Firms pony up $7 million for company's elder monitoring system

Two venture capital firms are putting up a total $7.5 million to back a Charlottesville-based company's foray into monitoring senior citizens to help detect medical problems and provide early treatment.

WellAWARE Systems, founded in 2000 at the Medical Automation Research Center at the University of Virginia, researched, developed and is marketing a comprehensive computerized monitoring system that company officials say can help detect possible medical issues among seniors.

The system monitors seniors' movements in their living quarters, said Jeff Noce, president and chief executive officer of WellAWARE Systems.

"What we created is a suite of sensors, software and complex algorithms that can create warnings of possible emergent medical conditions," Noce said. "It's similar, in a way, to what occurs when you drive your car. There are sensors monitoring the basic function and, if something is out of the ordinary, you have a light that warns you to get it checked out."

Valhalla Partners, a Virginia-based firm, and .406 Ventures, of Massachusetts, are putting up the funds. Officials from both companies say they believe WellAWARE's entrance into the commercial market comes at the right time, given the national concern about reducing health care costs and improving wellness.

"We support the company's important mission to improve the lives of seniors while providing valuable information to caregivers and family members, allowing them to make more informed decisions in support of proactive care planning," said Gene Riechers, general partner with Valhalla Partners.

Noce said the debate over health care costs, and the impending baby boomer generation's coming of age as senior citizens, has created the perfect time for WellAWARE Systems to expand and promote its system.

"A lot of things have come together at once to make this the right time," Noce said. "This can help decrease long-term care costs, keep seniors in their homes longer and save money by catching medical problems earlier."

The WellAWARE system deploys throughout a residence wireless devices that detect motion, impact, humidity and heat. Information from the devices is transmitted to a data management device, which stores and transmits the information to an analysis center. Any deviations may be flagged for follow-up.

The sensors can detect disrupted sleep patterns, unusual bowel habits and other behavior that may indicate ailments from prostrate cancer to urinary tract infections to falls. Sensors can be placed on a bed to detect sleep patterns, in bathrooms to record toilet and shower use and throughout living quarters to detect falls. Sensors can also monitor heat and humidity, helping determine if stoves are left on or other issues.

The sensors create a base pattern and then monitor movements and data to determine if daily behavior deviates from the norm, Noce said. Issues such as sudden and prolonged sleeplessness or increased bathroom or sink use may be related to the onset of diabetes, urinary tract infections, reactions to medicines or other issues.

"As an example, urinary tract infections are very common among seniors and, if you can identify an infection in day two or three, you can treat it with cranberry juice," Noce said. "If it's let go, it can cause a variety of serious problems, including falls."

Noce said the sensors are passive. There is no intrusive video or audio monitoring and the senior need not wear any sensor. That assures privacy while providing health care professionals with information needed to keep tabs on the patient.

"It provides more information and helps seniors remain independent and self-sufficient longer," he said.

Robin Felder, a UVa professor of pathology and the associate director of clinical chemistry, founded WellAWARE. Felder leads a multidisciplinary research and product development group at UVa that has generated more than 250 publications, $35 million in grants and contracts, and 11 patents. He has founded nine companies and serves on the WellAWARE Systems' board of directors.