Irish startup HealthBeacon is building a smart device for patients to monitor how consistently they take injectable medication. Though it aims to improve compliance, the device’s primary purpose is quite practical – it’s a glorified garbage bin.
HealthBeacon just partnered with Cleveland Clinic and HealthXL to explore the best ways to improve upon patient engagement – with domain experts offering the startup advice on workflow, and create a plan to move the pilot forward.
“The device is fashioned after a traditional Sharps container,” said Charles Steiner, a product development manager at Cleveland Clinic, referring to the standard injection disposal bin used in home care. “The designers thought that this would be a good platform to leverage data collection on patient activity, and disseminate that information to the patient and provider.”
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The device prototype will hit European markets shortly, in a 12-week pilot study that will help prepare for a U.S. launch later in the year. HealthXL serves as a link between the private sector – companies like IBM, Novartis and Silicon Valley Bank – with academicians like the Cleveland Clinic – to help accelerate early stage but innovative healthcare programs. This particular partnership is meant to help drive this device’s medication adherence – and analytics – goals into general use.
“We’re working with HealthXL to provide real world guidance and mentoring around big ideas,” said Gary Fingerhut, director of Cleveland Clinic Innovations. “In this case, it’s the access to subject matter experts that can help take Health Beacon into a pilot phase.”
