Novu and Minnesota Health Solutions Jointly Introduce Pulmonary Rehabilitation On A Home-Based Digital Platform

Minnesota Health Solutions Corporation (MHS) recently announced a partnership with Novu, an SaaS-based consumer engagement platform designed to align consumers and the health care ecosystem. The partnership will provide a digitally-delivered program to motivate and monitor patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD), a condition which, along with all chronic lower respiratory tract infections, is the third-leading cause of death among people in the United States of America, according to data from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The proposed Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR) program offer an opportunity for millions of COPD affected patients to participate from home and pursue exercises to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

COPD remains a serious global disease burden, with medical costs rising as high as $32 billion annually in the US alone. Most of the patients living with COPD do not have access to PR programs held in clinical settings, and this collaborative platform set up by Novu and MHS would enable them to access this from home. MHS had previously developed the concept and protocol to monitor patients’ daily movements and exercises from home, and Novu would be providing digital assistance to provide the facilities to these patients. PR is considered an important aspect of COPD care, and performing these exercises even at the minimum frequency helps in lowering a patient’s risk of hospitalization and reduces chances of mortality. The effectiveness of this practice in improving patient health and quality of life would be tested via a controlled human study at the Mayo Clinic.

Sara Seifert, President at MHS, noted, “The Novu platform is an ideal venue for bringing this essential treatment directly to patients. The availability of technology-driven PR, with meaningful feedback to motivate and engage patients in their homes, addresses several critical barriers preventing widespread utilisation of this important therapy.  We are extremely pleased to partner with Novu in this patient-centric development.”

“COPD is a costly, debilitating disease for millions of Americans, and the delivery of effective treatment is ripe for innovation,” said Ali Shirvani-Mahdavi, Executive Vice President, Strategy and Programs, at Novu. “We believe that digital consumer tools can enable traditional protocols to work more efficiently in reaching patients, reducing hospital admissions and creating better outcomes. We are excited to partner with MHS and Mayo in this effort.”