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2020 STA Nominee Cities Feature Electrification, Pedestrian Design, and Low-Cost Interventions from Africa, Asia, and Americas

For 16 years, the Sustainable Transport Award (STA) has showcased cities that demonstrate political courage by implementing innovative sustainable transport projects. This year is no different. The 15 nominated cities for the STA hail from Africa, Asia, South America, and North America and feature transportation interventions from electrified vehicles and widened walkways to new transportation lines. This year, as in others, demonstrates that size, both in city and project, is not the largest determining factor regarding impact. In fact, it is often the small, on-the-ground, and low-cost interventions such as sidewalk improvements, bus frequency, and or parking reform that make the biggest difference in people’s lives. With the political will for improvements, any city can make adjustments large and small that transform lives. This was evident in the nominees where cities of all sizes presented an impressive collection of innovations all with the same goal of improved sustainable transportation.

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Health Technology, Digital Healthcare

Transforming Digital Healthcare Software through AI-Enhanced UX Testing

Article | September 8, 2023

Embracing the AI Revolution: Transforming Digital Healthcare Software through AI-Enhanced UX Testing The wave of demographic change sweeping the United States presents an urgent call to action for healthcare providers. According to the US Census Bureau, adults over 65 will account for a quarter of the US population by 2060, signaling a drastic shift in healthcare delivery needs. More than half a million of this demographic will be centenarians, accentuating the need for digital experiences tailored to seniors' unique needs. Despite the rapid advancement of digital health technologies, research indicates that many senior citizens struggle to adapt. A recent study reported that 40% of adults over 65 believe their telemedicine visit was inferior to traditional in-person care, with a meager 5% finding it superior. The promise of convenience delivered by digital health is often overshadowed by the frustration associated with technical difficulties. An astounding 75% of senior citizens admit they need assistance when using new electronic devices. Let's consider the patient portal app, a common touchpoint in the digital health journey. Despite its apparent simplicity, seniors find processes like logging in troublesome due to issues like forgotten passwords, technical bugs, or content readability. This scenario underlines the crucial need for comprehensive User Experience (UX) testing to eliminate these barriers and provide a seamless digital health experience. The Complex Landscape of Healthcare UX Testing The complexity of UX testing in healthcare has been exacerbated by the interplay of multiple modules, services, platforms, and vendors. Take Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems, for instance, which undergo frequent updates, each one potentially impacting the system as a whole. Traditional manual testing methodologies are proving to be time-consuming and costly. Though automation has revolutionized sectors from automotive to finance, the healthcare industry appears to be lagging. A study by the Health Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) reveals that a mere 15% of healthcare providers have adopted modern test automation platforms. Meanwhile, a significant 41% still rely on manual testing. As EMR systems grow increasingly complex and customized, this over-reliance on manual testing poses daunting challenges. The gravity of this issue is amplified by a startling revelation from the HIMSS study - only 6% of healthcare executive leaders express confidence in their organizations' testing practices. In an increasingly digitized healthcare environment, such a low level of assurance raises substantial concerns about patient safety. Although 75% of the surveyed providers have invested in software testing to safeguard their bottom lines, nearly two-thirds confess feeling inadequately resourced in terms of time, money, and talent to meet future testing requirements. As the list of testing demands grows, QA teams are frequently stretched thin, leaving many potential user journey scenarios untested. The Power of AI in UX Testing for Better Patient Outcomes AI technologies hold the potential to revolutionize UX testing in healthcare. The modern healthcare application is a labyrinth of potential user journeys - a typical mobile application model can yield over 9 billion separate scenarios. To effectively navigate this colossal testing landscape, test automation tools employing Machine Learning (ML) algorithms are critical. By analyzing historical patterns, prioritized cases, and real-user insights, ML algorithms can auto-generate test cases and meticulously scrutinize each user interaction. This approach ensures an optimal digital experience and robust coverage of potential issues. The HIMSS study also provides a glimmer of hope, revealing that nearly 80% of healthcare providers plan to adopt real-time testing analytics for quality assurance. AI's role becomes pivotal in augmenting the capacity of software testing teams in this scenario. By leveraging historical patterns and prioritizing test cases, ML-powered testing tools can automate crucial tests across various platforms, devices, and operating systems. This symbiosis of human expertise and AI not only bolsters productivity but enables comprehensive testing coverage within tight time constraints. The Future of Healthcare Software UX Testing The path to perfecting a patient’s digital journey is fraught with challenges. Healthcare organizations venturing into automated software testing or contemplating in-house tool replacement must stay abreast of evolving healthcare testing requirements. This understanding is key when evaluating automation vendors against the backdrop of regulatory standards. Opting for a technology-agnostic solution ensures extensive test coverage, boosts efficiency, and guarantees longevity as technologies advance. Introducing your software QA teams to user-friendly, low/no-code test automation tools can simplify the onboarding process and fosters better collaboration with Dev teams and business testers. As we stand at the precipice of this transformative period in healthcare, it's clear that the AI revolution holds the key to unlocking the future of digital healthcare UX testing. By harnessing AI's potential, healthcare providers can ensure a user-friendly, seamless digital experience for the fastest-growing demographic, setting new industry standards in the process.

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Healthtech Security

3 IT Investment Strategies Hospitals Can Use to Improve Patient Care

Article | November 29, 2023

Rural, community, and independent hospitals are constantly facing mounting challenges in the form of staff shortages, accessibility to patient care and a multitude of cost concerns. Getting even one of these areas under control can help hospitals drastically boost their outcomes. Here are three areas of IT investment that hospitals must control to go beyond staying functional and create an excellent patient experience. Telehealth for Staff Shortage Healthcare currently face massive staff shortage with a projected gap of up to 48,000 primary care physicians and up to 77,100 specialty physicians till 2034. The effects of this shortage could be lessened by using virtual care, which would allow hospitals to care for patients through remote staffing. Digitalizing Patient Care with Asynchronous Telehealth Async telehealth of patients sending photos and videos to fast-track diagnosis. Async telehealth makes it easier for doctors to connect with more patients. This shortens the time it takes to see specialists and get important care services. Remote Patient Monitoring According to a CDC report, 90% of all healthcare spending goes into treating chronic conditions. Considering that U.S. nonmetropolitan areas have a high number of patients diagnosed with chronic conditions, accessibility is one of the contributing factors. Remote patient monitoring enhances patient care for people with chronic conditions. Wearable medical devices are already driving the move towards remote patient monitoring. Whether it’s through wearable weight scales, heart monitors, blood pressure bands, or pulse oximeters, clinicians can generate regular updates about a patient’s health readings and ensure a timely response in order to avert complications. Conclusion There is much to be achieved on the healthcare front when it comes to digitalizing care. The above technologies are enabling healthcare providers take delivery of medical care further than ever and ensure they generate more traction from their IT investments in these areas of medtech.

