Nevin Brittain started his career in engineering technologies helping large corporations securely share data and collaborate. Two years ago, he began applying his expertise to help caregivers securely and safely monitor patients and loved ones living at home.
Brittain says he wasn't necessarily looking to change the arc of his career when he launched
Health Numeric, but rather to address a problem he had seen first-hand.
Shortly before graduating from college, his great-grandmother died from complications of diabetes. Her health, Brittain says, had been affected by the absence of common and collaborative communication among caregivers, as well as the lack of an effective system for monitoring her in-home care.
"I knew one day that I wanted to pursue and solve that problem," says Brittain. "After graduating and working for a while, I had the knowledge to provide a solution."
Brittain went on to develop a HIPAA compliant cloud platform and support service that aids physicians, nurses, family members, and others involved in a patient's care. Comprehensive information obtained through a remote monitoring system allows caregivers to monitor a patient's daily health vitals, generate progress reports, and receive notifications when measurements go beyond a set range.
Health Numeric works by pairing medical devices a patient uses to check weight, glucose blood pressure or other conditions with Bluetooth technology. The technology then transmits real-time data to a cloud-based platform that can be accessed by caregivers.
"It's very simple to use," Brittain says. "It connects to devices that are familiar to the patient and doesn't require the patient to have Internet access. Once we install the system in the home, it feels no different to patients than what they've been doing in the past. Now there's simply someone at the other end, providing another level of comfort."
Brittain says the goal of Health Numeric is to help patients be more successful in staying in their homes by reducing the probability of medical complications and hospital readmissions.
Health Numeric is headquartered in the East Lansing
Technology and Innovation Center. Brittain works with four onsite personnel and about 10 developers and contractors. A frequent blogger and information provider, Brittain is also engaged in a pilot study through Wayne State University that examines the efficacy of monitoring patient care from home.
Source: Nevin Brittain, Founder, Health Numeric
Writer: Ann Kammerer, News Editor
Got a story idea for Innovation News? Email Ann Kammerer here.
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