March of Dimes’ first Innovation Fund investment, Iron Health, breaks down care silos by extending OB/GYNs’ care team
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Iron Health, the tech-enabled, virtual care partner that empowers OB/GYNs and their patients, launched today to support better outcomes across a woman’s healthcare journey. Iron Health serves as an extension of the OB/GYN practice – helping OB/GYNs focus on their area of expertise by giving patients quick access to their own personal primary and specialty care team.
Built at Redesign Health and March of Dimes’ first Innovation Fund investment, Iron Health addresses the fragmentation between OB/GYN, primary, specialty, behavioral, and wellness care – while providing OB/GYNs a full spectrum view of their patients’ health.
Growing concerns over OB/GYN capacity coupled with a post-Roe landscape have added new layers of complexity to how women access and manage their care. Recent data indicate that the use of primary care continues to decline, with nearly 30% of the female population reportedly without a primary care provider (PCP). OB/GYNs are increasingly expected to serve as three-in-one providers, with nearly 50% of OB/GYNs considering themselves PCPs, and 84% prescribing anxiety and depression medicine to patients knowing many women will not get the treatment they need otherwise. This stress on both providers and patients is only projected to grow with an expected shortfall of up to 22,000 OB/GYNs by 2050.
“Women’s health providers and their patients are being left behind in the digital health evolution, with fragmentation and access challenges causing women to miss vital screenings, early interventions, and coordination of care,” said Stephanie Winans, CEO and Founder. “Iron Health partners with OB/GYNs to strengthen a woman’s healthcare experience, enabling access to the equitable and quality care women need when they need it, within the traditional healthcare system – not outside it.”
Despite the emergence and adoption of new digital solutions in women’s health, many operate outside of a woman’s existing care network or serve as point solutions focused on one specific healthcare need. Iron Health’s click-and-mortar hybrid model is designed around the way patients actually access care – focusing on OB/GYNs, the doctors that women often trust the most, and augmenting a woman’s existing care network with a virtual team of multi-specialty providers. Iron Health’s tech-enabled, virtual care platform helps OB/GYNs provide their patients with quick access to Iron Health’s advanced practice providers and specialists and a connected circle of care. Patients benefit from having a dedicated Care Team of providers who deliver comprehensive care via virtual visits and direct messaging, in connection with their OB/GYN.
“Women across the U.S. are facing healthcare challenges unlike they’ve experienced in decades. Combined with the steadily increasing stress on OB/GYNs, we’re at a critical inflection point,” said Dr. Elizabeth Cherot, Sr. Vice President, Chief Medical and Health Officer of March of Dimes. “We selected Iron Health as the first venture investment for the March of Dimes Innovation Fund because their unique value proposition for OB/GYNs and patients complements our mission to improve the health of moms and babies specifically in areas of chronic disease management and mental health.”
Iron Health is a tech-enabled, virtual care partner that complements a woman’s existing care network. Iron Health’s unique approach allows OB/GYNs to focus on their specialty, while patients benefit from an extended Care Team and a comprehensive, connected healthcare experience.
- Faster access to primary and specialty care: Iron Health alleviates OB/GYN capacity constraints with a virtual network of multidisciplinary providers, bridging gaps across the health journey to provide patients with timely access to primary and specialty care.
- Connected patient journey: Iron Health’s click-and-mortar hybrid model breaks down care silos, providing holistic care for women who want a single medical home centered around their OB/GYN care.
- Patient-centric experience: Each patient benefits from a dedicated Iron Health Care Team of providers who deliver primary care, behavioral health, and other healthcare services, conveniently accessible through virtual visits and direct messaging.
- Deep healthcare expertise and network: The Iron Health founding team has rich experience across clinical practice, health technology, patient engagement, and entrepreneurship. Leveraging March of Dimes’ clinical experts, research, educational content, and market reach, Iron Health can create more immediate and scalable social impact that improves the health outcomes and care gaps for all women.
Iron Health is launching its services in direct partnership with OB/GYN practices and health care systems. To learn more about the benefits Iron Health provides to providers, health systems and patients, visit: https://www.ironhealth.io/
About Iron Health
Iron Health was created to improve the continuity of care and health outcomes for all women. Leveraging a tech-enabled, collaborative platform, Iron Health empowers OB/GYNs by providing a virtual network of multidisciplinary providers, bridging gaps across the health journey and extending their latitude of care. Patients benefit from a dedicated care team who is available to coordinate and deliver comprehensive care – from primary and specialty care and behavioral health to chronic disease management to nutrition and gynecology. All women deserve accessible, equitable quality care. Iron Health is here to provide it. Backed by March of Dimes’ Innovation Fund, Iron Health was built at Redesign Health in 2022. For more information: http://ironhealth.io/.
About March of Dimes
March of Dimes leads the fight for the health of all moms and babies. We support research, lead programs and provide education and advocacy so that every family can have the best possible start. Building on a successful 85-year legacy, we support every pregnant person and every family. To learn more about March of Dimes, please visit marchofdimes.org.
About Redesign Health
Redesign Health is a company that powers innovation in healthcare by developing technologies, tools, and insights that lower the barriers to change across the industry. Since 2018, exceptional founders have built over thirty companies at Redesign Health, impacting more than ten million lives across many aspects of the healthcare ecosystem, including cancer care, teleaudiology, COVID-19 testing, metabolic health, and more. To learn more, visit redesignhealth.com.
Contacts
Bethany Dufresne
Director of Product Communications, Redesign Health
bethany.dufresne@redesignhealth.com
