What is the name of your solution?
Lyptus Medical Geriatric Care
Provide a one-line summary of your solution.
Making healthy aging accessible for seniors at home
Film your elevator pitch.
What specific problem are you solving?
In Mexico, there is a fast growing 15.5 million population of seniors in desperate need of geriatric care. Unfortunately, there are only 724 board-certified geriatricians in the country (National Geriatrics Council). That is, one geriatrician for every 21,000 seniors (As reference, an accepted standard from American Geriatrics Society is one geriatrician for every 4,000 seniors.) As a consequence, seniors receive either no-care or unqualified care that provokes poor health outcomes, among them disability (1 in 2 seniors) and dependency to perform everyday activities (1 in 4 seniors). With an inexistent infrastructure of senior living facilities and with strong culture of family care, unpaid caregiving of relatives (80% executed by women) equals 19% of healthcare GDP, the same amount allocated for the operation of hospitals (National Institute of Geriatrics). With smaller families and longer life expectancies, this method of care will be soon unsustainable.
Mexican health authorities have made efforts to increase the number of new geriatricians. Unfortunately, the country will potentially reach the 1:4,000 ratio milestone towards the year 2090. This is unacceptable. Seniors can’t wait to receive geriatric care.
Mexico is not an isolated case. For example, in Colombia the geriatrician-to-senior ratio is 1:35,000, in Chile 1:38,000, in Nigeria 1:42,000, in Canada 1:14,600 and in the US 1:8,200. This is a growing global problem and it is imperative to increase the access of seniors to licensed geriatricians today.
What is your solution?
Lyptus Medical combines the power of telemedicine, with the warmth and empathy of in-person care, to give seniors unprecedented access to house calls with licensed geriatricians in four easy steps:
A patient receives the visit of their personal general practitioner (GP) at home.
Analog to a resident in a teaching hospital, the GP performs a physician examination and a medical intake guided by our telemedicine software.
A licensed geriatrician has access to the information registered by the GP and joins the consultation through a video call to reach a diagnosis and to offer a treatment plan.
The patient and/or primary caregiver receive an electronic prescription and a summary of the doctor visit.
To follow their treatments, patients purchase a yearly membership that includes all the necessary house calls with geriatricians and specialized physicians. Their GP provides programmed follow-up and is available 24/7 for medical orientations. The assistance of relatives is not required, however they receive a notification after every interaction. All of this for US$25 per month, on average.
We are currently taking care of 450+ active patients in 3 cities in Mexico with great patient, physician and caregiver satisfaction (94% NPS). In addition, adherence to treatments and doctor visits exceeds 80% (from 30%) providing better health outcomes. But most importantly, we have demonstrated that a team of one geriatrician and three GPs has a yearly capacity to perform 4,350 high-quality geriatric house calls, contributing significantly to the solution of our problem.
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
Our target population are seniors (60-year old+) that require corrective and preventive care from geriatricians. Today, we are focusing on seniors located in large and medium cities in Mexico, starting in Mexico City, Monterrey and Guadalajara. Initially, we are focusing on middle-to-high income seniors.
With only 742 geriatricians in the country, 170 of them in the public health sector, most of these seniors do not receive geriatric care. Some of them do not receive care at all and many of them receive care from unqualified physicians that, despite their best efforts and good intentions, do not understand how the human body works after 60-years of age nor how to treat geriatric syndromes. Therefore seniors are subject to wrong diagnosis and treatments, that leads to avoidable hospitalizations, disability, and dependency.
For those seniors that have had access to a licensed geriatrician, the story is not good either. On the one hand, many seniors visit a geriatrician as a ‘last resource’, after visiting a myriad of physicians that have not solved their health issues. In the majority of these cases, the damage has been done leaving geriatricians with minimal alternatives to improve the well-being of patients. On the other hand, to achieve healthy aging, the American Geriatrics Society recommends seniors to visit their geriatrician at least three times per year. In reality, only three out of ten patients come back for a second visit. This happens because of three main reasons: First, inexistent follow-up to patients, second, many seniors need the support of a relative to visit a physician, and third, there is a lack of preventive culture in Mexico. Patients visit the doctor when they are feeling really ill.
