#107, Democratizing Musculoskeletal Treatment with Virtual Care, with Vijay Yanamadala from Sword Health

AWS Health Innovation Podcast

Suffering from chronic musculoskeletal pain? Sword Health is revolutionizing access to quality care with their cutting-edge digital therapy platform. Join Sanjit Misra, Senior Technical Product Manager at AWS, as he interviews Vijay Yanamadala, Chief Medical Officer at Sword Health, to explore how AI and virtual physical therapy are transforming the treatment landscape.

1. How is Sword Health overcoming barriers to accessing quality care?

• Sword Health provides tablets and mobile hotspots to ensure equitable access for all patients, regardless of location or socioeconomic status. Their platform democratizes care by reaching underserved communities and healthcare deserts.

2. How does Sword Health leverage AI to enhance physical therapy?

• Computer vision AI meticulously tracks patient movements during exercises, sending detailed data to physical therapists for personalized feedback and progression. This technology maximizes therapist bandwidth while ensuring optimal care.
• Sword Health's "Predict" AI model identifies patients at risk for unnecessary surgeries, leading to a 60% reduction in surgeries for those using their platform. This approach prioritizes conservative, evidence-based treatment.

3. How does Sword Health personalize the patient experience?

• Patients undergo comprehensive onboarding, including questionnaires and video calls with physical therapists to discuss goals and limitations. This personalized approach ensures tailored exercise programs from the outset.
• The AI assistant "Phoenix" guides patients through exercises with real-time feedback, gamification, and progress tracking, boosting engagement and adherence. Patients average 33 sessions compared to 4 for traditional in-person PT.

4. How does Sword Health measure and optimize patient outcomes?

• Sword Health measures patient-reported outcomes aligned with individualized goals, allowing real-time adjustments to ensure sustainable improvements in pain, disability, and work productivity.

Learn more about Sword Health's innovative digital therapy platform here.

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