[TAO] MobiHealthNews Article: Aetna to launch tablet-based NeoCare program for parents with babies in the NICU Shared by: Catherine S Britain

[Catherine S Britain]

TAO listserv,<br><br>

<strong>Catherine S Britain</strong> has shared the following MobiHealthNews
article with you: <br><br>
<strong>Aetna to launch tablet-based NeoCare program for parents with babies
in the NICU</strong><br>
<strong>By: </strong>Brian Dolan<br>
<strong>Published: </strong>July 1, 2014 (10:36 am)<br><br>

The full text of this article is available on MobiHealthNews at the
following URL: <a
href="http://mobihealthnews.com/34542/aetna-to-launch-tablet-based-neocare-program-for-parents-with-babies-in-the-nicu/">http://mobihealthnews.com/34542/aetna-to-launch-tablet-based-neocare-program-for-parents-with-babies-in-the-nicu/</a><br><br>

Catherine S Britain also shared the following remarks, relevant to this
article: Interesting application.<br><br>

Below is an excerpt of the full MobiHealthNews article:<br><br>


Aetna will soon launch a new mobile-based offering, called NeoCare, for
members who are new parents with infants in neonatal intensive care units
(NICUs). NeoCare Solutions, which is a startup that is a part of Aetna's
Healthagen's subsidiary, offers a tablet-based app that keeps parents
connected to a NeoCoach -- a registered nurse or social worker -- who
supports them throughout their child's time in the NICU and during their
transition home.

"The NeoCare program aids parents in becoming their own child’s empowered
advocate, helps them navigate the complexity of the NICU, and provides much
needed emotional support," NeoCare's President and Founder Dr. Jeffrey
Jacques wrote in a blog post in May. "Our technology platform, leveraged by
the parents through an iPad application, provides answers to questions such
as: How do I interact with the NICU staff? How do I ask doctors difficult
questions? How do I come to grips with difficult news? What does that
diagnosis or that treatment mean? How can I best help my baby, and how do we
get home?"

Jacques helped create the program after experiencing this first hand with
his wife (who is also a physician) and their son in 2010. 

Aetna hasn't yet commercially launched the program, which is still in pilot
mode, but Jacques said in May that the commercial launch was just a few
months away. On NeoCare's website the company directs interested Aetna
members to contact their employer to request access to NeoCare. The program
requires that users have a tablet -- iPads, Android tablets, and Windows
tablets are supported, according to the company's FAQ. If a patient doesn't
have a tablet, NeoCare will provide one in some cases.

While the NeoCare program has no set duration, it is designed to support
parents through their child's first year of life. The company said that most
parents, however, don't seek assistance after six months using the program.

NeoCare writes that parents would ideally talk to their NeoCoach every two
days, but the coach is available at any time. The app includes live video
chat with coaches as well as text-based chatting. It also includes features
for tracking your baby's progress, capturing private thoughts on progress,
and a reminders feature for important events.

The Neo app is also designed as a self-managed program so users can continue
using it after they are no longer working with a coach.

MobiHealthNews first noticed the NeoCare app when we reported on Aetna's
shuttering of InvolveCare, a caregiver app and support platform, in March.
At the time the NeoCare app in Apple's AppStore was listed as an app
developed by InvolveCare, and it may be that NeoCare is the result of a
pivot for the more general and built-out caregiver effort that Aetna pulled
the plug on.

Last year MobiHealthNews reported on LA's Cedars-Sinai Medical Center using
iPad and FaceTime to connect new mothers with their babies in the NICU, and
earlier this year we reported on a similar program at the University of
Minnesota Children's Hospital.

<br><br> 

<a
href="http://mobihealthnews.com/34542/aetna-to-launch-tablet-based-neocare-program-for-parents-with-babies-in-the-nicu/"><strong>Click
here to read the full article on MobiHealthNews >></strong></a>
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