In summary, seniors are underserved because they have a lack of access to geriatricians, and when they do, it is often too late and they do not have the means to adhere to geriatric visits.
How are you and your team well-positioned to deliver this solution?
We strongly believe, we have assembled the best team to deliver this solution:
Dr. Alberto Palacios (https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr...), co-founder and medical director based in Mexico City, is a board-certified geriatrician, a zealous medical educator, and a college professor. Dr. Palacios loves his chosen profession because it goes beyond medicine and includes the psychosocial aspects that can truly impact quality of life for patients, caregivers, and even other medical professionals. He firmly believes in the Health 3.0 revolution, which combines the technological and evidence-based approach of modern medicine, with the compassionate, patient-centered, and tailored approach of more traditional medicine. After experiencing first-hand the challenges of a geriatrician and his patients, he is deeply motivated to offer the best and most comprehensive geriatric care to as many people as possible
Miguel Briones (https://www.linkedin.com/in/cx...), co-founder and customer experience officer based in Monterrey, is an industrial engineer, entrepreneur, and customer experience guru in Mexico. Miguel fervently enjoys designing and implementing memorable customer experiences for his clients, including fortune 500 companies and unicorns. After experiencing the archaic customer journey of patients and physicians in the traditional healthcare system, Miguel became obsessed with creating an enjoyable experience for patients and physicians, that improves their health outcomes and passion for care, respectively.
Jorge Hinojosa (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jorgehino/), co-founder and CEO based in Montana, is an industrial engineer, Yale MBA and entrepreneur. Jorge co-founded and led the national and international expansion of Impulsa Business Accelerator in Mexico. He is now using this experience to spearhead the expansion of Lyptus Medical to reach as many families as possible. Jorge’s drive comes from this personal experience as sole caregiver of his dependent parents for more than 15 years.
The three of us are deeply committed and each of us brings essential experiences and talents required to grow Lyptus Medical exponentially.
Which dimension of the Challenge does your solution most closely address?
Enabling new models for childcare or eldercare that improve affordability, convenience, or community trust.
Where our solution team is headquartered or located:
Mexico City, CDMX, MexicoOur solution's stage of development:
GrowthHow many people does your solution currently serve?
450
Why are you applying to Solve?
Becoming a Solver would give Lyptus Medical tremendous validation and credibility that will open many doors, particularly three:
First, it’s a perfect opportunity to jump start a public relations campaign with the media in Mexico and in the US.
Second, it’s a powerful reason to believe for Mexican expats living in the US with senior relatives in Mexico and for B2B2C channels in Mexico. Both are key to the massive expansion of our services.
Third, it’s a great achievement to showcase to potential investors in our seed round.
That’s why we believe that Becoming a Solver would be an inflection point for Lyptus Medical.
In which of the following areas do you most need partners or support?
Public Relations (e.g. branding/marketing strategy, social and global media)
Who is the Team Lead for your solution?
Jorge Hinojosa
What makes your solution innovative?
Our solution is disruptive because it allows geriatricians to increase their reach and capacity in an unprecedented way. At the same time, it substantially increases the adherence to treatments and visits from patients. These two elements are the key to achieving optimal health outcomes.
Presently, the great majority of geriatricians are located in three cities: Mexico City, Monterrey and Guadalajara. In addition, a traditional geriatric consultation takes one hour. With our approach, geriatricians can see patients nationally and can see three patients in one hour with a high quality of care.
Currently, only three out of ten patients come back to a second geriatric visit and only 50% of patients take their treatment correctly. With our approach, there is 80% adherence to doctor visits and to treatments.
We believe our solution will change the market entirely. Having real access to healthy aging creates an incentive for informative campaigns that promote visits to geriatricians. This will create more demanda and, in turn, will incentivize more physicians to become geriatricians. In addition, with our business model, geriatricians will finally be able to see as many patients as their peers increasing their income substantially. This will further incentivize physicians to become geriatricians.
What are your impact goals for the next year and the next five years, and how will you achieve them?
At the end of 2022, we have the following impact goals:
Give 5,000 seniors from five different cities access to certified geriatricians at their home.
Minimize the probability of suffering caregiver burden or collapse for the families of these 5,000 patients.
