Technology

Force Therapeutics Reduces 30-Day Readmissions, New Study Shows

Published

2 months ago

November 6, 2024

Research demonstrates hospitals using Force Therapeutics care management platform benefit from significantly lower excess readmissions, positioning them for success under TEAM

NEW YORK, Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Force Therapeutics, the leading orthopedic digital care management platform, announced today the release of new research demonstrating how hospitals that use the platform, compared to those that do not, exhibit much lower excess readmission rates. In addition, within a single organization, sites that do use Force Therapeutics were shown to have substantially lower excess readmission rates compared to sites that do not.

This research stemmed from the recent announcement from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) surrounding the introduction of the Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM), a new mandatory payment model aimed at reducing costs and improving care quality across five episode categories: lower extremity joint replacements (LEJR), surgical hip/femur fracture treatments (SHFFT), coronary artery bypass grafts (CABG), spinal fusions, and major bowel procedures.

Similar to previous bundled payment models, hospitals mandated to participate in TEAM will be required to maintain 30-day episode spending below a certain target price, subject to care quality adjustments. Those who succeed will receive financial incentives, while those who exceed the target price will be required to issue repayments to CMS. Within this context, excess readmissions–which are associated with significant costs–carry an outsized impact on 30-day episode spending, making it absolutely critical that hospitals work to eliminate avoidable readmissions to the best of their abilities.

The research is based on data obtained from the CMS Hospital Readmission Reduction Program (HRRP) for the period of July 2019 through June 2022. In the first part of the study, all hospitals in the HRRP were grouped into 3 categories: Hospitals that used Force throughout the study time frame, hospitals that used Force during part of the study time frame, and hospitals that have never used Force. Hospitals in the first category demonstrated on average an excess readmission rate of 0.98, reflecting less readmissions than expected based on patient population risk factors, while the other two categories saw excess readmission rates of 1.04 and 1.01. The analysis clearly illustrates how hospitals using Force outmatch their counterparts and benefit from substantially lower readmissions, supporting higher quality care for their patients and lowering their Medicare cost expenditures.

In the second part of the study, one large academic health system was selected for a site by site investigation; two of the organization’s sites had been using Force, while a third site was not. Among the two sites using Force, excess readmission rates stood at 0.94 and 0.87, while the third site not using Force had an excess readmission rate of 1.25. Once again, this data shows how slight variations in care, even between sites within a single hospital system, can lead to drastically different quality of care results. With Force, care standardization at scale minimizes outliers, enabling hospitals to provide smarter value-based care.

“As the beginning of TEAM in January 2026 approaches, our team and partner care organizations are working to ensure that all the components of delivering high-quality value-based care are in place well ahead of time,” said Bronwyn Spira, CEO, Force Therapeutics. “With our platform, hospitals can fully engage their patients to capture important insights remotely, setting the stage for successful post-operative home recoveries and avoiding highly costly and stressful adverse events such as readmissions, despite the increasingly short amount of time these patients spend in the hospital setting.”

Force Therapeutics, says Spira, enables hospitals to comprehensively prepare patients for surgery and offer in-depth virtual support at every step of the recovery journey. Beyond minimizing readmissions, this empowers patients and providers to designate clear patient expectations and enable shared decision making, which has been shown to result in higher patient satisfaction and superior functional outcomes.

This is accomplished through gold-standard pre- and post-operative education to prevent complications (such as infections and blood clots); actionable watchlists to provide visibility into patient progress and enable early intervention; remote monitoring and smart alerts to flag signs of challenging recovery journeys; and direct communication tools to quickly address questions and avoid ED visits. The platform also boasts an unparalleled level of patient engagement and long-term PROMs capture rates, supporting regulatory compliance and quality improvement initiatives.

Access the new study here.

About Force Therapeutics
Force Therapeutics is the leading orthopedic digital care management platform, designed to help clinicians effectively manage patients’ rehabilitation and recovery remotely using evidence-based care pathways. The platform leverages video and digital connections to directly engage non-operative and operative patients at every step of the care journey. Backed by millions of clinically validated patient data points and insights from more than 70 leading healthcare centers across the country, Force Therapeutics is proven to reduce care variation, lower overall costs, maximize care team efficiency, and improve patient outcomes and satisfaction.

