CHIDS, Vheda Health to Target Chronic Illness

The Center for Health Information and Decision Systems (CHIDS) at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business will partner with Columbia, Md.-based Vheda Health to develop health IT solutions for chronic illnesses, thanks to a $100,000 grant from the Maryland Industrial Partnerships (MIPS) program.

“The MIPS award and this new partnership with the Robert H. Smith School of Business provide tremendous opportunities for us to build on the successful work we’ve already done with mobile technologies to drive down healthcare costs among chronically ill patients,” said Vheda Health CEO Shameet Luhar. “The findings should be extremely valuable to health plans and patients as we strive to reinvent care delivery in support of better health strategies.” 

The MIPS program, an initiative of the Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute (Mtech) in the A. James Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland, provides funding, matched by participating companies, for university-based research projects that help companies develop new products.

“Although mobile technologies represent the next frontier in patient engagement, especially for the management of chronic diseases, surprisingly, we have very limited understanding of what works, when, and for whom,” said Ritu Agarwal, Professor and the Robert H. Smith Dean’s Chair of Information Systems and CHIDS co-director. “We are excited about the new evidence and insights that this research will produce.” 

MIPS grants help companies find solutions to technical challenges, as well as develop products, processes or training materials. University faculty and graduate students in conjunction with company researchers conduct the projects. “We are thrilled about this partnership,” said Kenyon Crowley, deputy director of CHIDS. “Merging CHIDS' health informatics research capabilities with Vheda Health's cutting edge solutions should foster evidence-based solutions in support of at-risk populations, whom we are mutually passionate about helping with access, empowerment, and ultimately, better health.”

Vheda Health is a resident company at the Howard County Economic Development Authority’s Maryland Center for Entrepreneurship (MCE). The company has developed clinically validated mobile interventions that save $15,000 per prevented hospitalization through frequent video visits with care teams, remote monitoring from biometrics and data driven care plan recommendations. The net result is increased quality of life for patients and lower hospitalization costs. Vheda has been recognized as the Best Startup in Maryland as a winner of Startup Maryland's Pitch Across Maryland competition.