CAMPBELL, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Imperative Care, a medical technology company developing connected innovations to elevate care for people affected by vascular diseases, today announced the formation of Kandu Health, a digital health startup company with the aim of changing the course of stroke recovery and post-acute care.
The company also announced that Tudor Jovin, M.D., an internationally renowned researcher and practitioner in the treatment of stroke and other cerebrovascular disorders, has joined Kandu Health as its Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Jovin serves as Medical Director of the Cooper Neurological Institute, and Chairman and Chief of Neurology at Cooper University Health Care in Camden, New Jersey. He is also a Professor of Neurology and Neurological Surgery at Rowan University’s Cooper Medical School.
“The formation of Kandu Health as an independent company will allow us to scale our programs to bring critical support to people affected by stroke,” said Kirsten Carroll, Kandu Health’s General Manager. “We are honored to have Dr. Jovin’s expertise and guidance. With the support of our team of stroke survivors and healthcare professionals, Kandu Health is empowering stroke survivors to take charge of their recovery and achieve their best life after stroke.”
“Our commitment to transforming the full continuum of care for people affected by stroke and other vascular conditions is rooted in the reality that the challenges for these patients do not end when they leave the hospital. Our strategy at Imperative Care has been to foster connected innovations across multiple development programs that can, in turn, connect care across the entire patient journey,” said Fred Khosravi, Imperative Care’s Chairman and CEO. “Through this formation as an independent company, Kandu Health will focus on its digital health platform and scale its critical patient solutions rapidly.”
In the United States, 800,000 people have a stroke each year1. Historically, most investment in stroke care has focused on acute intervention. While most people who have a stroke survive, they usually return home with changed bodies, minds, and lives. Research indicates that in the first three months after a stroke, the average survivor needs nearly 50 hours a week2 of informal care. Post-acute clinical care in the first year after stroke is estimated to cost $20 billion annually, primarily driven by a one-year re-hospitalization rate of about 50% from events like recurrent stroke, infections and falls. 3
Kandu Health offers remote clinical support from Kandu Navigators who are licensed healthcare professionals who provide education, resources and guidance, tailored to each participant. Kandu educational content and clinical programming is developed in collaboration between stroke survivors, care partners, and clinicians representing over 10 disciplines of medicine. Kandu’s services are primarily delivered through Kandu’s app and further supplemented by in-app tools and support groups. Kandu Health works closely with client healthcare institutions to ensure that care is well integrated and coordinated with existing programming.
“The Kandu platform serves as a bridge for stroke survivors, guiding them along their care plan and beyond after leaving the hospital,” said Dr. Jovin. “It also gives the survivor’s healthcare team new visibility and insights into the quality of life and long-term outcomes for patients who have returned home. Our hope is that this combination of technology and human care will decrease secondary events and help survivors maximize their potential for prevention and recovery after stroke.”
About Kandu Health, Inc.
Kandu Health is a digital health company designed for and by people recovering from stroke. Kandu Health develops integrated solutions that aid in the stroke recovery process for stroke survivors, their providers, and care partners. Kandu Health is based in Campbell, CA. https://kanduhealth.com.
About Imperative Care, Inc.
Imperative Care is a commercial-stage medical technology company developing connected innovations to elevate care for people affected by devastating vascular diseases such as stroke and pulmonary embolism. The company has four businesses focused on addressing specific gaps in treatment and care to make an impact across the entire patient journey. Imperative Care is based in Campbell, Calif. https://imperativecare.com.
1. Tsao CW, Aday AW, Almarzooq ZI, Alonso A, Beaton AZ, Bittencourt MS, et al. Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2022 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2022;145(8):e153–e639.
2. Pucciarelli G., Ausili D., Rebora P., Arisido M., Simeone S., Alvaro R., Vellone E. (2019) Formal and informal care after stroke: A longitudinal analysis of survivors’ post rehabilitation hospital discharge. J Adv Nurs. 2019 Nov;75:2495-2505. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.13998.
3. Arling et al, Care Trajectories of Veterans in the Twelve Months following Hospitalization for Acute Ischemic Stroke. Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, 8(6 suppl 3), S131–S140. http://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCOUTCOMES.115.002068
