UpRight Science Enhances Preventive Care with FDA-Cleared Balance Technology Acquisition

UpRight Science Completes Strategic Acquisition to Advance Balance Assessment Technology

In a significant move for healthcare assessment, UpRight Science has officially acquired the balance assessment technology developed by Highmark, which is now FDA-cleared. This acquisition aims to revolutionize how clinicians assess and manage balance in older adults, a demographic recognized for experiencing one of the highest rates of falls annually.

The Importance of Balance Assessment

Balance plays a crucial role in overall health, especially among older adults; however, it remains largely unmeasured in clinical settings unless a problem arises. Dr. Sanjeev Sharma, Chief Medical Officer at UpRight Science and former CEO of Highmark, emphasizes that the decline in balance is a gradual process. This gradual deterioration represents a crucial opportunity for intervention - one that has historically been neglected due to the lack of effective measurement tools in routine clinical practice.

Dr. Sharma explains, "Balance isn't something that disappears overnight. It declines gradually, and that's actually good news because it means there's a window to intervene." The newly acquired technology aims to fill the gap in routine patient assessments by providing a reliable, cost-effective way to measure and track a patient's balance over time, facilitating timely interventions before falls occur.

A Breakthrough in Preventive Care

The balance assessment application developed by Highmark is based on real-time technology that requires no additional hardware, enabling clinicians to create precise balance indices for their patients. This innovation allows healthcare providers to pinpoint specific reasons for a patient's balance issues and track improvements beyond the clinic, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable healthcare model.

"We track height, weight, and vital signs at every visit because they tell us something meaningful about where a patient's health is headed. Balance deserves the same routine attention — it's just as predictive, and far more actionable when it comes to preventing a catastrophic fall," Dr. Sharma states. This statement underlines the potential impact that enhanced balance assessments could have on preventive care strategies.

Integration and Future Directions

UpRight Science's acquisition aligns with its broader mission to refine clinical practices across various healthcare settings. CEO Terry Chabrowe articulated this vision, stating, "Physicians have always tracked the numbers that matter: temperature, heart rate, blood pressure. Balance is overdue for a place on that list." He indicated that integrating this technology, along with a range of complementary remote therapies developed by UpRight’s Chief Technology Officer, Stephen Elliot, sets a firm foundation for enhancing patient care on a larger scale.

The integration of this cutting-edge balance measurement technology will remain compliant with FDA regulations and follow evidence-based practices, ensuring that improvements in patient care are grounded in clinical validation.

With the ongoing development and refinement of this balance assessment tool, UpRight Science positions itself as a leader in proactive healthcare, striving to improve quality of life for older adults by reducing the risks associated with falls. This acquisition is part of a commitment to expand clinical practice capabilities, allowing healthcare professionals to better address balance issues among their patients.

For more information on how UpRight Science can enhance your clinical practice, visit www.uprightscience.com or schedule a demo to witness the technology in action.

About UpRight Science

UpRight Science is a pioneering medical technology firm that has developed FDA-cleared balance software, effectively transforming smartphones into medical devices capable of measuring balance with accuracy. Their consumer app, Balance Matters, offers users an accessible introduction to the benefits of advanced balance tracking, empowering individuals to take charge of their health and wellness.