Free Hospital Calls: Nonprofit App Connects Patients with Family

COVID Tech Connect Launches Free App for Hospital Patients

A nonprofit organization, COVID Tech Connect, established during the initial surge of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States, is now offering a complimentary application designed to facilitate communication between hospital patients and their loved ones. This new offering arrives at a crucial time, coinciding with a resurgence of critical COVID-19 cases driven by the delta variant.

Origins and Device Donations

COVID Tech Connect was founded in the spring of 2020, preceding the summer increase in COVID-19 infections. Initially, the organization focused on gathering and distributing hardware – including tablets and smartphones – to hospitals experiencing full ICU capacity and restricted family visitation due to COVID-19 protocols. To date, the organization has provided over 20,000 devices to 1,600 hospitals and care facilities, alongside 30,000 charging cables to an additional 248 facilities.

Leadership and Funding

The nonprofit is guided by a team of experienced entrepreneurs, including Anjali Kumar, Benish Shah, Christina Wallace, Katie Stanton, Kristina Libby, and Sara Rodell. Since 2020, the organization has been managed by Elien Becque, an entrepreneur serving as product director, and Kara Goldberg-King, the program manager.

While the device donation program was primarily targeted towards hospitals, care facilities also expressed significant interest. According to Elien Becque, “We didn’t actively promote it to care facilities, yet we consistently received numerous requests for devices.”

During its first year, COVID Tech Connect secured $4 million in funding from sources such as Google.org, individual donors like Ellen DeGeneres and Shutterfly, and approximately $200,000 through a GoFundMe campaign. Currently, The Giving Back Fund serves as the organization’s fiscal sponsor, managing charitable contributions from athletes, celebrities, and high-net-worth individuals.

Expansion into Software: TeleHome

Approximately one year after its inception, COVID Tech Connect broadened its scope to include software with the introduction of TeleHome. Launched in a soft release in May, TeleHome is a HIPAA-compliant application enabling video calls within a hospital environment, functioning independently of specific devices.

Timing and CDC Recommendations

The TeleHome launch occurs during a period of uncertainty in the pandemic. Although some hospital systems are reinstating visitor access, others, particularly in Florida, are suspending or limiting visits in response to the delta variant. The CDC continues to recommend that hospitals provide alternative means for patients to connect with family, such as video or audio calls.

Partnership with Caregility

The TeleHome app was developed in collaboration with Caregility, a company specializing in telehealth services for hospitals. Caregility supplied the app’s underlying infrastructure, while the user interface was created by the COVID Tech Connect team.

Becque explains, “The concept for TeleHome arose from discussions with hospitals regarding the specific need for utilizing smart devices to connect patients within hospital settings.”

“The primary goal of TeleHome was to extend our mission beyond simply providing physical devices, making it more widely applicable.”

Unique Features and Comparison to Existing Apps

While numerous video calling applications are available, TeleHome offers unique features that make it particularly valuable for hospitals. Hospitals have successfully utilized apps like FaceTime for patient-family connections, with a 2020 U.K. study reporting “very positive” feedback. However, the study also noted IT challenges, including limitations to Apple device owners. (Apple’s iOS 15, once widely released, will enable FaceTime compatibility with Android and Windows devices.)

In contrast, TeleHome is compatible with any device. Hospitals can request a TeleHome login, and once installed, patients can send a link via text message. Clicking the link initiates a Zoom-like video call within a web browser, regardless of the recipient’s device type.

Kara Goldberg-King notes, “TeleHome represents a natural progression for us, extending beyond hardware into software, especially for hospitals unable to accept our Android devices.”

Privacy and Security

TeleHome incorporates privacy features appealing to hospitals. Becque emphasizes that “literally no data is collected” to comply with HIPAA requirements. While a call link generation is recorded, there are no recordings, logs, or transcripts, and the link expires after five minutes.

Current Adoption and Future Outlook

The app has currently amassed approximately 3,400 downloads.

While TeleHome requires a device, COVID Tech Connect continues to donate devices, partially addressing this need. It also streamlines the technical setup typically required for initiating a video call.

TechCrunch’s interview with Becque and Goldberg-King was partially conducted via the TeleHome platform, demonstrating its seamless functionality, provided microphone and camera permissions are appropriately configured. A test run performed successfully on a computer, though initial setup on an iPhone presented challenges with permission settings.

Potential for Long-Term Impact

There are indications that the infrastructure of COVID Tech Connect may endure beyond the pandemic. The organization is currently in discussions with Ameelio, an app facilitating free letter exchange and video calls for incarcerated individuals and their families. However, COVID Tech Connect’s primary focus remains on bridging the communication gap between COVID-19 patients and their families.

The organization intends to maintain the service’s free accessibility for as long as it exists.

“We are incredibly thankful for the opportunity to execute our mission with TeleHome, making it scalable, and we have no plans to transform it into a for-profit company,” Becque concludes. “It is free now, and it will always remain free.”