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Bangalore based Startup Forus health redefining social entrepreneurship

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In a race of Startups, driven mainly by profit motive, finding Startups which have social reach is sometimes difficult. Especially in  Bangalore, where most of the Startups in the recent times are IT based and are mainly concerned with providing services to the upper strata or relatively affluent section of the society.

Different from the norm, Forus Health is one such Startup in Bangalore which provides innovative, technology based solutions for health issues. Funded by Asian Healthcare Fund ,Accel Partners and IDG Ventures, the driving principle behind this Startup is providing cost effective and efficient medical diagnostics services to people from every financial background.

Incidentally Forus health is one of the first Startups in India providing low cost healthcare services.According to Forus, their aim is to reach out to rural and economically weaker sections of developing nations that do not have access to adequate eye care and help the economically disadvantaged sector gain access to healthcare.

Their flagship product is 3nethra which has gathered much attention in recent times. It is a portable eye screening device with Integrated telemedicine module which enables health records management on the cloud. It provides digital images of the anterior and posterior segments and the best part is that it can be operated by someone with very basic instructions. Another variant of 3nethra is built with an objective auto refractometer which measures the spherical, cylindrical and astigmatic axis. A test in 3nethra usually takes less than five minutes.

What makes it suitable for remote villages is that it needs only 10 watts of power and can run for four hours on a UPS. Many Indian villages are still off grid and the lack of electricity makes it impossible to carry instruments which require electricity. The portability and affordability of this device has enabled Forus health to reach out to more than 20 countries.

India is one of the countries where there is acute shortage of ophthalmologists. People have to form long queues in order to get an appointment. The problem becomes severe for people who live in remote villages. Diseases such as cataract, diabetic retinopathy etc. if detected at an early stage can be cured effectively. But in rural areas, the government sponsored diagnostics facilities, if at all they exist, are archaic to say the least. If the diagnostic centers are at distant places, villagers more often than not ignore their medical problems.

Companies like Topcon and FSL have been selling similar products in the market but when it comes to social entrepreneurship, the products and services cannot be costly. Forus health has achieved this objective by making its product cost effective. The Startup also showcased its innovations in Silicon valley in September 2015 attracting further attention from global stakeholders.

Image credit: Forus Health

Healthcare

Drones Could Dramatically Change How Health Care Works

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drone in healhcare

A recent article from NPR said that drone delivery systems are one step closer to reality. The report said: “Drones with longer ranges could eventually be a game-changer in helping meet health care needs in underserved communities and in rural areas, where doctors and patients could be miles apart from medications and supplies.” Another article from CBInsights added that drones are tackling everything from disease control to vacuuming up ocean waste to delivering pizza, and more… and will impact society. The NPR article said: “Drone technology has been used by defense organizations and tech-savvy consumers for quite some time.

However, the benefits of this technology extends well beyond just these sectors. With the rising accessibility of drones, many of the most dangerous and high-paying jobs within the commercial sector are ripe for displacement by drone technology. The use cases for safe, cost-effective solutions range from data collection to delivery. And as autonomy and collision-avoidance technologies improve, so too will drones’ ability to perform increasingly complex tasks.

The emerging global market for business services using drones is valued at over $127B, according to PwC. And as more corporations look to capitalize on these commercial opportunities, investment into the drone space has grown.” Active tech companies in the markets this week include Plymouth Rock Technologies Inc. (CSE: PRT) (OTCQB: PLRTF), Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) (NASDAQ: GOOGL), Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), FedEx Corporation (NYSE: FDX), United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE: UPS).

The report, focusing on healthcare needs, added: “Last year, (a) drone manufacturer… launched an emergency response program that gives first responders access to some of the company’s drones and peripherals, as well as technical support and assistance. So far, (the manufacturer) has partnered with fire departments in Los Angeles and Menlo Park, plus the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office. Additionally, (a university) has tested an ambulance drone that could deliver defibrillators on demand. By extending existing emergency infrastructure, drones may be able to dramatically increase survival rates in both rural and urban areas around the world.”

Plymouth Rock Technologies’ (PRT) X1 Platform will be used in a series of airborne tests for the UK National Health Service (NHS) for emergency apparatus delivery. This will involve several test scenarios, that if successful will lead to on-scene delivery of defibrillators and other critical trauma assistance technologies.

The scope of the work involves the University of Warwick, The East Midland NHS trust and the Welsh Ambulance NHS Trust and will commence in May 2020.

“At this time of global medical resources being stretched beyond measure, we are honored to assist in this matter,” stated Dana Wheeler, CEO. “We believe that the multi-role design of the X1 that was purposely designed to carry up to 20lb of payload in all weather conditions will redefine how UAV technologies are utilized,” concluded Wheeler.

