This episode of the MGMA Insights Podcast welcomes Anu Banerjee, the 2024 recipient of the MGMA Harwick Innovation Award. Banerjee has spent nearly two decades developing digital health solutions to help underserved populations manage chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension. Banerjee shares how his innovative platform empowers patients to take control of their health, offering them a sustainable, patient-centered approach to healthcare.
Bringing Healthcare to Patients' Homes
Banerjee’s innovation focuses on bringing healthcare directly to patients, especially those in underserved rural areas who may not have easy access to care. “Healthcare has to exist at the patient's home,” Banerjee says.
The digital platform enables patients to monitor key health metrics such as blood pressure and blood glucose from home, sending real-time data to healthcare providers. This approach helps reduce the number of in-person visits, especially for those lacking reliable transportation. “We’re targeting people where they truly need it without the primary care providers or the specialist available to them,” Banerjee adds.
Beyond Telemedicine
Banerjee acknowledges telemedicine's role during the pandemic, but his platform goes one step further, he says, by enabling patients to manage their health between doctor’s visits. He emphasizes how his platform allows patients to actively manage their health, from monitoring their vital signs at home to adjusting their lifestyle choices, such as exercise and diet. This focus on continuous monitoring offers a broader and more comprehensive view of a patient’s health, allowing providers to make more informed decisions based on daily data, rather than isolated office visits. “We don’t want to monitor healthcare by just doing work that is actually happening only in offices and hospitals,” Banerjee notes.
Engaging a Wide Demographic
Banerjee’s platform is designed to serve patients of all ages. He shares the story of a 92-year-old patient who had never used a mobile phone but embraced the technology to manage her health. “We have patients who have used the solution for more than six years nonstop,” Banerjee remarks, noting the sustained engagement from both older adults and younger patients dealing with chronic conditions like hypertension and diabetes. Additionally, younger patients who face increasing mental health challenges also benefit from the platform’s ability to address both physical and mental health needs.
Integrating Mental Health
Not being limited to physical health metrics like blood pressure or glucose levels, the platform also tracks mental health factors such as stress and sleep patterns, which are crucial for managing chronic conditions. “We needed to ensure and understand their mental health status,” Banerjee explains. He stresses that such social determinants of health as stress levels and sleep disorders can have a significant impact on chronic conditions like hypertension, making it essential to monitor both physical and mental health. This holistic approach allows healthcare providers to better understand the full picture of a patient’s health and offer more personalized care.
Involving Family in Care
One of the key components of Banerjee’s platform is the involvement of family members in the patient’s care journey. This is particularly important for older adults who may need additional support in managing their health at home. Family involvement not only improves patient outcomes but also creates a support system that helps patients stay motivated and engaged in their health management over the long term. “We are involving families and connecting them as well,” Banerjee says.
Sustainability and Long-Term Engagement
One of the major challenges in healthcare innovation is sustaining long-term patient engagement. Banerjee’s platform addresses this by providing continuous feedback and maintaining a connection between patients and their healthcare providers. “Sustainability is one of the biggest challenges,” he admits, but the platform has successfully kept patients engaged, with many users consistently monitoring their health for extended periods.
By keeping patients involved and motivated, the platform has demonstrated its effectiveness in improving health outcomes, particularly in underserved populations.
2025 Award Nominations
If you are interested in nominating someone or being nominated for the 2025 MGMA awards, be on the lookout in April with the nomination will open. You can go here to learn more about all of the 2024 Award Winners.
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