Northwell invests $500K in patient care app

Rebecca Klar
Northwell Health plans to integrate Playback Health’s software technology into its digital patient experience and branding strategy. (Photo courtesy of Northwell Health)

Northwell Health is investing $500,000 in an app designed to improve communication between doctors and patients, the health company announced Wednesday.

The app, Playback Health, was created by Dr. David Langer, Lenox Hill Hospital chair of neurosurgery.

It uses screen-capture video and other patient-specific multimedia to improve patient experience, satisfaction score and clinical outcomes, according to a Northwell release.

In 2017, a retrospective study was conducted over a three-year period to look at the impacts of using screen-capture video technology in office visits and hospital discharges.

The study found that the technology lead to a boost in patient satisfactions scores and higher overall hospital ratings, according to the release.

“Northwell Health recognizes the value of Playback Health in further enhancing the patient experience and reducing hospital readmissions by using technology that is proactive, interactive, personalized and, most importantly, outcome driven,” Richard Mulry, senior vice president of operations at Northwell Ventures, said in the release.

Northwell’s $500,000 investment is part of the $1.5 million financial backing Playback Health has obtained, according to the release.

Patient-specific video technology has been used at Lenox Hill’s neurosurgery department since 2013. The technology is being re-engineered in the department, and other Northwell hospitals will receive it later this year.

After receiving feedback from Northwell and other “early adopter” hospitals, Playback Health plans to launch a full-scale offer to the market in 2019, according to the release.

“Northwell Health is a terrific partner for Playback Health and we are very excited to have their confidence and support as we build our next-gen, video-based patient-centric engagement solution,” Gregory Odland, co-founder and CEO at Playback Health, said in the release.

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