The Future of Physical Therapy
- United States
- Hybrid of for-profit and nonprofit
TheraMotive firmly believes that quality healthcare must be a cornerstone in every neighborhood. In the US, however, your life expectancy is largely determined by your zip code, resulting in high-income residents living 14 years longer than lower-income residents. A shocking indication of how deeply healthcare access is intertwined with racial and socio-economic lines.
Physical therapists are direct access providers in a 50 billion-dollar industry that must play a prominent role in healthcare to help bridge the widening gap in the patient-to-provider ratio. Research has proven that physical therapy effectively manages all musculoskeletal injuries better or as effectively as surgical intervention. It also mitigates depression, anxiety, hypertension, and diabetes in senior populations.
Unfortunately, the prevailing model of accessing physical therapy through brick-and-mortar clinics inadvertently perpetuates widespread healthcare disparities due to the restrictive nature of fixed-location services. These traditional clinics reinforce the limitations imposed by the social determinants of health, including low socioeconomic status, limited or poor education, inadequate social support networks, and transportation challenges.
A rapidly aging population with an increased incidence of chronic health conditions has led to 1 billion people (15% of the world's population) experiencing some form of disability. Across the country, over 25% of Americans lack adequate access to outpatient rehabilitative care.
About 26% of low-income households do not have a vehicle, which contributes to a 30% higher rate of missed appointments among low-income patients when compared to high-income patients. Requiring patients to travel for care poses a significant hurdle to people physically (mobility issues) and financially (financial constraints). Patients unable to arrange reliable transportation reportedly miss 50% more of their healthcare appointments.
During physical therapy, missed visits decrease the likelihood of full recovery by as much as 75% leading to seniors, low-income, and black and brown populations experiencing worse outcomes. Limited access to healthcare often results in delayed medical care which ultimately leads to the progression of diseases and poor health outcomes, shorter life expectancy, higher mortality rates, increased chronic disease incidence, and poorer quality of life in these populations.
The antiquated clinic model relegates physical therapy to a reactionary role, rather than a primary and proactive form of healthcare. The result is millions of unnecessary musculoskeletal-related surgeries, the rise of opioid dependency-related deaths, and millions of preventable hospital emergency room admissions.
People dealing with poor health, chronic diseases, and disabilities without access to quality health care result in excessive spending for medical care, reduced labor productivity, and higher incidents of health provider burnout.
The healthcare economic burden is sobering. The cost to taxpayers was estimated to be over 4 trillion dollars in 2023. For black and brown communities, the NIH estimated that racial health inequities cost Americans $451 billion.
TheraMotive is on a mission to desegregate healthcare access for all by ensuring quality care isn't determined by zip codes or income. We build hi-tech portable clinics that are equipped with AI machine learning and virtual reality to create healthcare that adapts, evolves, & literally moves with entire communities. We partner with community-based organizations and local health systems to help them expand their reach while creating a new and inclusive "Healthcare on Demand" experience for every community.
Our vision is healthcare unchained from geographic limits, income disparities, and bureaucratic hurdles to transform how entire communities access innovative healthcare.
TheraMotive delivers the future of physical therapy. Our innovative portable clinics are delivered directly to every community's corner. These clinics boast AI-powered equipment, virtual reality & wearable health devices to actively guide, correct, & track patient progress with the precision you'd expect from a world-class sports facility. We utilize AI machine learning and data analytics within each clinic to establish a new standard for physical therapy.
Through machine learning regression analysis, TheraMotive leverages non-descript patient demographics to develop a predictive prognostic model for the potential efficacy of physical therapy intervention with specific conditions in high-risk populations.
In contrast to traditional clinics that average between 100 - 200 patients weekly, and home care average of 35 visits weekly, our portable clinics treat an average of 150-200 visits per week, showcasing its capability to match and exceed the operational capacity of both traditional clinics and home care services.
As we scale production of our portable smart clinics, we're building software for a clinic-sharing platform similar to Uber's ride-sharing software. Community-based organizations can easily request our clinics directly into the community hubs most in need of care.
