head of operations of Genetic Diagnostics Inc., an early-stage biotechnology company commercializing a new genetic diagnostic testing platform. 
 
Jeff holds a joint Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration from York University’s Osgoode Hall Law School and Schulich School of Business in Toronto. He received his bachelor’s degree from Western University in London, Ontario. 

If you’re interested in the push to create a more sustainable approach to health care, Jeff is someone you’ll want to have on your radar. If you’d like to connect with him, you can do so via the links below.

Getting in touch with Jeff

The post Jeff Ruby, Founder & CEO, Newtopia appeared first on Medika Life.

Let’s start with Allyson’s work outside of her practice and the organizations and foundations, some of which she has co-founded, that focus on cancer patients, on care, aftercare, and support for a sector of the community that is so often left rudderless after the devastating and dreaded diagnosis of cancer. We’ve focused on two of the site she helped found and is prominently engaged with.

Michael’s Mission

Michael’s Mission was formed as a way to honor and remember Michael Soussa. Michael was a vibrant young man when he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer at the age of 30. He underwent multiple surgeries and almost 40 months of chemotherapy and radiation. After nearly three and a half years of fighting, Michael passed away at the age of 33. Here’s a brief summary of what Michael’s Mission is about.

Our mission is to improve the quality of life and treatment options for colorectal cancer patients, particularly young people like Michael. Michael always said that when he got better, he would give back to others diagnosed and living
with colorectal cancer. What Michael found most difficult to deal with was the lack of relevant and quality information about the disease, the inability to interact and share experiences with other patients, and the lack of funding for research trials and patient support services.

He was also incredibly frustrated with the lack of attention and information regarding the side effects and quality of life issues associated with colorectal cancer—the focus was on treating the disease and not on helping people live their lives.
One of our core values – enhancing quality of life – allows us to help patients regain some control in a very uncontrollable situation. Having observed Michael fighting for his life and knowing what was missing to support his struggle, our goals include creating programs and providing services that will help patients and families navigate this difficult journey.

You can visit Michaels Mission by clicking on the image above, or follow them here on Twitter @MMfightsCRC

Let’s Win! Pancreatic Cancer

Let’s Win! Pancreatic Cancer is an unprecedented platform that enables doctors, scientists, and patients to share fast-breaking information on potentially life-saving pancreatic cancer treatments and clinical trials. Our goal is to inform, enable, and educate patients and caregivers, providing easy-to-understand, actionable information. In this way we can help people find the best treatment options available.

In May 2014, Anne Glauber learned she had stage IV pancreatic cancer. She and her family were stunned and devastated, not knowing where to turn but knowing they had to do something urgently. That overwhelming fear and confusion became the genesis for Let’s Win.

Anne gathered a team to develop her idea: her oncologist, Dr. Allyson Ocean, her dear friend Willa Shalit, social entrepreneur and philanthropist; and Kerri Kaplan, President and CEO of the Lustgarten Foundation. Anne and her team imagined an online community sharing new science-driven treatments to help patients and families have a say in their treatment plans, uncovering new possibilities, and finding new treatment options. When Cindy Gavin joined the team as Founding Executive Director, the vision took wing.

In 2017, Anne passed away after living three times longer than originally predicted. Today, Let’s Win is Anne’s legacy, and it stands as a valued resource in the pancreatic cancer community. It is a living testimony to Anne Glauber’s commitment that no one would ever again need to face a diagnosis like hers without resources and hope.

You can follow Let’s Win by clicking on the image above or connecting with them on Twitter @letswinpc

Meet Allyson Ocean

Allyson Ocean is a medical oncologist and attending physician in gastrointestinal oncology at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center; Associate Professor of Medicine at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University; and medical oncologist at The Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health.

She graduated cum laude from Tufts University and with honors from the Tufts University School of Medicine and completed residency in internal medicine at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. Allyson was chief fellow during her fellowship in hematology and medical oncology at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center.

She is the author of numerous peer-reviewed articles and abstracts and is an active member of several professional societies, including the American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society of Hematology, and American Association for Cancer Research.

Allyson Ocean is on a mission to educate the world about pancreatic and intestinal cancers, focusing on innovation and emerging treatments, both in the form of treatment and prevention, and she is all about patient support, throughout the entire process of diagnosis, treatment, and beyond. We cannot think of a finer example of real, ethics-driven compassionate healthcare in action.

It should come as no surprise that she’s racked up the following distinctions on top of her cancer advocacy.

• New York Magazine: Top Doctors: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
• Castle Connolly Regional Top Doctors: 1st Edition
• Top Doctors New York Metro Area (digital guide): 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021
• Exceptional Women In Medicine: 2019, 2020

If you’d like to reach out to Allyson, support her projects, or connect with here professionally, you can do so via the links provided below.

Getting in touch with Allyson

The post Allyson Ocean, MD, Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine appeared first on Medika Life.

Sam currently occupies the role of Chief Medical Strategy Officer at Numan, and is the founder and director of the Faculty of Future Health with Ulster University. Additionally, he holds the following roles,

• Chief Clinical Digital Advisor, ORCHA
• Editorial Board Member, International Journal Of Digital Health
• Advisor, Health Hero
• Advisory Board Member, Sesui Ltd
• Group Clinical Director, East Village Dental
• Clinical Director, The Ivory Clinic
• Chair Steering Committee, The HETT show

His opinions and expertise are sought after and he is frequently featured on webinars, podcasts, and talk shows. What quickly becomes apparent are his cutting insights into issues that surround the deployment of new digital healthcare solutions in both the local UK health market and further afield. His patient and provider-centered approach to outcomes are indicative of how he views medicine. In his own words.

I would like to see a shift in healthcare where both sets of users, the patients and clinicians, are the focus of digital change

He is about innovation delivering measurable benefits to both provider and patient and he believes the UK is very well positioned to provide digital solutions to a broader, global platform. You can read his views on a number of topics from the publications he writes for, such as Healthcare IT News and the Faculty of Future Health, or listen to recent podcasts at Anchor.fm and Apple Podcasts.

Medika also recently included Prof. Shah in our Top 50 List of Influential voices in Digital Healthcare.

On Digital Health

Sam was appointed as CMO for Numan in 2020. He was previously Director of Digital Development for NHS England and NHSX, where he was responsible for digital development of the ecosystem and leading on a number of national transformation programs. Sam has worked on a number of initiatives including the flagship project to digitize urgent care in the NHS. He headed up the national learning and development program for NHS England, which considered different channels to access healthcare using technology.

