Best digital health data services will be described in this article. Digital health was a growing sector at the beginning of last year, but the COVID-19 epidemic has increased its significance in both healthcare and society. Entire processes moved online over night to lower social interaction and transmission rates. As people want for care that may be digitally provided in the comfort of their homes, telemedicine has gained from this transformation in the healthcare paradigm (see our article “How COVID-19 is revolutionising digital health – and what it means for telecoms”).
While telemedicine-focused digital health companies have received more attention (and funding) as a result of the pandemic, interesting developments are occurring in each of the five application areas that STL has determined to be the most important to telecom operators (see our article “What is digital health? 5 application areas that carriers ought to prioritise”):
- Wellness and personal health management
- Triage and diagnosis
- Telemedicine and virtual care
- Remote observation
- Analytical and data
In this post, we present 15 digital health startups that we believe are worth keeping an eye on in 2021 (grouped by application area). They either provide a special value proposition or a chance for partnership with a telecoms operator.
Top 15 Digital Health Data Services In 2024
Top 15 Digital health data services are explained here.
1. Oura ring
Application: Wellness and personal health management
The Oura ring is a part of wearable electronics that monitors vital signs using sensor technologies. These data points are transmitted through Bluetooth to a smartphone app, where the user may view metrics like daytime readiness, sleep quality, and daily calorie burn. Also check healthcare information technology trends
While the first purpose of the Oura ring was to aid in the development of positive behaviours, it is presently gaining attention for its capacity to identify the start of COVID-19. Although there are other smart rings, the Oura ring is the most suitable for this feature because to its sophisticated sensors, which can detect temperature changes as little as 0.1°C. Given that the NBA has purchased more than 2,000 rings for players and employees in an effort to stave off the epidemic, it is evidently satisfying the urgent COVID-19 demands.
The Oura ring costs between $299 and $399, making it more costly than the majority of Apple watches (with the exception of the Series 6, which starts at $399). While there are some significant differences between an Apple watch and an Oura ring (such as the capacity of the Oura ring to sense body temperature), there are also certain features that are shared (e.g. the tracking of sleep, the measuring of heartrate, and the flagging of irregular heart rhythm). Due of these similarities and Apple’s well-known brand, Oura’s price point would have to decrease for widespread use.
2. Vantage Health
Area of application: diagnostics and triage
Through its Rego AI technology, Vantage Health, a digital health firm, is revolutionising the outpatient referral process. This enables doctors to make better use of healthcare resources by suggesting alternative care services (such as community services) depending on local regulations rather than automatically sending patients to hospitals. This is another health data services.
It’s crucial to only refer patients when absolutely essential in order to prevent patient bottlenecks at hospitals with limited capacity and resources (long queues and high waiting times). This is crucial during the COVID-19 outbreak because of the potential of transmission that comes with crowded areas. Vantage Health is able to lessen some of the stress and anxiety that hospitals experience with Rego.
3. Mendelian
Diagnostics and triage/Data & analytics application
Mendelian is a diagnostics platform using AI that focuses on uncommon illnesses. It is planned for use by professionals and helps them to provide earlier diagnosis to patients, improving patient care. The MendelScan algorithm extracts illness characteristics from EHRs across a patient population, then compares them to the diagnostic standards of rare diseases for matching individuals. Clinicians can enhance the accuracy of the care and advice they give by combining their medical knowledge with insights from the MendelScan.
Rare diseases are frequently misdiagnosed, leading to extra referrals and doctor visits, years of waiting before the accurate diagnosis, and a financial burden on healthcare systems. Mendelian can help an already overburdened healthcare system save time and money by allowing early detection of uncommon diseases.
4. Galileo Health
Application: Telemedicine and virtual care
Galileo Health is a healthcare app that offers remote primary care. Galileo Health’s team of medical professionals, who can diagnose diseases, prescribe medications, and refer patients to specialists, are available to members via mobile devices around-the-clock. The software contains all of these features, making it convenient and user-friendly.
This is another health data services. As TELUS did with Babylon Health and Telefónica did with Teladoc, telecoms operators looking to create a virtual primary care service may speed up their go-to-market by partnering with digital health firms like Galileo Health. Each member in such a relationship contributes complimentary skills: A telecommunications operator provides reputational power (being a well-known brand internationally and frequently having connections to authorities/regulators) and customer reach to Galileo Health, which already has the software, healthcare expertise, and medical staff. We may anticipate additional collaborations of this nature in the future now that a model and lessons from TELUS’ cooperation with Babylon Health are available.