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Healthtech Security

9 Ways UVC Light Tech Can Safeguard Staff & Patron Health

Article | August 31, 2023

As COVID-19 rages on, warning sirens have sounded of late amid a flurry of headlines surrounding Ultraviolet-C (UVC) light device safety issues. Rightfully so, as the current pandemic has ushered in a veritable “wild west” of UVC gadget deployments with subpar consumer safeguards, instructions or guidance. So important are the concerns amid this rapidly proliferating product sphere, the FDA recently issued a consumer advisory regarding UVC light technology that’s applicable for industrial, business, travel and residential use. Once largely a germicidal method leveraged in hospital, industrial and other commercial settings for its extreme efficacy, today’s breed of UVC technologies are small, portable and inexpensive enough to be making their way into businesses of every type across the globe—and even traverse with individuals while they’re out and about. This, as generalist retailers like Amazon and Walmart have joined the fray in their attempts to divert market share from the more specialized, expert-driven, safety-focused UVC purveyors. While germ-killing UVC technologies do proffer tremendous advantages and results for users—serving as a potent tool for easily and effectively eradicating harmful viruses, bacteria, pathogens and microorganisms—there are a number of considerations a business (or employee) should heed before procuring and using such a powerful device. This includes, but is certainly not limited to, why; when; where; and how it will be used—variables that impact safety and risk concerns related to UVC wavelength, dose and duration of radiation exposure. Shopping in this category can be equally overwhelming. One need only Google “UVC lamps,” which delivers nearly 100,000 results, to realize how bloated this category has become. Amid the chaos, I did happen upon a highly targeted, category-dedicated source wholly dedicated to UVC technologies: CureUV.com. This company draws on over 20-years of expertise in the design, development and provision of technologically advanced UV products and solutions. Today, they are a premier provider of germicidal UVC light solutions for commercial, industrial, portable, residential and even water applications. While its form factor catalog is copious, below are a few of CureUV’s more popular UVC devices starting under $90 that proffer chemical-free disinfection, which can help ensure your spaces remain free of illness-causing microbial contaminants like viruses, bacteria, mold and other fungi: Rechargeable Handheld UV Sanitizer Wand With Digital Timer Here's a highly portable way to eliminate germs and have a cleaner environment no matter where you may be. This powerful UVC illumination system, which retails around $89, eradicates up to 99.9 percent of viruses, bacteria, germs, mold, dust mite eggs and flea eggs on surfaces. This non-chemical option adds an extra layer of safety to you with no hazardous residue. It contains a 6-inch UVC lightbulb allowing for a wider coverage of area as well as accelerating sanitation in the process. A built in timer inside the device allows you to keep track of desired dosage creating precise sanitation sessions-- anywhere from 5 to 60 minutes to indefinite. Its silent operation allows for a noise free solution for sanitation, and sleek and cordless and lightweight design is perfect for travel however near or far--daily around town or those hotel visits. Sanitize how you want in your desired target area or on your personal items keeping them germ free. An internal rechargeable battery saves money on replaceable battery purchases as compared to various other handheld wands on the market. GermAwayUV 18-Watt Handheld UVC Surface Sanitizer This device offers reliable and highly portable sanitizing performance at an entry-level price. Indeed, at under $120, this is an affordable, dual-bulb, handheld UV sanitizer that still maintains power levels similar to more industrial UV surface sanitizers. This lightweight and ergonomically designed 18-watt UVC sanitizer will give you much peace of mind. It has a 6-foot cord adequate for most applications, but the sanitizer will run easily with virtually any simple power extension. Its two 9-watt UVC sanitizer bulbs are guaranteed to produce UV light in the 253.7 nanometer (nm) wavelength, which has been consistently proven to eliminate all illness-causing microorganisms. It's the perfect tool to disinfect high use and traffic areas, as well as locations where bacteria and viruses congregate like bathrooms, door handles, seating areas and cooking/dining spaces. It'll prevent the spread of harmful bacteria and microorganisms, or simply add an extra layer of cleanliness and protection to your cleaning procedures. It comes bundled with protective amber UV safety glasses. Deluxe GermAwayUV 95-Watt UVC Surface Sanitizer with Cage With a 95-watt bulb, this chemical-free, tabletop UV room and surface sanitizer is the strongest of its kind. It will result in effective room sanitation by killing up to 99.9 percent of bacteria, viruses, mold spores, yeasts, C. diff, odors and other harmful microorganisms. With a simple touch of a button you'll be able to leave the room while the entire space is cleaned and disinfected in a matter of minutes. The device has five time settings: 10, 20, 30 and 60 minutes; and hold for indefinite run time. After the selected dosage time has elapsed, the device will automatically shut off. You can use it regularly to ensure a consistently clean room. Heavy Duty Dual Bulb 72-Watt HVAC UV Air Purifier Suitable for use anywhere, including schools, offices, work-floors and medical rooms to sanitize air and environmental surfaces, this device is effective in small and large rooms/buildings alike, up to 2,400 square feet. With a powerful 72-watt bulb and a standard electrical unit, you can insert this premium UVC bulb into any HVAC system as an easy add on to sanitize the air in the system. Typical air purifier units and HVAC systems are definitely useful, designed to filter and ventilate air well. But even the finest filters can’t stop atomic sized bacteria and viruses. This device is therefore a great extra add on because it really does target and stop bacteria and viruses from circulating. It sanitizes and disinfects air passing through the HVAC system. Its 72-watt bulb emits UVC light of 254nm and is the most powerful bulb. Most devices are typically only effective in small rooms, but with this level of wattage you can use this device in large rooms and building types. At its wavelength, the emitted light is able to penetrate and kill the DNA of atomic sized organisms that create problems for humans. UVC emission also acts to eliminate mold spores, yeast and fungi. So, inserting this unit device into your existing HVAC system ensures that not only will the air that moves through your building be ventilated, it will also be irradiated and disinfected as it passes over the bulb. Instead of just filtered air in your system, you’ll end up with sanitized, healthy air. Add on (retrofit) features like this one are great because you can just insert them into an already installed and operating HVAC system with minimal additional running costs. This device is easy to install and is capable of DIY application. Other available HVAC retrofit air sanitation and purification solutions include a coil scrubber or 36-watt HVAC UVC air purifier. GermAwayUV High Occupancy Wall Mountable 150-Watt Air Purifier and Sanitizer This is a safe and efficient way to sanitize and disinfect the air in high traffic occupied areas. Simply mount the sanitizer on the wall as you would hang a TV or mount a standalone AC system and let the system do its magic. The air purifier will use its powerful, yet quiet, fan to continually cycle all of the air in the room through the system. Once the air does so, it will be met by a quintuple filtration and sanitation system that culminates in a full 150-watt UVC germicidal irradiation. Put this system in a busy hallway, a crowded restaurant, a veterinary clinic with high traffic, a busy office, etc… and it will eliminate bacteria, viruses and harmful pollutants as quickly as possible without exposing anybody to any UVC rays. It proffers optimum perf