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SOURCE Force Therapeutics

Technology

AIMA Technology Welcomes Top U.S. Dealers to Shape the Future Together

Published

5 minutes ago

December 24, 2024

TIANJIN, China, Dec. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — On December 7, 2024, AIMA Technology Group warmly invited a delegation of five top-performing U.S. IBD dealers to visit its headquarters. Accompanying the group was Angela Zheng, CEO of AIMA’s U.S. subsidiary, AIMA EBIKE, along with her sales, marketing, and customer service teams. This visit not only marked a deepened connection between AIMA and the mainstream U.S. market but also provided U.S. dealers with a valuable opportunity to witness AIMA Technology’s globally leading capabilities in research, development, and manufacturing of electric mobility solutions.

The delegation first toured AIMA’s state-of-the-art factory in Tianjin. Aima Technology possesses production factories with extremely high levels of intelligent manufacturing Additionally, AIMA has integrated advanced technologies such as AI visual recognition and established a CNAS-certified R&D laboratory, maintaining its industry leadership in intelligent transformation. During the tour, the dealers were deeply impressed by AIMA’s cutting-edge technology, large-scale production capabilities, and relentless pursuit of excellence in product development and manufacturing. They expressed that this rare visit not only enhanced their understanding of AIMA but also strengthened their confidence in promoting AIMA products as a symbol of outstanding performance and exceptional quality to their customers.

Furthermore, AIMA Technology’s R&D team engaged in in-depth discussions with the dealers regarding the new models AIMA EBIKE plans to launch in 2025. The dealers test-rode prototypes of the latest models and shared their innovative insights. They expressed high praise for AIMA’s product innovation capabilities and market acumen, recognizing these as key factors that distinguish AIMA in the industry.

Later, the dealers joined AIMA Technology‘s team to witness the rollout of the 10,000th AIMA E-Bike. This milestone moment showcased AIMA’s exceptional manufacturing strength and market influence. The dealers were inspired and expressed strong confidence in the promising future of their partnership with AIMA.

This visit from the top-tier U.S. dealer delegation not only deepened mutual trust and friendship but also injected new momentum into AIMA’s ambition to become a leader in the U.S. E-Bike industry by focusing on the IBD channel. Looking ahead, AIMA Technology will continue to strive to provide market-leading performance and quality, enhancing its product development and manufacturing capabilities while working hand-in-hand with global dealers to create an even brighter future.

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SOURCE AIMA Technology

Technology

AIMA Technology Group to Unveil Seven New Electric Mobility Products at CES 2025 and Partner with Italian Brand to Set New Industry Standards

Published

5 minutes ago

December 24, 2024

LAS VEGAS, Dec. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — AIMA Technology Group will debut seven new electric mobility products at CES 2025, catering to diverse consumer needs, from urban commuters to adventure seekers. Each product will showcase AIMA Technology Group’s signature blend of futuristic design, smart technology, and eco-conscious engineering, further advancing sustainable electric mobility.

AIMA Technology Group will also unveil its strategic partnership with a top-tier Italian brand at CES 2025, merging luxurious aesthetics with superior performance to set a new standard in the electric mobility industry. This collaboration will redefine luxury and practicality in electric mobility, establishing a new benchmark for the industry.

AIMA Technology Group’s global expansion is accelerating, having already covered over 50 countries, with a cumulative sales volume exceeding 80 million units by 2023. The showcase at CES 2025 will further strengthen AIMA Technology Group’s leadership in the global electric mobility market.

During CES 2025, AIMA Technology Group will hold a media reception on Tuesday, January 7th at 10:30 AM (Pacific Time) to showcase its new product lineup. On January 8th at 11:00 AM, AIMA will unveil the mysterious limited-edition concept new product at the CES booth, redefining the future of mobility. We invite you to join us in discovering this groundbreaking innovation. Booth location: Las Vegas Convention Center, North Hall, Booth #10947, showcasing our latest innovative achievements.

AIMA Technology booth: Las Vegas Convention Center, North Hall, Booth #10947.

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SOURCE AIMA Technology

Technology

HKBN Signs HK$5.25bn Sustainability-Linked Loan

Published

1 hour ago

December 24, 2024

HONG KONG, Dec. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — HKBN Ltd. (“HKBN” or the “Company”; SEHK stock code: 1310) is delighted to announce the signing of its inaugural HK$5.25 billion syndicated Sustainability-Linked Loan (the “SLL Facility”) under the HKBN Ltd. Sustainability-Linked Financing Framework (“Framework”), with 11 leading international, regional and local banks. The facility includes enhanced terms and a greenshoe mechanism that allows HKBN to upsize the loan in the future. Proceeds from the SLL Facility will be used to refinance the Company’s outstanding loans.

