By OPEN MINDS Circle
The federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) selected 15 digital health startups to participate in the PandemicX Accelerator on projects to address health disparities related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). PandemicX is a startup accelerator sponsored by HHS and run by MassChallenge HealthTech. PandemicX combines entrepreneurs and digital tools with the infrastructure and data of HHS to better understand and eliminate disparities in access and quality of care exacerbated by COVID-19.
The 2022 PandemicX Accelerator participants will use digital tools and publicly accessible data to eliminate disparities and tackle drivers of inequity exacerbated by COVID-19. PandemicX is co-led by the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (ASH) and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC).
PandemicX startups, which are part of the broader MassChallenge HealthTech cohort, will focus on challenge areas including health equity by design, national public health solutions, behavioral, mental, and violence prevention, socioeconomic outcome indicators, and community resilience. Over the next four months, the participants will go through curriculum, mentorship, and exhibition events to produce avenues of growth and third-party collaboration.
The 2022 PandemicX Cohort includes the following startups:
Carium operates a telehealth platform delivered via an app that supports individualized care for consumers served by participating health systems; it links to a range of wearable devices. Its challenge areas are remote monitoring, access to care, behavioral health, and clinical decision support. More information is at https://www.go.carium.com/.
Clear Bill of Health (CBOH) developed a COVID-19 vaccination and testing status tool that empowers users to control their digital health identity and share verifiable health statuses with whom they choose. Its challenge areas are health information technology and behavioral health. More information is at https://www.cboh.info/.
Culture Care Collective provides a chronic disease health support program that integrates community health workers and technology into hospital-based care. Its challenge area is health care delivery. More information is at https://culturecareco.com/.
EatWell Meal Kits partners with health care provider organizations who prescribe the kits. The kits include fresh ingredients, simple recipes, and skill-building videos. Its challenge area is health and wellness. More information is at https://www.eatwellmealkits.com/.
Eupnoos Ltd is a digital therapeutics company developing the world’s first medical-grade software-only smartphone platform for clinical lung function tests such as spirometry for expiratory and inspiratory flow measurements along with symptom guided assessments. Its challenge areas are diagnostics, health and wellness, poverty alleviation, and public health. More information is at https://www.eupnoos.com/.
Ferrum Health is deploying artificial intelligence to health systems for applications like patient screening and follow-up. Its challenge areas are access to care, population heath, and health equity. More information is at https://ferrumhealth.com/.
HealthOpX is testing a predictive analytics-based triage tool to enable health care workers to assess the risk of readmission, emergency visit, and morbidity. Its challenge area is health care information technology. More information is at https://www.healthopx.com/.
HeyRenee is a concierge platform that aims to make it easier for consumers to manage physician appointments, diagnostics, results, and other aspects of care. Its challenge areas are chronic disease management and data integration. More information is at https://www.heyrenee.co/.
Juli is an artificial intelligence platform for people with chronic conditions. The platform collects data from smart devices, environmental data, electronic health records, and self-reported outcomes to enhance consumer interactions with health care workers. Its challenge areas are health and wellness and use of technology. More information is at https://www.juli.co/.
ManagingLife has developed a digital therapeutic to help people and their health care professionals manage chronic pain. Its challenge areas are chronic disease management and price transparency. More information is at https://managinglife.com/.
OMNY Health is a health care ecosystem that connects provider organizations and life sciences companies to fuel partnerships. Its challenge area is data integration/Interoperability. More information is at https://omnyhealth.com/.
Opeeka offers a suite of software for mental health, behavioral health and social services, covering activities such as data collection, care planning, activity tracking, alert generation, outcomes monitoring, warehousing, and analytics. Its challenge area is access to care. More information is at https://www.opeeka.com/.
Patientory is a blockchain-powered population health, data analytics and patient engagement app. Its challenge areas are patient access, health and wellness, and care coordination. More information is at https://patientory.com/.
UnMute offers an app to match consumers with therapists. Its challenge areas are health care information technology and social impact. More information is at https://www.unmute.today/.
Welfie is a COVID-19-focused platform that provides testing, symptom checks, vaccine status data, and case tracking for schools and other academic organizations. Its challenge areas are health and wellness, health care information technology, enterprise software, education, public health, and health care delivery. More information is at https://www.welfie.com/.
HHS announced the cohort on December 20, 2021. Applications for the PandemicX Accelerator Program opened on September 9, 2021.
MassChallenge is a global network for innovators. Headquartered in the United States with seven locations worldwide, MassChallenge equips entrepreneurs to disrupt the status quo and to create meaningful change. The MassChallenge HealthTech program is supported by a public-private partnership that includes partners and collaborators Accenture, Boston Children’s Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, City of Boston, Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB), Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), MassMutual, MITRE, Point32Health, and the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS); community partners American Medical Association (AMA), Beth Israel Lahey Health, Clifton Larson Allen (CLA), Goodwin Proctor, Takeda, Theras LifeTech Group, Vertex, and ZenDesk.
For more information, contact:
- Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, Department of Health and Human Services, 200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Room 715-G, Washington, District of Columbia 20201; 202-205-0143; Email: ashmedia@hhs.gov; Website: https://www.hhs.gov/ash/osm/innovationx/pandemicx/index.html
- Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 330 C Street SW, Floor 7, Washington, District of Columbia 20201; 202-690-7151; Fax: 202-690-6079; Email: onc.request@hhs.gov; Website: https://www.healthit.gov/