Instead of making money the reward for its digital health startup pitch contest, Brigham and Women’s Hospital iHub innovation center put another hot commodity up for grabs: collaboration with clinicians and executives.
Ten finalists competed in its Shark Tank-style innovation contest this week. They were all solutions that addressed either the patient and family experience in an inpatient setting, or patient engagement in an outpatient setting.
A mix of six clinicians, researchers and executives served as the “sharks” and potential pilot partners for the startups. Each shark could choose one company to partner with, and if the company chose them back, it was a match.
Four startups walked away with partners after Monday’s event:
Twine Health – Most popular among the judges, this MIT Media Lab spinout is developing a software platform that uses synchronized apps for patients to manage their chronic diseases and collaborate with physicians.
Twine Health – clinician/coach to apprentice patient cross platform tool to increase communication and improve outcomes #bwhsharktank
— Hacking Pediatrics (@HackPediatrics) April 28, 2014
Partner: Dr. Stuart Pollack, medical director of BW’s Advanced Primary Care Associates
A Deep-dive Into Specialty Pharma
A specialty drug is a class of prescription medications used to treat complex, chronic or rare medical conditions. Although this classification was originally intended to define the treatment of rare, also termed “orphan” diseases, affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the US, more recently, specialty drugs have emerged as the cornerstone of treatment for chronic and complex diseases such as cancer, autoimmune conditions, diabetes, hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS.
Tenacity Health – A corporate wellness company that uses peer coaching and “unconventional incentives” based on MIT research to drive behavior change in employees.
Compelling pitch from @TenacityHealth. Accountability partners motivate healthy behavioral changes. #BWHSharkTank pic.twitter.com/N3YDH8p9yi
— Laura Handler (@lhandler) April 28, 2014
Partner: Dr. Katherine Rose, Advanced Primary Care Associates
Healo – Using remote monitoring via a mobile app, this company hopes to decrease the need for clinical follow-up for surgical wound healing.
Healo – remotely monitoring wound healing via smartphone with text reminders. #bwhsharktank #healthcare #innovation @BWHiHub
— Hacking Pediatrics (@HackPediatrics) April 28, 2014
Partner: Pooja Devendran, executive director of surgical service operations and program development
MySafeCare – A mobile app that lets patients and families report safety concerns to their care team while in the hospital.
#nurse @BrighamWomens pitch for “mySafeCare” for families to report safety concerns. Help safety and satisfaction scores @BWHiHub
— alex pelletier (@acpelletier) April 28, 2014
Partner: Karen Conley, associate chief nurse for Connors Center for Women and Newborns
The BWH partners will help these companies design and execute two- to six-week pilots this year.
