Approximately 3 out of 4 rheumatologists we interviewed see a need for a FootScan (together with a HandScan) in their own practice, to enable a full exam in a sensitive, objective and time saving manner. The combination of Hand- and FootScan allows rheumatologists to
- increase the efficiency of their rheumatology practice. The scans can be performed by an assistant, and the rheumatologist can focus more on patients who have disease activity and less on patients who are in remission.
- more frequently monitor patients with early and/or active RA. Frequent monitoring in those groups is recommended by rheumatologist societies due to striking evidence of better outcome.
- detect and treat inflammation in “sub clinical” cases, in which the inflammation cannot be detected by clinical exam but does cause irreversible damage in the joints if left untreated. Detecting and treating these cases results in better outcome.
- make their treatment decisions based on objective data, rather than subjective measurements, increasing the transparency of the (expensive) pharmaceutical treatment.
- base treatment on a full exam, including the feet. Currently, rheumatologists often have too little time during a consultation to examine the feet of RA patients, and clinical exam of the feet is very difficult and thus not very reliable. However, under-treatment of the feet has the risk of unnecessary damage to the joints and over time, disability.
Better outcome for RA patients in the long run reducing joint damage, functional loss and discomfort for RA patients is of course an important societal impact by itself. Better outcome has also been shown to significantly reduce health care costs, as costs are linked heavily to disease activity, and societal costs due to disability, sickness leave and disability.
For Hemics, the FootScan is source of revenue, but also an enabler of increased HandScan revenue.
Increased revenue leads to more employment at Hemics and its manufacturing partner.