He has also been involved in the assessment of healthcare technology through a number of grant schemes and accelerator programs. Sam continues to work in the NHS within primary care and champions a range of agendas including improving diversity within the workforce; and reducing health inequalities. We’ve included a few of his key comments on digital health and innovation below, drawn from articles and interviews completed in the last year.

On Privacy and Healthcare data

There’s a strong argument that data should be shared more freely to allow better decision-making and enable more people in society to benefit. Some would even argue that health data is a public good. However, the challenge is that organizations have not yet demonstrated they can maintain privacy or safely handle data in a way that won’t lead to abuse.

On Digital Inequalities

Digital inequalities are unlikely ever to go away; this will probably always be a difference in society between access to technology, access to the internet and affordability. It’s doubtful that digital health services will meet everyone’s needs, which means health care providers, commissioners and technologists need to be realistic. Reducing inequalities is always multifaceted; it means those designing and implementing digital health services need to consider the wider social determinants and have a relentless focus on service and system design. For example, it’ll require investment in infrastructure, education, training and creating accessible digital services.

On Developers and Fundamental Values

I have worked with lots of healthcare and technology companies and prefer to work with those interested in promoting safety, security and privacy. Fundamentally, healthcare IT will impact on people’s lives often when they are most vulnerable. IT developers in healthcare need to be committed to sharing good practice, promoting clinical safety and inspiring trust and confidence through operating in a transparent way. The same values in healthcare around equity, equality, and availability need to be reflected in developers of IT solutions.

If your interests lie in digital healthcare, both in the UK and further afield, the opinions and insights of Sam Shah cannot be ignored. His intimate personal knowledge of the industry, coupled with a clear ethical vision for the industry’s future make him compulsory reading. Medika’s advice is that this is the one Professors’ classes you shouldn’t skip. Connect wih Sam below.

Getting in touch with Sam

The post Prof. Sam Shah, Chief Medical Strategy Officer, Numan appeared first on Medika Life.

If you’re involved in digital health then you’ve heard the name John Nosta, in fact, most in the healthcare field are familiar with his name. He is a leading light in the digital healthcare sector, a thought leader who challenges the status quo and disrupts for change. Very few voices are as respected and if you don’t believe us, see what these industry icons have to say about a man that has arguably become an icon in his own right.

John Nosta combines passion with knowledge and delivers more than a speech, he provides an engaged conversation that informs and moves his audience. John’s domain knowledge of medicine, technology, and marketing makes him a keen observer of digital health and only one of a handful of thought-leaders that can clearly articulate the importance of this movement in human history.

− John Sculley, Former CEO, Apple Computers and Pepsi

John Nosta provides a comprehensive perspective on the digital health movement. With unique sensitivities to science, consumer engagement, and brand marketing, he tells a story that helps drive mindshare and market share. 

− Eric Topol, MD, Cardiologist, Editor-in-Chief, Medscape, Scripps Health Chief Academic Officer

John founded NOSTALAB in 2013, an  “innovation think tank” that focuses on the emergence of technology and the implications to health, wellness, medicine, and the pharmaceutical industry.  The extent of his influence was recognized by the World Health Organization and in 2019 he was appointed as a founding member to their Digital Health Roster of Experts, a position he still occupies

.In 2014 Google appointed him to their Health Advisory Board, created to acquire a better understanding of the problems consumers and providers face every day and offer feedback on product ideas and development. He continues to contribute to this Board and is also an active contributor to Forbes Magazine.

Meet John Nosta

Perhaps the best way to gain insight into what drives John Nosta is to examine the ethos of NOSTLAB Here is how the website describes the ThinkTank.

On their Mind

“Thinking is what we do best. We apply our thinking to solve creative and strategic problems that seem either insurmountable or unthinkable. At times, we’ve even discovered new problems and challenges and proactively sought out solutions as preemptive strikes against second-rate thinking.”

On their Soul

“We are digital. We are health. We are also defiant, bold, and closely connected to imaginative thinkers and risk–takers who define digital health. Our philosophy is grounded in brilliance yet our methodology has often pushed us over the “practical ledge” and forced us to build wings on the way down. We like to fly.”

NOSTALAB exists to empower innovation with outlandish thinking. They connect the dots of genius and help drive the digital health revolution and behind the company sits the driving force that is John Nosta, questioning conventional and accepted wisdom and pushing the boundaries of modern health.

Despite his status in the industry, John remains approachable and exudes a thoughtful humility that has served him well. He is the one person you cannot choose to ignore in the field of digital health and your network has to include his thoughts and opinions. You can connect with him below.

Getting in touch with John Nosta

The post John Nosta of NOSTALAB appeared first on Medika Life.

Defining the changes Covid has brought to the healthcare market, PwC and Dr. Daruwalla describe this as the New Health Economy(NHE) and he believes this is the future of healthcare.

With the NHE, the delivery and innovation of healthcare solutions are now guided by consumer needs, giving rise to digital health solutions that directly connect provider and patient. From telehealth to remote patient analytics, COVID-19 has normalised the use of digital solutions in our everyday lives, transforming healthcare norms.

When Dr. Daruwalla speaks, the healthcare industry in SEA tends to listen. He is a respected surgeon, entrepreneur, thought leader, futurist, mentor, and advisor. To find out what drives him and what has brought him to this point in his career, let’s take a closer look at the man.

Meet Dr. Zubin J Daruwalla

Graduating from the Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland in 2005, Dr. Daruwalla holds additional medical qualifications from the RCSI and National University of Singapore. He first joined PwC Singapore in 2016 and currently serves in the role of Health Industries Leader. He occupies the role of advisor with the likes of Silver Factory Technology, nPlasty and SpeedDoc and has previously advised Galen Growth, MedShr, and others.

He currently serves as a consultant and clinical ambassador to MyDoc, a position he has occupied for the last seven years and boasts expansive experience within the healthcare industry, gleaned from exposure to various health models in different countries. He currently serves on the HMS faculty at Harvard, as part of the Surgical Leadership Capstone Faculty for the HMS Surgical Leadership Program. In his own words;

With a paradigm shift towards governments introducing telemedicine worldwide, I have been involved in a number of studies looking at how telehealth can play a role in improving patient care and outcomes and hope to continue my involvement in this very exciting and upcoming space, evident by my advisory role to a number of Med and Health Tech start-ups.

My extensive cross-cultural experiences from having lived in Ireland, the United Kingdom and Singapore have exposed me to a wide variety of cultures and life experiences. Having obtained full registration with each country’s respective medical council, I hope to continue clinical work and research with my current and keen interests being in healthcare consulting and continuing to be a thought leader in the digital health and medical education spaces. With strong administrative and organizational skills, I am also always looking at new and exciting opportunities to put my skill set to use. 

