Yale New Haven Hospital has tapped Reflexion Health for its virtual physical therapy platform as part of a new program aimed at helping patients recover from joint replacement surgery. Patients at Yale’s Center for Musculoskeletal Care will use Reflexion’s Virtual Exercise Rehabilitation Assistant (VERA) platform, which offers patients a home-based rehabilitation experience. The platform will be introduced to patients before surgery and concurrently installed in their homes, and they will begin using it while still in the hospital before moving onto their homes.

“By partnering with one of the most respected and technically advanced healthcare systems in New England, we are excited to help a growing population of patients who are planning for and recovering from joint replacement surgery,” Dr. Joseph Smith, resident and CEO of Reflexion Health, said in a statement. “VERA’s ability to transform and personalize rehabilitation while increasing patient engagement and satisfaction is a great complement to traditional physical therapy.”

To use VERA, patients stand in front of a 3D camera on their computer, and the VERA program integrates a menu of prescriptive rehabilitation exercises as an animated avatar coach demonstrates the exercises and offers feedback along the way. The 3D imaging system measure movement and form and creates functional assessments, and the program features a dashboard for remote clinical review. After a session, VERA automatically generates a report, and the platform also features telemedicine capabilities.

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San Diego, California-based MedCrypt, an early-stage medical device software security company, is collaborating with connected therapeutics company QuiO to provide security two products on QuiO’s Smartinjector device platform.  The first integration will be software security for QuiO’s first two products – specialty drug smart injector Si One, and Si Pen for diabetes patients. MedCrypt’s software will monitor the injectors’ drug delivery sensors and data transmission technology usage for suspicious behavior, as well as allow the devices to sign and encrypt data through ConnectedRX, QuiO’s cloud platform.

"It's critical that our bi-directional communication channel remains secure at all times, from both a privacy and safety standpoint," QuiO Co-Founder and CEO Alexander Dahmani said in a statement. "We're proud to be working with MedCrypt, because their technology has been successfully used to secure some of the highest-risk medical devices in the market and we want every available defense in today's evolving cybersecurity landscape."

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Lyft and LogistiCare, a non-emergency medical transportation manager, announced a three-year partnership to help private, government-assisted and elderly riders make it to their healthcare appointments and programs, especially those who need short-notice trips. The companies will collaborate in 31 of LogistiCare's states and 276 cities, according to officials. LogistiCare manages more than 69 million non-emergency medical trips for about 27 million riders annually. The partnership will increase the company's reach, including commercial, Medicare and Medicaid plan members.

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West Virginia hospital system Charleston Area Medical Center reported the results of a telehealth initiative that focused on patient education to reduce hospital readmission rates.  TeleHealth Services. Using TeleHealth Services' SmarTigr interactive video library and engagement platform over a year, the four-hospital system saw readmissions drop 30 percent for COPD and 22 percent for congestive heart failure. 

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Saint Luke's Health System, a 10-hospital system in and around Kansas City, Missouri, teamed up with VenueNext to build a comprehensive mobile app for patients and visitors. The app will integrate Saint Luke's existing patient portal, telehealth and appointment scheduling systems, plus add informational and educational content from the health system's website. But where VenueNext's nonhealthcare experience shines is its additive services like wayfinding, proximity notifications and food and beverage ordering.

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Telehealth provider Teladoc partnered with healthcare technology and consulting company Compass Professional Services to provide in-network referrals to Teladoc members.  Within one business day, members will be able to request and receive a referral from primary care physicians or specialists, including oncologists and orthopedists.Through the partnership, the Compass health navigation engine and access to consultants will be fully embedded into the Teladoc platform. Referrals will factor in geographic location, physician gender, quality, outcomes and even physician gender into the criteria when processing members’ requests.

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American Well announced two partnerships: In Ohio, the telemedicine provider is partnering with health system ProMedica and insurance provider Paramount Health Care to offer live video visits 24/7. Patients can connect with ProMedica physicians via the ProMedica OnDemand app or website, where they can receive telehealth treatment for non-emergency conditions like sore throats, colds, eye infections or respiratory infections. The service costs no more than $49 per visit and accepts all major credit cards, and those with Paramount commercial memberships can use it as a benefit. The video visit will be the same price as an in-office co-pay.

In Indiana, several members of the Suburban Health Organization – a hospital partnership that works to promote patient access and efficiency in the system – will collaborate with American Well to bring video telehealth visits to SHO’s local patient population. The new service is called myVirtualHealthVisit and offers patients the ability to use a smartphone or webcam-enabled computer to talk with a doctor anywhere with reliable internet access. Patients can access the service online or by downloading the app on iOS or Android.

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In-home nursing, therapy and social work provider Northwell Health Home Care announced a partnership with health technology company Health Recovery Solutions to equip Northwell’s home care clients with Bluetooth-enabled tablets to transfer vital signs and facilitate videoconferencing with their clinicians. Leveraging Health Recovery Solutions’ telemonitoring technology, the tablets include blood pressure and digital weight monitors, a pulse oximeter, stethoscope and moveable video camera. The mobile device will transmit vital signs and other data to the patient’s care team and family members as well as trigger alerts for those who are at risk of a medical emergency.