The spread of the novel coronavirus that causes Covid-19 has shown the world that healthcare is more important now than ever. Two Triangle-based startups, VitalFlo and Wellistic, are doing their part to help the healthcare industry manage these overwhelming times.
VitalFlo, a digital health company that helps doctors keep their asthma patients out of the emergency room, is scaling its platform as quickly as possible to help its at-risk patients. The company has designed a device and software that can measure patients with chronic respiratory problems symptoms at home. (We profiled the company last October.)
Those patients are particularly at risk during this virus outbreak and need to keep their levels constantly checked, while also staying at home. VitalFlo is able to facilitate doctors getting data from these patients without face-to-face interaction.
VitalFlo recently launched its software in a couple of practices in California, and are planning to continue improving their product.
“We started this company to help asthmatic and respiratory patients get better care that fits into their life better,” CEO Luke Marshall said. “When you hit a crisis moment, it’s clear that these are the solutions for the future—and we need them now.”
VitalFlo has also waived its fees for its software during this time. Due to funding from the National Science Foundation, the company is able to waive fees and still stay afloat.
Wellistic—a healthcare community with listings and reviews for doctors, dentists, therapists, acupuncturists, chiropractors and health coaches that we previously featured here—is taking on the challenge of telemedicine.
Many of their service providers have been forced to shut down, but some have reinvented themselves as virtual professionals providing classes or appointments over video conferencing, founder Oz Merchant said.
“We believe coming out of this people will be more keen on preventative care and well-being,” Merchant said. “Wellistic is well-positioned to help connect the community to the services they are seeking.”
Although things have slowed down for Wellistic overall, Merchant said the company is shifting its focus to offer more telemedicine approaches. And while the company already offered some online coaching, they are now building out an easier way to connect virtual service providers with customers in an effort to deliver better matchmaking.
“Our vision from day one has been to build the largest community of health and wellness service providers under one roof,” Merchant said. “The outpouring of compassion we see across so many cities and countries reinvigorates our passion and mission of building a strong community focused on wellness. This imperative is more important now than ever before.”
