New patients at a cancer center in Michigan receive a 79-page handbook when their treatments commence. The handbook includes needed advice on what to eat and the side effects of chemotherapy drugs. One double-sided page features information about how to navigate the financial aspects of cancer treatment, including who to contact for help with medical bills.
For Leslie Vreeland-Corpe of Michigan, one double-sided page couldn’t contain all the information she needed. After being diagnosed
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COPD
Why a Focus on Behavioral Health is Key to Improving Quality Measures
Since the passage of the Medicare Improvements for Patients & Providers Act in 2008, the U.S. healthcare system has been moving towards value-based care (VBC) which encourages health providers to improve care quality by reimbursing them based on successful outcomes rather than individual medical services. The overarching goal of VBC is to improve the patient experience, improve population health, and reduce per capita health costs.
As part of this VBC model, hospitals and health systems
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VillageMD Acquires Patient Education Platform Healthy Interactions
What You Should Know:
- VillageMD announced it has acquired Healthy Interactions, which helps patients manage chronic conditions through interactive educational programming as part of a stronger patient-provider relationship.
- The Healthy Interactions program, which offers virtual, in-person and hybrid sessions, will be available from Village Medical and Village Medical at Walgreens providers in 14 markets by the end of 2022. More than 30 million patients around the world have used
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Respira Launches AI Wearable for Lung Function for COPD, COVID, Asthma
What You Should Know:
- Today, Respira is introducing its AI wearable technology to monitor for certain very serious lung conditions. According to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) and COVID-19 were the 3rd and 4th global causes of death during the height of the pandemic. Asthma, according to the World Health Organization, is the most common chronic disease among children.
- Chest wearable uses tiny speakers and microphones to
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Wellinks Secures $25M to Expand Virtual COPD Management Solution
What You Should Know:
Wellinks, a digital health company for virtual COPD, announced it has closed a $25M funding round, led by new investor Morningside Venture Investments and joined by returning investors HighCape Capital, Connecticut Innovations, Benslie Ltd., and Stonehenge Capital.
- COPD is the third leading cause of death by disease in the U.S. and the fifth most costly chronic condition, with an estimated $49.9 billion spent annually. Unfortunately, the current care system for COPD
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Digital Therapeutics Startup Kaia Health Raises $75M to Optimize MSK & COPD Care
What You Should Know:
- Digital therapeutics company, Kaia Health, has raised $75M Series C round (total: $125M) to expand clinical capabilities and transform the treatment path for Musculoskeletal (MSK) and Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) care in the U.S. and Europe.
- The Series C round was led by an unnamed leading growth equity fund with support from existing investors, including Optum Ventures, Eurazeo, 3VC, Balderton Capital, Heartcore Capital,
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Highmark Health Taps Verily to Build Digital Health Tools for Living Health Model
What You Should Know:
- Highmark Health has engaged Verily to build out digital health tools for patients and analytics solutions for Highmark’s clinicians as part of its Living Health model. This marks the first collaboration of its kind for Verily, Google Cloud and a partner.
- Highmark Health is a Blue Cross Blue Shield health plan based in Western PA with 4.5 million members and an integrated delivery system (Allegheny) with 9
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Wolters Kluwer Launches Alexa Skill to Keep Patients Engaged With Their Care Team at Home
What
You Should Know:
-
Wolters Kluwer, Health launches new Alexa skill, Emmi Care Plan to keep patients
engaged with their care team at home following discharge from the hospital.
- Using a natural dialogue that automatically adjusts to patient responses, customers can engage with the skill on Alexa-enabled devices simply by saying, “Alexa, ask Emmi Care Plan” to complete periodic health assessments, reminders, and additional education.
To keep health consumers engaged with their
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Brigham, Biofourmis Co-Develops Tech Solution to Enable Home Hospital Care
What You Should Know:
- Brigham is working with Biofourmis on a national
rollout of their co-developed technology solution, which has been refined and
scaled for use by other healthcare systems across the country seeking to
establish and execute similar home hospital programs to alleviate COVID-related
capacity issues and to receive 1:1 parity on payments from CMS.
- The Hospital@HomeTM platform provides a turnkey,
end-to-end ecosystem for any health system that wants to quickly launch
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Aptar Pharma Acquires the Assets of Respiratory Startup Cohero Health
What You Should Know:
- Apstar Pharma acquires the assets of respiratory health company Cohero Health to expands its digital portfolio with a focus on respiratory disease management.
- Cohero Health develops digital tools and technologies to improve respiratory care, reduce avoidable costs, and optimize medication utilization.
AptarGroup, Inc., a global leader in consumer dispensing, active packaging, drug delivery solutions, and services, announces that it has acquired all operating
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