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Health Technology

AI in Healthcare Businesses: From Efficient Uses Cases to ROI Growth

Article | May 30, 2022

It’s no secret now that healthcare is an in-demand field. Today, business leaders need modern and intelligent decision-making solutions for their customers and clients. They must also focus on the right investment areas and learn the tricks for investing, spending, and setting goals for revenue generation to accelerate business. With continuous developments in the healthcare sector, integrating AI into processes can help increase ROI. Therefore, if you, like any other business leader, are looking for solutions to empower your services and products in the healthcare domain, this article will help you through AI’s ultimate use cases and churn out a higher ROI. What’s with AI in Healthcare at Present? AI’s role in healthcare is evolving and enhancing traditional business operations, particularly marketing. According to a study by IBM, 71% of customers expect real-time communication. Thus, global demand is fueling the rising adoption of AI marketing solutions. The effects of AI in healthcare are evident. Gartner reports increased marketing efficiency and effectiveness (86%), improved decision-making (71%), better data analysis and new insights (79%). Global AI spending will rise from $450 million in 2019 to over $28 billion by 2024 is not surprising. Similar and further studies are ongoing on various use cases of AI in healthcare at scale. What are the efficient use cases of AI that will help healthcare businesses boost their ROI? Let’s find out. How is AI Applied in Healthcare? The promising applications of AI in healthcare to improve outcomes are very intriguing. While there is still much to achieve in the AI-dependent healthcare business, there is sufficient potential that tech companies are willing to invest in AI-powered tools and solutions. Let’s examine the potential examples of AI in healthcare to prepare and support business strategies accordingly and foster higher ROI generation. Predictive Analytics AI-based predictive analytics impacts a business by automating administrative tasks, predicting sales outcomes for a year, customers’ behavior and making strategies accordingly. According to a Forbes study, AI-based predictive analytics can save businesses $18 billion in tasks, expenses, and pricing. To understand this, one example of using AI to automate admin tasks is a collaboration between the Cleveland Clinic and IBM. Cleveland Clinic uses IBM’s Watson to mine big data and provides personalized services for customers and clients on marketing deeds. Some of the practical applications of AI and predictive analytics in healthcare are: Monitoring market trends to maximize marketing efforts Organizing datasets Creating marketing campaigns tailored to each demographic-based client Mining collective data for future decision-making Fraud Prevention AmerisourceBergen Corp detects fraud and misleading business operations through AI. A sales account team conducts audits with AI to detect usual lea and queries to prevent hefty expenses for businesses. The example explains that implementing AI in your process will help detect any significant fraud attempts inside your business operation. This will help your business save huge expenditures. Boost Sales By putting down false leads, AI helps in maximizing sales numbers, resulting in significant ROI generation. For example, AI transforms data into personalized data, which reduces the cost of operations. Chatbots Most healthcare businesses leverage chatbots on their websites to engage more and more customers and boost engagement. In this way, businesses tend to gain multiple leads and convert them into clients by providing the best marketing solutions. Chatbots are fruitful for AI start-ups in healthcare—small businesses can deploy AI to their websites. By doing so, they can save millions in administrative costs and attract numerous leads. The most prominent examples of AI in healthcare hail from giant tech titans such as IBM, Amazon, and Microsoft. They are assisting healthcare providers with AI to create and deploy digital-human employees. Segmentation of Marketing Targets Is your target audience not responding to your marketing campaigns (for example, by not clicking a link, subscribing or unsubscribing to a newsletter, or not registering for a medical event)? If that's the case, how should you go ahead? Using AI-based tools allows your marketing to easily identify target behaviors and reactions based on the type of marketing actions to be carried out. Analyzing these actions can help segment targets based on your company's marketing objectives. The most significant development took place in April 2022, when Amazon Alexa became fully HIPAA compliant. It works with health developers and service providers that manage protected information for customers. AI Leads to Data Modernization It’s all about the data—not any data! There’s a precise association between AI and data management, resulting in data modernization. According to a Cognizant research study, healthcare leaders have made significant progress in modernizing their data. In contrast, most upcoming businesses are expecting to do so by 2024. The maximum acceleration of AI in modernizing data will be seen in the manufacturing and marketing of healthcare products and services, respectively. It is because AI helps to churn data easily. The accessibility of data, in particular, becomes simpler with automation than doing it manually, which generates a massive amount of data. Such effects of AI in healthcare can be one of the prime reasons for the higher ROI of your business in the future. “There has never been a greater need for skilled analytic talent in health care. Because AI is becoming more strategic, organizations must ensure access to this skill set, either by growing their analytic teams or seeking out experienced partners." Steve Griffiths, CEO of Optum Enterprise Analytics AI Expenditure is on the Rise McKinsey says that by 2025, the use of AI in healthcare will be widespread, resulting in significant expenditure by global healthcare leaders. AI is a significant concern for healthcare decision-makers, investors, and innovators as customers extensively engage and react to AI-powered services and solutions. AI is constantly bringing improvements to almost all processes, including cost savings, management of services and products, and monitoring of multiple operations. Even small businesses in the healthcare industry are proactively investing in AI applications to match steps with the current wave of innovation in healthcare services. Accelerate ROI Using AI AI in healthcare is becoming one of the prime responsible technologies for accelerating ROI. Technology can eradicate multiple business growth challenges. Let’s find out how. Enhanced Performance As previously stated, use cases of AI in healthcare can relieve stress on employees. This would allow them to devote their time to more value-added marketing activities to churn more ROI. Emphasize Cost-Effectiveness Most of the businesses associated with healthcare are concerned about the costs involved. With AI, they now develop policies to spend less on non-essential activities and necessitate profit-oriented actions. "We believe in the potential of AI to deliver insights and operational efficiencies that unlock better health-care performance." Robert Musslewhite, CEO at OptumInsight Frequently Asked Questions How is AI used in healthcare? AI in healthcare automates and predicts processes by analyzing data throughout. It is used to predict potential customers, improve business management workflows, and manufacture medical products. How does AI drive growth in the healthcare industry? AI drives business growth by improving the ability to understand better day-to-day customer patterns and needs based on services and products. How is AI changing the Healthcare industry? AI applications in healthcare have demonstrated their potential to improve analytics and data management and assist service providers in making timely medical decisions.

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Health Technology, Digital Healthcare

Unlocking Better Health Online: Exploring Power of EHR Telemedicine

Article | September 8, 2023

Embracing the AI Revolution: Transforming Digital Healthcare Software through AI-Enhanced UX Testing The wave of demographic change sweeping the United States presents an urgent call to action for healthcare providers. According to the US Census Bureau, adults over 65 will account for a quarter of the US population by 2060, signaling a drastic shift in healthcare delivery needs. More than half a million of this demographic will be centenarians, accentuating the need for digital experiences tailored to seniors' unique needs. Despite the rapid advancement of digital health technologies, research indicates that many senior citizens struggle to adapt. A recent study reported that 40% of adults over 65 believe their telemedicine visit was inferior to traditional in-person care, with a meager 5% finding it superior. The promise of convenience delivered by digital health is often overshadowed by the frustration associated with technical difficulties. An astounding 75% of senior citizens admit they need assistance when using new electronic devices. Let's consider the patient portal app, a common touchpoint in the digital health journey. Despite its apparent simplicity, seniors find processes like logging in troublesome due to issues like forgotten passwords, technical bugs, or content readability. This scenario underlines the crucial need for comprehensive User Experience (UX) testing to eliminate these barriers and provide a seamless digital health experience. The Complex Landscape of Healthcare UX Testing The complexity of UX testing in healthcare has been exacerbated by the interplay of multiple modules, services, platforms, and vendors. Take Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems, for instance, which undergo frequent updates, each one potentially impacting the system as a whole. Traditional manual testing methodologies are proving to be time-consuming and costly. Though automation has revolutionized sectors from automotive to finance, the healthcare industry appears to be lagging. A study by the Health Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) reveals that a mere 15% of healthcare providers have adopted modern test automation platforms. Meanwhile, a significant 41% still rely on manual testing. As EMR systems grow increasingly complex and customized, this over-reliance on manual testing poses daunting challenges. The gravity of this issue is amplified by a startling revelation from the HIMSS study - only 6% of healthcare executive leaders express confidence in their organizations' testing practices. In an increasingly digitized healthcare environment, such a low level of assurance raises substantial concerns about patient safety. Although 75% of the surveyed providers have invested in software testing to safeguard their bottom lines, nearly two-thirds confess feeling inadequately resourced in terms of time, money, and talent to meet future testing requirements. As the list of testing demands grows, QA teams are frequently stretched thin, leaving many potential user journey scenarios untested. The Power of AI in UX Testing for Better Patient Outcomes AI technologies hold the potential to revolutionize UX testing in healthcare. The modern healthcare application is a labyrinth of potential user journeys - a typical mobile application model can yield over 9 billion separate scenarios. To effectively navigate this colossal testing landscape, test automation tools employing Machine Learning (ML) algorithms are critical. By analyzing historical patterns, prioritized cases, and real-user insights, ML algorithms can auto-generate test cases and meticulously scrutinize each user interaction. This approach ensures an optimal digital experience and robust coverage of potential issues. The HIMSS study also provides a glimmer of hope, revealing that nearly 80% of healthcare providers plan to adopt real-time testing analytics for quality assurance. AI's role becomes pivotal in augmenting the capacity of software testing teams in this scenario. By leveraging historical patterns and prioritizing test cases, ML-powered testing tools can automate crucial tests across various platforms, devices, and operating systems. This symbiosis of human expertise and AI not only bolsters productivity but enables comprehensive testing coverage within tight time constraints. The Future of Healthcare Software UX Testing The path to perfecting a patient’s digital journey is fraught with challenges. Healthcare organizations venturing into automated software testing or contemplating in-house tool replacement must stay abreast of evolving healthcare testing requirements. This understanding is key when evaluating automation vendors against the backdrop of regulatory standards. Opting for a technology-agnostic solution ensures extensive test coverage, boosts efficiency, and guarantees longevity as technologies advance. Introducing your software QA teams to user-friendly, low/no-code test automation tools can simplify the onboarding process and fosters better collaboration with Dev teams and business testers. As we stand at the precipice of this transformative period in healthcare, it's clear that the AI revolution holds the key to unlocking the future of digital healthcare UX testing. By harnessing AI's potential, healthcare providers can ensure a user-friendly, seamless digital experience for the fastest-growing demographic, setting new industry standards in the process.

