Medtronic LABS: Opening Up Software To Expand Access to Healthcare

Rhea-AI Summary

Medtronic LABS (MDT) makes its digital health platform SPICE open source, accelerating access to healthcare in underserved communities. Since 2013, the nonprofit has enrolled over 217,000 people in one million patients healthcare and trained over 8,000 community health workers in multiple countries. SPICE is a digital health platform embedded within health systems and government digital ecosystems, screening patients for various conditions and connecting them to care. Becoming open source allowed LABS to receive the designation as a Digital Public Good by a United Nations-endorsed initiative.

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / November 28, 2023 / Medtronic

Medtronic LABS makes its digital health platform open source

Medtronic LABS accelerates access to healthcare in underserved communities around the world through technology. And now, the code behind its digital health platform SPICE is open source - making it available to anyone.

Since Medtronic LABS launched in 2013, the independent nonprofit with Medtronic funding has enrolled over 217,000 people in one million patients healthcare and trained over 8,000 community health workers in Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and the United States.

SPICE is a digital health platform embedded directly within health systems and government digital ecosystems. Making its code available to health system partners and governments is just one way LABS approaches global health collaboratively.

And it's that spirit of collaboration that accelerates access in low-and middle-income communities.

How it works

At any given moment, community health workers are visiting patients in their homes and at community events, often in hard-to-reach places. Equipped with screening tools and SPICE, they screen patients for a range of conditions including hypertension, diabetes, malaria, and TB.

If needed, they refer patients to the nearest health facility where they are immediately connected to care. Medical staff confirm the diagnosis, and enroll the patient in LABS' programs, where they receive a personalized care plan.

The community health worker continues to follow up with patients directly based on their care plan.

This approach - pairing health tech with strong partnerships and community care - is working. LABS has screened half a million people for non-communicable diseases since 2014.

And open-source technology means more organizations, health systems, and governments can access LABS' health tech - connecting even more people to care.

"We offer a fundamentally new take on risk-based, data-driven community health, and we hope that by open sourcing our platform, our approach might be widely adopted," said LABS' Chief Strategy and Product Officer, Anne Stake.

Becoming open source also allowed LABS to receive the designation as a Digital Public Good by a multi-stakeholder United Nations-endorsed initiative that works to reduce barriers to the digitization of health systems.

"We made SPICE open source and applied to be a Digital Public Good to enable any health system innovator to use the technology and ultimately improve population health outcomes," said Stake.

Learn more about how Medtronic LABS is reimagining healthcare for communities around the world.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Medtronic on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:
Spokesperson: Medtronic
Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/medtronic
Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Medtronic

View source version on accesswire.com:
https://www.accesswire.com/810825/medtronic-labs-opening-up-software-to-expand-access-to-healthcare

FAQ

What is the name of the company making its digital health platform open source?

Medtronic LABS (MDT) is making its digital health platform SPICE open source.

How many people has the nonprofit enrolled in healthcare since 2013?

Since 2013, the nonprofit has enrolled over 217,000 people in one million patients healthcare.

What is the name of the digital health platform being made open source?

The digital health platform being made open source is SPICE.

How many community health workers has the nonprofit trained?

The nonprofit has trained over 8,000 community health workers in multiple countries.

What is the designation received by LABS for making SPICE open source?

Becoming open source allowed LABS to receive the designation as a Digital Public Good by a United Nations-endorsed initiative.