This Just In! The 4/16 Edition of CTeL "inTeL" is Now Here!
Center for Telehealth and eHealth Law (CTeL)
Trusted leader in digital health law, policy, and regulatory strategy.
Synapticure and the ALS Association Partner to Expand Telehealth Access for People Living with ALS Nationwide
Synapticure and the ALS Association have formed a partnership aimed at expanding access to quality care for people living with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) across the United States. This collaboration will provide access to Synapticure's telemedicine platform, which supplements in-person visits at ALS Certified Treatment Centers of Excellence and Recognized Treatment Centers.?
The innovative telehealth solution will be particularly beneficial for individuals in remote areas who struggle to access specialized multidisciplinary care. The partnership will also offer local and national resources to ALS patients, including access to a designated ALS Association patient liaison within the Synapticure virtual clinic. Synapticure's mission is to provide compassionate care to patients and caregivers impacted by neurodegenerative diseases, starting with ALS. The partnership aims to increase access to care, improve continuity of care through regular check-ins and monitoring, reduce the burden on patients and families by eliminating the need for extensive travel, and enhance the support network for people living with ALS.
Walmart Aims to Regain Healthcare Lead Over Amazon
Walmart is expanding its healthcare footprint by adding 18 new Walmart Health centers in Texas, aiming to meet the growing demand for accessible care. With the company operating health centers in six states and 50 existing locations, it's intensifying efforts to regain its lead in the health and wellness space, where it's facing competition from Amazon.?
While Amazon has recently surpassed Walmart in healthcare market share, Walmart remains a strong competitor. Meanwhile, Amazon is also expanding its healthcare services, aiming to integrate them with other parts of its business such as grocery. The healthcare market presents significant opportunities, particularly in urban and suburban areas, where consumer participation in healthcare-related activities is higher compared to rural areas.
Dartmouth Researchers look to meld Therapy apps with Modern AI?
An experimental AI-powered therapeutic app called Therabot, developed by Dartmouth College, is undergoing its first clinical trial with 210 participants. Unlike other therapy apps that rely on rules-based AI, Therabot uses generative AI to provide personalized responses and advice.?
The app aims to address common mental health issues like anxiety and depression, as well as eating disorders. Developed over five years, Therabot's responses are trained to match the standard of real therapy sessions. While there are concerns about the potential dangers of AI-based therapy apps, Therabot's creators emphasize rigorous monitoring and privacy compliance.?
Therabot could offer a solution to the mental health crisis in the US by expanding access to therapy, especially in underserved areas. However, experts caution that while Therabot may provide support, it should not replace professional therapy. The team hopes to gain FDA approval for Therabot in the future, distinguishing it as a unique generative AI digital therapeutic tool.
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h2o Therapeutics' Apple Watch feature for Parkinson's gets FDA medical device listing
h2o therapeutics announced its new Apple Watch-enabled feature, utilizing vibrotactile stimulation when a patient is experiencing freezing of gait, a common symptom of Parkinson's disease. This new feature has received FDA listing as a Class II medical device and is available via prescription. Read More.
Where Payers are Falling Short in Providing a Digital Consumer Experience
J.D. Power released its U.S. Health Insurance Experience Study, finding 42% of adults with insurance ran into issues using their plan's website and/or mobile app in the past year. To address this usability gap, health plans should turn to what's working in other sectors and adapt that for their own platforms, according to the report. Read More.
Telephone-Based Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy Optimization in Navajo Nation
Underutilization of guideline-directed medical therapy for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction is a major cause of poor outcomes. For many American Indian patients receiving care through the Indian Health Service, access to care, especially cardiology care, is limited, contributing to poor uptake of recommended therapy. In this heart failure trial in Navajo Nation, a telephone-based strategy of remote initiation and titration for outpatients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction led to improved rates of guideline-directed medical therapy at 30 days compared with usual care. ?Read More.
Patience Experience Week April 29- May 3: Improving Patient Experience Through Telehealth and Digital Education
Patient Experience Week, celebrated annually from April 29 to May 3, focuses on healthcare providers who prioritize patient-centered care. There is a growing trend of patients opting for virtual care experiences due to convenience and accessibility, these experiences lead to higher rates of patient satisfaction. Read More.
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