FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE, DIGITAL HEALTHCARE
Vivante Health | January 11, 2023
On January 10, 2023, Vivante Health revealed the expansion of its digestive health platform, GIThrive, by including a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) digital therapeutic that aims to help users address conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
The new feature, known as IThrive, becomes the first CBT solution to be incorporated into a holistic digestive health platform and has been shown to reduce healthcare costs while improving participants' well-being.
Informed by the specific conditions of GIThrive's users, the new feature will let users benefit from a host of online tools for CBT, such as individual attention from a dedicated health coach and registered dietitian, daily audio sessions for ten weeks that teach CBT skills and techniques, guided meditation and breathing techniques for digestive health, evidence-based coping strategies, journaling, and other daily exercises.
Developed by clinical health psychologists, all IThrive components follow clinically validated CBT best practices to assist users in adjusting their behaviors and changing dysfunctional thinking patterns to help relieve symptoms of IBS and other digestive disorders.
Multiple independent studies have shown that CBT effectively relieves IBS symptoms, including one randomized controlled trial, in which, 90% of patients who used online CBT reported symptom improvement. In the latter study, 60% of participants reported a significant improvement in their symptoms.
IThrive is the first in a series of digital therapeutics that Vivante intends to add to its gut health platform to provide increasingly customized solutions for digestive disease patients. The feature expands on the core capabilities of the GIThrive platform, which offers evidence-based clinical pathways to help people suffering from chronic digestive conditions and their symptoms.
The platform combines the research of gut bacteria and identification of trigger foods with app-based individualized action plans, food diaries, educational resources, and 24/7 personal assistance from trained dietitians and health coaches. In addition, the platform is supported by a multidisciplinary group of gastroenterologists, microbiome scientists, and other clinical experts.
After a year, one non-profit employer that implemented the GIThrive platform witnessed a 15% decrease in digestive-related healthcare expenses, a 70% self-reported improvement in participants' health, and an 89% improvement in participants' general well-being, benefiting both employees and the employer's bottom line.
About Vivante Health
Chicago-based Vivante Health, established in 2016, is a digital healthcare business reimagining gut-first chronic disease management. GIThrive, the company's all-in-one gut health service, uses easy-to-use technology, superior research, and on-demand human support to enhance digestive health and save costs. The company focuses on digestive disease because it affects an astounding 70 million Americans, double the number of people with diabetes, and more than many otherchronic conditions combined.
Read More
HEALTH TECHNOLOGY, MEDICAL DEVICES
Koelsch Communities | February 06, 2023
Koelsch Communities made a significant announcement recently regarding an investment in its tech-forward future. The company has decided to develop a partnership with August Health to integrate the latter's innovative resident care platform across its portfolio of over 40 communities in eight states.
Aaron Koelsch, President and CEO of Koelsch Communities, remarked, "Investing in technology that improves how we serve residents, their families and our dedicated team members is the way forward, and we are proud to be at the forefront of this movement in senior living."
He added, "Koelsch is a unique company in that we honor tradition and respect deeply the dignity of each resident, which is why we harness some of today's most advanced senior care technologies as a way to improve, adapt and innovate to fulfill that mission."
(Source – Business Wire)
August Health will help Koelsch digitally change with an easy-to-use platform that improves care workflows and gives caregivers and families essential insights. It offers a paperless move-in experience in an industry known for its paperwork. The platform guides users through best practices in clinical assessments, resident care, compliance, and analytics.
August Health Co-Founder and Co-CEO Dr. Justin Schram expressed, "We are thrilled to partner with Koelsch, a recognized national senior living leader, to further modernize their operations and support their exceptionally high standard of resident care."
He continued, "Operators like Koelsch face new challenges related to increased resident acuity, a tightening regulatory environment, and competitive labor markets. Our modern resident care platform enables them to excel in today's environment while positioning them for growth in the years ahead."
(Source – Business Wire)
About Koelsch Communities
Koelsch Communities is a third-generation, family-owned senior living company. For over 60 years, the company has specialized in independent living, assisted living, and memory care. It offers first-class service, a holistic care model, and an employee-centric company culture. The company also helps to fund new programs that make healthy aging possible and builds a safe base with the latest security and technology.
Read More
HEALTH TECHNOLOGY, FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE
Medscape | March 09, 2023
On March 08, 2023, WebMD Health Corp., a subsidiary of Internet Brands and a provider of information services for healthcare professionals and consumers, announced that it had acquired Grupo SANED, the Spanish market leader for medical and health information services.
Grupo SANED is an industry pioneer for scientific communications, clinical news, medical education, and regulatory advice. The acquisition expands Medscape's presence among healthcare professionals in Spain to include over 200,000 registered nurses, physicians, and pharmacists, as well as 1 million Spanish-speaking consumers.
The acquisition marks a significant expansion for WebMD's global flagship brand, Medscape, which features an exceptional reach of over 6.5 million physicians worldwide. In addition, the transaction secures the company's position as the premier global provider of clinical news, healthcare communications, and education for healthcare professionals.
For more than four decades, Grupo SANED has provided the medical and healthcare industry with research, marketing, publishing, communication, and onsite training. Its partnerships with business schools, universities, and scientific societies, as well as its close collaboration with prestigious academics, have enabled the development of highly regarded accredited training, which has been instrumental in fostering member loyalty.
Medscape's strategic growth plan is advanced with this transaction, which follows similar acquisitions of country-specific clinical and health information providers that target healthcare professionals, such as MGP in the UK in 2021, Coliquio in Germany in 2020, and MediQuality in Benelux in 2018. Grupo SANED will now operate as an independent subsidiary of WebMD.
About Medscape
Medscape, headquartered in New York, is a major online platform for physicians and healthcare professionals worldwide. With over 30 specialty sites for physicians, and additional sites for medical students, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists, it offers essential point-of-care drug and disease information, expert perspectives, medical news, professional education, and CME. The platform aims to enhance patient care by providing physicians and healthcare professionals with comprehensive clinical resources and information.
Read More