“Our engineers and PFCO pilots are preparing the X1 for this purpose”, stated Carl Cagliarini, Chief Strategy Officer. “We will be working with two other strategic UK contractors who will be the liaison leads on this program. Our platform being used for this capability is both exciting and beneficial to many struggling communities in the UK. We believe that the broad gamut of life-saving payloads from anaphylaxis shot, bloods, vaccine or electronic resuscitation instruments, could save life both on main street and also potentially for greater use for armed forces in the battlefield,” concluded Cagliarini. 

Other recent developments in the tech industry include:

Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) (NASDAQ: GOOGL) – U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao recently announced the (FAA) awarded the first air carrier certification to a drone delivery company, Wing Aviation, a company owned by Google. The certification paved the way for Wing Aviation to begin commercial package delivery in Blacksburg, VA. Wing partnered with the Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership and Virginia Tech, as one of the participants in the Transportation Department’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Piolt Program.

“This is an important step forward for the safe testing and integration of drones into our economy. Safety continues to be our Number One priority as this technology continues to develop and realize its full potential,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao.  Wing demonstrated that its operations met the FAA’s rigorous safety requirements to qualify for an air carrier certificate. This is based on extensive data and documentation, as well as thousands of safe flights conducted in Australia over the past several years.

Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) recently said it is bringing a veteran aviation exec on board to run its drone-delivery subsidiary as the retail giant continues to push for 30-minute aerial shipping.  “We’re very excited David Carbon joined Amazon to lead the next phase of our mission to bring 30-minute delivery by drones to customers,” Brad Porter, vice president of robotics at Amazon, told CNET.  “David has over 20 years of experience bringing ground-breaking aerospace innovations to scale safely and reliably, and we look forward to his contributions as we scale up our manufacturing and customer delivery operations.”

Under Kimchi, Prime Air advocated for a national drone-integration plan for air traffic. During AUVSI’s Xponential Conference in 2016, Kimchi laid out a plan to create an organized, layered structure of airspace combined with a system of “federated” traffic controllers. The system would allow aircraft of all types to communicate with controllers and each other.

FedEx Corporation (NYSE: FDX) recently the company stated that for the first time in the United States, a drone completed a scheduled commercial residential delivery to a home in Christiansburg, Virginia. The drone delivery was conducted by Wing Aviation, in collaboration with FedEx Express, as part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Pilot Program (IPP). Today’s delivery of a FedEx Express package marks the launch of the first scheduled, commercial residential drone delivery service and the first scheduled e-commerce delivery via drone delivery trial in the United States.

For the duration of the trial, Wing drones will transport select FedEx packages to qualifying homes in Christiansburg, demonstrating the benefits of drone delivery for last-mile delivery service. Wing has received the first authorization from the FAA to conduct scheduled, commercial drone package delivery to residences.

United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE: UPS) recently said UPS subsidiary UPS Flight Forward will use drones to deliver prescription medicines from a CVS pharmacy to The Villages, Florida for the largest U.S. retirement community, home to more than 135,000 residents. The service will use Matternet’s M2 drone system.

Drone transport offers a fast delivery option for medicines that are time-sensitive, while supporting social-distancing efforts. Drone delivery options provide individuals with a convenient alternative to visiting a pharmacy. This program can also help prioritize the protection of our healthcare heroes.

“Our new drone delivery service will help CVS provide safe and efficient deliveries of medicines to this large retirement community, enabling residents to receive medications without leaving their homes,” said Scott Price, UPS chief strategy and transformation officer. “UPS is committed to playing its part in fighting the spread of Coronavirus, and this is another way we can support our healthcare customers and individuals with innovative solutions.”

This News has been Published in Partnership with PR Newswire

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An interview with Healthcare Influencer- Carl G. Santoro

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Carl G. Santoro compassionate assistance

Home care generally refers to assistive (or medical) care for patients who do not require hospitalization or facility care, but do need additional support to live safely at home. The largest segment of home care involves assisting individuals with daily tasks such as bathing, dressing, and eating. Such help is carried out by caregivers, or other licensed or unlicensed non-medical personnel. In the U.S., most of those receiving home care are over 65 years old, with approximately 96 percent requiring assistance with bathing.

Compassionate Assistance is a family-owned, non-medical home care provider. Compassionate Assistance is the home care solution offering innovative, science-based approach to aging, elevating the standard of care for seniors everywhere.

We recently interviewed Healthcare Influencer Carl G. Santoro of Compassionate Assistance to know more about Compassionate Assistance and home care sector in general. Carl is a results-oriented business executive with over 10 years of consistent high performance. Carl has a proven ability to establish, teach, and execute business initiatives as well as manage sales and marketing campaigns that resulted in substantial growth over the years throughout the United States. Carl is a very well respected young leader who obtained his MBA while opening an office in Arizona. He has practical experience and excellent interpersonal skills.

Carl, what motivated you to go ahead with the idea of Compassionate Assistance.

