Propeller Announces Initiatives to Improve Inhaler Sensor Technology
Propeller Health has announced three new initiatives aiming to broaden the application of its technology, which connects a sensor to inhalers, allowing for detailed tracking of treatment in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma.
The goal, according to Propeller, is to implement “new solutions to bring [this] clinically proven, FDA-cleared platform to more patients, providers and health systems,” the company said in a press release.
First, the company is expanding the integration of its technology into leading electronic health record (EHR) systems, specifically Cerner Millennium EHR and Epic EHR. Of note, EHRs are computer-based recording systems of medical data from hospitals and clinics.
Having Propeller’s technology integrated into these EHRs will mean that data collected via the Propeller sensor can be seamlessly sent to the EHR system, allowing clinicians to access it directly through the EHR portal.
This ultimately allows for an integrated experience, so that clinicians can enroll and monitor patients into the Propeller platform as needed, without having to resort to a separate system.
According to Propeller, integrating this system into the EHR at CommonSpirit’s Dignity Health reduced the time to enroll a patient by up to 80%, so that enrolling took only about two minutes.
Propeller also announced a new solution for remote monitoring of patients. Due to changes in certain codes this year from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), remote monitoring may be reimbursable for eligible Medicare patients.
The new solution automatically collects data from the sensor attached to a patient’s inhaler and sends the information to clinicians. There also is a mobile app and a web portal, so that patients, caregivers, and clinicians all can review the data and communicate to make decisions about future care. Educational materials also are offered to help support patients, as well as providers.
“The solution was designed especially for older individuals with chronic respiratory conditions such as COPD, with plans to expand to the asthma population,” Propeller said in the statement.
Propeller also announced a number of updates to its digital platform, which were made with the aim of making the platform easier to use, particularly for older adults.
These updates include expanding availability of the Propeller sensor to Symbicort (budesonide-formoterol), an approved COPD maintenance treatment marketed by AstraZeneca, as well as improving medication management in the smartphone app to allow better tracking for generics and more prescription refill options.
Propeller also has introduced a virtual care team, which adds “high-touch support and coaching shown to promote improved outcomes such as reduced rescue inhaler use and better retention.”
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