Healthcare is showing phenomenal growth in SEA, in particular, Singapore. Health and BioTech sub-sectors saw funding to the tune of S$342 million in the first half for 2020, way above S$230 million the sector garnered during the whole of 2019, according to PwC’s Tech start-up funding trends and outlook: Singapore report. 

Arguably, no one is better positioned to introduce your products and services to this market than Dr, Daruwalla, particularly if your focus is on innovative tech and digital-related sections of the industry.

This market is, in Medika’s opinion, the preferred choice for disseminating new health technology. Singapore benefits from an excellent centralized digital patient record, the National Electronic Health Record (NEHR), effective data trust, and transparency. Clear regulatory guidelines distinguish this market from the chaos of the American healthcare minefield.

Singapore warrants serious attention as a realistic and lucrative alternate market to launch into and offers a stepping stone into Asia. Dr. Daruwalla and PwC Singapore is your first port of call on your journey.

Getting in touch with Dr. Daruwalla

The post Dr. Zubin J Daruwalla of PwC Singapore appeared first on Medika Life.

An interesting fact to consider for new players entering this market. Only seven percent of healthcare and pharmaceutical companies claim to have gone digital, compared to 15 percent of companies in other industries.

How we’ve constructed the list

Primarily, we looked at how the business, software, or technology has affected the caregiver-patient relationship. For this reason, you may see obscure companies featured, many of whom work tirelessly, away from the spotlight of public medicine. to improve this relationship. Sustainability of models, impacts on disadvantaged sectors, disruption, and sheer genius have also been considered, Covid‘s’impact has mostly been ignored. Here’s why.

The businesses built around, catering to, and addressing our pandemic mindset have been amazing to watch. Do they however bear long-term relevance to the industry, or will they serve merely as fallback models for the next pandemic? Medika sees many of these as financially-inspired models, where business-orientated individuals have perceived a need in the market and have acted rapidly to fill it. That need will dissipate in the coming months. 

Arguably, none of these pandemic response innovators require any additional media attention, so our list has chosen to focus on the regular and more mundane functionality of day-to-day medicine and the companies that are addressing and changing, often in fundamental ways, the patient’s access to care.

We’ve also avoided listing companies like Apple, Samsung, Siemens, and others, who have made immeasurable contributions to the sector. Their work is well established and their brands are household names. It’s the up-and-coming stars we’d like to make you aware of and the older ones, many of whom are now coming good.

The list below is broken into sections and numbering is not an indicator of ranking. You’ll also notice we’ve created categories, five to be exact, to ensure a fair spread and to enable you to more easily find the players that affect your sector. There are overlaps, and where these occur we’ve used a wet finger and wind speed to determine which category is best suited.

Where possible, logos link to websites or Linkedin profiles, and founders’ names are linked to their Linkedin or Twitter profiles. We encourage readers to connect and expand their networks. It’s the reason we provide additional information, rather than a simple sequential list. So, to the list.

Medical Devices Category

At the top of our list, this category makes a real-world difference in an immediate and noticeable way for many patients, often in a life-saving fashion. We tip our hats to the combination of ingenuity, innovation, and foresight exhibited by these companies.

1. Pulsenmore

Founder: Dr. Elazar Sonnenschein
Sectors: Diagnostics, Radiology, Remote Care, Ultrasound, Prenatal Health
Established: 2014
Core Product/Service: At-Home Tele-Ultrasound for Pregnant Women
Country: Israel
Strategic Partners: Clalit Health 

This is a truly revolutionary device, enabling pregnant women to monitor fetal growth and development remotely. The small ultrasound scanner connects to a smartphone, boasts an instructional app to assist the user, and images can be shared or uploaded in real-time to point of care. Particularly useful for remote treatment and medical use in isolated areas. A simple, elegant, and well-designed tool that frees ultrasound technology from its traditional confines. Pulsenmore partners with Clalit Health.

2. Thinklabs One

Founder: Clive Smith
Sectors: Providers, Medical Devices, Technology
Established: 1991
Core Product/Service: Digital Stethoscope
Country: Englewood, Colorado, USA
Strategic Partners: Thinklabs

Coolest and most innovative change to the stethoscope we’ve seen, and given our pandemic climate, a perfect candidate for remote medicine. Advances in technology have chosen to ignore the stethoscope and that’s why we love this product. It’s bold and innovative. It changes our perceived ideas about the traditional stethoscope and in our opinion, improves dramatically on it by incorporating modern technology. Well overdue. Connect with Thinklabs on Twitter

3. Cala Health

Founder: Kate Rosenbluth
Sector: Bioelectric Medicine, Digital Health, Neuroscience
Established: 2014
Core Product/Service: Cala Trio™ Wearable to counter tremors
Country: USA
Strategic Partners:

Cala Health is a bioelectronic medicine company. The company’s wearable neuromodulation therapies merge innovations in neuroscience and technology to deliver individualized peripheral nerve stimulation, and its vertically integrated commercial model is reshaping the delivery of prescription therapies. Cala Health’s lead product, Cala Trio™, is the only non-invasive prescription therapy for essential tremor (ET). Truly life-changing use of technology in a novel and innovative way. Connect with Cala Health on Twitter

4. HumanOptics AG

Founder: Karl Klamann
Sector: Ophthalmology, Surgical Procedures, Technology
Established: 1999
Core Product/Service: The CUSTOMFLEX® ARTIFICIALIRIS
Country: Bayern, Germany
Strategic Partners: Please refer to the website

The CUSTOMFLEX® ARTIFICIALIRIS, a world-first and game-changer, is a unique and foldable iris prosthesis, for both medical and aesthetic reconstruction of eyes with complete or partial aniridia. This iris prosthesis for treating patients with injured or missing irides was awarded breakthrough device status by the FDA. This product offers a massive benefit to patients who suffer from aniridia

5. Butterfly Network Inc

Founder: Dr. Jonathan Rothberg
Sector: Diagnostics, Medical Technology, Digital Devices, POC
Established: 2011
Core Product: Butterfly single-probe, whole-body handheld ultrasound
Country: USA
Strategic Partners: ACC

More ultrasound, but this time in a professional setting and with Dr. Rothberg at the helm, expect fireworks. Developed specifically for doctors, visit Butterfly to find out why healthcare providers have fallen in love with this light and portable ultrasound scanner. It is the world’s first handheld, single-probe whole-body ultrasound system. It is quite remarkable and deserves the label “game-changer” in terms of how it simplifies the provision of care. You can connect with Butterfly on Twitter