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Healthtech Security

NIS2 Cybersecurity Rules are Coming: Are You Ready?

Article | November 29, 2023

Rural, community, and independent hospitals are constantly facing mounting challenges in the form of staff shortages, accessibility to patient care and a multitude of cost concerns. Getting even one of these areas under control can help hospitals drastically boost their outcomes. Here are three areas of IT investment that hospitals must control to go beyond staying functional and create an excellent patient experience. Telehealth for Staff Shortage Healthcare currently face massive staff shortage with a projected gap of up to 48,000 primary care physicians and up to 77,100 specialty physicians till 2034. The effects of this shortage could be lessened by using virtual care, which would allow hospitals to care for patients through remote staffing. Digitalizing Patient Care with Asynchronous Telehealth Async telehealth of patients sending photos and videos to fast-track diagnosis. Async telehealth makes it easier for doctors to connect with more patients. This shortens the time it takes to see specialists and get important care services. Remote Patient Monitoring According to a CDC report, 90% of all healthcare spending goes into treating chronic conditions. Considering that U.S. nonmetropolitan areas have a high number of patients diagnosed with chronic conditions, accessibility is one of the contributing factors. Remote patient monitoring enhances patient care for people with chronic conditions. Wearable medical devices are already driving the move towards remote patient monitoring. Whether it’s through wearable weight scales, heart monitors, blood pressure bands, or pulse oximeters, clinicians can generate regular updates about a patient’s health readings and ensure a timely response in order to avert complications. Conclusion There is much to be achieved on the healthcare front when it comes to digitalizing care. The above technologies are enabling healthcare providers take delivery of medical care further than ever and ensure they generate more traction from their IT investments in these areas of medtech.

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Healthtech Security

Modernizing Caregiving: How a Robotic Emotional Support Animal Can Help Caregivers

Article | August 31, 2023

As COVID-19 rages on, warning sirens have sounded of late amid a flurry of headlines surrounding Ultraviolet-C (UVC) light device safety issues. Rightfully so, as the current pandemic has ushered in a veritable “wild west” of UVC gadget deployments with subpar consumer safeguards, instructions or guidance. So important are the concerns amid this rapidly proliferating product sphere, the FDA recently issued a consumer advisory regarding UVC light technology that’s applicable for industrial, business, travel and residential use. Once largely a germicidal method leveraged in hospital, industrial and other commercial settings for its extreme efficacy, today’s breed of UVC technologies are small, portable and inexpensive enough to be making their way into businesses of every type across the globe—and even traverse with individuals while they’re out and about. This, as generalist retailers like Amazon and Walmart have joined the fray in their attempts to divert market share from the more specialized, expert-driven, safety-focused UVC purveyors. While germ-killing UVC technologies do proffer tremendous advantages and results for users—serving as a potent tool for easily and effectively eradicating harmful viruses, bacteria, pathogens and microorganisms—there are a number of considerations a business (or employee) should heed before procuring and using such a powerful device. This includes, but is certainly not limited to, why; when; where; and how it will be used—variables that impact safety and risk concerns related to UVC wavelength, dose and duration of radiation exposure. Shopping in this category can be equally overwhelming. One need only Google “UVC lamps,” which delivers nearly 100,000 results, to realize how bloated this category has become. Amid the chaos, I did happen upon a highly targeted, category-dedicated source wholly dedicated to UVC technologies: CureUV.com. This company draws on over 20-years of expertise in the design, development and provision of technologically advanced UV products and solutions. Today, they are a premier provider of germicidal UVC light solutions for commercial, industrial, portable, residential and even water applications. While its form factor catalog is copious, below are a few of CureUV’s more popular UVC devices starting under $90 that proffer chemical-free disinfection, which can help ensure your spaces remain free of illness-causing microbial contaminants like viruses, bacteria, mold and other fungi: Rechargeable Handheld UV Sanitizer Wand With Digital Timer Here's a highly portable way to eliminate germs and have a cleaner environment no matter where you may be. This powerful UVC illumination system, which retails around $89, eradicates up to 99.9 percent of viruses, bacteria, germs, mold, dust mite eggs and flea eggs on surfaces. This non-chemical option adds an extra layer of safety to you with no hazardous residue. It contains a 6-inch UVC lightbulb allowing for a wider coverage of area as well as accelerating sanitation in the process. A built in timer inside the device allows you to keep track of desired dosage creating precise sanitation sessions-- anywhere from 5 to 60 minutes to indefinite. Its silent operation allows for a noise free solution for sanitation, and sleek and cordless and lightweight design is perfect for travel however near or far--daily around town or those hotel visits. Sanitize how you want in your desired target area or on your personal items keeping them germ free. An internal rechargeable battery saves money on replaceable battery purchases as compared to various other handheld wands on the market. GermAwayUV 18-Watt Handheld UVC Surface Sanitizer This device offers reliable and highly portable sanitizing performance at an entry-level price. Indeed, at under $120, this is an affordable, dual-bulb, handheld UV sanitizer that still maintains power levels similar to more industrial UV surface sanitizers. This lightweight and ergonomically designed 18-watt UVC sanitizer will give you much peace of mind. It has a 6-foot cord adequate for most applications, but the sanitizer will run easily with virtually any simple power extension. Its two 9-watt UVC sanitizer bulbs are guaranteed to produce UV light in the 253.7 nanometer (nm) wavelength, which has been consistently proven to eliminate all illness-causing microorganisms. It's the perfect tool to disinfect high use and traffic areas, as well as locations where bacteria and viruses congregate like bathrooms, door handles, seating areas and cooking/dining spaces. It'll prevent the spread of harmful bacteria and microorganisms, or simply add an extra layer of cleanliness and protection to your cleaning procedures. It comes bundled with protective amber UV safety glasses. Deluxe GermAwayUV 95-Watt UVC Surface Sanitizer with Cage With a 95-watt bulb, this chemical-free, tabletop UV room and surface sanitizer is the strongest of its kind. It will result in effective room sanitation by killing up to 99.9 percent of bacteria, viruses, mold spores, yeasts, C. diff, odors and other harmful microorganisms. With a simple touch of a button you'll be able to leave the room while the entire space is cleaned and disinfected in a matter of minutes. The device has five time settings: 10, 20, 30 and 60 minutes; and hold for indefinite run time. After the selected dosage time has elapsed, the device will automatically shut off. You can use it regularly to ensure a consistently clean room. Heavy Duty Dual Bulb 72-Watt HVAC UV Air Purifier Suitable for use anywhere, including schools, offices, work-floors and medical rooms to sanitize air and environmental surfaces, this device is effective in small and large rooms/buildings alike, up to 2,400 square feet. With a powerful 72-watt bulb and a standard electrical unit, you can insert this premium UVC bulb into any HVAC system as an easy add on to sanitize the air in the system. Typical air purifier units and HVAC systems are definitely useful, designed to filter and ventilate air well. But even the finest filters can’t stop atomic sized bacteria and viruses. This device is therefore a great extra add on because it really does target and stop bacteria and viruses from circulating. It sanitizes and disinfects air passing through the HVAC system. Its 72-watt bulb emits UVC light of 254nm and is the most powerful bulb. Most devices are typically only effective in small rooms, but with this level of wattage you can use this device in large rooms and building types. At its wavelength, the emitted light is able to penetrate and kill the DNA of atomic sized organisms that create problems for humans. UVC emission also acts to eliminate mold spores, yeast and fungi. So, inserting this unit device into your existing HVAC system ensures that not only will the air that moves through your building be ventilated, it will also be irradiated and disinfected as it passes over the bulb. Instead of just filtered air in your system, you’ll end up with sanitized, healthy air. Add on (retrofit) features like this one are great because you can just insert them into an already installed and operating HVAC system with minimal additional running costs. This device is easy to install and is capable of DIY application. Other available HVAC retrofit air sanitation and purification solutions include a coil scrubber or 36-watt HVAC UVC air purifier. GermAwayUV High Occupancy Wall Mountable 150-Watt Air Purifier and Sanitizer This is a safe and efficient way to sanitize and disinfect the air in high traffic occupied areas. Simply mount the sanitizer on the wall as you would hang a TV or mount a standalone AC system and let the system do its magic. The air purifier will use its powerful, yet quiet, fan to continually cycle all of the air in the room through the system. Once the air does so, it will be met by a quintuple filtration and sanitation system that culminates in a full 150-watt UVC germicidal irradiation. Put this system in a busy hallway, a crowded restaurant, a veterinary clinic with high traffic, a busy office, etc… and it will eliminate bacteria, viruses and harmful pollutants as quickly as possible without exposing anybody to any UVC rays. It proffers optimum perf

