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Introducing the 50+ Innovation Leaders

Meet the entrepreneurs, companies and ideas innovating healthcare services and products for the 50+ market.

50Innovation_logoWelcome to the first annual compilation of 50+ Innovation Leaders! AARP and the MedCity News team asked readers to nominate digital health companies, entrepreneurs and initiatives they felt best reflect the wide range of technologies and applications that innovatively support the 50+ population. After reviewing more than 150 submissions and tallying more than 5,000+ votes from MedCity News’s audience, we weren’t disappointed with the results.

These innovators face unique obstacles as the complications from chronic conditions, or the consequences of being hospitalized for a fall, or being readmitted following a surgery are greater and more costly the older we get. Additionally, the 50+ patient population is enormously diverse. The healthiest of the aging may still face the difficult choice of giving up their independence or paying for assisted living facilities, while others will require greater assistance due to dementia or other neurological conditions.  The technology capabilities need to address medication adherence and care coordination with professional and family caregivers whose first inclination is not to download an app.

In Project Catalyst’s 2016 Report, more than 75 percent of caregivers want technology to give them piece of mind and monitor a loved one. However, the available technologies are only used by 10 percent of caregivers. As of late 2014, 40 million Americans provided unpaid care to an adult, and 30 percent provided care for more than 41 hours per week. It is incumbent upon healthcare innovators to design products and services to this diverse patient community and their caregivers. And the platforms must reflect a wide range of ability and preferences for users.

The final list of the 50+ Innovation Leaders reflects this diversity in advancement. It includes care coordination in the realm of telehealth through collaborations with health systems by companies such as SnapMD and Pager, caregiving support led by SpeechMED CEO Susan Perry, and medication management businesses such as TowerView Health and HealthPrize Technologies, which is overseen by CEO Tom Kottler.

Several businesses have seen the value in developing software to bridge the gap between treating the mind and treating the body such as music therapy provider SingFit. Another, Quartet, has sought to improve behavioral health data easier to include in electronic medical records. Given the life changes many seniors go throughsocial isolation, reduced mobility and budget constraints, combined with the likelihood of one or more chronic conditionsthe call for companies to address these challenges is critical.  As clinical research has shown, if a person with a chronic disease is also grappling with an underlying condition such as depression, it can impact medication adherence and their ability to comply with a care plan.

Wearables developers that made the final list include Great Call, which has diversified since its direct-to-consumer model to support seniors in need of emergency assistance. Its acquisitions of Lively and HealthSense support remote monitoring and the collection of data to predict high-cost health episodes in seniors. Nymbl Science takes a different approach with a wearable device to help users improve their balance.

The healthcare pioneers that comprise our 50+ Innovation Leaders reflect the hopes and commitment not only of supporting the shift to a value-based care model but also improving care coordination, delivery and support for the 50+ population.

Check out the complete list of our 50+ Innovation Leaders.

To learn more about how these 50 innovators were chosen, please contact research@breakingmedia.com.

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