Announcing the Finalists of GuideWell's Caring for Caregivers Challenge

GuideWell, in collaboration with Catalyst @ Health 2.0, is excited to announce the finalists of the Caring for Caregivers Challenge! GuideWell sought organizations with programs, platforms, technology systems or services that enable family caregivers to provide in-home care of adult family members and improve the quality of life for both caregivers and care recipients.

$50,000 was awarded to the Caring for Caregivers Challenge finalists:

Carallel, LLC (Lake Forest, Ill.): Through the use of a digital platform, Carallel provides tools and personal guidance to help caregivers manage their caregiving responsibilities in one place. “MyCareDesk” is a fully-integrated support system that assists caregivers with planning and coordinating tasks and accessing resources across a range of topics including senior living, in-home care, health, wealth and lifestyle.

Embodied Labs (Los Angeles): Using a virtual reality (VR) training platform designed for family caregivers, care partners or anyone providing support to care recipients, Embodied Labs simulates what it is like to live with certain health conditions. The immersive technology provides a unique learning experience that allows caregivers to experience life from the perspective of someone in need of caregiving.

LifePod Solutions, Inc (Boston): LifePod is a proactive voice caregiving service that monitors and supports older adults in their homes and provides real-time alerts, daily reports and peace of mind to caregivers. Through the use of a smart speaker, LifePod can be set up and controlled by a remote caregiver using an intuitive, online portal to configure and schedule check-ins, reminders and virtual companionship.

TCARE, Inc (St. Louis): The evidence-based IT software system is designed to delay nursing home placement, reduce caregiver burnout and help family caregivers keep their loved ones at home longer. Through a cloud-based management system, TCare provides care planning tools, assessments, community resource links and decision-making software to support informal caregivers and help reduce caregiving stress.

These amazing teams successfully completed the competition’s “testing phase” and will now proceed to the three month “validation phase” where they will work with GuideWell to conduct external market testing or validation of their approaches. Participants that successfully demonstrate the capability to scale their solution with a large population of caregivers will be awarded an additional $50,000 and up to two finalists may have the opportunity to pilot their solution with GuideWell.

Congratulations to the GuideWell Caring for Caregivers Challenge finalists and best of luck as you continue with the competition!

VA Expands Use of Telehealth and Digital Sensors & More News

VA’s Modernized Approach with Telehealth and Sensors

Since the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) launched the “Anywhere to Anywhere” initiative in May 2018, VA health care teams have been able to treat veterans regardless of their location-- which has contributed to a surge in telehealth adoption. In a recent announcement, the VA reported a 17% increase in telehealth visits from the previous fiscal year. More than 900,000 veterans adopted virtual care. With studies supporting telehealth’s ability to reach vets in rural areas, expand mental health care services, and improve clinical efficiency, the VA hopes to further telehealth’s reach. The agency is looking to expand the Accessing Telehealth through Local Area Stations (ATLAS) program, which provides care for veterans who live long distances from VA medical centers or have poor internet connections. The program will now pilot at American Legion Posts, Veterans of Foreign War posts, and Walmart stores across America.

The VA is also turning to digital sensors to tackle the problem of diabetic foot ulcers (DFU). Currently, 15 VA Medical Center use Podimetrics, a smart sensor mat designed for a patient’s home. It analyzes foot temperature variations to predict/prevent the occurence of potential ulcers. The user stands on the mat for 20 seconds, then the data is analyzed and sent to the Podimetrics care team. The team examines and triages the data and works with the patient’s physician on preventative treatments and coaching. In a study led by the VA, Podimetrics detected 97% of developing ulcers on average 5 weeks before it would be clinically detected. With more than 75,000 vets suffering from DFU last year, the VA hopes the regional rollout of Podimetrics will help more diabetic vets.

Singapore’s AI Strategy: National Retina-based Screening

Singapore is counting on Artificial Intelligence (AI) to catalyze the nation’s economy and its citizens’ well-being. During the SFF X SWITCH (Singapore Fintech Festival and Singapore Week of Innovation and Technology) Conference, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Heng Swee Keat, announced the country’s national AI strategy for five priority areas: transport/logistics, smart cities, health care, education, and safety/security.

For health, Singapore’s AI strategy will focus on chronic disease management and prevention. In three years, it hopes to launch Selena+, a system that analyzes retinal photographs across the nation for diabetes screening. By 2025, it aims to develop a retina-based risk score for high glucose, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol (3H) related cardiovascular disease. By 2030, the nation hopes to collaborate with industry partners to develop AI models for 3H.

Grow Your Senior Care Solution with GuideWell’s Scale Up Accelerator Program!

GuideWell is hosting an exciting eight week health and wellness technology accelerator program for innovators who have solutions that provide affordable, accessible health care or holistic solutions for diverse aging populations. With the number of Americans over 65 projected to hit 71 million by 2030, GuideWell is seeking solutions that address critical problems faced by America’s rapidly growing senior population. 

GuideWell is particularly interested in solutions in the following areas:

• Novel approaches to increase the affordability and accessibility of health care for seniors that are economically challenged, or that are cared for by a working family member

• Easy-to-use solutions that enable seniors to improve overall physical and emotional wellness

• Solutions that connect seniors into their communities

The program begins January 23rd, 2020 and will consist of a two-day kickoff boot camp, followed by weekly mentoring sessions and a series of virtual workshops that focus on challenges in the health care industry (e.g. customer acquisition, regulatory compliance, etc.). It will culminate in a curated Investor Matchmaking Showcase at GuideWell’s Innovation Center in Orlando, FL on March 9th, 2020, where companies will have the amazing opportunity to present their innovative technologies to investors. 

