Submitted
Health in Fragile Contexts Challenge

Polly

Team Leader
David Hojah
Solution Overview & Team Lead Details
Our Organization
Parrots Inc.
What is the name of your solution?
Polly
Provide a one-line summary of your solution.
AI/ML platform giving a real-time voice, cognitive assistance and telecare to people with neurological conditions
Film your elevator pitch.
What specific problem are you solving?

Parrots Inc. is working to solve the pressing problem of inadequate care and support for patients with neurological disorders and their caregivers. This challenge affects millions of people globally, both directly (the patients) and indirectly (their caregivers and families).

Globally, over 1 billion people are affected by neurological disorders, including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis, and ALS, among others. This represents around 1 in 6 of the world population. According to the World Health Organization, neurological disorders are the leading cause of disability and the second leading cause of death worldwide.

Caregivers of patients with neurological disorders face significant challenges as well, often experiencing physical, emotional, and financial strain. A study in the United States found that 53% of caregivers report high emotional stress, and 38% report high physical strain.

The factors contributing to this problem include:

  1. The complexity of neurological disorders: Patients with neurological disorders often exhibit a wide range of symptoms that evolve and progress over time, making it difficult to manage their condition effectively.
  2. Limited access to specialized care: Many patients and caregivers lack access to appropriate medical resources and support, especially in rural or underserved communities. This leads to delays in diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation.
  3. Fragmented care: Current solutions often address only a single aspect of the patient's needs, leaving them to juggle multiple devices, applications, and therapies.
  4. High costs of care and support: The financial burden associated with neurological disorders can be overwhelming for patients and their families, limiting their access to the resources they need.

Parrots Inc. addresses these factors through Polly, an AI-driven platform that combines multiple therapies and support tools in a single, user-friendly solution. By offering a comprehensive approach to care and support for patients with neurological disorders and their caregivers, we aim to improve the quality of life, ease the burden on caregivers, and enhance the overall care experience.

What is your solution?

Our solution is Polly, an AI-driven platform designed to improve the lives of patients with neurological disorders and their caregivers. Polly is an AI/ML-powred comprehensive platform, an easy-to-use tool that combines multiple therapies, cognitive support, and telehealth features in one unified platform.

Here's how Polly works:

  1. Comprehensive Care: Polly integrates various therapeutic approaches, such as voice therapy, physical therapy, cognitive training, and medication management, into one seamless platform. This allows patients and caregivers to access all necessary resources in one place, making it easier to manage the patient's condition.

  2. AI-driven Personalization: Polly's AI algorithms analyze the patient's needs, preferences, and progress, and create a personalized care plan. This ensures that the platform delivers the most effective and relevant interventions to each individual user.

  3. Telehealth Features: Polly offers telehealth capabilities, enabling patients to consult with healthcare professionals remotely. This reduces the need for frequent in-person visits, saving time and reducing the carbon footprint associated with travel.

  4. Support for Caregivers: Polly provides caregivers with resources, tools, and insights to better understand and manage the patient's condition. This support empowers caregivers and reduces their burden, leading to better patient outcomes.

  5. Data Analytics and Reporting: Polly collects and analyzes data on patient progress and therapy effectiveness. This information is presented through clear and actionable reports, helping healthcare professionals make informed decisions and adjust treatment plans as needed.

By leveraging AI and telehealth technologies, Polly provides a holistic, personalized, and environmentally friendly solution to improve the quality of life for patients with neurological disorders and their caregivers.

Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?

Our solution serves two primary groups: patients with neurological disorders and their caregivers. The target population includes individuals diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, and other neurological conditions. These patients often require continuous care and management to maintain their quality of life. Caregivers, who are usually family members or friends, play a crucial role in providing support and assistance but often lack the resources and knowledge necessary to manage these complex conditions effectively.

Currently, patients and caregivers face several challenges:

  1. Fragmented care: Accessing multiple therapies and services requires considerable time and effort, with patients and caregivers needing to navigate a complex web of appointments, medications, and therapies.

  2. Limited personalization: Existing solutions often follow a one-size-fits-all approach, which may not address the unique needs of each patient.

  3. Inadequate caregiver support: Caregivers often lack the necessary resources and training to effectively manage the patient's condition, leading to increased stress and burnout.

  4. Environmental impact: Frequent in-person visits to healthcare providers contribute to a larger carbon footprint due to transportation.

Our solution, Polly, addresses these challenges by:

  1. Unifying care: By integrating multiple therapies, support services, and telehealth features into one platform, Polly simplifies care management for patients and caregivers, streamlining their experience and reducing stress.

  2. AI-driven personalization: Polly's AI algorithms create personalized care plans tailored to each patient's unique needs, preferences, and progress, ensuring the most effective interventions are delivered, resulting in better patient outcomes.

  3. Empowering caregivers: Polly provides caregivers with resources, tools, and insights to better understand and manage the patient's condition, reducing their burden, and improving patient care.

  4. Enhancing communication: Polly facilitates seamless communication between patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals, improving collaboration and decision-making.

  5. Reducing the carbon footprint: By offering telehealth capabilities, Polly decreases the need for frequent in-person visits, saving time and reducing the environmental impact associated with travel.

  6. Scalability: Polly's cloud-based infrastructure enables rapid deployment and easy access to a wide range of patients and caregivers, regardless of their geographical location.