Reduce healthcare expenses of these 5,000 patients by eliminating polypharmacy and by reducing the probability of hospitalizations through preventive care.
Ensure that one geriatrician has the capacity to perform 4,000+ house calls and can follow-up on every patient comfortably.
In five years, we will at least expand our footprint in Mexico and in Latin America with the following impact goals:
Give access to licensed geriatricians to at least 500,000 patients in 5 countries.
Through independent research, demonstrate that mobile telemedicine reduces healthcare expenses, while increasing optimal health outcomes for patients and for their families.
How are you measuring your progress toward your impact goals?
To consider that a patient is active, they need to receive at least one geriatric house call per year and twelve successful follow-up calls.
To make sure that patients are receiving appropriate treatment and follow-up, we measure the following variables:
Net Promoter Score: After each house call, we ask for a quick survey to assess customer satisfactions and to make sure we are meeting their expectations. Any deviance is addressed immediately.
Adherence to treatments: By connecting electronic prescriptions with online pharmacies, patients and caregivers can access medications and have them delivered at home with competitive prices on an ongoing basis. Therefore, we can indirectly monitor if a patient is taking its medication regularly.
Adherence to visits: By receiving programmed house calls as planned, we understand that patients are enjoying the experience and are being monitored by the right physicians in a preventive fashion.
These indicators are levers generate our impact goals:
Lower health expenses
Reduce disability
Reduce dependency
Lower hospitalizations
Reduce unpaid caregiving provided by families
What is your theory of change?
ACTIVITES
Seniors have access to annual treatments at home that include house calls with licensed geriatricians and specialized physicians, personalized follow-up, 24/7 medical orientations and notifications to authorized relatives.
OUTPUTS
Seniors receive care from the right physicians and have the means to adhere to treatments and follow-up visits. Meanwhile, their relatives are kept abreast of their progress.
SHORT-TERM OUTCOMES
Seniors and their families feel at ease knowing that they are being treated, receive follow-up and have 24/7 access to the right team of physicians. They have a treatment plan with objectives and activities that will lead them to healthy aging.
Seniors eliminate polypharmacy and its side effects.
Relatives lower their stress levels and reduce the probability of caregiver collapse.
MEDIUM-TERM OUTCOMES
Regular geriatric house calls help refine treatments and diligent follow-up increases adherence to treatments, making preventive care a reality. Preventive care minimizes the risk of hospitalizations. Seniors and their families don’t spend their time, energy and financial resources on health issues unnecessarily.
LONG-TERM OUTCOMES
Happier and stronger seniors with no disabilities contribute actively to a better society
Describe the core technology that powers your solution.
Our core technology is our proprietary cloud-based telemedicine system and app. They allow physicians to perform geriatric house calls and control our entire operation. Our technology works as follows:
Our general practitioners carry a touchscreen laptop, a modem with a dedicated internet connection, and medical peripherals to the patient’s home.
Guided by our telemedicine system, General Practitioners (GPs) perform a physician examination and medical intake of the patient, registering the results in their medical note.
In a different location, a licensed geriatrician or other specialized physician, logs in into the house call, initially to review the patient’s EHR and the medical note from the GP. Then, they join the consultation through a video call to reach a diagnosis and treatment plan.
When the housecall ends, the patient and her primary caregiver receive a clinical summary of the visit as well as an electronic prescription.
Notified by our system, GPs perform programmed follow-up with patients, registering the results of the interaction in the patient's EHR and notifying the primary caregiver through our app.
Patients can access their personal GP through the app for 24/7 medical orientations. Likewise, the result of every interaction is recorded in the EHR and the primary caregiver is notified.
According to each patient's treatment plan, house calls are scheduled and confirmed.
Physicians, patients, and authorized relatives have access to all the information.
Which of the following categories best describes your solution?
A new business model or process that relies on technology to be successful
Please select the technologies currently used in your solution:
Which of the UN Sustainable Development Goals does your solution address?
What type of organization is your solution team?
For-profit, including B-Corp or similar models
How many people work on your solution team?
Full-time staff: 11; part-time 1; contractors: 30
How long have you been working on your solution?
4 years
What is your business model?