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Health Technology

AI in Healthcare Businesses: From Efficient Uses Cases to ROI Growth

Article | May 30, 2022

It’s no secret now that healthcare is an in-demand field. Today, business leaders need modern and intelligent decision-making solutions for their customers and clients. They must also focus on the right investment areas and learn the tricks for investing, spending, and setting goals for revenue generation to accelerate business. With continuous developments in the healthcare sector, integrating AI into processes can help increase ROI. Therefore, if you, like any other business leader, are looking for solutions to empower your services and products in the healthcare domain, this article will help you through AI’s ultimate use cases and churn out a higher ROI. What’s with AI in Healthcare at Present? AI’s role in healthcare is evolving and enhancing traditional business operations, particularly marketing. According to a study by IBM, 71% of customers expect real-time communication. Thus, global demand is fueling the rising adoption of AI marketing solutions. The effects of AI in healthcare are evident. Gartner reports increased marketing efficiency and effectiveness (86%), improved decision-making (71%), better data analysis and new insights (79%). Global AI spending will rise from $450 million in 2019 to over $28 billion by 2024 is not surprising. Similar and further studies are ongoing on various use cases of AI in healthcare at scale. What are the efficient use cases of AI that will help healthcare businesses boost their ROI? Let’s find out. How is AI Applied in Healthcare? The promising applications of AI in healthcare to improve outcomes are very intriguing. While there is still much to achieve in the AI-dependent healthcare business, there is sufficient potential that tech companies are willing to invest in AI-powered tools and solutions. Let’s examine the potential examples of AI in healthcare to prepare and support business strategies accordingly and foster higher ROI generation. Predictive Analytics AI-based predictive analytics impacts a business by automating administrative tasks, predicting sales outcomes for a year, customers’ behavior and making strategies accordingly. According to a Forbes study, AI-based predictive analytics can save businesses $18 billion in tasks, expenses, and pricing. To understand this, one example of using AI to automate admin tasks is a collaboration between the Cleveland Clinic and IBM. Cleveland Clinic uses IBM’s Watson to mine big data and provides personalized services for customers and clients on marketing deeds. Some of the practical applications of AI and predictive analytics in healthcare are: Monitoring market trends to maximize marketing efforts Organizing datasets Creating marketing campaigns tailored to each demographic-based client Mining collective data for future decision-making Fraud Prevention AmerisourceBergen Corp detects fraud and misleading business operations through AI. A sales account team conducts audits with AI to detect usual lea and queries to prevent hefty expenses for businesses. The example explains that implementing AI in your process will help detect any significant fraud attempts inside your business operation. This will help your business save huge expenditures. Boost Sales By putting down false leads, AI helps in maximizing sales numbers, resulting in significant ROI generation. For example, AI transforms data into personalized data, which reduces the cost of operations. Chatbots Most healthcare businesses leverage chatbots on their websites to engage more and more customers and boost engagement. In this way, businesses tend to gain multiple leads and convert them into clients by providing the best marketing solutions. Chatbots are fruitful for AI start-ups in healthcare—small businesses can deploy AI to their websites. By doing so, they can save millions in administrative costs and attract numerous leads. The most prominent examples of AI in healthcare hail from giant tech titans such as IBM, Amazon, and Microsoft. They are assisting healthcare providers with AI to create and deploy digital-human employees. Segmentation of Marketing Targets Is your target audience not responding to your marketing campaigns (for example, by not clicking a link, subscribing or unsubscribing to a newsletter, or not registering for a medical event)? If that's the case, how should you go ahead? Using AI-based tools allows your marketing to easily identify target behaviors and reactions based on the type of marketing actions to be carried out. Analyzing these actions can help segment targets based on your company's marketing objectives. The most significant development took place in April 2022, when Amazon Alexa became fully HIPAA compliant. It works with health developers and service providers that manage protected information for customers. AI Leads to Data Modernization It’s all about the data—not any data! There’s a precise association between AI and data management, resulting in data modernization. According to a Cognizant research study, healthcare leaders have made significant progress in modernizing their data. In contrast, most upcoming businesses are expecting to do so by 2024. The maximum acceleration of AI in modernizing data will be seen in the manufacturing and marketing of healthcare products and services, respectively. It is because AI helps to churn data easily. The accessibility of data, in particular, becomes simpler with automation than doing it manually, which generates a massive amount of data. Such effects of AI in healthcare can be one of the prime reasons for the higher ROI of your business in the future. “There has never been a greater need for skilled analytic talent in health care. Because AI is becoming more strategic, organizations must ensure access to this skill set, either by growing their analytic teams or seeking out experienced partners." Steve Griffiths, CEO of Optum Enterprise Analytics AI Expenditure is on the Rise McKinsey says that by 2025, the use of AI in healthcare will be widespread, resulting in significant expenditure by global healthcare leaders. AI is a significant concern for healthcare decision-makers, investors, and innovators as customers extensively engage and react to AI-powered services and solutions. AI is constantly bringing improvements to almost all processes, including cost savings, management of services and products, and monitoring of multiple operations. Even small businesses in the healthcare industry are proactively investing in AI applications to match steps with the current wave of innovation in healthcare services. Accelerate ROI Using AI AI in healthcare is becoming one of the prime responsible technologies for accelerating ROI. Technology can eradicate multiple business growth challenges. Let’s find out how. Enhanced Performance As previously stated, use cases of AI in healthcare can relieve stress on employees. This would allow them to devote their time to more value-added marketing activities to churn more ROI. Emphasize Cost-Effectiveness Most of the businesses associated with healthcare are concerned about the costs involved. With AI, they now develop policies to spend less on non-essential activities and necessitate profit-oriented actions. "We believe in the potential of AI to deliver insights and operational efficiencies that unlock better health-care performance." Robert Musslewhite, CEO at OptumInsight Frequently Asked Questions How is AI used in healthcare? AI in healthcare automates and predicts processes by analyzing data throughout. It is used to predict potential customers, improve business management workflows, and manufacture medical products. How does AI drive growth in the healthcare industry? AI drives business growth by improving the ability to understand better day-to-day customer patterns and needs based on services and products. How is AI changing the Healthcare industry? AI applications in healthcare have demonstrated their potential to improve analytics and data management and assist service providers in making timely medical decisions.

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Amino

Amino is a healthcare financial wellness benefit that eliminates barriers for employees and their families to access affordable, high-quality medical care. Combining data, design, and consumer-first thinking, Amino offers guidance features that curate each users personalized matches for in-network facilities and provides concierge appointment booking with nearly every doctor in America.

