HaloCare provides a guardian angel to watch over vulnerable loved ones

HaloCare’s assistive technology is making supported independent living a reality, according to the firm’s chief executive, Sarah Jane O’Dwyer.

Social care for our ageing population is at a crossroads, and Ireland faces difficult choices about how to meet care needs that are usually urgent, complex and costly.

Tens of millions of people across the globe were on hospital waiting lists for operations and treatments, said O’Dwyer. “This situation is set to get worse because of our ageing population, increase in chronic illness and acute shortage of nurses and care staff. We can’t commission the build of new hospitals or increase bed capacity when we don’t have the clinical staff to care for the patients. Building more hospitals alone will not solve the problem.

“A new model is evolving whereby older people and those with chronic illness are treated, monitored and supported in their own home, negating the need for hospital visits and freeing up hospital beds for acute patients.”

O’Dwyer said healthcare was about to enter a period of rapid change. “Longevity and the advancement of new technologies and discoveries – as well as innovative combinations of existing ones – are among the many factors propelling patient empowerment, which is fundamentally changing how we prevent, diagnose and cure diseases. These factors present a very different model of care compared to the traditional, that will not be fit for purpose for the future.”

HaloCare’s mission is to empower people to live independently at home, supported by assistive technology and a state-of-the-art care hub, operating 24/7. “World class medical devices combined with our proprietary software Aura enables HaloCare’s care specialists to provide reassurance and support to the client, their families and healthcare providers,” said O’Dwyer.

“Should an emergency occur, real-time information is sent to the 24/7/365 Care Hub where trained specialists respond and reassure.”

HaloCare is a personalised, bespoke and holistic service clinically designed and delivered by trained care specialists with full credentials. The combination of best-in-class hardware uniquely licensed to HaloCare, and their proprietary software, Aura, allows the Care Hub team to provide a complete service from clinical design through to installation, monitoring and feedback with the clients and their circle of care.

“What is revolutionary about HaloCare is it is not a ‘one size fits all’ solution, said O’Dwyer. “It is designed to help anyone who needs support at home. Whether that’s someone on an ageing journey, someone with a long-term illness, or someone who’s been discharged from hospital and is recovering at home, HaloCare is tailored to fit the individual needs of the patient.”

“HaloCare works across three distinct pillars: Safety, Social & Wellness and Clinical. The combination of these create a holistic method to keeping patients safe, connected and all from the comfort of their own home.”

Tech-enabled care

Industry research and global reports indicate people are living longer. However, this drives a rise in chronic illnesses like diabetes and COPD.

HaloCare’s tech-enabled care ensures the patient can receive the right care at the right time, thus their needs are at the heart of its care service. “By adopting a remote patient monitoring solution like HaloCare, healthcare providers can reduce patient length of stay and emergency department presentation by 49 per cent (PwC 2022),” said O’Dwyer. “The HaloCare solution empowers patients to live independently away from the acute setting and this disruptive approach is a real leverage for change that will re-hape the healthcare industry. The HaloCare vision is to reimagine the future of healthcare not just in Ireland but across the globe.”

The global remote patient monitoring market is on pace to reach $117.1 billion by 2025, compared to $23.2 billion in 2020, which is more than a fivefold increase in just five years. In February 2021, the use of telehealth was 38 times higher than pre-pandemic levels.

“Remote patient monitoring results yielded a 60 per cent to 70 per cent reduction in hospital readmissions compared to the national average of in-person care and offers a potential annual national cost savings of up to $6.4 billion,” she said. “Over the next 25 years, remote patient monitoring is expected to save $200 billion in healthcare costs globally.”

Carlow based HaloCare was co-founded in 2020 by successful entrepreneurs David Walsh and Niall Kelly of Netwatch and Dr Johnny Walker of Global Diagnostics.

“HaloCare’s innovative home-based model of care complements traditional care methods and provides safe, effective, supported virtual care at home,” said O’Dwyer. “Through the use of discreet and innovative technology that works seamlessly in the background, HaloCare clients have complete peace of mind when home or family carers cannot be there.”

O’Dwyer has over 25 years of experience in leading and advising international private and public healthcare organisations across Europe and the Middle East in operations, transformation and clinical. As chief executive, she leads an experienced leadership team across healthcare and business sectors poised to execute on HaloCare’s growth strategy.

“With a proven track record in building international businesses to scale, the HaloCare team are committed to delivering care in the community and creating an innovative alternative to acute settings through enabling a new community-based model of care,” she said.

“Our Clinical & Social Advisory Board is made up of experts across disciplines in health, wellbeing and the regulatory space. They are individually, and collectively, passionate about providing the best care available for people to achieve the best health outcomes.

“Our Commercial Advisory Council is made up of some of Ireland’s most successful and experienced entrepreneurs and business leaders. Their role is to stress test the business proposition and identify the pillars that underpin the accelerated growth strategy.”

HaloCare’s EIIS offering is aimed at accelerating the firm’s pace of growth through international expansion and further development of its proprietary software, Aura.

O’Dwyer said the international market opportunity was vast, with many market segments and business models for HaloCare to expand into. “HaloCare’s strategy is to establish a solid base in the Irish market, followed by a rapid and accelerated growth trajectory internationally, with a particular focus on the UK and USA market.

“HaloCare is built to the highest international standards of clinical governance and interoperability across facilities, operations, financial practice, software and led by a highly trained team.

“We have the structures in place for rapid deployment and have already secured partnerships locally in Ireland with healthcare providers. Due to the demand from international territories, we are strategically placed to scale internationally and support these markets.”

Since HaloCare was launched in the Irish market, its business strategy has been to demonstrate both the viability of the concept and impact the model has on the patient and the provider, said O’Dwyer.

“HaloCare has been recognised by industry leaders both locally and internationally to be a thought leader in the virtual care sector, spearheading patient centred care in the community.

“HaloCare is truly a market maker and can revolutionise the existing traditional models of care leading to better health outcomes, enhanced efficiency, improved prioritisation of care and most importantly, making a real and tangible difference in the lives of people around the world.”

For more information, contact: halocaregroup.com