IBM Watson, Welltok, Centura Health partner on cardiac health tool
Welltok, developers of the CafeWell Health Optimization Platform, announced that the Centura Health Heart and Vascular Network is implementing a new consumer engagement solution called CafeWell Concierge, an app powered by IBM Watson.
Englewood, Colo.-based Centura Health is the first organization to embrace the app and roll it out to consumers who are transitioning back to everyday life after experiencing a heart condition, according to a release.
The goal is to support and guide consumers in their health journey and empower them to make smarter decisions with this intelligent platform. Users will interact with the app in a number of ways, including questions about daily health management and recommendations; finding options for cardiac rehabilitation exercises and activities; heart-healthy recipes and dishes at local restaurants; identifying educational resources; and online communities and support groups.
The CafeWell Concierge app combines Welltok's Health Optimization Platform with Watson's ability to understand natural language, unlock new insights in high-volume data streams and learn, over time, with each interaction. The mobile app provides consumers with immediate access to health and wellness resources and supports Centura Health in delivering a highly personalized experience with relevant and actionable recommendations based on the individual's health conditions, interests, motivations and goals. Watson is then able to learn which plans and rewards are most successful in helping individuals reach their health and wellness goals, and intuitively customize its recommendations, which are based on evidence-based medicine guidelines, to create a richer, more interactive social experience.
"We are focused on providing innovative healthcare solutions to optimize healthcare value for the communities we serve," said Jon Gardner, vice president, Centura Health Heart and Vascular Network. "Our physicians and healthcare teams are dedicated to an integrated approach that engages consumers with resources they can use beyond the clinical setting. We see this as the first step in delivering a digital health solution that meets health needs and rewards consumers for achieving personal health and wellness goals."
Welltok is a member of the IBM Watson Ecosystem and was the first recipient of a direct investment from IBM made through its $100 million fund to seed Watson innovations.
Editor
Editor Beth earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and master’s in health communication. She has worked in hospital, academic and publishing settings over the past 20 years. Beth joined TriMed in 2005, as editor of CMIO and Clinical Innovation + Technology. When not covering all things related to health IT, she spends time with her husband and three children.