6. UTILIMEDIC (Namsung Electronics Co Ltd)

Dual Corp Representative: Elena Thompson
Sector: Digital Electronics, Consumer Market, Healthcare Providers
Established: 1965
Core Product/Service: Utilimedic Cell Phone UV Sterilization Unit
Country: Florida, USA (Headquarters in Seoul, South Korea)
Strategic Partners: Namsung America (Dual Electronics)

While not strictly a medical device, this product fulfills a real need and practical solution to healthcare workers during the pandemic. Cellphones are one of the primary surfaces for the transmission of viruses. This product (CES 2021 Innovation award) offers a cost-effective solution to sterilizing your cellphone with UV light. Use it in your car and charge your phone while you sterilize it. A really useful deployment of tech in a healthcare setting. We love it. Connect with them on Twitter

7. ISABEL Healthcare

Founder: Jason Maude
Sector: Diagnostic Software, DDX, Remote Diagnostics, Telemedicine
Established: 1999
Core Product/Service: Differential Diagnostics Platform
Country: UK/USA
Strategic Partners:

Full disclosure, Medika uses this DDX as the backbone for the patient’s Self Diagnostic tool on the Medika website, so does WebMD. We’ve included it here because we feel the pandemic has finally highlighted the true benefits, accuracy, and simplicity this differential diagnostics tool offers the industry. More and more doctors are discovering the benefits Isabel can lend to their practices and she is the industry leader in the field. Isabel Healthcare is also socially active in emerging economies, enabling access to global health. If you haven’t yet, connect with Isabel on Twitter. 

8. REJOINT SRL

Founder: Gian Guido Riva
Sector: Orthopedics, BlockChain, Digital Health, IoT
Established: 2015
Core Product/Service: 3D printed personalized joint implants
Country: Castel Maggiore, Italy
Strategic Partners: GE

Mobility matters. Lose the use of a knee joint and your life changes. REJOINT offers a combination of cutting-edge technology and joint implants to keep you moving. An industry leader and recognized as one of the foremost manufacturers of implants, their business directly impacts people’s lives. REJOINT combines validated Additive Manufacturing, IoT and wearables, Artificial Intelligence, and Blockchain technology to produce products that impact patient outcomes. Connect with them on Twitter

9. Saluda Medical

Founder: John Parker
Sector: Medical Devices, Digital Health, Technology
Established: 2013
Core Product/Service: Evoke®
Country: Australia, USA
Strategic Partners: None listed

The development of closed-loop spinal pain therapy is potentially life-changing for patients suffering from chronic pain. Saluda pioneered and developed the first closed-loop system. Evoke® is the only spinal cord stimulation technology designed to measure the spinal cord’s response to stimulation and make real-time adjustments intended to maintain a consistent level of pain therapy. Connect with Saluda Health on Twitter

10. Miach Orthopaedics

Founder: Martha Murray, MD
Sectors: Bio-Engineering, Surgical Implants, Orthopaedics
Established: 2017
Core Product/Service: Bridge-Enhanced® ACL Repair (BEAR®)
Country: Massachusetts, USA

Miach Orthopaedics is dedicated to developing bio-engineered surgical implants for connective tissue restoration. Their Bridge-Enhanced® ACL Repair (BEAR®) Implant is a revolutionary proprietary bio-engineered implant used to facilitate healing of the torn ACL The implant removes the need to harvest healthy tendon from another part of your leg and acts as a bridge between the two ends of the torn ACL, allowing the tendon to regrow. This is cutting-edge bio-engineering with real-world patient benefits. Connect with Miach Orthopaedics on Twitter

Patient Engagement Sector

Increasing patient’s access to care, empowering them in their own health choices, and simplifying the patient-caregiver relationship all lead to more seamless and effective care-based outcomes for patients. Here are the platforms to watch.

11. PocketHealth

Founders: Rishi Nayyar and Harsh Nayyar
Sectors: Patient Facing Solutions, Software, Applications, Radiology 
Established: 2016
Core Product/Service: Digital access to Patient Imaging Records
Country: Toronto, Canada

Medika Life loves practical, simple, and elegant solutions. That’s exactly what PocketHealth offers to patients and providers. Their goal was to build a Patient-Centric, Accessible & Supportive Image Sharing Platform, and early signs signal success. The platform offers seamless, secure infrastructure between diagnostic imaging centers and their patients across Noth America. Connect with them on Twitter

12. Qure4u

Founder: Dr. Monica Bolbjerg
Sectors: Patient Facing Solutions, Software, Applications, Provider solutions
Established: 2015
Core Product/Service: A Holistic Patient Engagement Platform
Country: USA

Is this the App that finally simplifies patient access to services? It may be. Qure4u is a patient engagement platform ready to meet all of your patients’ needs by providing them with a Digital Health Key™. Simple and convenient access to care from patient self-scheduling to remote patient monitoring and everything in between. Patients are so impressed, the App has just won a Customer Satisfaction award from athenahealth. Connect with them on Twitter

13. XR Health

Founder: Eran Orr
Sectors: Patient Facing, XR, Therapeutics
Established: 2016
Core Product/Service: Extended Reality Therapeutics
Country: USA
Strategic Partners: Allscripts and Pico Interactive

XR stands for Extended Reality and includes VR, AR and MR. Unlike other companies that seek to enable surgeons with XR, this company has integrated it into the life of the patient, offering virtual access to therapeutics in the comfort of your home. The technology offers treatment options for Stress Management, Pain Management, ADHD, Memory Training, Hot Flashes, Post-COVID Rehab, and VR Support Groups. Explore the options on their website and connect with them on Twitter.

14. Datos Health

Founder: Uri Bettesh
Sectors: Patient Facing Solutions, Software, Applications, Provider solutions
Established: 2015
Core Product/Service: Datos Platform
Country: Israel, New York, USA
Strategic Partners: Consult their website for a full list of partners

Datos is a fully automated remote care platform designed to directly connect patients with medical sources of care from the comfort of their own homes, for improved quality of life. The platform makes it possible to safely monitor, detect, analyze and predict adverse events or other changes in patient conditions — enabling care teams to communicate and intervene in real-time, and to successfully manage even the most complex medical treatment protocols. Connect with Datos Health on Twitter

15. Epic, myChart

Founder: Judy Faulkner
Sectors: Patient Facing Software, Data, Provider Solutions
Established: 1979
Core Product/Service: MyChart® licensed from Epic Systems Corporation
Country: USA
Strategic Partners: Epic, visit the website for more details,

One of the most successful patient-facing applications in the US. The myChart® app by Epic allows patients to see their medications, test results, upcoming appointments, medical bills, price estimates, and more all in one place, even if they’ve been seen at multiple healthcare organizations. With over 100 million users, Epic is a clear leader in patient-facing data and software and the recent facelift of myChart has brought it in line with new technologies. Sadly, while their UI is slowly catching up they don’t exist on social media.

