BMD Client Spotlight: IncludeHealth
Blog Post
BMD is happy to share an inspiring business backgrounder on IncludeHealth, Inc.
CEO: Ryan Eder
Business: Digital musculoskeletal (MSK) care & training platform for providers.
Relationship Attorney: Kate Hickner
Legal Services: BMD and Kate serve as healthcare counsel for IncludeHealth, providing regulatory guidance as well as HIPAA and other data privacy and security guidance, in an evolving health care delivery, reimbursement and regulatory landscape.
It Started with An Observation
Ryan Eder, Founder and CEO of IncludeHealth, had his lightbulb moment as a design student in 2006. Little did he know that his idea for accessible exercise equipment would shift into the comprehensive digital MSK platform it is today. While at the gym, Ryan noticed a man in a wheelchair, struggling unsuccessfully to complete a workout. He was inspired to create a piece of equipment that would be accessible to all. He dedicated his thesis to developing an inclusive exercise machine and submitted the concept to the Industrial Designers Society of America’s International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) – it won gold and best in show.
Moonlighting to make miracles happen, this first-time entrepreneur took his innovative idea and turned it into a multi-award-winning product, the IncludeStrength – an inclusive functional trainer giving people of all ages and abilities equal access to health and wellness.
The IncludeStrength gained adoration and momentum in the industry. Ryan introduced the prototype at nationally renowned health centers such as the VA Medical Center in Washington, D.C., and the Lakeshore Foundation in Birmingham, Alabama, a training site for Olympic and Paralympic athletes.
From Inclusive to Measured
After the successful adaption of his first product, Ryan shifted the company to expand the capabilities of IncludeStrength with the addition of cloud-based software to provide data-driven results. He partnered with experts in musculoskeletal care such as therapists, trainers, physicians and insurers to develop a HIPAA compliant platform that allowed the equipment to deliver digital protocols and collected outcomes-based data at any location. The result was IncludeCloud, a platform for healthcare providers to develop online protocols, provide self-directed instruction, collect data and analytics during a workout – accessible through any tablet or computer. A game-changer for physicians and therapists, the platform reduces the amount of manual documentation and completely alters the way therapy and performance progress is captured and tracked for clients – whether it is PT, sports or occupational therapy or rehab.
With positive results from their first piece of connected equipment, many of the hospital partners wished the IncludeHealth technology was available on all of their machines, in various locations, made by several manufacturers. It prompted the opportunity to develop and deliver IncludeConnect – a small battery-powered sensor that attaches to any piece of strength or cardio equipment – make or model – and sends data back creating a comprehensive view of someone’s progress.
Through battery-powered kiosks, users can log in, pull up their profile, and access their specific workout. The kiosk independently guides them through sending their results back to the cloud platform. IncludeConnect can also integrate wearables and provide additional insights like live heart rate monitoring.
First piloted at Bon Secours Mercy Health in Cincinnati, and HealthPartners/Regions Hospital’s Neuroscience Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, IncludeConnect launched in February of this year integrating all equipment into their breakthrough platform. In Fall of 2019, IncludeHealth also announced a strategic partnership with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center to commercialize movement correction technology. We can only imagine what is next for this pioneering digital healthcare company, born in Ohio!