Asthmapolis Receives Second Investment from the California HealthCare Foundation

MADISON, Wis., June 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Asthmapolis (az-MAP-ō-lis), the FDA-cleared mobile health solution for asthma and COPD, today announces it received a second investment from the California HealthCare Foundation (CHCF). Asthmapolis is designed to improve the care of people with asthma and COPD, advance understanding of symptoms and triggers and help them achieve control of these diseases.

The CHCF investment in Asthmapolis, which now totals $1,047,000, is directed at helping to support respiratory health management with the underserved in California.

Asthmapolis uses a novel combination of smartphone applications and snap-on inhaler sensors that track when and how often patients use their inhaled medications. The geomedicine platform, available in both English and Spanish, is designed to help individuals with their daily preventive medications, reveal insights about their use of rescue medications and provide personalized feedback to improve their ability to successfully manage the disease.

Users receive ongoing educational outreach through email, text, mobile apps and phone support from a certified asthma educator. People may also opt in to share information about their medication use with their healthcare provider, giving them the ability to monitor whether their treatment is truly controlling symptoms.

"Knowledge is power," said Margaret Laws, director of the CHCF Innovations for the Underserved program which manages the CHCF Health Innovation Fund. "And Asthmapolis empowers people with asthma or COPD and their medical team to harness knowledge for better self-care and treatment."

"We need patients to tell us about the severity of their symptoms, how often they have sudden attacks, and what triggers their attacks so we can modify their treatment plans accordingly," said Dr. Rajan Merchant, an allergy, asthma and clinical immunology specialist at Dignity Health. "With the Asthmapolis sensor and software application the patient's inhaler becomes a diary—recording, analyzing and reporting data in real time—which helps providers monitor their patients and helps patients practice informed self-management."

Since receiving FDA clearance in July 2012, Asthmapolis has launched care coordination programs with payers such as Amerigroup Florida/WellPoint, providers such as Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in New York and Dignity Health in California, and retail pharmacy and public sector initiatives through the City of Louisville.

"We look forward to working with CHCF on our joint mission to bring better health to communities across California," said David Van Sickle, CEO and co-founder of Asthmapolis. "With effort and enthusiasm we are together turning the corner on respiratory disease among these populations and closing the gaps in asthma care that have raised costs and led to millions of days of preventable suffering."

"We are pleased that Asthmapolis has developed a low-cost solution that can provide patients with education through email, text, mobile apps and personalized outreach by certified asthma educators," Laws said. "We believe there is there is tremendous potential for patients to benefit from technology that empowers them to better understand and manage their chronic conditions."

Asthmapolis is actively hiring for engineering, design, asthma education and other roles. To learn more about joining the team, visit asthmapolis.com/careers/.

About the California HealthCare Foundation

The California HealthCare Foundation works as a catalyst to fulfill the promise of better health care for all Californians. The CHCF Health Innovation Fund supports entrepreneurs with businesses that have the potential to significantly lower the cost of care or improve access to care. To learn more about the Innovation Fund and our current investments, visit www.chcf.org/innovation-fund.

About Asthmapolis

Founded in 2010, Asthmapolis aims to improve the management of chronic respiratory disease for people and healthcare professionals. Backed by The Social+Capital Partnership, California HealthCare Foundation and other investors, Asthmapolis is now working with organizations like Dignity Health, Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, Amerigroup Florida and the City of Louisville. Company recognition includes TEDMED Innovation Showcase, White House Champion of Change and Bluetooth Breakthrough Product awards. The system has been featured in The Economist, Washington Post, Fast Company, Wired and Scientific American.

SOURCE Asthmapolis