16. Cedar

Founders: Florian Otto and Arel Lidow
Sectors: Applications, Payment Solutions, Patient Engagement, Software
Established: 2016
Core Product/Service: Cedar Pay. Medical Financial Engagement Solutions
Country: New York, USA
Strategic Partners: Please refer to their website

Simplifying payment for medical services, this platform allows for the patient to seamlessly pay for services and frees up the provider to focus on providing care. We love the concept and we’re certain patients and providers will adopt the solution with open arms. Cedar is the healthcare financial engagement platform that keeps patients happy and businesses healthy. Connect with Cedar on Twitter.

17. American Well

Founders: Ido Schoenberg, MDand Roy Schoenberg, MD
Sectors: Telehealth, Patient Engagement, Patient Outcomes
Established: 2006
Core Product/Service: Telehealth Platform
Country: USA
Strategic Partners: Please refer to their website

How can we ignore telehealth in 2021? Amwell is making huge inroads in the market. Amwell’s telehealth solution spans the care continuum from urgent care to acute care. Their technology combines a delightful experience for patients with best-in-class workflows for providers. Stability should be front and foremost for providers when selecting telehealth platforms and Amwell leads the field. Connect with Amwell on Twitter

18. SilverCloud Health

Founders: James Bligh, Dr John Sharry and Karen Tierney
Sectors: Telehealth, Mental Health, Software, Patient Care
Established: 2011
Core Product/Service: Digital Mental Health Platform
Country: London, United Kingdom
Strategic Partners: Please visit their website for details.

If the hype is to be believed, then we face a deluge of post-Covid mental health issues. SilverCloud is developing telehealth and provider solutions to keep pace with the increasing demand for care, SilverCloud Health is the trusted leader in on-demand digital behavioral health care, partnering with over 300 organizations to deliver virtual therapy. Increase your capacity and improve your patient outcomes. Connect with SilverCloud on Twitter

19. Cloudbreak

Founders: Jamey Edwards and Andrew Panos
Sectors: Telehealth, Remote Care, Patient Facing Solutions
Established: 2015
Core Product/Service: In-Patient Virtual Care and Telehealth
Country: USA
Strategic Partners: Please refer to the website

A total solution for remote care, both in and outside of the care environment. Cloudbreak helps you connect with your patients from anywhere. Process billing, manage your appointments, send prescriptions securely — everything you need for a traditional visit, done in a web browser. Provide your patients with equitable care available at any time, on any device. Equip a single patient room with telequarantine, teletherapy, telenursing, multi-party calling, medical interpretation, and more. Connect with Cloudbreak on Twitter

20. MomMD

Founders: Mimi Valenticand Sethina Edwards
Sectors: Support Networks, Software, Networking Platforms
Established: 1999
Core Product/Service: Web-based platform
Country: Texas, USA

While not strictly patient-orientated we decided to add this platform here as it supports mothers and women in Healthcare and offers a crucial and often absent support network for these care providers. MomMD offers the latest in Continuing Medical Education (CME) and also allows users to search for jobs and resumes. It offers discussions on work/life balance, pregnancy, diagnosis, debt and loan repayment, residency match, and various other subjects. Connect with MomMD on Twitter

Networking and Communication Channels

Enabling and connecting voices within the digital health sector helps to highlight systemic flaws and connects people who are able to address these issues. These companies enable solutions. Podcasts. PR, Think Tanks, and other networking tools like Clubhouse are proving an indispensable tool for networking, innovation, and as drivers for change. Here’s our watchlist.

21. PwC Singapore

Health Industry Leader: Dr. Zubin J Daruwalla
Sectors: MedTech BioTech, Digital Health, Networking, Venture Hub
Established: 2016 (PwC Singapore Venture Hub)
Core Product/Service: Digital Healthcare, Health Tech Ventures
Country: Singapore
Strategic Partners: Please refer to the website for additional info

Connecting emerging digital health technologies globally matters and companies like PwC Singapore provide you with a gateway into Asia and a detailed understanding of the healthcare markets and key trends. PwC Singapore connects the dots and bridges the Western/Asian health divide in ways you cannot afford to ignore. Connect with them and broaden your network and markets. Connect on Twitter.

22. Pharmacy Podcast Network

Founder: Todd Eury
Sectors: Pharmaceutical, Podcasts, Networking, Pharmacy Business
Established: 2009
Core Product/Podcast Network
Country: USA, PA
Strategic Partners: CEimpact and RphAlly

Providing a voice for the pharmacy industry since 2009, this company has gone from strength to strength and now boasts over 1,200+ episodes, 30 shows & 40 contributing pharmacists. As an influential voice and enabling force for the pharmacy industry, look no further than this network. Their broad reach and coverage of all issues relating to the pharmacy profession make them a powerhouse not to be taken lightly. Connect with them on Twitter

23. NOSTALAB

Founder: John Nosta
Sectors: Digital Healthcare, Business and Market Direction, Innovation
Established: 2013
Core Product/Service: Speaker, Thought Leader, Think Tank, Analysis
Country: USA
Strategic Partners: Refer to the website

NOSTALAB was established by John Nosta in 2013 and serves as a platform to challenge existing health lore. John is regarded as a leading global strategic and creative thinker in the digital health area. He is a leading voice in the convergence of technology and health. Through NOSTALAB he helps define, dissect, and deliberate global trends in digital health. He is a hugely influential and respected voice within the health sector. Connect with him via his website and on Twitter

24. Faces of Health Podcast

Founder: Tjasa Zajc
Sectors: Healthcare, Industry Opinion, Podcast, Network
Established: 2017
Core Product/Service: Podcast /Video Interviews
Country: Republic of Slovenia

As a former healthcare journalist with a Masters degree in healthcare management and economics, Tjasa, the host and founder, features discussions with policymakers, doctors, nurses, and opinion leaders in the digital health space. Not to be missed. Connect and find out why industry professionals like John Nosta and Rafael Grossmann love this podcast. Connect with Tjasa on Twitter.

