Hi I’m Dr. Matthew Alch (Chiropractor) and as a health practitioner, specifically a Doctor of Chiropractic, I love to keep a close eye on the latest health news and follow the latest trends in the health tech industry.
There’s so many new technologies and startups emerging all the time and they’re playing such an important role in improving patient health outcomes. Through their innovative projects and new technology, they are driving the cutting edge of healthcare forward.
Several of the health start-ups I’m following are making healthcare much more efficient, improving people’s lives, and making it more accessible. Here are 12 of the top healthcare start-ups improving patient outcomes.
Personalised medicine
First up, in the field of personalised medicine, we have two startups that are both involved in genetic testing. Personalised medicine has become much more common in the last decade with the rise of genetic treatments. These treatments are tailored to each individual patient, usually based on their information which can include genetics, environmental factors, and other lifestyle factors.
23andMe
Known for its DNA testing kits, 23andMe provides personalised health reports that help users understand their genetic predispositions to various health conditions.
Colour Genomics
This start-up offers genetic testing for hereditary conditions and potential responses to medications, enabling more personalised and effective treatment plans.
Telehealth and remote monitoring
In the area of telehealth we have a couple of interesting developments, especially after the pandemic, which really turbocharged innovation. Telehealth and remote healthcare services have reduced the need for in-person visits and this has allowed for people in rural and regional areas to access healthcare services that they may not have had access to before.
Teladoc Health
This platform connects patients with doctors via video calls, providing timely medical advice and prescriptions.
Livongo
Focused on chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension, Livongo offers remote monitoring and personalised coaching to help patients manage their health.
Artificial intelligence and machine learning
Something you’ve probably heard a lot about is AI. Artificial intelligence. And machine learning. This area is really moving forward at an unprecedented rate.
AI and machine learning are transforming diagnostics, treatment planning, and patient management by analysing vast amounts of data quickly and accurately.
Zebra Medical Vision
Using AI, Zebra Medical Vision analyses medical imaging to detect diseases early, improving diagnostic accuracy and speed.
PathAI
This start-up leverages AI to enhance pathology, ensuring more accurate diagnoses and better treatment outcomes for patients.
Health data analytics
Patient record management is very important. The management of records and the analytics of the data inside these records is vital. There is some great innovation in terms of data analytics, enabling better decision making and more effective and personalised treatments.
Start-ups in this sector focus on collecting, analysing, and utilising health data.
Flatiron Health
This start-up gathers and analyses oncology data to help cancer researchers and clinicians improve treatment protocols.
Tempus
Specialising in precision medicine, Tempus uses data analytics to help doctors make data-driven decisions for cancer treatment.
Wearable technology
If you’re into fitness or you love to run or go for a walk in your local area, you might know about wearable technology like fitbits. You can buy them anywhere now. You can even have your iPhone measure your step count and your Apple watch can act like a Fitbit.
Wearable technology helps to record a variety of health metrics, which provides you with real-time data. It also provides your health care team with real time data. This helps in early detection of issues as well as for continual health monitoring.
Fitbit
Beyond tracking fitness, Fitbit devices now offer health metrics like heart rate variability and blood oxygen levels, which can indicate potential health issues.
Oura Ring
This smart ring monitors sleep patterns, heart rate, and body temperature, providing insights that can help users improve their overall health.
Mental health tech
Innovations in healthcare aren’t just limited to physical health outcomes; there’s also a lot happening in the mental health space.
Mental health start-ups are making therapy and mental health support more accessible through digital platforms.
Headspace
This app provides guided meditation and mindfulness exercises to help users manage stress and anxiety.
Talkspace
Offering online therapy, Talkspace connects users with licensed therapists for convenient and accessible mental health support.
So there are 12 of the top health startups that are making waves. Through their innovation, they help deliver better patient health outcomes. Whether it’s through remote technology or collecting real-time metrics, deep diving into analytics or leveraging the power of AI, there’s so much innovation happening in the healthcare section and we all stand to benefit from it.
Dr. Matthew Alch (Chiropractor) has been practising with Sydney Spinal Care since late 2002. Matthew graduated from Macquarie University with a Bachelor of Chiropractic Science and a Masters of Chiropractic. He is a member of The Chiropractors Association of Australia and is registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.