Star Cunningham, founder and CEO of 4D Healthware, a Chicago-based Black-owned healthcare start-up, has developed software that allows COVID-19 patients to be diagnosed and treated while at home. The impressive new technology helps to reduce the number of patients infected with the coronavirus from having to go to overcrowded hospitals.
The platform, specifically designed for COVID-19 patients, allows for remote monitoring, physician and lab-supported diagnosis, as well as at-home treatment. It measures the oxygen levels in the blood through the provided pulse oximeters. 4D Healthware's software installed in digital tablets would then collect biometrics such as temperature and oxygenation levels that will be sent to the healthcare team for evaluation.
Through this, patients who are COVID-19 positive and experiencing mild symptoms wouldn't have to immediately go to the hospital for treatment unless the patient's status becomes critical. In that case, the patient will be prompted by the software to visit a local hospital or healthcare facility.
Cunningham said: "Healthcare is now recognizing the value of virtually caring for patients". "You don't want [COVID-19 patients] to come out. What you want to do is eliminate a certain amount of foot traffic that's coming into the healthcare system right now."
The new platform developed by 4D Healthware to help fight the coronavirus is actually based on its original software that helps to effectively monitor the health of people with chronic illnesses using wearable devices like Fitbit or Apple Watch. The startup company, which was launched in 2012, has since raised over $4 million.
This time, 4D Healthware is serving an increasing number of COVID-19 patients. It aims to serve at least 500,000 patients, mostly with Medicare or private insurance, in the U.S. during the pandemic. Twenty people, one of which is a physician, are currently working in the 4D Healthware's team. Cunningham said they have even more plans for the company after the pandemic ends.
"We call 4D Healthware enhanced telehealth because it's more than that," Cunningham said. "The beauty of 4D is that long after the pandemic ends, we are a viable long-term solution for managing patients at home."
For more information about 4D Healthware, visit www.4dhealthware.com