25. Unitypoint Health Ventures

Key Members: Matthew Warrens and Austin Duke, PhD
Sectors: Growth Accelerator, Strategic Partnerships, Venture Fund
Established: 2019
Core Product/Service: Innovation Venture Fund
Country: USA
Strategic Partners: Unitypoint Health

Ensuring bright ideas become sustainable business models requires a combination of funding and strategic partnerships. Unitypoint Health Ventures goes beyond investments to accelerate tomorrow’s health care solutions. They focus their efforts in four key areas: Care Experience, Care Financing, Care Delivery, and Care Innovation. Connect with Unitypoint Health Ventures on Twitter

26. MHealth Israel

Founders: Levi Shapiro
Sectors: Non-Profit, Digital Health, Networking Platform
Established: 2013
Core Product/Service: Platform for Healthcare Voices and Opinions
Country: Israel

This listing is a little different as it focuses on a community rather than an individual corporate entity. If you’re involved in digital healthcare and would like your opinion to impact the industry, Levi’s group offers a route. Connect with thousands of like-minded industry professionals and engage across numerous platforms on important issues affecting the world of healthcare. Find out why some of the largest names in healthcare are using MHealth to communicate their ideas. You can hook up with the group on Linkedin or on Twitter

27. Physician Side Gigs

Founder: Nisha Mehta
Sectors: Networking Platform, Financial, Physicians, 
Established: 2016
Core Product/Service: Physician Side Gigs
Country: USA

One of our favorites. A Facebook group that took off and now offers physicians advice on how to hustle a side gig. The networking aspect is a clear benefit and the group has grown exponentially since its creation. It now boasts over 74000 physicians. Aside from the side hustle aspect, discussions in the group cover jobs, business skills, financial topics, life in medicine, and physician burnout. A great resource for physicians. Connect with them on Facebook and with Nisha on Twitter

28. FINN Partners Health 

Managing Partner, Global Health: Gil Bashe and Goel Jasper (FINN, Israel)
Sectors: Healthcare, Integrated Marketing Communications, Advertising, Brand Agency
Established: 2011
Core Product/Service: Digital Health Consultancy
Country: USA, Israel
Strategic Partners: The list is endless, consult their website.

It can be argued that FINN Partners boast one of the most experienced teams within the healthcare sector, thanks in no small part to Managing Partners, Gil Bashe and Goel Jasper who offer your business decades of experience in the industry. Their vast experience, broad network, and widely respected knowledge make FINN Partners Health an indispensable asset to any business looking to expand into the healthcare sector. Ensure your business enjoys the exposure it deserves. Connect with FINN Partners on Twitter

29. Startup Health

Founders: Steven Krein and Unity Stoakes
Sectors: Startups, Networking, Innovation Hub
Established: 2011
Core Product/Service: Funding and networking for Startups
Country: USA
Strategic Partners: Please visit their website

If your Health startup is struggling to feel the love, then Startup Health may be the place for you. They connect Health Transformers into an organized, global community, leveraging network effects, trusted peer support, and collective intelligence. Since 2011, they have invested in over 340 innovative health companies, and boast a survival rate of over 80%, no easy achievement in a competitive market. If you need help ensuring your vision is fulfilled, why not reach out to the folk at Startup Health. You can connect with them on Twitter

30. Amend Health

Founders: Andrew RichardsandMarcelo Morales
Sectors: Think Tanks, Networking, Service Solutions, Social Good
Established: 2020
Core Product/Service: Connecting sectors and services to provide solutions
Country: USA
Strategic Partners: Refer to their website

Helping connect the different sectors of healthcare. We love the ethic behind this new company and hope it goes from strength to strength. Amend helps to build affiliate-networks of critical access. By targeting large geographies they are able to leverage an economy of scale and the solutions they provide are able to rapidly scale across multiple affiliate partners. Follow this socially driven healthcare think tank on Twitter

AR, VR, XR, and Wearables Sector

The Tron’s of Digital Health, these geniuses create augmentation for human skills, pushing our abilities beyond the confines of our physical limits, proving that man and software really can function in harmony, for the betterment of medicine. Oh, then there’s the teaching element. It’s a virtual wonderland.

31. Fundamental VR

Founders: Richard VincentandChris Scattergood
Sectors: Surgical Training, Virtual Reality, Education
Established: 2012
Core Product/Service: Virtual Reality based training tools for Surgeons
Country: United Kingdom
Strategic Partners: Mayo Clinic

In their own words, FundamentVR builds flight simulators for surgeons. Their associated business, Fundamental Surgery is arguably the industry leader in the sector. Their state-of-the-art haptic (touch) VR solutions for training surgeons are unique and hugely innovative. Mayo Clinic has entered a joint development agreement with Fundamental VR for surgical VR simulation and education products. As multi-award winners, they are rapidly establishing the industry standard for VR in healthcare.

32. Varjo

Founders: Klaus Melakari, Niko Eiden, Roope Rainisto and Urho Konttori
Sectors: Education, Training, VR and XR, Simulations
Established: 2016
Core Product/Service: XR and VR headsets
Country: Helsinki, Finland
Strategic Partners: Unreal Engine and others. Refer to details on the website

Producers of the highest quality VR and XR headsets in the marketplace. The association with Unreal Engine should say it all, Games drive VR development. Varjo’s headsets are recognized globally as being the industry benchmark in quality and photo-realism. Immerse yourself in their VR world. Do visit the website to gain a true appreciation of what XR can do,

33. Anima Res

Founders: Pablo Olmos and Rodrigo Olmos
Sectors: Software, Virtual reality, VR Platforms, Education, Healthcare
Established: 1997
Core Product/Service: VR Worlds
Country: Bonn, Deutschland
Strategic Partners: An official Microsoft Partner

Any VR system is only as good as the immersive software that drives it. Meet Anima Res, a German company that provides the link between VR hardware and the user, by creating believable and fully immersive healthcare environments for users. We love this company. 3d Medical animations that rock from an unfunded powerhouse. Keep it up guys!

34. LEVEL EX

Founders: Sam Glassenberg
Sectors: Software, Gaming, Digital Health, Education
Established: 2015
Core Product/Service: Android/ iOS games for Doctors
Country: Chicago, USA
Strategic Partners: Brainlab

Even doctors need to game. This entry is our favorite, hands down. Sleek and clever, doctors and medical students can select a range of medical games on Apple and Android focusing on cardiology, pulmonary, gastro, and more. Hook up your dopamine receptors for their daily fix and embed your learning. A winner, all the way. Connect with them on Twitter

35. Brainlab

Founders: Stefan Vilsmeier
Sectors: Technology, Software, Digital Health
Established: 1989
Core Product/Service: Software and Hardware solutions for Surgery
Country: Munich, Germany
Strategic Partners: Snke OS

To improve critical surgeries, radiosurgery treatments, and operating room efficiency, Brainlab software and hardware devices create and enhance data. Transpose realistic 3d images directly into your environment. Brainlab offers solutions for Surgery, Radio Surgery, and O.R. with Digital O.R. A stunning combination of real-world medical applications and technology, seamlessly integrated. Connect with Brainlab on Twitter

