In a significant leap forward for surgical patient care, Pip Care, a pioneering company dedicated to optimizing the surgical journey, has announced a successful $5 million Series A funding round led by A1 Health Ventures. Existing investor UPMC Enterprises also participated in this round, underscoring strong investor confidence in Pip Care’s innovative approach.
This funding comes shortly after Pip Care received a $2.2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to launch a trial involving 2,000 patients. The company’s unique platform pairs a user-friendly smartphone app with personalized health coaching, aiming to enhance patient outcomes during both the perioperative and postoperative phases.
Kathy Kaluhiokalani, founder and CEO of Pip Care, expressed her enthusiasm: “This raise reaffirms the work we have done so far and fuels our next phase of growth to ensure we deliver the most impactful, tech-enabled, human-powered medical optimization platform to health systems, surgical care teams, and their patients.”
Pip Care distinguishes itself as the first mobile application that integrates digital guidance with live health coaching, significantly improving patient engagement. Recent research indicates that patients utilizing Pip Care’s services experienced nearly a full day less in hospital stays and halved their risk of readmission within a week of surgery. This innovative model not only aids patients in adhering to critical preoperative protocols but also offers ongoing support throughout their recovery journey.
Rachel Kern, Managing Director at A1 Health Ventures, noted the platform’s potential: “Pip Care’s differentiated service offering deploys health coaches to conduct live sessions with patients, enhancing patient engagement, adherence, and satisfaction. This ultimately drives better outcomes for patients, lowers costs for health systems, and enables standardization and consistency in care.”
Founded in 2022 through a collaboration between global healthcare venture builder Redesign Health and UPMC Enterprises, Pip Care exemplifies the clinician-originated, patient-focused innovations that are vital in today’s healthcare landscape. Dr. Aman Mahajan, Chief Medical Officer of Pip Care and Senior Vice President of Health Innovation at UPMC Enterprises, emphasized the importance of their mission: “As the research shows, this approach results in improved surgical outcomes by providing patients timely support for evidence-based perioperative care, when and where they need it.”
The platform’s design simplifies the complex landscape of prehabilitation, breaking down physicians’ instructions into manageable daily tasks. Health coaches play a pivotal role, providing accountability and answering questions while guiding patients through essential post-surgical care, from discharge instructions to pain management.
Editorial Insight
Pip Care’s innovative approach is timely, as the healthcare industry increasingly recognizes the importance of holistic patient engagement. By merging technology with personalized support, Pip Care not only enhances clinical outcomes but also streamlines operations for healthcare teams. This dual focus on patient experience and operational efficiency positions Pip Care as a key player in the evolving surgical landscape.
The potential for Pip Care to drive systemic change in surgical care is considerable. With a model that empowers patients and supports health systems, the company is setting a new standard in surgical recovery management. As the healthcare environment continues to evolve, Pip Care’s unique blend of technology and personalized care could become a benchmark for future innovations.
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