Heather Lavoie, a Manchester native and president of Geneia, talked about how wearable technology and video conferencing is helping people age at home.
Heather Lavoie, a Manchester native and president of Geneia, talked about how wearable technology and video conferencing is helping people age at home.
DURHAM — The Internet of Things is transforming the way patients are monitored by health care professionals from the convenience of their homes, the president of Geneia says.
As the population continues to grow and age, there won’t be enough doctors to treat people with traditional face-to-face methods at all times, so remote monitoring programs will provide trained caregivers with the tools they need to make sure people still get the attention they deserve, said Heather Lavoie, who talked about her two grandmothers, Anita and Harriet.
“We really saw an opportunity early on when the Internet of Things was first coming out to provide care for people who were like my grandmothers, who didn’t want to go into a nursing home and don’t really have to go to the emergency room all the time,” Lavoie told a group of business executives Thursday at the University of New Hampshire, as part of the CEO Forum series.
Geneia, a health care analytics provider, is headquartered in Harrisburg, Pa., but employs 50 people in the Manchester Millyard.
Geneia Home allows at-risk and chronically ill patients to plug into a system using wearable devices. Clinicians can respond to alerts and take action to prevent emerging situations from becoming emergencies. Studies have shown these devices reduce acute hospital admissions by 45 percent, can help slow disease progression and save money, according to the company’s website.
Lavoie said these devices also help family members keep an eye on loved ones as they age at home.
“In the U.S., many of us have to monitor family members from thousands of miles away,” Lavoie said. “Most people don’t have enough money for retirement communities and most people don’t want to go into a nursing home. That’s not a desired result.”
Geneia, which has 50 employees in Manchester’s Millyard, is headquartered in Harrisburg, Pa. The company has a variety of products and services, but its stated goal is to make health care less complicated by being a leader in analytic solutions.
Geneia offers cloud software and clinician services that support health plans, hospitals, integrated delivery networks, patient practices and employers.
The next CEO Forum at UNH is scheduled for Jan. 17. The scheduled speaker is William Condron of The Granite Group.