36. Elara Systems

Founders: Bob Dyce and Cameron Grant
Sectors: Creative Design, Software, XR Simulations
Established: 1999
Core Product/Service: Creation of XR environments and objects
Country: USA
Strategic Partners: Please refer to their website

Meet one of the companies that build the worlds and objects that inhabit the VR world. If you have a vision or project you need translated into an XR environment, Elara is the place to go. They offer vast libraries of immersive environments and predesigned simulations and can create whatever you can visualize. Reach out for 3D animation, interactive content, and XR solutions. Connect with them on Twitter

37. OSSO VR

Founders: Justin Barad and Matt Newport
Sectors: VR, Surgical Training, Education
Established: 2014
Core Product/Service: VR, Surgical Training and Assessment Platform
Country: USA
Strategic Partners: Please refer to their website

We love the vision of this VR platform that addresses a critical need within the industry. Their goals are to improve patient outcomes, increase the adoption of higher-value medical technologies, and democratize global access to the latest surgical techniques. Osso VR uses virtual reality to provide the platform, content, and tools to bridge the surgical training gap and are the industry leaders in this area. Connect with Osso VR on Twitter

38. Oxford Medical Simulation

Founders: Michael Wallaceand Jack Pottle
Sectors: Medical Training, VR, VR Simulations, Education
Established: 2016
Core Product/Service: VR Simulation for optimal Patient Care
Country: London, UK
Strategic Partners: Please refer here for more details

Another key player, translating VR technology into educational tools for the industry. Oxford Medical Simulation delivers award-winning virtual reality medical and nursing simulation. This helps educators save time and money in delivering quality, flexible, measurable training that improves patient care. VR and screen-based simulations train healthcare professionals in world-class patient management without risking lives. Connect with Oxford Medical Simulation on Twitter.

39. VISUALISE

Founders: Henry Stuart
Sectors: VR Environments, VR Modeling, VR, XR
Established: 20o6
Core Product/Service: VR creation for Healthcare
Country: London, UK
Strategic Partners: Please refer to their website

While not specifically a healthcare-focused company, Visualise contributes essential elements to the process of VR training environments. The importance of their role is highlighted in the linked page above. Visualise pushes the boundaries of what’s possible with immersive content. From VR, AR, and MR, to binaural audio and immersive apps. From CG VR production to 360 video, live streaming, and post-production. Connect with Visualise on Twitter

40. Medical Realities

Founders: Shafi Ahmed and Steve Dann
Sectors: VR, Medical Education
Established: 2015
Core Product/Service: Immersive End to End VR Healthcare Platform
Country: London, UK
Strategic Partners: Please refer to their website

Medical Realities was founded by a dedicated team of healthcare professionals and technologists with a mission to transform healthcare education. They have built the world’s first end-to-end Virtual Reality platform which is now used globally by students, doctors, and institutions. Visit their Covid-Med Ed platform to see how they integrate this technology. 

Data and Software Sector

This is where it all happens in healthcare. The most effective innovations and tools can be rendered obsolete without proper integration and management of data. Software connects and great software does it seamlessly and unobtrusively. Here are Medika Life’s top picks for 2021

41. Saidot

Founder: Meeri Haataja
Sectors: Data Transparency, Trust, AI
Established: 2018
Core Product/Service: Platform for Data Trust and Accountability
Country: Finland
Strategic Partners: Visit their website to view.

If you’re wondering why this company is included, think data. Think accountability, think ethics. It is going to be the greatest challenge of the digital health era. Accountability for people’s personal data and transparency for the systems dealing with that data. No one is better positioned in the industry than Saidot and it’s a natural connection for healthcare to develop. If you’re into AI, hook up with Saidot and get an ethical foot up for your data. Connect with them on Twitter

42. Nomad Health

Founders: Alexi Nazem, Ryan Grant, Dr. Maxwell Laurans, Kevin P. Ryan, and Zander Pease
Sectors: Networking, Employment, Nursing, Healthcare
Established: 2015
Core Product/Service: Employment Platform for traveling nurses
Country: New York, USA
Strategic Partners: None listed

One for the nursing industry and this platform is a winner, for both nurses and employers. If you’re a nurse with an itch to see the world, welcome to Nomad. Nomad provides all the tools, information, and support to land the most rewarding travel nurse assignments, hassle-free. Get paid well for work you’ll love. A sleek, elegant, well-designed platform for enabling nurses. Connect with Nomad on Twitter

43. SNKE OS

Founders: Stefan Vilsmeier
Sectors: Development Platform, OS, B2B Development
Established: 2020
Core Product/Service: A development platform/OS purpose-built for health
Country: Munich, Germany
Strategic Partners: Brainlab

Yet another industry disruptor from the folk at Brainlab. If you’re not into software and scalable solutions, we’ll forgive you for not getting excited, but trust us, if you’re developing surgical and healthcare solutions, this platform is a massive deal. Snke OS is the first enterprise platform built with best-in-class DNA. Fueled by AI & big data analytics with the power to handle your next breakthrough, it goes way beyond med tech. An OS that is purpose-built for health and definitely one to watch. Connect on Twitter

44. Diameter Health

Founders: Eric Rosow and John D’Amore
Sectors: Software, Data, Digital Healthcare, IT
Established: 2014
Core Product: Fusion
Country: USA
Strategic Partners: Check their website for their partners.

We love this company. Mismatched data sets currently cripple healthcare and that’s where Diameter Health comes in. Only Diameter Health cures clinical data disorder by normalizing and enriching clinical data using scalable and secure technology deployable in a fraction of the time and cost of conventional methods. Fusion enables intelligent data exchange, normalization, and integration with any certified Electronic Health Record (EHR). Connect with Diameter Health on Twitter

45. Foxo

Founders: Luke Fletcher
Sectors: Software, Data Solutions, Communication
Established: 2018
Core Product/Service: Foxo, communication platform for healthcare
Country: Australia
Strategic Partners: Please refer to their website

Foxo is an Australian company on a mission to connect a fragmented health system. Their SaaS platform is changing the way doctors, nurses, and allied health connect, communicate and collaborate. They’re focused on building a connected future for the Health industry. Their mix of technical and clinical-led team members ensures their solutions are applicable to the market. A much-needed solution to addressing data fragmentation in the industry. Connect with them on Twitter.