5. Doctor On Demand
Application: Telemedicine and virtual care
A digital health startup called Doctor On Demand offers telemedicine services so that patients may obtain virtual treatment. The business offers a mobile app that allows for virtual visits, and it also employs a group of certified doctors known as “Doctor On Demand Professionals” to provide medical services. The medical services provided by Doctor On Demand are extensive: in addition to supplying psychiatrists, psychologists, and therapists, they give basic primary care services like treating rashes and treating colds. Their motto, Total Virtual Care, reflects the breadth of their services.
Doctor On Demand may speed up the go-to-market for telecommunications providers looking to introduce a virtual primary care service, much like Galileo Health did. But there is something that sets these healthcare organisations apart: the range of services they provide. Because it would enable them to quickly diversify their care services, Doctor On Demand may be an alluring digital health company to telecoms operators. They could conduct POCs with one service line (for example, traditional primary care), and if this proves to be successful, add additional Doctor On Demand service lines to their offering.
6. Butterfly
Application: Telemedicine and virtual care
Butterfly is a handheld ultrasonic device that uses cutting-edge semiconductor technology. Ultrasound scans may be carried out by doctors using simply this device and a smartphone. Butterfly includes five imaging modes and 20 pre-sets for typical body scans of the lungs, abdomen, and bladder. This is another health data services.
Given its exclusive technology, Butterfly offers a distinctive value proposition: it is the first whole-body imager that is portable, inexpensive (£1,699 for the device plus a yearly membership fee of £360), and can be used widely. This kind of device is ideal for providing medical imaging to remote areas. Moreover, Butterfly gets over the shortage of experts in remote regions since photos may be transmitted for inspection and shared. Although Butterfly is a game-changer in low-resource settings, it is also being utilised in clinical settings after being made available to Canadian healthcare professionals and health systems earlier this year.
7. MedWand
Application: Telemedicine and virtual care
With the help of the MedWand medical equipment, patients may conduct physical examinations, extending the scope of virtual consultations. Patients may do checks on themselves with MedWand, including listening to their lungs, checking their blood oxygen levels, and looking at their skin.
Patients utilise the MedWand while speaking with a clinician over the phone so they may be directed appropriately and the findings will be accurate. The doctor may then immediately analyse the outcomes, offer commentary, and develop a care strategy. All of this takes place on the MedWand platform, which serves as an interface between patients and telemedicine providers and is interoperable with EMR systems.
8. Peppy
Application: Telemedicine and virtual care
Peppy is an app that promotes the health and wellbeing of employees. Employees may talk to a variety of advisors and practitioners after selecting the service stream they need (Healthy Mind, Menopause, Parenthood, or Fertility) via the app. Peppy offers access to information and toolkits through text- and video-based communication channels.
This is another health data services. Employee mental health is important, as highlighted by COVID-19. Employers will need to address holistic welfare going ahead, even after the pandemic has passed. Peppy, a business in the digital health space, will gain from these shifting mindsets.
9. Maven Clinic
Application: Telemedicine and virtual care
Maven is a digital health startup that offers telemedicine services focused on providing care for families and women. Members of Maven are given personal Care Advocates, have the option to schedule video-based on-demand consultations, and get individualised instructional materials. Due to the numerous touchpoints, members feel supported no matter what their issue (e.g. parent planning, egg freezing, adoption, childcare support). Also check Yandex alternatives
Employers may guarantee that staff members have access to the best support network for all routes to motherhood by providing Maven. This draws in and gives female and LGBTQ+ employees influence. Employee benefits may now take into account the workforce’s diversity thanks to Maven.
In nations with hybrid or privately financed healthcare systems, telecoms may find this sort of digital health enterprise to be a valuable partner. Before pursuing new business prospects, they may test and refine these solutions for their own employee base because they are significant employers. This is another health data services.
10. Phlo
Application: Telemedicine and virtual care
A digital pharmacy called Phlo makes it possible to obtain prescription medications online and have them delivered right to homes. Long lines and stock shortages that frequently accompany trips to physical pharmacies are eliminated as a result. Patients can order and receive their medicine the same day using Phlo. The app streamlines the patient experience because everything takes place in one location, including getting GP clearance for prescription, selecting the delivery address, and real-time order tracking (real-time tracking is currently only live in London but Phlo is planning to expand this feature to other major UK cities).
