CT dietician's app links cancer patients with providers

CT dietician's app links cancer patients with providers unknown

An entrepreneur from Stamford is aiming to assist cancer patients with an application she helped create.

Isola said she came up with the idea about eight years ago because she feels that much of the country's healthcare infrastructure doesn't focus on nutrition care for patients with certain diseases and conditions. While the original idea for the app was to help recommend healthier grocery items at the point of purchase, she realized there was demand for digital health solutions that bring together patients and providers.

OncoPower, which launched around two years ago, aims to help patients manage their symptoms and medication intake, gives nutrition guidance and offers yoga exercises and meditations to reduce the anxiety of patients before they undergo scans that can detect cancer.

"I kind of always refer to it as a support group on steroids in the sense that this community of fellow patients, as well as professionals, that help mediate the community and provide high-quality information," Isola said. "But it's meant to be those digital touchpoints in your pocket when it's 10 p.m. at night on a Sunday and you can't reach your provider."

OncoPower connects users with dieticians, nurses, behavioral therapists and oncologists. There are more than 400 oncologists in the app's network from healthcare systems like The US Oncologist Network, Duke Sports Medicine and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, according to OncoPower's website. While the app is not meant to replace in-person treatment for patients, it aims to make it easier to access and understand, according to Isola.

Patients can use the app's Ask-a-Doc feature (the only paid subscription service on the app), which lets them direct their questions and lab reports to a panel of healthcare providers in the app's network who deal with specific cancer types. A professional will answer the patient's question and will continue to deal with any follow-up questions the patient might have. Illinois-based breast oncologist Kaoutar Tlemcani is part of that panel and said that the app fills a "gigantic need" by givin cancer patients access to experts, direct consultations, second opinions, information and other patients to talk to. OncoPower also recently announced a partnership with Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company; the joint feature looks up pricing information and can order generic drugs with a prescription.

Isola said that the app has more than 6,000 users. While the app is designed to be used by cancer patients and healthcare professionals, Isola said it is frequently used by those who are advocating and caring for patients and it will soon allow users to make those distinctions on their accounts.