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Future of Healthcare

ClareMedica Health Partners, a Leading Provider of Value-Based Primary Care, Receives Investment from Revelstoke Capital Partners

Revelstoke | February 25, 2022

Revelstoke Capital Partners ("Revelstoke"), aDenver-based private equity firm focused on investing in healthcare services companies, today announced it has made a significant growth investment in ClareMedica Health Partners, LLC ("ClareMedica" or the "Company"), a leader in value-based primary care serving Medicare Advantage members inFlorida. This partnership will accelerate ClareMedica's growth and aid the Company in expanding itsBetterCare℠model into new markets. ClareMedica will continue to be led by CEORoberto Palenzuelaand the current management team, who will retain significant ownership in the business. BPOC, aChicago-based healthcare investor, which has been an investor in ClareMedica since 2019, will also retain equity ownership. "We have always believed in a value-based care model that places a priority on high-quality coordinated care designed to improve health outcomes," said Mr. Palenzuela, who reinvested alongside Revelstoke. "We are delighted to partner with Revelstoke, which has a proven track-record of building prominent healthcare services businesses with this patient centric philosophy. We are excited to use this investment to partner with other physician-led practices, expanding ourBetterCare℠model into new markets throughoutFloridaand into neighboring states." Russell Cassella, Managing Partner at Revelstoke, said, "Our investment in ClareMedica reflects Revelstoke's avid support of the industry's transition from fee-for-service to value-based healthcare, resulting in a greater emphasis on improving patient outcomes. ClareMedica's commitment to providing high-quality care has made it a partner of choice for physicians and payors throughoutFlorida. With our experience in physician practice management and value-based care, we look forward to helping management build a broader regional platform that will increase access to high-quality care." "We look forward to our continued partnership with Roberto and his team because of their patient-centered approach and focus on improving patient outcomes. As value-based care continues to expand, we see significant long-term growth potential as ClareMedica enters new markets and expands access to high-quality care." Peter Magas, Partner at BPOC "After a multi-year outbound search in the value-based primary care sector, we are very pleased to partner with ClareMedica's management team and providers who are dedicated to transforming healthcare," said Cy Barton-Dobenin, Principal at Revelstoke. "Throughout our targeted search process, we have built significant industry knowledge and strategic relationships that we are excited to integrate into ClareMedica's growth plans." SVB Leerinkacted as financial advisor and McGuireWoods LLP acted as legal counsel to Revelstoke.Houlihan Lokeyacted as financial advisor and Kirkland & Ellis LLP andMcDermott Will& Emery LLP acted as legal counsel to ClareMedica and BPOC. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. About Revelstoke Revelstoke is a private equity firm formed by experienced investors who focus on building industry-leading companies in the healthcare services and healthcare technology sectors. Revelstoke partners with entrepreneurs and management teams to execute on a disciplined organic and acquisition growth strategy as it strives to build exceptional companies. Revelstoke is based inDenver, Coloradoand has approximately$4.3 billionof assets under management. Since the firm's inception in 2013, Revelstoke has completed 142 acquisitions, which includes 25 platform companies and 117 add-on acquisitions. About ClareMedica Health Partners ClareMedica is a growing health care company that provides and coordinates comprehensive health care services for Medicare Advantage members and other customers through a network of employed and affiliated physicians. We deliver accountable, value-based care for all health care stakeholders by employing a patient-centric care model that provides better care for our patients and a changing health care industry. About BPOC Founded in 1996, BPOC is aChicago-based private equity firm that invests exclusively in healthcare companies and is one of the nation's most experienced investors in the industry having raised five funds with total capital commitments of nearly$1.8 billion. BPOC has invested in numerous provider, manufacturing, outsourcing, distribution and information technology companies through growth equity, management buyouts and leveraged recapitalizations.

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Digital Healthcare

Brazilian Heath Tech Company Alice Partners With TytoCare to Expand Telehealth Offerings With At-Home Medical Examinations

TytoCare | February 23, 2022

TytoCare, the global health care industry's first all-in-one modular device and examination platform for AI-powered, on-demand, remote medical exams, and Alice,Brazil'sfirst primary care-driven health insurance plan, have announced today a partnership. Alice is the first company inBrazilto integrate with TytoCare, offering its members an easy-to-use, portable examination kit to conduct virtual physical examinations anywhere, anytime, putting healthcare in the hands of consumers. TytoCare will be distributed exclusively inBrazilby Tuinda Care. Alice, which inDecember 2021received the largest venture capital round ever reported inLatin Americaby a health tech company, began operations inJune 2020as an innovative tech-enabled health plan, built on the foundation of virtual-first, team-based primary care. Besides providing each of its members a 'Health Squad' ("Time de Saúde") – composed of a family doctor, a nurse, a nutritionist, and a physical trainer – the company also serves as a private health insurance provider with access to top-of-the-line hospitals, labs, and a network of medical specialists. Most hospitals in the network are contracted under a value-based healthcare (VBHC) payment model. With the TytoCare partnership, Alice will enable seamless digital diagnostics for its members, while enabling physicians to offer clinic-quality virtual care. TytoCare is the only all-in-one telehealth solution enabling physicians to remotely connect with patients for clinic-quality physical examinations. The handheld examination kit enables users to perform comprehensive exams of the heart, skin, ears, throat, abdomen, and lungs, as well as measure heartrate and body temperature, which are key for treating many acute and chronic conditions. This allows healthcare providers to gain the vital clinical data they require to monitor, diagnose, and treat patients and avoid unnecessary in-person visits. All the data is stored in Alice's app and becomes available to all health professionals who care for the member, allowing for seamless care coordination. "This data integration – the first of its kind inBrazil– enables the member's Health Squad to easily follow up on any chronic or acute condition, providing patients with long-term care while ensuring accuracy, speed, and convenience in both diagnoses and treatment plans. TytoCare also reduces costs and the need for travel to and from hospitals and clinics. In addition, it enables the health professional to share vital information with other physicians and specialists for a second opinion." André Florence, CEO of Alice TytoCare is easy to use and requires only an internet signal for members to conduct synchronous virtual consultations with their physician who can guide them through the exams and see the results in Alice's app. The physician can then better direct the member to the appropriate care pathway, either by referring them to an emergency room or by writing a digital prescription, when necessary. Currently, 15% of digital queries use TytoCare's support and with the integration, this number is expected to grow even further. With TytoCare, Alice can offer better assistance to a member who has, for example, an earache in the middle of the night and opts to use 'Alice Now' ("Alice Agora") – an in-app, text-based virtual primary care service that supports audio and video and is available 24/7 for members who need immediate medical assistance. Within one hour, the member will receive the TytoCare device at home and the physician will guide them through a physical exam to see in real-time what is happening in the ear canal. The TytoCare examination kit can be used to support the care of children and adults as well as for patients with more complex illnesses who need frequent monitoring. "Members with medical complexities use health services more frequently and can benefit from remote monitoring, reducing the frequency of in-person visits," saidAna Carolina Lucchese, Tuinda Care director. "Easier access to medical services can also prevent further complications and hospitalization." About TytoCare TytoCare is a telehealth company using AI to transform primary care by putting health in the hands of consumers. TytoCare seamlessly connects people to clinicians to provide the best virtual home examination and diagnosis solutions.Its solutions are designed to enable a comprehensive medical exam from any location and include a hand-held, all-in-one tool for examining the heart, lungs, skin, ears, throat, abdomen, and body temperature; a complete telehealth platform for sharing exam data, conducting live video exams, and scheduling visits; a cloud-based data repository with analytics; and built-in guidance technology and machine learning algorithms to ensure accuracy and ease of use for patients and insights for healthcare providers. Co-founded byDedi GiladandOfer Tzadikin 2012, TytoCare has FDA and CE clearances and has partnered with over 170 major health systems, health plans, and strategic partners in the U.S.,Europe,Asia,Latin America, andIsrael. About Alice Alice is currently considered the most promising health tech inLatin America. AsBrazil'sfirst primary care-driven health insurance plan, its mission is to make the world healthier. Launched inJune 2020, it already has nearly 7,000 members, more than 550 employees and has raised VC rounds at historically high levels for a health tech in the region. Founded by André Florence,Guilherme AzevedoandMatheus Moraes, the health tech has raised$174.8Mfrom the funds Allen & Company LLC, Canary, Endeavor Catalyst, Globo Ventures, G Squared, Kaszek, Maya Capital, StepStone Group, SoftBank Latin America Fund (SBLA) and ThornTree Capital Partners. About Tuinda Care Tuinda Care is a Healthtech startup focused on expanding access to high quality medical care inBrazilthrough telemedicine. It's the exclusive distributor of TytoCare technology inBrazil, with the purpose to connect clinicians and patients remotely, assuring medical excellence in every online visit. Tuinda Care is accelerated by Pequeno Príncipe Hospital and Sabará Pediatric Hospital, the two most prestigious pediatric hospitals inBrazil.