Our vision for TheraMotive was born from our founder's background in sports medicine working with elite athletes who had access to "healthcare on demand" with the latest health technology. Now, with the support of MIT Solve, she's bringing that same gold-medal-worthy care to everyone's corner.
TheraMotive is on a mission to transform how entire communities access physical therapy. Our first mission targets New York City residents who face unique barriers specific to densely populated areas and excessively gentrified neighborhoods. Over 3-5 years, we plan to expand into states with the highest population of low to middle-income senior citizen residents (Florida, California, and Texas).
As a clinician and a woman of color from inner city NYC, I've seen firsthand the disparities & shortcomings in how the healthcare system addresses the needs of people in underserved communities. Data from NYC’s Department of Health paints a concerning picture: Black and Latino residents in New York average a 7-14-year lower life expectancy compared to white residents. This highlights the profound impact of racial and economic segregation on healthcare access.
Nationally, research by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that 1 in 5 Latinos and 1 in 4 Black adults lack health insurance, compared to 1 in 10 white adults. In New York City, a report by the Community Service Society revealed that residents in low-income neighborhoods have fewer primary care physicians and specialists per capita compared to wealthier areas. This lack of access to quality care translates into poorer health outcomes for Black and Brown communities.
Witnessing patients who reside in gentrified neighborhoods being denied treatment due to lack of insurance motivated me to act. TheraMotive is as much about healthcare as it is about justice and equity in communities of color. We not only accept most insurance plans but also offer pro bono services to bridge the gap in access to care for uninsured individuals. By leveraging technology and partnerships with community organizations, we reach marginalized communities with our hi-tech, portable clinics. This ensures that people most in need, regardless of income, age, or location, have access to high-quality healthcare.
When we talk about underserved communities, we're often talking about Black and Brown communities. Based on the stats above, we know how deeply healthcare access is intertwined with racial and economic lines.
Our team is comprised of experts in healthcare, technology, and economics who have the unique advantage of reflecting the ethnically diverse (Black, Hispanic, Asian, and White) communities we serve.
Members of our board of advisors include leaders from New York’s top-ranked health systems and banking institutions:
Arthur Gianelli: Chief Transformation Officer for the Mount Sinai Health System.
Dr. Gary Butts: Director of Mount Sinai's Diversity Innovation Hub
John Alexander: Senior VP at Bank of America
Our founder, Dr. Lola Omishore began her career in sports medicine working with elite athletes, the top 1 percent, who had access to the latest in health technology, top medical teams & facilities. That experience set the standard for quality healthcare when your body is considered valuable.
Later in her career, her work with the general population highlighted the desperate need for quality, accessible healthcare for the other 99% of the country—a need often left unmet. The last 10 years as a Doctor of Physical Therapy, published research author, and private practice owner taught her that 50% of Americans aren't receiving the care they need to feel seen, heard, and validated by health providers.
TheraMotive started as a personal solution to the daily issues Dr. Lola experienced as a physical therapist. Over time, it has evolved into a mission to transform how physical therapy is delivered and accessed across the country.
TheraMotive is now an inclusive movement centered on "Healthcare on Demand" that prioritizes every community's need to access adaptable, accessible, & innovative care.
It's healthcare that adapts, evolves & literally moves with patients on their healthcare journey to establish the new standard in physical therapy.
- Increase access to and quality of health services for medically underserved groups around the world (such as refugees and other displaced people, women and children, older adults, and LGBTQ+ individuals).
- 3. Good Health and Well-Being
- 8. Decent Work and Economic Growth
- 9. Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
- 10. Reduced Inequalities
- 11. Sustainable Cities and Communities
- 17. Partnerships for the Goals
- Prototype
Traction
Prototyping:
September 2023:
Mobile clinic prototype bootstrapped, manufactured and delivered to NYC.
Partnerships and Contracts:
February 2024:
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed with Mount Sinai health system to run a pilot program in 2024.
Sponsorship Contract signed with digital health company Tempo (www.tempo.fit)
The chief transformation officer and chief diversity medical officer of Mount Sinai Hospital joins TheraMotive’s advisory board.
