People across the nation continue to struggle with basic healthcare access, with nearly a third of Americans currently lacking a primary care provider. On Tuesday, a Duke University spinout launched a new care hub aimed to tackle this problem.
Durham, North Carolina-based Pluto Health is rolling out a digital hub that seeks to unify patients’ fragmented health data, provide personalized care navigation and connect users to clinical research opportunities — all without requiring prior insurance or an established relationship with a primary care provider.
Pluto, which was founded in 2020, aims to boost access to primary care, as well as increase opportunities for patients to participate in clinical research. Only 9% of U.S. adults are ever invited to participate in a clinical trial, said Joy Bhosai, Pluto’s CEO and founder.
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The startup’s new hub connects users to care options in real time and brings together patients’ health histories, lab results and diagnostic reports into one place. Using AI and clinician feedback, the platform also quickly identifies what users may need, such as preventive screenings or enrollment in a research study, Bhosai explained.
“[Patients] connect their health histories, assess it with the help of AI and clinicians, review tailored options and engage with care or research opportunities right away. That might mean ordering a lab test to their home, chatting with a clinician on demand or being matched to a clinical trial — all from a single hub,” she remarked.
In her view, the hub makes it easier for patients to take timely, informed action. Instead of piecing together their care journey across different providers, Pluto’s platform gives patients a clear view of their health and actionable next steps, Bhosai stated.
The hub also makes research participation more accessible by reducing redundant paperwork and pre-screening failures, she added.
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“It ultimately helps people feel supported, not siloed, in their health journey,” Bhosai declared.
To her, Pluto’s competitors are traditional telehealth providers, digital health platforms and clinical trial recruitment companies. She believes her company differentiates itself because it doesn’t treat care and research as separate domains.
“Instead, we integrate them into one seamless hub. Where others focus on either care delivery or research enrollment, we unify both — helping patients act on their health needs and research opportunities at the same time,” Bhosai said.
To date, Pluto has tracked more than 15 million health encounters across its platform, she stated.
Bhosai pointed out that she named the startup to reflect its mission.
“Like the planet on the edge of our solar system, patients on the margins of healthcare — those in care deserts or those overlooked by the system — deserve to be seen and supported. Pluto is a reminder to bring what feels far away within reach,” she remarked.
Photo: MoMo Productions, Getty Images