About our project
The problem we solve: African Americans are 1.7 times more likely to have diabetes than Whites.
Diabetes in Black communities leads to more vision loss, kidney failure and amputations than other groups.
Over 50% of patients are not taking their diabetes medication.
African Americans express distrust towards the healthcare industry.
African Americans believe there is a lack of understanding how culture, foods and beliefs show up in healthcare engagement.
Social determinants (access, literacy, food deserts, etc.) have not been a part of health solutions.
About our solution:
We use evidence-based research as a foundation to teach people in a way that resonates to teach a lifetime of healthier habits, all thought our Hico Health App.
We account for the social determinants of health that have traditionally served as obstacles to equitable healthcare.
We are Pharmacists, Dietitians, Optometrists and Nurses who specialize in diabetes treatment in underserved diabetes populations.
Progress to
date:We have recruited beta users through our social media channels to complete our 90 day virtual health class delivered through mobile.
We educate users about nutrition.
We show users how to make healthier decisisons throughout the day.
We have shown users how to take health accountibility and how to engage with their PCP more effectively.
About Our Team
Creator: Dacia Bryant
Location: New York
Bio: I have been a healthcare professional for 23 years.
I have been serving underserved diabetes populations throughout my career.
Title: Chief Health Officer
Advanced Degree(s): Pharmacist | M.S. Healthcare Policy | Certified Diabetes Care & Education Specialist
About Team Members
Dale Bryant
Cofounder , MBA - Finance
Biography: Over 25 years as an entrepreneur across multiple industries responsible for commercialization.
Title: Cofounder
Advanced Degree(s): MBA - Finance
Challenge Mission
COVID Problem We Address
The African-American community has been disproportionately devastated by COVID-19.
People with weak immune systems are exposed to greater COVID-19 risks for adverse outcomes.
Diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity all weaken the immune system.
Of COVID-19 patients, 57% had hypertension, 42% were obese and 34% had diabetes.
African Americans suffer from all three of these risk factors more than any other group. If these disease conditions were better managed, the risk of COVID-19 infection and deaths could have been significantly reduced.
Our COVID Solution
We use evidence-based research as a foundation to teach people in a way that resonates to teach a lifetime of healthier habits, all thought our Hico Health App.
We account for the social determinants of health that have traditionally served as obstacles to equitable healthcare.
Our digital curriculum and behavioral instruction assist in making healthier food choices, becoming more physically active, understanding the role and importance of medication and teaching lifelong habits.
We are Pharmacists, Dietitians, Optometrists and Nurses who specialize in diabetes treatment in underserved diabetes populations.
Innovation Details
Intellectual Property Summary
We have rights to "H.I.C.O. Health Score", which will be eventually used to track the health progress of patients.
The H.I.C.O. Health Score is a weighted average of blood glucose, blood pressure, BMI, and cholesterol.
Clinical Information
None
Regulatory Status
NA
How we will use the funds raised
The funds will be used to fund the health programs for 25 churches.
Each church will have access to our Digital Diabetes Program for 5 years.
We estimate that each church will be able to adminster our program to 100 patients per year, or 500 for the duration of the funding.
That amounts to at least 12,000 people with diabetes getting the help they need.
Many of these people do not even know they have diabetes and will benefit from early detection.
The remaining people who have been diagnosed will now have another health solution to consider and hopefully adopt as we all try to use our resources to make a difference.
Thank You
Hico Health was founded to address one of the biggest challenges in healthcare - type 2 diabetes, especially in minority communities.
The challenge has always been how do we get people to adopt healthier behaviors and how do we make those behaviors a way of life.
That is our life's mission. Read more about it in our press release and please join us:
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hico-health-launches-covid-19-response-plan-for-african-americans-301067904.html?tc=eml_cleartime