KEY RESOURCES
Our key resources are physicians (Licensed Geriatricians, Specialized Physicians, and General Practitioners) and technology (our mobile telemedicine system)
KEY ACTIVITIES
Our key activities are the development of personalized treatment plans, the execution of house calls and follow-up, the access to geriatric products and services and the ongoing communication with relatives.
PARTNERS + KEY STAKEHOLDERS
Our key partners and stakeholders are the following:
Medikit - electronic prescription provider.
Prixz - online pharmacy with home delivery.
Chopo - national medical test laboratory with home-based sample collection.
AIG - provider of accident and fracture insurance for seniors between 55 and 89 years of age.
IKE - provider of ambulance and nursing assistance.
TYPE OF INTERVENTION
Our intervention is a geriatric service at home that includes house calls and follow-up by a team of physicians led by licensed geriatricians.
CHANNELS
We are offering our services through B2C and B2B2C channels:
B2C channels are mainly web marketing efforts through google adwords and facebook campaigns.
B2B2C (starting march 2022) is divided into four groups of partner channels:
Insurance Brokers - Initially through Marsh McLennan that has a relationship with 2,000+ large corporations in Mexico.
Pharmacies and Pharmaceuticals - Initially with FESA and Bayer, we are starting loyalty and patient adherence programs.
Banks - Banks in Mexico have an independent retirement healthcare package for their retirees. Initially through Grupo Banorte, we plan to serve their retirees to lower hospitalizations and polypharmacy.
Remittance players - Mexico’s main source of income are remittances sent by expats living in the US. Through Transnetwork, we will offer our annual memberships in their recently created marketplace.
SEGMENTS
Our beneficiaries are 65+ year-old adults and their families.
Our customers are divided into two groups. First, family members, typically sons and daughters of our patients, make out-of-pocket payments for our yearly memberships. Second, large companies like pharmacies and pharmaceuticals as patient adherence programs.
VALUE PROPOSITION
For Patients, we give easy and affordable access to geriatric treatment plans at home to prevent illness and dependency.
For Primary Caregivers, we alleviate the burden of care by assuring that their loved ones are treated by the right team of physicians in the right frequency.
For Geriatricians, we give them unprecedented reach and capacity. They can see more patients in more places.
For General Practitioners, we give them the opportunity of working close to their home, interact daily with complex patients and specialized physicians, and have higher incomes than their peers.
COST STRUCTURE, REVENUE AND SURPLUS
Our business model is built in such a way that it creates value for every stakeholder.
A normal follow-up visit at a geriatrician’s office costs US$50 on average, plus the associated time, transportation, and parking expenses. A regular house call by a geriatrician costs between US$125 on average. Lyptus Medical provides geriatric house calls for seniors at an average price of US$45 per housecall, plus follow-up and 24/7 medical orientation. Our patients and their families receive much more value at an even lower cost than traditional alternatives.
As mentioned, a Geriatrician earns US$50 on average per consultation at their office. An average follow-up consultation lasts one hour. At Lyptus, Geriatricians earn US$25 per house call and they can perform three per hour. Therefore, they earn US$75 per hour, 50% more than their regular income. In addition, they do not have to pay for rent or for an assistant. Furthermore, patients increase their adherence to visits 3x. Therefore, geriatricians earn more and have less expenses through Lyptus Medical.
General Practitioners at Lyptus medical earn US$12 per house call. They can perform 80 housecalls per month working part-time. This is an income of $960/month, almost twice as much as an average full-time general practitioner earns per month. Our GPs earn more, work less and learn more through Lyptus Medical. Furthermore, 90% of our GPs have passed the ENARM exam to become specialized physicians.
Do you primarily provide products or services directly to individuals, to other organizations, or to the government?
Individual consumers or stakeholders (B2C)What is your plan for becoming financially sustainable?
We generate revenue selling memberships to customers. We also help our allies upsell geriatric services (e.g. insurance, ambulance, caregivers, nurses) and products (medicines). In addition, we will generate additional revenue through healthcare analytics with research and marketing opportunities.
We will reach break-even point by reaching 2,500 active patients. To reach this milestone, we are increasing sales, raising capital, and applying for grants.
Solution Team
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Jorge Hinojosa Co-founder & CEO, Lyptus Medical
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Our Organization
Lyptus Medical