Closely-held ROMTech is combining cutting-edge innovation with advanced telemedicine technology, transforming rehabilitation, diagnostics, facilitating seamless remote patient-physician connections for at-home rehabilitation, and accelerating postoperative recovery with unmatched speed and cost efficiency.
“Our technology is revolutionizing the rehabilitation industry, delivering remotely-connected, home-based post-procedure recovery faster than any other physical therapy approach, enabling patients to return to daily living more quickly with reduced pain, less pain medication, and improved mobility,” Steve Siegel, president of ROMTech, said in an interview with BioTuesdays.
ROMTech’s patented core technology addresses a variety of indications, with a current focus on its state-of-the-art orthopedic and cardiovascular post-procedure rehabilitation. The PortableConnect, combined with physical therapist oversight, treats orthopedic lower extremity indications as well as the underserved cardiac patient population.
Mr. Siegel explains that the devices’ adaptive technology enables gentle therapeutic movement by automatically adjusting to the patient’s current range of motion, personalizing each rehab session while utilizing four modes: passive, active-assisted, active, and resistance.
“We empower patients and care teams to begin rehabilitation on day one post-procedure due to our unique technology that enables a very small range of motion radius in passive mode, allowing the device to perform the therapeutic movements for the patient. This substantially reduces pain and gives patients the confidence to continue therapy, while enriching their quality of life at a significantly lower cost of care,” he says.
Mr. Siegel contends that orthopedic patients have experienced reduced narcotic usage, less swelling, and faster return of range of motion, with 80% reporting no pain by the second week. Treatment plans generally last six weeks, with three-to-five at-home therapy sessions per day.
The four therapy modes progressively guide patients toward full recovery in the comfort of their own home. Telemedicine features allow seamless face-to-face remote communication for follow-ups and medical check-ins with physicians and clinicians by way of the ROMTech platform.
Highlighting extraordinary patient outcomes, Mr. Siegel notes that a recent pilot study demonstrated that PortableConnect orthopedic patients consistently achieved clinically meaningful better outcome scores along with significant reductions in pain, compared to patients using standard of care, at six and 12 weeks.
“I have personally witnessed PortableConnect patients walking unassisted two weeks after surgery, while others still rely on canes and walkers—the difference is remarkable,” he adds.
Similarly, ROMTech’s home-based cardiac rehab system, with services provided by ROMTherapy, also features adjustable therapeutic technology for personalized, post-procedure rehab. Patients can begin and complete their cardiac rehab substantially faster than with traditional methods. Cardiac monitoring technology tracks patient vitals, including heart rate, electrocardiogram, blood pressure, and blood oxygen, while delivering real-time data to the cardio-rehab specialist. The system enables live sessions where healthcare providers can monitor, supervise, and evaluate progress, remotely adjusting exercise protocols as needed.
“Cardiac rehab is essential to recovery, with studies showing that individuals who undergo 36 sessions have a 47% lower risk of death and a 31% lower risk of a heart attack than those who attend only one session,” Mr. Siegel points out.
“The cardiac market size is approximately ten times larger than our orthopedic market due to the prevalence of cardiovascular issues throughout the U.S.,” he says.
Mr. Siegel recalls a cardiac patient who was initially reluctant to undergo post-operative physical therapy but agreed to try ROMTherapy. “In just over a month, he was back to golfing and playing with his grandkids. Our technology is an industry game changer because of its ease of use, in-home convenience, inherent accountability, and proven ability to significantly increase physical therapy compliance to produce positive patient outcomes,” he adds.
Both the ROMTherapy and PortableConnect systems are manufactured in the USA at ROMTech’s Connecticut-based facility. “We are leading the charge as the only company with the proprietary technology and infrastructure in place to facilitate in-home rehabilitation of this kind,” Mr. Siegel suggests. Additionally, earlier this year, the company established a partnership to increase access to PortableConnect for patients who are currently in the military or are veterans.
Looking forward, Mr. Siegel says ROMTech aims to strategically expand into additional indications throughout the U.S., while furthering their clinical efforts in the pulmonary and oncology rehabilitation sectors, as well as long-term care and assisted living, which the company expects to launch soon.
“ROMTech is highly differentiated in the market and there is a strong demand for our technology. We are improving patient outcomes, cutting healthcare costs, and overhauling the delivery of post-operative care,” he adds. “In orthopedics, we’re helping people walk sooner and improve their quality of life, and in cardiac care, we’re helping people live again.”
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