The overwhelming response from the market is a vote of confidence in HKBN’s business plan. This landmark SLL Facility reaffirms HKBN’s long-term commitment to sustainability and responsible business practices while driving business growth. It also includes an interest rate adjustment mechanism that is linked to predetermined sustainability performance targets (SPTs). This will allow HKBN to benefit from savings in borrowing costs upon the successful attainment of the specified key performance indicators (KPIs).

The specified KPIs and SPTs are tailored to address climate change mitigation and cybersecurity within HKBN. The first KPI focuses on Scopes 1 and 2 emissions. The second KPI involves the average failure rate of phishing assessments for HKBN’s Talents. The third and final KPI comprises Scope 3 emissions. Emissions reduction targets were set in line with HKBN’s near-term GHG emissions reduction targets recently validated by the Science-Based Targets initiative (“SBTi”); while those for KPI 2 were set based on the performance results from impromptu simulated email assessments, which the company will conduct to evaluate its Talents’ susceptibility to phishing attacks – a vital and necessary exercise for measuring cybersecurity risk.

HKBN has appointed Sustainable Fitch to provide a Second Party Opinion (“SPO”) on the Framework with an overall rating of “Good”. The SPO affirms that the Framework aligns with the Sustainability-Linked Loan Principles set forth by the Loan Market Association, the Loan Syndications and Trading Association, and the Asia Pacific Loan Market Association.

The SLL Facility is led by Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited, BNP Paribas, Cathay United Bank Company, Limited, Hong Kong Branch, Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, Hong Kong Branch, DBS Bank Ltd., ING Bank N.V., Hong Kong Branch and The Bank of East Asia, Limited as the Mandated Lead Arrangers, Bookrunners and Underwriters and participated by Fubon Bank (Hong Kong) Limited, Natixis, Hong Kong Branch, Shanghai Pudong Development Bank Co., Ltd., Hong Kong Branch and Taipei Fubon Commercial Bank Co., Ltd. as the Mandated Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners. Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, Hong Kong Branch and ING Bank N.V., Hong Kong Branch are the Joint Sustainability Coordinators. Rothschild & Co is the financial adviser for HKBN.

Derek Yue, HKBN Co-Owner & Chief Financial Officer said, “Through this refinancing deal, HKBN is not just reshaping our financial well-being with better loan terms, but setting a new standard for corporate accountability and sustainability. Our focus on achieving key performance indicators in climate change mitigation and cybersecurity reflects our dedication to a more sustainable future and a secure digital environment. We believe that by aligning our financing initiatives with these crucial objectives, we are not only strengthening our business but also contributing to a better world for all.”

Nancy Cheng, Managing Director, Head of Tech Coverage APAC, at Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, commented, “Being a long-standing banking partner of HKBN, we are delighted to play a key part in HKBN’s inaugural SLL transaction, which is the very first in Hong Kong for the telecommunications market. It establishes a new benchmark for the sector, akin to how HKBN has continually set and raised the bar for broadband speeds in Hong Kong. We are dedicated to continuing our role in supporting HKBN’s financing and sustainability journey in the future.”

Shalini Sujanani, Managing Director, TMT & Healthcare for ING in Asia Pacific, commented, “We are pleased to support HKBN’s sustainability journey as Joint Sustainability Coordinator for this landmark facility. By embedding ambitious KPIs into their financing, HKBN demonstrates that sustainability and business performance can go hand in hand. This SLL Facility reflects the growing importance of aligning financial strategies with environmental and social objectives, and we are excited to help HKBN drive meaningful impact through this partnership.”

About HKBN Ltd.

HKBN Ltd. (SEHK Stock Code: 1310, together with its subsidiaries, “HKBN” or the “Group”) is an investment holding company. Headquartered in Hong Kong with operations spanning across Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China, the Group is a leading integrated telecommunications and technology services provider. The Group provides a full range of one-stop, high-quality information and communication technology (ICT) solutions and an unlimited services portfolio. HKBN’s extensive tri-carrier fibre infrastructure covers around 2.6 million residential homes and 8,200 commercial buildings and facilities across Hong Kong. Committed to creating a lasting positive impact to wherever it operates, HKBN embraces a core purpose to “Make our Home a Better Place to Live” and has received a highest possible rating of AAA in MSCI’s 2024 ESG Ratings assessment in environment, society and governance. The Group is managed by hundreds of Co-Owners (supervisory and management level Talents in the Group) who invested their savings to buy shares of HKBN Ltd.. For more information about HKBN, please visit https://www.hkbn.net/group/en.

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SOURCE HKBN Ltd.