Consumer health technology company SoloHealth received the Intel Innovation Award for its bilingual health and wellness kiosk for retail stores, known as the SoloHealth Station. Presented for the first time this year, the award recognizes "the company developing leading-edge technology and exceptional innovation to improve healthcare delivery and processes," according to a press release.
Currently being tested in select markets, SoloHealth Station provides screenings for vision, blood pressure, weight, and body mass index, and an overall health assessment, as well as recommendations for follow-up care. SoloHealth says it also plans to partner with local health systems and physicians in each market and connect consumers to a database of local health professionals.
In addition, SoloHealth Station's cloud-based service will allow users to interact with data online and through mobile devices.
The service is free of charge to consumers. While SoloHealth's business model is murky, the company plans to provide "highly personalized and interactive healthcare opportunities for consumers, advertisers and retailers by placing kiosks in high-traffic retail locations."
An article in the Atlanta Business Chronicle notes that some retailers like the SoloHealth concept because it can help drive in-store traffic and pharmacy revenue. Apparently, that's the same thinking that has propelled recent in-store mobile health ventures by Walgreens and Rite Aid.
SoloHealth plans to launch a full national rollout of its new product in 2012. The Atlanta-based startup already has placed its EyeVision kiosk in retail outlets around the country.
In summer 2010, SoloHealth received a $1.2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to help it create products for self-service healthcare and prevention. According to Drug Store News, SoloHealth partnered with Intel in creating the kiosk technology.
To learn more:
- read the press release
- see the Drug Store News article on the kiosk launch
- read the Drug Store News piece on Intel's involvement
- check out this story in the Atlanta Business Chronicle (.pdf)