Intellectual Property and Technology:
Fall 2023:
Filed trademark and provisional utility patent applications.
TheraMotive secured digital health partnerships with 2 AI and wearable health companies.
Investor Funding:
Fall 2023:
Raised $150,000 in equity funding from healthcare investor, Jumpstart Foundry.
Grants, Awards and Recognition:
Fall 2023:
Awarded $25,000 in grant funding
TheraMotive wins the Verizon Emerging Tech Pitch Competition, Citizens NYC grant, and the Silicon Valley Executive Center grant
TheraMotive featured in Tech: NYC's "Companies to Watch"
Our biggest challenge is finding product-market fit with specific B2B organizations that align with our vision of expanding healthcare access in NYC's aging and underserved communities. We need guidance on enterprise sales cycle, marketing, operations, go-to-market strategy, and legal service agreements in the B2B sector. Our need for expertise in different areas has slowed down our traction. Having an expert mentor in any of the previously referenced fields (partnerships, sales, marketing, operations, B2B strategy, etc) would reduce the learning curve.
- 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)
- Product / Service Distribution (e.g. delivery, logistics, expanding client base)
- Technology (e.g. software or hardware, web development/design)
Meet TheraMotive –we redefine physical therapy with hi-tech mobile clinics on the go. Picture stepping into a world-class clinic equipped with the latest health tech, cutting-edge AI equipment, and slick wearable devices that offer real-time health insights. Now, imagine that clinic on wheels, delivering care within reach of all communities. At TheraMotive, we've made this a reality.
We're the first to build smart, portable clinics that provide every convenience found in traditional clinics, now enhanced with cutting-edge, A.I-powered technology that offers instant health insights. Compared to traditional clinics that treat 100-and 200 patients weekly, our mobile clinics treat 150-200 patients per week, showcasing their capability to exceed the capacity of traditional clinics.
Created for scalability, efficiency, and agility, every mobile clinic is a powerhouse of technology. Within our tech-empowered clinics, AI equipment and virtual reality guide patients through exercises, perfect their posture, monitor repetitions, & track heart rate to engage with patients every step of their health journey.
Outside our clinics, we use wearable health technology to actively track patient progress with the precision you'd expect from a world-class sports facility.
We partner with community-based organizations to amplify access to lifesaving care for at-risk communities. TheraMotive's services are covered by health insurance regardless of income, age, or disability for an undeniable win-win solution.
Our vision for TheraMotive is inspired by our co-founder's background in sports medicine providing elite athletes access to "healthcare on demand". Now, with the support of MIT, we're bringing that same gold-medal-worthy care to everyone’s corner.
TheraMotive Theory of Change
Problem Statement:
The current healthcare ratio of providers and demand for care is imbalanced by more than 1600:1 and can be mitigated by including physical therapy as a primary care intervention. The traditional physical therapy model, however, restricts access for the people who need care the most due to geographic, economic, and infrastructural barriers. This results in inadequate healthcare for seniors and those with mobility issues, leading to increased chronic disease complications, unnecessary hospital admissions, and overall higher healthcare costs.
TheraMotive's Innovative Solution:
TheraMotive transforms physical therapy access by deploying mobile clinics that provide on-demand, accessible, and tech-enhanced physical therapy services directly within communities. Most importantly, our clinics match the treatment capacity of traditional clinics and are covered by most health insurance plans. Our model leverages advanced AI technology and wearable health technology to deliver personalized and effective treatment that delivers real-time insights to put you in control of your health journey.
Activities:
Mobile Clinic Deployment: Strategically positioning mobile physical therapy clinics in dense urban areas with a high concentration of seniors residing in the region.
Tech Integration: Utilizing AI and wearable technologies to assess and enhance patient treatment plans.
Community Engagement: Partnering with local organizations to scale access, increase efficiency and promote physical therapy services.
Immediate Outputs:
Increased Accessibility: Physical therapy services become accessible to those previously constrained by travel or economic limitations.
Enhanced Patient Engagement: The use of wearable technology and AI increases patient engagement by providing real-time feedback and personalized care plans.
