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Mindset 2021: Creating an accessible-for-all approach to improving virtual care

The past year has been anything but easy—especially for the healthcare industry. 133 million Americans suffer from chronic conditions and that number will only grow as a result of deferred care due to the pandemic. The resulting crisis has accelerated the need for an integrated suite of virtual care capabilities across chronic disease areas—from diabetes and hypertension to musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions. The crisis allowed people to realize they can get the help they need without having to see a doctor or specialist in person. By having engaging, delightful, and convenient care at the right time, people who have long struggled with their health can take actions that lead to better outcomes. 

Last month, Omada hosted Mindset 2021—a virtual summit showcasing the power of virtual care meeting behavior science. Healthcare professionals, product designers, clinicians, behavioral scientists, and business leaders from around the world were unified in their agreement that we need to build on the momentum we saw in 2020, and embrace new ways to leverage technology to achieve better outcomes for individuals.

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New Technology Steals the Show at Mindset 2021

In that vein, Omada announced three new technologies that will move the needle in terms of using a clinically-driven and evidence-based approach to delivering chronic care:

Physician Guided Care for Diabetes and Hypertension: The industry’s first virtual cardiometabolic clinic gives members better access to the care they need, when they need it. Instead of having to make an appointment and drive to a hospital, office or clinic to review meds or order labs as part of their diabetes or hypertension care, members can get help on their time, when and where it is most convenient for them. The multidisciplinary, virtual care team will include physicians, health coaches, and diabetes educators, working together to improve members’ health. This is the latest addition to our virtual-first approach to supporting members in between regular visits with their primary provider. Omada now provides behavior change support, diabetes/hypertension management and education, devices and monitoring, and physician-led management of diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia all in one, connected place - in your pocket. 

Physician guided care

Computer Vision Technology for MSK: Remote care is more than a Zoom call and online access to critical individual care information. Omada’s latest computer vision technology takes physical therapy to the next level by using augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI) to give physical therapists (PT) the ability to have a detailed look at a member’s movements and range of motion for any body part. The combination of precise quantitative data and videos of a member's movement patterns is incredibly valuable as it highlights changes in range of motion objectively, and provides qualitative data for PTs to incorporate into individual care plans. 

 

The Omada Insights Lab: We’ve said all along that the way to improve chronic care is through data. The Omada Insights Lab consolidates our deep multi-disciplinary expertise to provide whole-person care and pulls from expertise across five cross-functional teams: data science, behavior science, clinical design, product design, and care delivery to provide detailed, personalized healthcare programs for our members.

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The Time for Change is Now

Speaking of the Insights Lab, the team has analyzed more than 1 billion data points across our 450,000 members. The results are staggering:

  • Members who interact with their care team or communities in the first week of the program are 24 percent more likely to achieve their health goals.
  • Those who message their care teams regularly during the program are twice as likely to achieve positive health outcomes.
  • Members who complete goals with the support of their care team are more than two-and-a-half times more likely to achieve their health outcomes.

These insights show us that healthcare providers, employers, and members expect complete, whole-person care—a point that kept coming up across sessions at Mindset 2021.

Rachel DePew, a benefits analyst with Federated Insurance, shared how the Omada prevention and diabetes programs helped the company’s employees and family members keep up with their health as everything from gyms to clinics to health food stores shut down around this time last year. Over the course of the pandemic, the company’s employees viewed health lessons, tracked the food they ate, and worked with coaches one on one. Rachel and the other leaders at Federated Insurance know that the healthier their employees are and the better they feel, the more effective they can be at work and in life. In addition, they know that a proactive behavior-based approach can help negate the on-going healthcare costs associated with chronic conditions.

 

No One Knows What the Future May Hold

A return to normal? I think that “normal” is far behind us. Whatever lies ahead will require continued access to specialized care to treat chronic health issues. It’s clear the industry needs to continue to innovate and come up with new ways to improve access and deliver better outcomes—whatever is thrown our way.

Events like Mindset 2021 always generate a slew of forward-looking predictions. Here’s mine: In less than 10 years, the biggest provider of diabetes care will be a behavior health company like Omada instead of your local primary care physician. We have the data. We have the science. The technology is getting better, and the results are clear. It’s time we improve individual outcomes by fundamentally changing the way we deliver care. We can do this together.

If you’re looking for support from Omada on your journey to improving health, please reach out with any questions.