Why MSK and Why 2021+

I'm thrilled to see PeerWell among a group of start-ups that saw a "tsunami" of growth in 2020. Thank you to Michael Yang for the shout out and to Shelby Livingston for including us.

Here are a few quick thoughts about why #musculoskeletal and why now:

First, it’s been known that MSK costs are crazy but spread across a lot of treatment options. Big-ticket items like surgery (TKA, THA, ACDF, LF) are easier to spot than redundant MRIs, years of injections & PT, opioid refills. Electronic medical records, data analytics, and new payment models have helped surface more costs that are attributable to MSK conditions as a whole, not just surgeries and their respective DRGs.

Second, technology is proving you can treat MSK issues as effectively with hands-off approaches as traditional, purely hands-on approaches. Everyday devices can be used to help people dealing with lower and higher acuity MSK needs with a mix of telehealth, remote patient monitoring, and home-based, evidence-driven programs.

Finally, the pandemic forced a behavior change in the population whereby patients, struggling with pain but scared to go to in-person appointments, tried remote-first options like PeerWell and other digital health services like Ginger.io, Sitka, EveryWell, and more.

The changes taking place now will determine how I will receive treatment, as will my parents and my children. We're solving for multiple generations simultaneously. We've got a lot to do, but its worth doing.

Thank you.