Higi supports COVID-19 prevention efforts with education and free online digital symptom checker
Consumer healthcare technology comapny higi is stepping up its efforts to broaden awareness and prevention efforts around the COVID-19 outbreak.
The company is leveraging its network of 10,000 free-to-use, FDA cleared, self-screening Smart Health Stations and digital programming to broadcast prevention tips and risk factors from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on behalf of its clients.
Additionally, higi is launching a new partnership with a leading remote health services provider, Babylon Health, to offer its users a free to use, self-service, online digital symptom checker along with access to clinical guidance on when to seek testing and potential treatment.
With this tool, higi said consumers will be able to better understand their risk of contracting COVID-19 and to get in touch with a clinical resource at Babylon, as appropriate. Furthermore, members of key health plan partners of Babylon will also have access to live coaching and telemedicine services.
“We are thankful to be able to continue to educate and support the public during this stressful time. We are hopeful that for those who are concerned about their health, our partnership with Babylon will offer the information needed to assuage their fears and take appropriate action,” said Jeff Bennett, higi CEO. “During such uncertainty, we rely on digital innovation to move our healthcare system forward. Our partnership with Babylon gives our users more ways to proactively manage their health and wellbeing.”
“COVID-19 represents one of the biggest threats to public health for nearly a century and by partnering with Higi to share this vital resource across their vast user base and multiple engagement channels, we are able to increase accessible healthcare allowing us to support more people through this crisis," said Jory Tremblay, Babylon's managing director of U.S. Growth. "Through use of our digital tools, we will be able to assist those who are sick to get access to medical advice and information with our symptom checker and telemedicine appointments, and can help those without immediate clinical needs to manage their care and avoid unnecessary in-person appointments, also reducing the overall strain on front-line services.”
The higi platform offers education on health topics, including heart health, brain health and diabetes, with users opting in to engage with this content over 16 million times in the last year. Higi will use this established channel to continue engagement around COVID-19, offering on-station and digital resources to those who have opted in.