46. Komodo Health

Founders: Dr. Arif Nathoo and Web Sun
Sectors: Data, Software, Data Mapping, Data Solutions
Established: 2014
Core Product/Service: Data-driven Healthcare Map
Country: USA
Strategic Partners: Mavens (acquired)

Perhaps the most ambitious project yet to aggregate disjointed data from across the entire spectrum of the American Healthcare system and to farm this data in a meaningful way to improve access to care and patient outcomes. Companies like Komodo are the future of digital healthcare and they will go from strength to strength. See what their Healthcare map can mean to your patients and your startup. A company that should be on everyone’s radar. Connect with Komodo on Twitter.

47. Innovaccer

Founders: Abhinav Shashank, Kanav Hasija, and Sandeep Gupta
Sectors: Data, Software, Data Management, Patient Care
Established: 2014
Core Product/Service: Data based Patient and Industry Solutions
Country: San Francisco, USA
Strategic Partners: Please refer to their website

Data-driven solutions from another up-and-coming player in the industry. Innovaccer is all about presenting you with a complete patient history, aggregating records from across the breadth of the industry to present you with the full clinical picture, Visit their website to see the tools they offer to enable appropriate and informed patient care. We love their focus and the company is growing exponentially. Another “must watch” for 2021. Connect with Innovaccer on Twitter

48. CareSignal

Founders: Avik Som, Blake Marggraff, Evan Huang, and Joe McDonald
Sectors: Data, Software, Patient Care, Applications
Established: 2015
Core Product/Service: Deviceless Remote Patient Monitoring
Country: USA
Strategic Partners: Please refer to their website

Wondering how to connect your applications and devices to care platforms that are accessible to providers? Visit CareSignal for solutions. Remote monitoring for value-based care organizations. CareSignal Deviceless RPM is accessible, scalable, and cost-effective. CareSignal offers an essential piece of the data puzzle. Remote monitoring that is accessible to any Patient. Connect with them on Twitter

49. John Snow Labs

Key Member: David Talby, CTO
Sectors: Software, AI, Natural Language Processing
Established: 2015
Core Product/Service: Spark NLP
Country: USA
Strategic Partners: Refer to their website

NLP and AI form an integral part of the evolution of seamless software in digital healthcare. Spark is the most widely used NLP library in the industry. John Snow Labs helps to bridge the gap between AI and human input with their Spark NLP platform. Reach out to them to learn how their products can improve your accuracy, speed, and scalability. Connect with John Snow Labs on Twitter.

50. Lisa Health

Founders: Ann Garnier and Giovanni Colella, MD
Sectors: Software, Women’s Health, Healthcare Platform
Established: 2017
Core Product/Service: Support network for Menopause
Country: USA

A hidden gem. We’ve included this last entry as a shout-out to an up-and-coming platform that focuses on women’s health, specifically menopausal women, and helping them through the phases of menopause. We’d love to see this rolled out to care providers. Connect with Lisa Health and support them on their journey. There is, in our opinion, insufficient focus placed on patient-facing tools for women’s health, and this application is exactly what the doctor ordered. Connect with Lisa Health on Twitter

Errors, omissions, and corrections

Please get in touch with editorial@medika.life to report any of the above or to flame us for not including you. We welcome all communication and our editors respond to all the emails we receive.

Biases

This list carries a distinctly western flavor. We are painfully aware of it.

This is largely due to the “network bubble” we function in and we are addressing this to make future lists more inclusive. If you are from distant shores, particularly Asia, India, and the Arabian peninsula, please do connect with us. Healthcare is a global issue and the efficacy and speed with which we address disparities are largely determined by the reach of our networks.

The post Fifty of the Most Impactful Tech Innovators in Digital Health in 2021 appeared first on Medika Life.

The pandemic proved new therapeutics and vaccines are able to navigate through the bureaucratic quagmire when there is the public will to make it happen. New antivirals therapies, monoclonal antibodies, and mRNA vaccines are now saving lives. 

These success stories are outliers. In reality, pharmaceutical and medical device innovations move through the system at a snail’s pace. 

A product must pass through a lengthy FDA approval process to verify safety and efficacy. Despite FDA approval, a new medical device still can not get into the hands of surgeons. New technologies run into a brick wall as they fight for acceptance as an approved product by third-party payers. 

Insurance companies hide behind the word “investigational” to justify the denial of care. An FDA-approved medical device has little value to doctors and patients if none of the third-party payers pay for its use. 

Every insurance company must accept and authorize a new medication or medical device into their approved formulary before it is considered a covered benefit. Even after CMS approval, each managed care Medicare and Medicaid plan also submit new products to this lengthy process.

Medical practices spend countless hours jumping through pre-authorization hoops and appealing denied claims. 

We invest this time and energy to get our patients the most effective options, but patient care does not have to be so hard. Patients want doctors to spend time in the exam room, not writing insurance appeal letters. 

Finn Partners manager of global health, Gil Bashe, summarizes the barriers stifling medical device innovation in his article “Investigational” Is Payer Code for “Coverage Denied”. 

It is time for insurance companies to tear down the walls, stop playing games and help doctors provide the best care to their patients. 

The post Nonsensical Processes Prevent Patient Access to New and Safe Treatments appeared first on Medika Life.

The PPN is ranked in the top 25 podcasts in the same category as Bloomberg News, the Economist, and Wall Street Journal’s podcasts, Business News, and is the most accessed podcast platform in the world for the pharmacy professional — with nearly 80,000 listeners.

Meet Founder and CEO, Todd Eury

Pittsburgh native Todd Eury from Brownsville, Pennsylvania, started the first podcast centered on Pharmacy in 2009. Today, a decade later, the original blog site has grown into the global leader in podcasting about the pharmacy business and profession.

Known affectionately as The Pharmacy’s Biggest Fan, Todd is one of, if not the, most influential voice in pharmacy in the U.S and he has earned his wings in the industry the hard way. He boasts years of experience, including positions such as Associate Director of the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association, founder of Pharmacy Future Leaders (a pharmacy student mentoring program), and Director of Business Development at New Season.

Todd currently serves as a member of The Board of Directors of American Pharmacy Purchasing Alliance. He is also the Founder and serves on the Advisory Board of Shift.Health, Shift.Health board is made up of the healthcare marketing industry’s most influential leaders & voices that are both established and emerging, representing both the present and future of the healthcare industry.

Despite his rise to fame, Todd Eury remains approachable and his genuine love for the pharmacy industry is palpable. He engages openly on social media and is supportive, clearly intent on “paying back” to his industry. If your business or vision relates to healthcare and pharma/pharmacy Todd is your man and Pharmacy Podcast Network is your channel of choice.

Getting in touch with Todd

Visit Pharmacy Podcast Network

The post Todd Eury, Pharmacy Podcast Network appeared first on Medika Life.