Community Awareness: Increased awareness and education about physical therapy benefits through community partnerships.
Short-Term Outcomes:
Improved Patient Adherence: Enhanced convenience and tailored therapy programs improve patient adherence to prescribed therapy regimes.
Immediate Health Improvements: Patients experience improvements in mobility and reduction in pain, contributing to a better quality of life.
Increased Healthcare Efficiency: Mobile clinics reduce the strain on traditional healthcare facilities and resources.
Long-Term Outcomes:
Reduced Healthcare Costs: Better management of chronic diseases and reduced dependency on hospital care lead to lower overall healthcare expenditures.
Healthier Communities: With broader access to preventive and maintenance physical therapy, communities will experience lower rates of disabilities and improved overall health.
Sustainable Healthcare Model: The mobile clinic model will prove to be sustainable and replicable, leading to widespread adoption beyond initial target areas.
Evidence to Support Links:
Third-party Research: Studies show that increased accessibility to physical therapy reduces hospital readmissions for chronic disease patients (Source: APTA Journal).
Impact Evaluation: Will document improvement in patient outcomes compared to traditional settings with mobile clinic pilot projects (Internal data).
Data from Interviews: Feedback from patients indicates high need for the accessibility of care provided by mobile clinics (Patient surveys).
Assumptions:
Patients and communities are willing to adopt mobile and digital health solutions.
Local healthcare regulations support the operation of mobile health clinics.
Sufficient funding and resources are available to sustain the initial rollout and expansion of mobile clinics.
TheraMotive is tech-empowered, yet heart-motivated: we transform community-based healthcare delivery by breaking down barriers to health and wellness services in marginalized communities of color, low-income, elderly, and physically disabled. Our services are free to patients and covered by health insurance carriers. For patients with no insurance, we sponsor a weekly no-insurance clinic to accommodate them. We utilize cutting-edge technology to identify vulnerable populations in NYC with inadequate access to quality healthcare. Our inclusive "Healthcare on Demand" model is made possible through partnerships with local community organizations and health institutions, which exponentially scales our reach and impact on underserved communities. Now residents across all of NYC benefit from innovative, high-quality, and ongoing healthcare delivered directly into their neighborhoods without incurring financial burden.
We measure TheraMotive's impact across the following areas:
Access to Care - Number of partnerships created, communities served and patients reached weekly, monthly, and annually; increased percentage to physical therapy access by 10% specifically in underserved communities and demographics
Health Outcomes - Physical mobility improvements, reported pain reduction, decline in hospital readmission rates, reported improved quality of life
Patient Satisfaction - Net promotor score and customer feedback surveys
Economic Impact - Healthcare cost savings from preventative care and reduction in orthopedic surgeries
Operational Efficiency – 85% mobile clinic utilization rates, high primary care provider referral rates, reduced patient attrition rates
Social Impact - number of community partnerships, demographics that reflect diverse populations served
Environmental Impact - Carbon footprint reduction through electric vehicle (EV) mobile clinic adoption by 2026.
TheraMotive's smart portable clinics leverage AI machine learning, virtual reality & wearable health technology to revolutionize access to physical therapy for all.
We leverage data obtained via wearable devices to train predictive machine-learning models. Our data science team implements linear regression analysis based on patient metrics including heart rate, oxygen levels, and sleep quality. We're developing a predictive prognostic model tailored to use physical therapy to treat specific conditions within high-risk patient populations.
As we scale the production of our portable clinics nationwide, we're building a full-stack web application for clinic-sharing capabilities similar to Uber's ride-sharing software. The clinic-sharing model allows organizations to easily request our clinics, identify under-resourced communities, and route clinics directly into community hubs where they're most needed. Our clinic-sharing software is the first of its kind with immense potential to transform how physical therapy is accessed from the ground up.
- A new business model or process that relies on technology to be successful
- Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning
- Behavioral Technology
- Internet of Things
- Virtual Reality / Augmented Reality
- United States
Full-time: 2
Part-time: 3
Contractors: 3
Advisors: 6
2 Years
In healthcare, it's imperative for people of color to have access to healthcare providers who look like them and intimately understand the unique challenges faced as an ethnic group in America.
