Carbon Health buys virtual diabetes clinic firm Steady Health

US healthcare group Carbon Health has made a move into digital care for patients with chronic conditions, buying diabetes-focused startup Steady Health.

Steady Health has developed a platform that combines a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) device with real-time, online coaching from endocrinologists, with the objective of improving management of diabetes and reducing the risk of complications.

For Carbon Health – which offers both in-person clinics and online consultation services – adding Steady Health is a first stage in a move towards greater use of device-enabled care of patients at their homes.

"From day one, our mission has been to increase the accessibility of high-quality care, which means continuing to increase access points and improve communication between patients and healthcare providers," said Eren Bali, co-founder and chief executive of Carbon Health.

"Devices like CGMs create an opportunity to connect a patient with their provider in a way not possible before, to drive better outcomes," he added.

https://twitter.com/erenbali/status/1401928559862583298

The company has also made two new hires to head up its push into virtual care, remote patient monitoring, and home diagnostics services.

Former Apple Health strategic initiatives head Myoung Cha has come on board as chief strategy officer, and will head up a new home-based care division at the company. He will work on the strategy of delivering healthcare through multiple channels – in-person clinics, home-based care and consumer health tools.

At Apple he led the launch of programmes like COVID-19 exposure notifications with Google, the Apple Watch-based LumiHealth wellness programme in Singapore, and the Heartline Study with Johnson & Johnson.

Also joining is Nita Sommers – formerly president of home-based care provider Honor and a partner at healthcare-focused venture capital group Khosla Ventures – who takes the role of chief growth officer.

Sommers is being given the task of expanding Carbon Health's presence into new areas like mental health and paediatrics, and to forge closer relationships with employers and payers.

Bali said Carbon Health has a goal of expanding to 1,500 clinics across the US by the end of 2025, adding that "home- and value-based care offerings will be critical components that will enable patients to get everything they need for their health where and when they need it most."