If you have a solution that can empowers seniors across the nation, apply today! Applications close December 8th, 2019. 

https://guidewellinnovation.com/guidewell-scale-up-accelerator

Medication Adherence Facilitated by Smartphones & More News

Study Shows Wireless Tech Effective for Medication Adherence

A recent study explored the effects of wirelessly observed therapy (WOT) on medication adherence in tuberculosis (TB) patients. WOT includes an ingestible sensor and external wearable patch paired with a mobile device that detects and records the ingestion of medication. Researchers found WOT was as accurate as in-person observations and better at supporting confirmed daily adherence. In addition, patients preferred WOT over in-person observation. Medication adherence is crucial to treat TB and prevent its spread; thus, WOT may be an impactful method to facilitate patients’ self-management of their medications and ensure they complete their treatment.

Amazon's Textract Innovates Simple Optical Character Recognition

Amazon has made its next leap into the digital health market. Textract is the latest of Amazon’s AI and Cloud tools to become HIPAA eligible. The technology reduces labour intensive work like manual data entry by accurately and effectively analyzing documents using machine learning-- bypassing the need for human intervention or customization. Textract is already being explored by companies such as Cambia Health Solutions and Change Healthcare to optimize care coordination and streamline administrative processes. The ability to customize Textract and utilize it in HIPAA compliant ways, will expand how health care providers can use the tool.

Smartphone-based Interventions Can Positively Impact Behavior

A study conducted by researchers at Stanford University found that behavioral interventions, delivered through a smartphone, significantly increased daily short-term physical activity. The trial was run through the MyHeart Counts App. Following a baseline period, participants were assigned one of four different smartphone-based interventions such as hourly prompts and personalized coaching messages. Results indicated that all four interventions significantly increased mean step count when compared to baseline, suggesting that digital interventions delivered via mobile apps can impact behavior. In addition, the medium through which the study itself was conducted, an iPhone, illustrates how technology can reduce barriers to entry for individuals to participate in research. This study is the latest to examine the intersection between research and health tech, highlighting the interest in digital behavioral tracking and optimization.

Announcing CalMHSA's Help@Hand Project!

According to the California Health Care Foundation, from 2012-2014, nearly 20% of Californian adults who sought mental health treatment did not receive it. It is believed that these figures may even be understated, as The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has cited that nearly 60% of American adults with mental illness do not receive any treatment. Unmet mental health needs in California are attributed to a lack of access to appropriate services and providers, as well as the cost of care, a factor that is often exacerbated by a lack of health insurance.

While traditional mental health services play an important role in supporting those in need, novel technologies can complement standard care delivery and provide individuals and communities with more accessible and optimized mental health services that focus on prevention, early intervention, family support, and social connectedness. 

The Help@Hand Project is a California statewide collaborative project to bring technology-based mental health solutions to the public mental health system through a highly innovative “suite” of digital solutions. The project aims to expand access to mental health services by engaging and treating individuals that are underserved in the current traditional care delivery model. With technology becoming an integral part of everyday life, the collaborative hopes to leverage familiar devices as means to connect and better serve those in need. This Help@Hand project will utilize applications on smartphones, tablets, digital devices, or computers as a tool to engage, support and give access to treatment using innovative virtual engagement strategies. Focus areas include:

1.            Peer Chat and Digital Therapeutics

2.            Virtual Evidence Based Therapy Utilizing an Avatar

3.            Passive Data Collection for Early Detection and Intervention

The California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA) is an independent administrative and fiscal government agency focused on the efficient delivery of California mental health projects. CalMHSA members work together to develop, fund, and implement mental health services, projects, and educational programs. As of June 2019, 56 counties and 2 cities are active members of CalMHSA.

The CalMHSA collaborative is currently funding a large-scale initiative to pilot and deploy digital platforms that expand the capacity and capability of county mental health systems. If you are a technology vendor looking for the opportunity to pilot your mental health and well-being digital solution with counties in California, please apply today for a chance to be part of this amazing initiative!

How It Works

What Applicants Need to Know:  The multi-year innovation project will consist of a RFSQ open application period (September 12th – October 7th, 2019) and a subsequent pilot period that allows the opportunity for vendors to be added to the Help@Hand Product Portfolio. After a vendor is included in the “Tech Suite,” all counties participating in the project can view company and product profiles and may choose to implement technologies at a larger scale.

Applications close on October 7th, 2019 – Act fast! Learn more here.

Israel’s $276M Investment in Preventive and Personalized Medicine

Israel is a center for healthcare innovation, with 500 digital health startups and a world-class healthcare system. Researchers are leveraging the country’s interoperable EHRs for analysis. They can easily obtain data since EHR systems at different hospitals throughout the country are able to talk to one another.

According to Siman-Tov, director general of Israel’s Ministry of Health, de-identified patient data is enabling researchers to “generate insights and identify patterns that can later be implemented in decision support systems.” For example researchers from Clalit, the largest healthcare system in the country, have used medical records to identify patient populations with adrenal failure at risk of further degradation. In addition to furthering preventative medicine at a population-level, researchers plan to leverage the data in support of advancements in personalized medicine. Last year, Israel’s government approved a $276M investment in digital health in hopes of commercializing their medical databanks. Having already attracted the interest of many stakeholders, Israel continues to solidify its position as a leader in digital health innovation.