Hinge Health Digital Musculoskeletal Clinic launched home call service for physical therapy on Tuesdays that will complement her virtual care options.
Based in San Francisco Hinge health provides physical therapy for the neck, upper back, shoulders, elbows, lower back, and more. Patients receive a care team that includes physical therapists, health coaches and physicians. Hinge Health works with health plans and employers, serving more than 1,250 companies, including Verizon, Volvo and Salesforce. The company has raised about $1 billion in funding.
The home calling service initially launched in Chicago, but will eventually expand nationally in about 18 to 24 months. Members can schedule appointments through the Hinge Health app, and a physical therapist from the company will come to their home within one to two business days. Each meeting lasts about 45 minutes. The physical therapist will perform an assessment that assesses the member’s physical abilities, flexibility, strength, and balance, as well as any risks in the home.
“The [physical therapist], as they are at home, can do a fall risk assessment, which includes an assessment of their functional mobility, but also an assessment of the home. Are there rugs you might trip over? Are there ladders that we should think about?” said Daniel Perez, co-founder and CEO of Hinge Health. He will present the news on Wednesday at JP Morgan Conference in San Francisco.
While the popularity of virtual care has skyrocketed, many people still prefer in-person care, especially as they begin their health care journey, Perez said. That is why the company decided to create a hybrid model.
“For many people, digital care has expanded access … but there are quite a few people who prefer to supplement their digital care experience with in-person appointments,” he said in an interview. “This is particularly important for people with joint and back pain, where an initial in-person assessment can greatly improve digital care downstream.”
To track the success of the new service, the company will monitor clinical outcomes, including improvement in pain, reduction in elective surgeries, improvement in functional outcomes and co-morbid psychiatric conditions. Hinge Health will also track patient engagement, retention, satisfaction and cost reduction, Perez said.
There is a need for this kind of hybrid treatment, he added. regarding one out of every two Americans have musculoskeletal disease, which costs the US economy about $600 billion.
“It was ignored for a long time because musculoskeletal disorders are not considered killers,” Perez said.
Other digital musculoskeletal care companies are Health of the sword and Kaya Hello.
Photo: Hinge Health