TECHdotMN: News about Minnesota Startups

By Arundhati Parmar, MedCity News

“A Minneapolis company has created an iPhone app that will allow people to interact with their health insurance companies about everything from claims and coverage to disease management.

Warm Health, a healthcare communications and disease management company, announced Monday that the Warm Health App on iTunes is available to plan members of its insurance clients. Although it is free for anyone to download, the app works only with health plan customers of Warm Health. The company has 25 clients including Amerigroup, Medica, HealthSpring.”

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By Arundhati Parmar, MedCity News

“A road less traveled may bring riches. At least that is the hope at Preventice, a Minneapolis software company whose association with Mayo Clinic is leading it to foray into the world of medical devices.

The company – formerly called Boost Information Systems and based near Mayo in Rochester – is building a miniature, remote body monitor called BodyGuardian.”

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By Arundhati Parmar, MedCity News

“Telemedicine and mobile health’s popularity and efficacy have spurred a plethora of innovations, not the least of which is the online diagnosis of common ailments.

One integrated health system in Minnesota, which functions both as a healthcare provider and insurer, has witnessed growing popularity of its e-diagnosis system. Called Virtuwell, the online service of HealthPartners has treated around 22,00o patients since its launch in October 2010, said Kevin Palattao, the service’s vice president.”

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By Arundhati Parmar, MedCity News

“A mobile health startup wants to help providers get a better handle on patient satisfaction and they find good reception given the advent of Accountable Care Organizations and other elements of healthcare reform.

Healthy Heartland Inc. has created CareWire, a text-messaging service by which patients can rate their satisfaction following an appointment on a scale of 0 to 10. After patients have completed their appointment, CareWire can send a text message on behalf of the provider to the patient asking that they rate their experience on a scale of 0 to 10, with 10 being very positive.”

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By Arundhati Parmar, MedCity News

“People eager to tackle obesity or just maintain a healthy lifestyle may soon have another tool to help them achieve their goals. MetaLogics Corp, a Minnesota company, is building a calorie monitor that it claims is the “only wearable device that directly measures the calories your body burns without relying on guesses or estimates.”

In late December the company raised $70,000 of the $200,000 it is seeking.The MetaLogics Personal Calorie Monitor is worn on the upper arm. It uses a patented technology used in metabolics research to measure the four kinds of heat generated by the body – radiant, conductive, evaporative and convective.”

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By Arundhati Parmar, MedCity News

“Vertical Health Solutions, which does business as OnPoint Medical Diagnostics, is seeking $5 million in exchange for equity and options, according to a regulatory filing.  So far, $525,000 has been raised.

William Cavanaugh is the president and CEO of the company, while Rochester real estate mogul Gus Chafoulias is one of its directors. OnPoint Medical Diagnostics, a Minnesota health IT firm, makes MRI quality assurance software.”

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By Arundhati Parmar, MedCity News

“As the e-clinical software market has seen rapid growth, Minnetonka, Minnesota-based MedNet Solutions, which makes web-based clinical study management tools, has shared in some of that bounty.

Earlier in August, the health IT firm made the list of Inc. magazine’s 5,000 fastest-growing, privately held companies for the fifth year in a row. This time, MedNet Solutions ranked 4,085 and showed a 30 percent growth in three years with revenue climbing to $11.2 million last year from $8.6 million in 2008.”

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By Arundhati Parmar, MedCity News

“Serial entrepreneur Abir Sen wants to revolutionize how employers buy health insurance for their workers as well as provide more control and choice to employees in how they choose health benefits.

Sen is the founder and CEO of Minneapolis, Minnesota startup Bloom Health. The startup announced last week that it has signed up Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, the largest insurer in that state, and Medica, a Minneapolis health plan, to provide health benefits through Bloom’s newly launched private health exchange.”

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By Arundhati Parmar, MedCity News

“An emerging health IT startup in Minnesota wants to create a healthcare social network that would move sales between vendors and hospital systems completely online.

Consider Qualtrx a mix between Twitter and Match.com, says its founder and CEO Rashaun Sourles. Hospitals and physicians in the Qualtrx network broadcast their needs, which can be as specific as the desire for an individual product or patient care need or as broad as an organizational goal. Then, medical sales representatives will buy access to the system, respond to the health systems’ needs and (presumably) make a sale.”

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By Arundhati Parmar, MedCity News

“Health IT company OnPoint Medical Diagnostics could be the silver lining of the collapsed Minnesota incubator Healthcare IP Partners.

Healthcare IP Partners fell to pieces in less than two years after trying to commercialize Mayo Clinic technology, such as the kind used by OnPoint. Most of the five spinoffs have uncertain futures.  But OnPoint seems to be recovering from a rocky start, which included temporarily losing its license to Mayo due to lack of funds, said the company’s President William Cavanaugh.”

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