Porter creates roadmap for comprehensive home care

MIAMI – With his background in primary and urgent care settings, John Criswell saw firsthand how broken the health care system is, but when an injury in 2020 forced him to navigate it as a patient, he knew, “It has to be better.” 

So, he created Porter, a technology platform to connect members with products and services to manage recovery at home, recently launching a website, www.helloporter.com. 

“One of the first questions a patient asks is, ‘How soon will I be ready to get back to work; how soon can I achieve my maximum potential,’” said Criswell.  

The website is an AI-enabled marketplace that brings together products and services through a unique guided experience that allows patients to select and purchase quality vetted services and products based on their current diagnosis to enable a smoother transition to the home, says Criswell. 

For example, a patient with breast cancer can find compression sleeves, wigs, skin care, bras and nutritional information; educational content, self-assessment tools and online health communities; and comprehensive payer coverage insight. 

“We take all of that information within their covered benefit and tell them which are covered and which are not covered, and how best to purchase those non-covered items,” he said. “We also assist them with scheduling appointments, transportation, meal prep – supporting them at home so they don’t need to do it alone.” 

Porter places a premium on the importance of social determinants in a patient’s recovery, something Criswell believes will play an increasing role in health care. 

“As CMS evaluates new payment models, I think this is going to be expanding, especially for the senior population,” he said. “We know they want to be at home; we know they need support. We can help make sure the patient gets exactly what he or she needs.” 

Porter’s product roadmap over the next six months includes rolling out new features and products focused on oncology and respiratory.  The company is promoting itself through organizations like HME providers, marketing engines, advertising and digital platforms, including those targeted at health systems, employer groups and payers, says Criswell. 

“Our goal is to augment and stitch the disparate system together through the transition to the home,” he said. “We welcome all of the service providers and product suppliers to join our product platform and make it easy for every American to navigate health care in the U.S.”