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Future of Healthcare

Avalon Healthcare Solutions Announces New Collaboration with N.Y.-Based Health Insurer CDPHP

Avalon Healthcare Solutions | February 19, 2022

Avalon Healthcare Solutions, LLC, DBA Avalon Healthcare Solutions, is pleased to announce a new collaboration to provide genetic testing management to Capital District Physicians' Health Plan, Inc. (CDPHP®). Lab testing is the gateway to appropriate diagnosis and treatment plans, and there are more than 13 billion lab tests performed annually in the U.S. Those results influence 70 percent of all medical decisions. Lab testing is highly complex and constantly evolving, creating challenges for health plans to navigate. Avalon, the world's first Lab Insights company, takes lab benefit and value management services to the next level, further removing waste and abuse from the system, while also improving clinical outcomes. Avalon helps its clients provide earlier disease detection for their members and drive treatment protocols to accelerate the Triple Aim of improving the patient experience, improving the health of populations, and reducing the per member cost of healthcare. Avalon and CDPHP are focused on using the latest technology, evidence-based medicine, and provider education to ensure high-quality, cost-effective laboratory services to drive appropriate care for CDPHP members. Avalon's innovative management services unlock the power of lab data, expanding the view to encompass the entire patient journey, optimizing treatment, improving outcomes, and driving down costs. "We are pleased to join together withCDPHP and bring our proven history of management, as well as our innovative approach to unlocking new possibilities. The CDPHP focus on improving the health and well-being of its members and communities is perfectly aligned with Avalon's mission to help our clients enable value-driven care in this dynamic and increasingly challenging environment." Bill Kerr, MD, Chief Executive Officer at Avalon "For nearly 40 years, CDPHP has been committed to lowering the total cost of care while preserving the high-quality service our members and the community at-large have come to expect," saidElizabeth Warner, MD, Senior Vice President of Member Health, CDPHP. "This new venture with Avalon Healthcare Solutions will further our mission of ensuring care is delivered at the right place, at the right time, and with the best outcome possible for each and every member we serve." About Avalon Healthcare Solutions Avalon Healthcare Solutions is the world's first and only Lab Insights company, bringing together our proven Lab Benefit Management solutions, lab science expertise, digitized lab values, and proprietary analytics to help healthcare insurers proactively inform appropriate care, reduce costs, and improve clinical outcomes. Working with health plans across the country, the company covers more than 36 million lives and delivers 7-12% outpatient lab benefit savings. Avalon is pioneering a new era of value-driven care with its Lab Insights Platform that captures, digitizes, and analyzes lab results in real time to provide actionable insights for earlier disease detection, ensuring appropriate treatment protocols, and driving down overall cost. About CDPHP® Established in 1984, CDPHP is a physician-founded, member-focused and community-based not-for-profit health plan that offers high-quality affordable health insurance plans to members in 29 counties throughoutNew York.

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Future of Healthcare

ClareMedica Health Partners, a Leading Provider of Value-Based Primary Care, Receives Investment from Revelstoke Capital Partners

Revelstoke | February 25, 2022

Revelstoke Capital Partners ("Revelstoke"), aDenver-based private equity firm focused on investing in healthcare services companies, today announced it has made a significant growth investment in ClareMedica Health Partners, LLC ("ClareMedica" or the "Company"), a leader in value-based primary care serving Medicare Advantage members inFlorida. This partnership will accelerate ClareMedica's growth and aid the Company in expanding itsBetterCare℠model into new markets. ClareMedica will continue to be led by CEORoberto Palenzuelaand the current management team, who will retain significant ownership in the business. BPOC, aChicago-based healthcare investor, which has been an investor in ClareMedica since 2019, will also retain equity ownership. "We have always believed in a value-based care model that places a priority on high-quality coordinated care designed to improve health outcomes," said Mr. Palenzuela, who reinvested alongside Revelstoke. "We are delighted to partner with Revelstoke, which has a proven track-record of building prominent healthcare services businesses with this patient centric philosophy. We are excited to use this investment to partner with other physician-led practices, expanding ourBetterCare℠model into new markets throughoutFloridaand into neighboring states." Russell Cassella, Managing Partner at Revelstoke, said, "Our investment in ClareMedica reflects Revelstoke's avid support of the industry's transition from fee-for-service to value-based healthcare, resulting in a greater emphasis on improving patient outcomes. ClareMedica's commitment to providing high-quality care has made it a partner of choice for physicians and payors throughoutFlorida. With our experience in physician practice management and value-based care, we look forward to helping management build a broader regional platform that will increase access to high-quality care." "We look forward to our continued partnership with Roberto and his team because of their patient-centered approach and focus on improving patient outcomes. As value-based care continues to expand, we see significant long-term growth potential as ClareMedica enters new markets and expands access to high-quality care." Peter Magas, Partner at BPOC "After a multi-year outbound search in the value-based primary care sector, we are very pleased to partner with ClareMedica's management team and providers who are dedicated to transforming healthcare," said Cy Barton-Dobenin, Principal at Revelstoke. "Throughout our targeted search process, we have built significant industry knowledge and strategic relationships that we are excited to integrate into ClareMedica's growth plans." SVB Leerinkacted as financial advisor and McGuireWoods LLP acted as legal counsel to Revelstoke.Houlihan Lokeyacted as financial advisor and Kirkland & Ellis LLP andMcDermott Will& Emery LLP acted as legal counsel to ClareMedica and BPOC. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. About Revelstoke Revelstoke is a private equity firm formed by experienced investors who focus on building industry-leading companies in the healthcare services and healthcare technology sectors. Revelstoke partners with entrepreneurs and management teams to execute on a disciplined organic and acquisition growth strategy as it strives to build exceptional companies. Revelstoke is based inDenver, Coloradoand has approximately$4.3 billionof assets under management. Since the firm's inception in 2013, Revelstoke has completed 142 acquisitions, which includes 25 platform companies and 117 add-on acquisitions. About ClareMedica Health Partners ClareMedica is a growing health care company that provides and coordinates comprehensive health care services for Medicare Advantage members and other customers through a network of employed and affiliated physicians. We deliver accountable, value-based care for all health care stakeholders by employing a patient-centric care model that provides better care for our patients and a changing health care industry. About BPOC Founded in 1996, BPOC is aChicago-based private equity firm that invests exclusively in healthcare companies and is one of the nation's most experienced investors in the industry having raised five funds with total capital commitments of nearly$1.8 billion. BPOC has invested in numerous provider, manufacturing, outsourcing, distribution and information technology companies through growth equity, management buyouts and leveraged recapitalizations.