My entrepreneurial ambitions were sparked by me caring for my younger brother, Joseph, who has Down Syndrome, his entire life. From first-hand experience, I knew what it meant to provide top quality care and therefore, It is my mission to raise the bar on the quality of care provided in the Healthcare Industry. The team at Compassionate Assistance is dedicated to providing the highest quality, compassionate in-home personal care to families with loved ones that are chronically ill, disabled, or aging seniors.

What were the initial challenges that you faced in the home care sector given the type of operational challenges this sector has?

The most difficult challenges we face every day are providing care for those who cannot afford it. Through our continuing efforts, we are starting a not-for-profit organization that will donate the funds to those who are transitioning from hospital to home and cannot afford services for care.

What differentiates you from other similar service providers?

At Compassionate Assistance, we are here to serve you and your family when you need us most. We provide personalized care to help you or a loved one live well where most seniors prefer: at home. Our mission at Compassionate Assistance is to enable individuals to live independently and with dignity in their own home. We strive to do so by elevating the standard of in-home senior care to improve the long-term health, safety, and happiness of individuals.

Elderly people face various challenges in their day to day lives. How does Compassionate Assistance make their lives easy?

Providing our clients loved ones complete peace of mind knowing they are being taken care of by a trained and compassionate caregiver. Care is provided on an hourly, daily or temporary respite basis. We support basic activities of daily living and also more advanced care. We help with the transition from a hospital or rehab facility to home. We can also provide care for specialized conditions such as stroke or Alzheimer’s disease.

You can know more about Compassionate Assistance and their work, click here.

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Why this product from JR Herbals helps you in morning stiffness and gives you relief from muscle and joint pain?

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JR Herbals 4play Body Flex

According to the latest report issued by the United States Bone and Joint Initiative (USBJI), around 126.6 million Americans or around one in two adults are affected by a musculoskeletal condition–comparable to the total percentage of Americans living with a chronic lung or heart condition–costing an estimated $213 billion in annual treatment, care and lost wages.

Musculoskeletal disorders are conditions and injuries affecting the bones, joints, and muscles and can be painful and debilitating, affecting daily quality of life, activity and productivity.

As per the report, among adults with any musculoskeletal pain disorder, the use of natural products for any reason (24.8%) was significantly higher than the use of mind and body approaches (15.2%), practitioner based approaches (18.3%), or whole medical system approaches (5.4%). The pattern of use of the above-mentioned groups of complementary health approaches was similar for persons without a musculoskeletal disorder.

Of all the products available in the market, JR Herbals 4play Body Flex, which is an advanced formula for morning stiffness and minor relief of muscle and joint pain has been reported as highly effective by its users.

It’s a fact that physical overexertion and injury can lead to muscle and joint minor aches and pains. Body Flex is an exciting product formulated to support the body’s response to such conditions by providing a unique combination of enzymes and herbs.

So, why this product from JR Herbals helps you in morning stiffness and gives you relief from muscle and joint pain?

The formula contains Fungal Protease. This enzyme is used to break down and digest damaged proteins that can become prevalent during overexertion. Also, proteolytic enzymes are used to help hydrolyze hemoglobin and support normal circulation. Another key ingredient in this product is Serrapeptase, which can be one of the most effective ways of treating overexertion.

Bromelain which is found in the stem of pineapples is also an important ingredient of this product and this remarkable enzyme has been recognized by the Commission E in Germany for its many benefits including physical issues which result from injury. Bromelain also helps to metabolize damaged protein that may occur as a result of overexertion or injury and also helps support normal circulation.

JR Herbals have been using natural products in all of their products. Another key element of Body Flex extracted from nature is Papain . It is naturally found in Papaya and has been found to be extremely effective in metabolizing and digesting damaged proteins.

One ingredient that has been included due to its broad substrate specificity and its ability to hydrolyze interior bonds of proteins is Bacterial protease, which opens the potential for further hydrolysis by other proteins found in this formula. Bacterial protease compliments the other proteolytic enzymes found in this formulation by creating smaller peptides for the other proteins to continue to further hydrolyze.

Understanding the natural properties of Devils claw root extract, it has also been included in the formulation as it is beneficial in diminishing the effects of overexertion or injury.

Ginger root extract is also included for its ability to support a more positive response by the body in dealing with the minor aches and pains caused by overexertion or injury. Similarly, White willow Bark , has been included for its benefits in dealing with minor aches and pains typically experienced from overexertion. The naturally occurring level of Salicin in this herb is remarkable.

Moreover, the capsule used for making Body Flex is “DRcaps” which has Kosher and Vegetarian society certifications. These Capsules help protect dietary supplement ingredients from stomach acid helping to ensure that the benefits of the product are not compromised.

Pain is a leading cause of disability and a major contributor to health care utilization. Pain is often associated with a wide range of injury and disease. It is also costly to the United States, not just in terms of health care expenses and disability compensation, but also with respect to lost productivity and employment, reduced incomes, lost school days, and decreased quality of life. Treating it naturally is the best thing one can do as it attacks the root cause of the pain and natural(herbal) treatments are highly cost effective.

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