Respiri launches first reimbursed remote patient asthma monitoring program in US
Respiri’s wheezo device is being used in a pilot program to monitor children with asthma.
Respiratory health management specialist Respiri (ASX: RSH) has launched its first reimbursed remote patient monitoring (RPM) pilot program involving flagship product wheezo at the Children’s Hospital of Michigan in the United States.
The program was secured with partner company Access Telehealth and will provide a full RPM solution, including patient engagement, for a select group of children living with asthma in an effort to reduce exacerbations and hospitalisations, improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.
Wheezo devices and Access services qualify for reimbursement of monthly data fees through the US Medicaid program for low income earners and through select private health insurers.
Respiri managing director Marjan Mikel welcomed the collaboration with Access.
“This important collaboration demonstrates that there is a strong acceptance of wheezo as part of an asthma management plan,” he said.
“This partnership continues to demonstrate that we are executing our US strategy as planned… our progress is well ahead of where we had planned to be at this stage of our commercialisation journey.”
Australian model
The Michigan program has been modelled on a remote asthma monitoring program launched in Australia by Respiri early last year.
That program brought together the treating respiratory specialist, primary care provider, the wheezo device and Respiri’s Connected Care Nurse team to provide a “world-class ambulatory care service” for patients with moderate to severe persistent asthma.
Detecting wheeze
Wheezo was developed to detect wheeze, which is the whistly or squeaky breathing that can be heard when a patient’s airways are tightened, blocked or inflamed.
Wheezing is a typical symptom of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and respiratory disease and Respiri’s world-first asthma management platform provides an objective measure of airway limitation.
The technology comprises an eHealth app combined with an easy-to-use, handheld device to monitor wheeze and document symptoms, signs, triggers, weather conditions and medication usage.
The asthma management platform also facilitates the sharing of data with caregivers, physicians and other healthcare professionals.
Greater transparency
The Children’s Hospital of Michigan is one of the largest of its kind in the US with over 225 beds and extensive asthma outpatient services.
The hospital’s division chief of allergy, immunology and rheumatology Pavadee Poowuttikul said wheezo would provide for greater transparency around patient management.
“We have been searching for new technologies which will allow us to better monitor the management of our difficult-to-control, inner-city asthma patients once they leave our hospital and care,” she said.
“Many times, our patients and their families come to us without recognising that they are actively wheezing or do not remember how often they have been wheezing in the last few months…wheezo provides us with an easy and real time solution.”