By addressing these needs, Polly directly and meaningfully improves the lives of patients with neurological disorders and their caregivers, providing them with a comprehensive, personalized, and environmentally conscious solution for care management. This innovative approach ensures a more efficient, effective, and sustainable way to manage neurological disorders, benefiting individuals, families, and communities around the world.

How are you and your team well-positioned to deliver this solution?

Our team at Parrots Inc is uniquely positioned to deliver this solution, as we possess not only extensive technical expertise but also a deep understanding and empathy for the communities we serve. Our team comprises accomplished professionals with diverse skill sets:

  • David Hojah, studied Engineering and Health Management at Harvard, with over 16 years of experience in robotics, drones, medical devices, NeuroTech, assistive technology, and TeleHealth.
  • Glenn Eaton, MIT Electrical & CS Eng. BS, with 31+ years of experience in Electrical Engineering, telecommunications, devices, CS, coding, MedTech, and robotics.
  • Priyanka Ray, MIT Design/CS Engineering MS, with 18+ years of experience in AI/ML, data analytics, human-computer interaction, coding, cloud computing, and UX/UI.
  • Bulent Aslan, MD at Beth Israel Hospital, Boston, with 15+ years of experience in Medical Technology, radiology, treatment, healthcare management, diagnostics, NeuroTech, and medical research.
  • Azady Pirhanov, PhD in Biomedical Engineering, with 10+ years of experience in AI/ML, R&D, immunology, MedTech, technology development, and BioTech at Ragon Institute: MGH, MIT, Harvard.
  • Dina Zaki, BS in IT and PMP, works at MIT with 21+ years of experience in medical technology, healthcare, business operations, resources, analytics, insurance, IT, funding, and sales.
  • Heather Lawver, with 25+ years of experience in marketing, partnerships, sales, human-centric design, grants and content writing, public speaking, fundraising, investments, business, and UX/UI.
  • Ilyse Veron, BA from Yale and MBA from Georgetown University, with 30+ years of experience in Age-Tech, policy, marketing, strategies, business analytics, and partnerships.

In addition to our core team members, Parrots Inc also benefits from the guidance of advanced advisers in MedTech, veterans, and age innovation from prestigious institutions like MIT, Harvard, Microsoft, and Google.

Our team's close proximity to the communities we serve and our personal experiences with neurological disorders enable us to better understand the challenges faced by patients and caregivers. We actively engage with these communities, incorporating their input, ideas, and agendas into the development and implementation of our solution. This collaborative approach ensures that our platform, Polly, remains responsive to the evolving needs of patients and caregivers, fostering trust and demonstrating our commitment to providing a solution that truly benefits the communities we serve.

Which dimension of the Challenge does your solution most closely address?
  • Enable continuity of care, particularly around primary health, complex or chronic diseases, and mental health and well-being.
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Boston MA
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
  • United States
What is your solution’s stage of development?
  • Growth: An organization with an established product, service, or business model that is rolled out in one or more communities
How many people does your solution currently serve?

180 users 

Why are you applying to Solve?

We are applying to MIT Solve for several reasons:

  1. Access to resources and expertise: MIT Solve has a diverse and knowledgeable network of experts, partners, and resources that can help us address the various barriers we face. By tapping into this network, we hope to gain valuable insights and support to overcome these challenges.

  2. Financial support: As a growing startup, securing funding is critical to our success. MIT Solve offers a platform to connect with potential investors and funding opportunities, which could accelerate our growth and impact.

  3. Technical guidance: MIT Solve's network includes experts in healthcare, technology, and innovation. We hope to receive technical guidance and mentorship to refine our solution, improve its effectiveness, and ensure that it remains at the cutting edge of medical technology.

  4. Market access: MIT Solve can help us establish partnerships and collaborations with key stakeholders, including healthcare providers, insurance companies, and government organizations. These connections can help us expand our market reach, increase adoption, and ultimately scale our impact.

  5. Legal and regulatory support: Navigating the complex legal and regulatory landscape of medical technology can be challenging. MIT Solve's network of experts can provide valuable guidance to help us meet these requirements and ensure our solution is compliant and accessible to patients.

  6. Cultural sensitivity: To ensure our solution is inclusive and effective for diverse populations, we need to be culturally sensitive in our approach. MIT Solve's focus on diversity, equity, and inclusivity can provide us with valuable insights and guidance to help us better serve the needs of various communities.

  7. Peer learning: Being a part of the MIT Solve community will allow us to learn from other innovative solutions and share our own experiences, fostering a collaborative environment to drive meaningful change and impact.

We believe that joining the MIT Solve community will provide us with the support, resources, and connections we need to overcome the barriers we face and accelerate our growth, ultimately enabling us to create a lasting impact on the lives of patients with neurological disorders and their caregivers.

In which of the following areas do you most need partners or support?
  • Business Model (e.g. product-market fit, strategy & development)
  • Financial (e.g. accounting practices, pitching to investors)
  • Human Capital (e.g. sourcing talent, board development)
  • Legal or Regulatory Matters
  • Monitoring & Evaluation (e.g. collecting/using data, measuring impact)
  • Technology (e.g. software or hardware, web development/design)
Who is the Team Lead for your solution?
David Hojah
More About Your Solution
Your Team
Your Business Model & Funding
Solution Team:
David Hojah
David Hojah
CEO & Founder