Our team is comprised of experts in healthcare, technology, and economics who have the unique advantage of reflecting the ethnically diverse (Black, Hispanic, Asian, and White) communities we serve.
TheraMotive is built on high scalability with low overhead.
We partner with organizations that wish to expand access to care in communities that generate high impact at low cost.
Our 10-year strategy focuses on scaling & licensing 500 mobile clinics to 500 physical therapists nationwide to expand our impact. These organizations want to incentivize the attendance of their residents, members, or employees with access to innovative healthcare where they live, work, and play.
Compared to traditional clinics, our mobile clinics cost 60% less to build, take half the time to manufacture, & slash overhead expenses by 55% for both a lucrative and sustainable business model.
Each clinic is projected to earn annual revenue of $1.2 M with $350k projected for annual operating expenses. Revenue is generated via health insurance payments an average of $130/visit
Our revenue channel includes health insurance payments, recurring monthly subscriptions & mobile clinic licensing fees. Revenue exponentially grows through licensing & scaling the production of our mobile clinics to other physical therapists.
Over 10 years, we'll partner with vehicle manufacturers to build 500 clinics for 500 physical therapist partners to become a 600-million-dollar social enterprise that blends profit with purpose.
- Organizations (B2B)
Our validation is rooted in market research garnered from Dr. Lola's existing private practice, BodyLogicPT. Since its inception in 2019, BodyLogicPT has generated six-figure revenue and served as a platform for end-user market research and validation of TheraMotive's business model.
We leverage the diverse patient population at BodyLogicPT to gather surveys and interviews to gain insights into patient satisfaction, preferences, and unmet needs in the physical therapy landscape.
Over 100 patients surveyed expressed difficulties in accessing traditional clinic-based physical therapy due to mobility challenges, time constraints, and/or the desire for a more integrated approach to health and wellness. This direct feedback from patients has been instrumental in shaping TheraMotive's service offerings to make sure they address the needs of the community.
In 2023, BodyLogicPT secured government contracts with institutions like the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Department of Probation which confirmed that healthcare beyond the clinics is crucial.
Revenue Streams:
Insurance Reimbursements: TheraMotive capitalizes on payments from health insurance providers, mainly Medicare. Medicare has a current reimbursement rate of $125 per physical therapy visit in New York City.
Investor Funding and Grants: TheraMotive has already raised $175,000 in equity funding and grants to provide the capital needed to develop our prototype mobile clinic to begin pilot testing.
Pre-Launch Contracts: We have a MOU for a pilot program with Mount Sinai Health System to begin Fall, 2024.
Licensing Model: Once TheraMotive deploys 5 mobile clinics throughout NYC, we will begin to license our mobile clinics to physical therapists in states with a high density of senior populations (Florida, California, Texas) to generate recurring licensing fees. Our model promotes quicker expansion and scalability across different regions by significantly reducing the high overhead of traditional clinics.
Partnerships: We develop B2B relationships with healthcare facilities, senior centers, and community organizations and secure contracts for ongoing services to build steady revenue streams based on the specific needs and budgets of these organizations.
Initial Achievements:
Funding: TheraMotive has already raised $175,000 in equity funding and grants which is a strong indicator of investor confidence in the viability of our business model.
Partnerships: The memorandum of understanding with Mount Sinai for a pilot program will provide a framework for user testing and refinement of the service model and will act as a proof of concept to future partners.
Projected Financial Growth:
Revenue Projections: Once operational, each mobile clinic is expected to generate approximately $1.2 million annually, which is calculated using the Medicare reimbursement rate multiplied by the daily volume of visits.
We project a conservative estimate of servicing 30 visits daily, or 150 visits a week to align with industry standards for patient care and clinic capacity.
Scalability for sustainability: Using a licensing model to create a low-barrier expansion into new markets will scale revenue as more clinics become operational across the country. Producing mobile clinics reduces the capital and operational expenses by 60% when compared to brick-and-mortar locations.
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Founder| CEO