This CEO is working to make a critical test for women’s health more accessible
Despite the diagnosis of cervical cancer in the United States and the prevalence of deaths, data Indicates that cancer screening is a consistent decrease.
Every year in the US, approximately 4,000 women die of cervical cancer and approximately 13,000 people are diagnosed with disease. Disease Control and Prevention Centers.
The most effective way to prevent cervical cancer is to take the HPV vaccine that provides protection against HPV types, which are most commonly caused by. CDC States. It is also important to scan women for the disease.
A common test for detection of cervical cancer is a Pap Smear that doctors recommend every three years for women between the ages of 21 and 65. Women aged 30 to 65 can take HPV test and pap test every five years or can be tested for HPV every five years.
However, a recent report from the American Cancer Association, Cervical Cancer Screening Rate Fell During the Covid-19 pandemi and did not heal.
Black EganA healthcare technology investor saw the need to make Pap smear more accessible. He founded Teal Health, a health company. Teal wandThe first FDA approved cervical screening test to be done at home.
“What pushes me to start a sea blue is that women deserve better health services, Egan says Egan, the CEO of the company.
“So what does it look like? It seems like listening to a woman and seeing what she needs.”
‘Even if the visit was free, you had to quit, you had to get children care’
Accessibility for Egan and her team was a great focus when creating a concept for sea blue wand.
“What are all the points of contact we can make to make something easier for a woman, but also to build this trust with it, it is important and we care?” Egan tells CNBC that she’s doing this.
“I think many can be done in ways you don’t expect or do not do health services.”
Before receiving a sea blue wand, customers should undergo a scanning process with a doctor who helps them to determine their suitability according to the insurance scope and teach them how to use the wand properly to get a correct example.
Egan, “We do the same test used in the doctor’s office with the same accuracy, our clinical research shows this, but you only collect the example at home.”
Teal wand is the first FDA approved cervical screening test that can be done at home.
Teal Health Permission.
Once the sample is collected and tested, the results are shared through the company’s online portal and patients can be connected to a medical provider. If a follow-up is needed, with a tele-health visit to talk in the next steps.
The unique about the process is everything from the home to the collection and the results. Egan, as a requirement of design, to facilitate the process for people struggling to reach face -to -face doctor visits.
“Cost is important and is critical for us, [but] This main barrier is not often for people, ”he says.
“It also has the cost of entering the doctor’s office. Even if the visit was free, you had to quit, you had to get children care, [find] Public transport. “
‘More than 50% of women scanned with Teal are behind their scans’
Teal Wand is now available in California, New York and Florida. Teal Health, Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross and United Healthcare.
“We can get it [care of] Telehealth part and then a woman pays $ 99. But we work with insurers to cover everything, Egan says Egan.
He continued: “Even with a accusation of 99 dollars, more than 50% of women scanned with Teal are behind in their scans and 20% have never been scanned before and we see that they are good in the scanning age.”
The driving factor of establishing Teal Health for Egan and his team was to spread awareness about the importance of cervical cancer screening and to offer a new option for the test.
“If you scan, cervical cancer can be completely prevented, or he says. “There are new ways to do this. One in the office, one at home, but it’s extremely true and you have to do it.”
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