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Digital Healthcare

Brazilian Heath Tech Company Alice Partners With TytoCare to Expand Telehealth Offerings With At-Home Medical Examinations

TytoCare | February 23, 2022

TytoCare, the global health care industry's first all-in-one modular device and examination platform for AI-powered, on-demand, remote medical exams, and Alice,Brazil'sfirst primary care-driven health insurance plan, have announced today a partnership. Alice is the first company inBrazilto integrate with TytoCare, offering its members an easy-to-use, portable examination kit to conduct virtual physical examinations anywhere, anytime, putting healthcare in the hands of consumers. TytoCare will be distributed exclusively inBrazilby Tuinda Care. Alice, which inDecember 2021received the largest venture capital round ever reported inLatin Americaby a health tech company, began operations inJune 2020as an innovative tech-enabled health plan, built on the foundation of virtual-first, team-based primary care. Besides providing each of its members a 'Health Squad' ("Time de Saúde") – composed of a family doctor, a nurse, a nutritionist, and a physical trainer – the company also serves as a private health insurance provider with access to top-of-the-line hospitals, labs, and a network of medical specialists. Most hospitals in the network are contracted under a value-based healthcare (VBHC) payment model. With the TytoCare partnership, Alice will enable seamless digital diagnostics for its members, while enabling physicians to offer clinic-quality virtual care. TytoCare is the only all-in-one telehealth solution enabling physicians to remotely connect with patients for clinic-quality physical examinations. The handheld examination kit enables users to perform comprehensive exams of the heart, skin, ears, throat, abdomen, and lungs, as well as measure heartrate and body temperature, which are key for treating many acute and chronic conditions. This allows healthcare providers to gain the vital clinical data they require to monitor, diagnose, and treat patients and avoid unnecessary in-person visits. All the data is stored in Alice's app and becomes available to all health professionals who care for the member, allowing for seamless care coordination. "This data integration – the first of its kind inBrazil– enables the member's Health Squad to easily follow up on any chronic or acute condition, providing patients with long-term care while ensuring accuracy, speed, and convenience in both diagnoses and treatment plans. TytoCare also reduces costs and the need for travel to and from hospitals and clinics. In addition, it enables the health professional to share vital information with other physicians and specialists for a second opinion." André Florence, CEO of Alice TytoCare is easy to use and requires only an internet signal for members to conduct synchronous virtual consultations with their physician who can guide them through the exams and see the results in Alice's app. The physician can then better direct the member to the appropriate care pathway, either by referring them to an emergency room or by writing a digital prescription, when necessary. Currently, 15% of digital queries use TytoCare's support and with the integration, this number is expected to grow even further. With TytoCare, Alice can offer better assistance to a member who has, for example, an earache in the middle of the night and opts to use 'Alice Now' ("Alice Agora") – an in-app, text-based virtual primary care service that supports audio and video and is available 24/7 for members who need immediate medical assistance. Within one hour, the member will receive the TytoCare device at home and the physician will guide them through a physical exam to see in real-time what is happening in the ear canal. The TytoCare examination kit can be used to support the care of children and adults as well as for patients with more complex illnesses who need frequent monitoring. "Members with medical complexities use health services more frequently and can benefit from remote monitoring, reducing the frequency of in-person visits," saidAna Carolina Lucchese, Tuinda Care director. "Easier access to medical services can also prevent further complications and hospitalization." About TytoCare TytoCare is a telehealth company using AI to transform primary care by putting health in the hands of consumers. TytoCare seamlessly connects people to clinicians to provide the best virtual home examination and diagnosis solutions.Its solutions are designed to enable a comprehensive medical exam from any location and include a hand-held, all-in-one tool for examining the heart, lungs, skin, ears, throat, abdomen, and body temperature; a complete telehealth platform for sharing exam data, conducting live video exams, and scheduling visits; a cloud-based data repository with analytics; and built-in guidance technology and machine learning algorithms to ensure accuracy and ease of use for patients and insights for healthcare providers. Co-founded byDedi GiladandOfer Tzadikin 2012, TytoCare has FDA and CE clearances and has partnered with over 170 major health systems, health plans, and strategic partners in the U.S.,Europe,Asia,Latin America, andIsrael. About Alice Alice is currently considered the most promising health tech inLatin America. AsBrazil'sfirst primary care-driven health insurance plan, its mission is to make the world healthier. Launched inJune 2020, it already has nearly 7,000 members, more than 550 employees and has raised VC rounds at historically high levels for a health tech in the region. Founded by André Florence,Guilherme AzevedoandMatheus Moraes, the health tech has raised$174.8Mfrom the funds Allen & Company LLC, Canary, Endeavor Catalyst, Globo Ventures, G Squared, Kaszek, Maya Capital, StepStone Group, SoftBank Latin America Fund (SBLA) and ThornTree Capital Partners. About Tuinda Care Tuinda Care is a Healthtech startup focused on expanding access to high quality medical care inBrazilthrough telemedicine. It's the exclusive distributor of TytoCare technology inBrazil, with the purpose to connect clinicians and patients remotely, assuring medical excellence in every online visit. Tuinda Care is accelerated by Pequeno Príncipe Hospital and Sabará Pediatric Hospital, the two most prestigious pediatric hospitals inBrazil.

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Future of Healthcare

Avalon Healthcare Solutions Announces New Collaboration with N.Y.-Based Health Insurer CDPHP

Avalon Healthcare Solutions | February 19, 2022

Avalon Healthcare Solutions, LLC, DBA Avalon Healthcare Solutions, is pleased to announce a new collaboration to provide genetic testing management to Capital District Physicians' Health Plan, Inc. (CDPHP®). Lab testing is the gateway to appropriate diagnosis and treatment plans, and there are more than 13 billion lab tests performed annually in the U.S. Those results influence 70 percent of all medical decisions. Lab testing is highly complex and constantly evolving, creating challenges for health plans to navigate. Avalon, the world's first Lab Insights company, takes lab benefit and value management services to the next level, further removing waste and abuse from the system, while also improving clinical outcomes. Avalon helps its clients provide earlier disease detection for their members and drive treatment protocols to accelerate the Triple Aim of improving the patient experience, improving the health of populations, and reducing the per member cost of healthcare. Avalon and CDPHP are focused on using the latest technology, evidence-based medicine, and provider education to ensure high-quality, cost-effective laboratory services to drive appropriate care for CDPHP members. Avalon's innovative management services unlock the power of lab data, expanding the view to encompass the entire patient journey, optimizing treatment, improving outcomes, and driving down costs. "We are pleased to join together withCDPHP and bring our proven history of management, as well as our innovative approach to unlocking new possibilities. The CDPHP focus on improving the health and well-being of its members and communities is perfectly aligned with Avalon's mission to help our clients enable value-driven care in this dynamic and increasingly challenging environment." Bill Kerr, MD, Chief Executive Officer at Avalon "For nearly 40 years, CDPHP has been committed to lowering the total cost of care while preserving the high-quality service our members and the community at-large have come to expect," saidElizabeth Warner, MD, Senior Vice President of Member Health, CDPHP. "This new venture with Avalon Healthcare Solutions will further our mission of ensuring care is delivered at the right place, at the right time, and with the best outcome possible for each and every member we serve." About Avalon Healthcare Solutions Avalon Healthcare Solutions is the world's first and only Lab Insights company, bringing together our proven Lab Benefit Management solutions, lab science expertise, digitized lab values, and proprietary analytics to help healthcare insurers proactively inform appropriate care, reduce costs, and improve clinical outcomes. Working with health plans across the country, the company covers more than 36 million lives and delivers 7-12% outpatient lab benefit savings. Avalon is pioneering a new era of value-driven care with its Lab Insights Platform that captures, digitizes, and analyzes lab results in real time to provide actionable insights for earlier disease detection, ensuring appropriate treatment protocols, and driving down overall cost. About CDPHP® Established in 1984, CDPHP is a physician-founded, member-focused and community-based not-for-profit health plan that offers high-quality affordable health insurance plans to members in 29 counties throughoutNew York.

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