Bringing rehab to your home
BY
In healthcare, access is everything. But for millions of patients recovering from orthopedic surgery or cardiac events, traditional rehabilitation may be out of reach. Insurance limitations, lack of time and nearby rehab facilities, and mobility challenges can all prevent patients from accessing care needed during a critical recovery window.
ROMTech aims to close that gap with its in-home, data-powered rehabilitation device, PortableConnect. The device draws on predictive analytics and provides clinical oversight as patients rehab from their own home while staying connected to their physician. This approach to redefining accessible healthcare has earned ROMTech a spot on Fast Company's list of the world's Most Innovative Companies.
Eliminating barriers
PortableConnect is a motorized, stationary, clinician-controlled telerehabilitation therapy system that patients can use at home. It's designed to help those who are recovering from orthopedic leg and hip surgery, as well as cardiac events including heart attacks. The device receives prescribed treatment and protocol modifications, while adaptive pedal technology adjusts the level of therapy to each patient's pain tolerance and range of motion. A built-in, two-way video communication screen allows patients to have live, virtual check-ins with clinicians. Meantime, the device transmits real-time data on vitals such as pain level, joint mobility, blood pressure, and other key cardiac measurements.
'When patients can do therapy on their own schedule, at home, we eliminate many of the barriers that prevent recovery,' says Steve Siegel, ROMTech's president. That's particularly important in cardiac care, where the vast majority of patients don't get the follow-up treatment they need due to accessibility issues.
PortableConnect is also making it easier for patients to benefit from a customized approach to rehab. Traditionally, rehab has been reactive, with therapists responding to problems after they arise. ROMTech's platform flips the script: By analyzing more than 120 million data points with the help of AI algorithms, the company's system can now anticipate outcomes and adjust individual treatment plans dynamically. 'Rehabilitation has never been predictive—until now,' says Peter Arn, the company's CEO. 'With AI, we can personalize recovery in ways we couldn't before.'
Innovation through feedback
At the heart of ROMTech's product development is what Arn calls a 'feedback refinement loop.' Thousands of clinicians contribute to advise on iterations. 'We're methodical about feedback, which has allowed us to come out with the best product on the market,' Arn says.
The process wasn't always smooth. He recalls the 'devastating day' when early patient testing revealed how difficult the device initially was to use. The team went back to the drawing board with patients and physicians and emerged with a product that is much more intuitive. 'Now, senior patients routinely use the PortableConnect in their home with no problem,' Arn says.
Today, ROMTech has supported more than 121,000 patients across 44 states, and its reach is rapidly growing. In the second quarter of 2024, the number of prescribing physicians jumped 93% over the second quarter of the previous year. During the same period, partnerships with Veterans Administration hospitals nearly tripled, expanding access to patients who often face steep barriers to rehabilitation.
'For ROMTech, innovation means creating a whole new lane in healthcare,' Arn says. And making healthcare accessible to everybody, including our heroes, veterans, and people in remote areas, is at the core of our company. The PortableConnect is the ultimate tool to serve those populations.'
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