BL Healthcare announced last week that Verizon Investments had participated in its recent financing round. MobiHealthNews has learned that BL raised about $2 million in the round, but whether others participated is still unclear.
BL Healthcare announced a partnership with Verizon in April 2010 to build an ecosystem of applications for BL's platform. Earlier this year at the Consumer Electronics Show, BL announced an HD version of its home monitor powered by Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE network. This past week at HIMSS BL announced a connectivity deal with Sprint, too.
“Verizon Wireless selected BL Healthcare as an ecosystem developer that best aligned with our vision of remote, patient-focused, next-generation healthcare,” John Maschenic, director of healthcare solutions for Verizon Wireless, stated in the press release last April. “The BL Healthcare platform, combined with the Verizon Wireless network, will help healthcare providers select various applications and services based on their patients’ conditions and needs, giving the provider an active role in defining and managing a patient healthcare and wellness program.”
According to BL's most recent press release, the Verizon investment was arranged through Verizon Communications Inc.'s Verizon Ventures group and will help BL expand its remote health care offerings -- including those underway with Verizon and (it seems) other partners.
BL notes on its website there is a 510(k) Class II clearance pending from the FDA for its touchscreen monitor.
"BL Healthcare's work with Verizon Wireless' LTE Innovation Center is focused on leveraging the increased bandwidth of the LTE 4G network to enable an entirely new experience of HD video enabled, personalized, remote and home health services." Michael Mathur, CEO of BL Healthcare, said in the press release.
For more, read the recent BL release here