Patient demand for a digitized healthcare experience exploded during the Covid-19 pandemic. Not only did telehealth visits spike dramatically amid rising coronavirus cases, but healthcare consumers also showed a preference for providers offering online scheduling. Further, about 65% of people plan to continue to use telehealth after the pandemic ends, according to a survey conducted
Patient Engagement
Carevive Systems, an oncology-focused health technology company, has raised $18 million in an oversubscribed Series C equity round. The round, led by Philips Health Technology Ventures, includes Debiopharm Innovation Fund, Qure Ventures, and prior investors, like Cerner and LRVHealth. The company surpassed its initial goal of $10 million, closing at $18 million, a testament to
Most people have watched the minutes tick by in a waiting room while their doctor’s appointment is running late. For clinics, it’s also a concern, as physicians rework schedules and front desk staff talk to frustrated patients. Dr. Jennifer Meller, an internal medicine physician, teamed up with her classmate Kavita Mangal at Wharton Business School
A major concern during the Covid-19 pandemic has been that Americans, especially those with underlying conditions, will delay necessary care. New survey results show this concern is not unfounded. As of last September, about 40% of Americans with one or more chronic health conditions reported delaying or avoiding care, according to a new report from
Digital health startup Sharecare plans to go public through a merger with a special purpose acquisition company. Photo credit: Sharecare Digital health startup Sharecare confirmed reports that it plans to go public through a merger with a blank-check company. The Atlanta-based startup plans to merge with a special-purpose acquisition company created by Alan Mnuchin, CEO
When Verily unveiled $700 million in funding late last year, it said the cash would support its Covid-19 research. Some of those research plans are now taking shape. Verily, the life sciences division of Google parent company Alphabet, is adding Covid-19 to Project Baseline, an expansive study collecting health data from thousands of patient volunteers
Seniors aren’t the technophobes that popular stereotypes suggest them to be — and in recent years, Medicare Advantage plans have begun to recognize that fact. Seniors’ growing tech-friendliness is, after all, well-documented. In 2019, AARP researchers found that 77 percent of seniors had smartphones, and nine out of ten adults aged 50 and older who
Wellness startup Sharecare may go public through a special purpose acquisition company, according to a report from Reuters. A digital health company started by WebMD Founder Jeff Arnold and Dr. Mehmet Oz is reportedly in talks to go public through a blank-check deal. Citing anonymous sources, Reuters reported that Sharecare would acquire healthcare artificial intelligence
Since the start of the pandemic, more companies have adopted digital tools to give people access to mental healthcare. Investors poured a record amount into these tools, roughly $2 billion in equity funding, according to data from CBInsights. Startups got a boost when the Food and Drug Administration waived regulatory requirements that “computerized behavioral therapy
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City expanded its partnership with HealthMine, a technology company providing member engagement solutions, to build a rewards program for the payer’s individual and family Affordable Care Act members. The Missouri-based payer, also known as Blue KC, has an existing partnership with HealthMine to offer a rewards program for
Nine months into the pandemic that has killed more than 320,000 people in the U.S., Kim Larson is still trying to convince others in her northern Montana county that Covid-19 is dangerous. As Hill County Health Department director and county health officer, Larson continues to hear people say the coronavirus is just like a bad
UnitedHealthcare is providing members of its Motion program access to Apple Fitness+ workout classes, powered by Apple Watch, for at least six months and at no additional cost. UnitedHealthcare Motion is a well-being program that enables people to earn over $1,000 per year by meeting certain daily activity goals, Rebecca Madsen, UnitedHealthcare’s chief consumer officer,
The first Covid-19 vaccine was administered to a New York-based critical care nurse on Monday — a scientific breakthrough and a hope for the end of a devastating pandemic that continues to take thousands of lives across the U.S. The next challenge will be getting the vaccine into the hands of people who need it
QliqSOFT and CPSI are collaborating to release the COVID-19 Vaccination Assistant, a chatbot designed to help healthcare providers address patient concerns as the country prepares for the new coronavirus vaccine. CPSI, a healthcare solutions provider for community hospitals, will make the chatbot available to all its customers in early 2021. The chatbot, created by healthcare
Developing a digital care strategy that provides a satisfying patient experience is a balancing act. Patients know an in-person visit with a specialist or that addresses multiple complex issues will come at some cost. But they expect a smaller pricetag for care for low-acuity conditions that can be addressed quickly and easily. Although most patients
The impact Covid-19 has had on people with chronic conditions has been dramatic. Among those younger than 65 who died from the virus, 20% had diabetes, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, based on data collected through November 14. The virus poses myriad challenges for people struggling with Type
Pharma companies’ efforts to develop a better understanding of their customers have faced challenges of navigating disparate, aging systems that make this process time-consuming and inefficient. The massive consolidation trend in healthcare also risks wrongfooting pharma businesses with out-of-date information and adds to the complexity of this challenge. Salesforce is seeking to remedy these problems
WELL Health, a provider of patient communications solutions, has raised $45 million in a Series C funding round. This is the company’s first publicly announced investment, and it comes alongside the news that it has tapped Dr. Dana Gelb Safran, a founding executive at Haven, to serve in a senior vice president position. WELL Health,
Easy-to-understand bills and access to more payment plan options would improve their payment experience at hospitals, a majority of patients said in a new report from healthcare revenue cycle firm Waystar. Billing and patient collections are a uniquely frustrating pain point in the U.S. healthcare system. As a result of rising out-of-pocket costs and the
EHR giant Cerner Corp. has collaborated with WELL Health, a provider of patient communication solutions, to introduce new text message capabilities enabling clinicians and patients to communicate more easily. The texting feature will be fully integrated into Cerner’s patient portal. As other industries become increasingly mobile-friendly, consumers are expecting the same level of convenience and