Just 3.2% of all prescriptions in the UK were filled by distance selling pharmacies in April 2020. However, given the effects of COVID-19 and the fact that conventional community pharmacies are refocusing their services to ease the burden on GPs, we may anticipate a rise in this figure.
11. PocDoc
Application: Telemedicine and virtual care
This is another health data services. PocDoc is a digital health firm and healthcare service that combines fast testing with a digital platform via the PocDoc app. Vital Signs Solutions is the parent company. Despite the fact that PocDoc may be used to test for COVID-19, its main focus is on blood testing for diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Due of the pandemic, PocDoc is providing COVID-19 workplace tests. Healthcare professionals from the firm bring everything needed to conduct the screening in accordance with the prescribed procedures, with a 10-minute turnaround for results. Companies like PocDoc may be crucial in preserving safety and ensuring that the workplace remains open while workers progressively return to work in accordance with official recommendations.
12. CareSimple
Application: Remote surveillance
With the help of CareSimple, healthcare organisations may swiftly create remote patient monitoring (RPM) services. From the time a patient is reported until RPM is enabled, CareSimple manages the entire process. They send 4G-enabled medical devices to patients (such as blood pressure monitors, body weight scales, and blood glucose monitors) and provide the healthcare organisation with a clinical portal where services are provided. While managing the services, the healthcare organisation also has access to CareSimple’s network of service providers. This is another health data services.
Given that they have their own network of service providers, CareSimple can give a comprehensive solution. As they enable speedy deployment of RPM programmes, telecom operators are therefore a feasible partner for those looking to enter the digital health sector as they would not need to invest in hardware, software, or service providers. In Sweden, Telia has created a remote monitoring environment dubbed IBD home utilising the CareSimple platform as an illustration of a cooperation. The ability to link 4G-enabled medical equipment is another potential for telecom carriers.
13. Tunstall
Application: Remote surveillance
This is another health data services. Tunstall is a supplier of solutions that enable people who need care and medical assistance to live freely in the home of their health. The service is comprehensive and has several uses, including assisted living in retirement communities, managing complex care, and supporting chronic diseases. The medical equipment used in Tunstall’s connected care solution, such as wearable fall detectors, bed occupancy sensors, and a Smart Hub unit, give care to patients. Along with this at-home medical technology, Tunstall also offers a platform for virtual care delivery and a completely outsourced service model where qualified staff oversee the whole care delivery process.
Tunstall is a desirable partner for carriers looking to offer digital health services since they provide an end-to-end solution. The comprehensive solution portfolio offered by Tunstall would be useful to telcos for their connected care, connected health, and connected services strategies. We have previously observed collaborations, such as the one between Telefónica and Tunstall in Spain to provide an RPM solution.
14. MyWay Digital Health
Remote monitoring/Data & analytics application area
Diabetes patients and medical professionals who treat diabetes can both get help from MyWay Digital Health. Regarding patients, MyWay Digital Health offers a platform that promotes self-management, including care planning and goal setting, channels for communicating with physicians, and a multitude of instructional materials.
MyWay Digital Health has created a platform for physicians that merges data from different healthcare organisations with home-recorded data. As a result, the platform offers a comprehensive analytics and electronic health record for diabetes. This gives clinicians the ability to provide individualised patient treatment and make data-driven decisions.
15. Bleepa
Data & analytics application. A communication tool called Bleepa is intended for use by hospital workers. It combines the capacity to transmit clinical-grade medical photos with secure instant chat (e.g. x-rays). This implies that medical professionals spread around a hospital location can quickly evaluate photos, debate issues, and reach a consensus. There is always the issue of privacy with any communication platform, especially one that deals with private medical information. The hospital is in charge of managing the data because Bleepa is healthcare software. This is another health data services.
The NHSx Clinical Communication Tools Framework includes Bleepa. Communication solutions that save medical staff time and expedite patient care are essential in light of COVID-19 and the strain hospitals are under.
So what for the telecoms industry?
The 15 digital health startups we’ve listed above offer telecom players wishing to enter the market possible joint venture options to support the development and expansion of their healthcare clients.
However, before speaking with any possible partners, telcos must not only decide which application areas they want to focus on and prioritise, but also specify exactly what part they want to play in the ecosystem.
Once this has been established, operators and technology vendors must both identify the strategic partners that will enable them to close capability gaps and advance their digital health ambitions, whether by offering end-to-end solutions to healthcare customers or by contributing a crucial layer to a larger solution.
