Northwell to Co-Launch Virtual Care Startup Providing Menopause Services

Northwell Holdings, the for-profit investment arm of Northwell Health, and Aegis Ventures have entered into an agreement to launch a virtual care startup that will provide clinical menopause support services.

Menopause is the result of estrogen deficiency in older female adults. The symptoms include the permanent ending of menstruation, hot flashes and night sweats, vaginal atrophy, and anxiety and depression. Approximately 1.3 million women become menopausal each year in the US.

Called Upliv, the startup will offer telemedicine services to address perimenopause and menopause symptoms. The services will provide users access to menopause experts and health coaches, prescription and treatment options, online resources, and patient communities.

Upliv's services will initially be offered to Northwell Health nurses through a pilot program.  Northwell expects to expand the program enterprise-wide in the first quarter of 2023.

"Today there are safe, effective, and science-backed medications and non-pharmacologic treatments to manage the symptoms of menopause. However, many women still struggle to access this care," said Stacey E. Rosen, MD, senior vice president of the Katz Institute for Women's Health at Northwell Health, in a press release. "By leveraging virtual care solutions, we can create access to specialized medical professionals, so women can receive the necessary support to explore treatment options."

An internal survey of 900 Northwell Health employees showed that a majority have experienced moderate to severe menopause symptoms, including hot flashes, weight gain, sleep issues, and fatigue, the press release noted.

Once launched, Upliv will partner with employers to offer its services as an employee benefit. The company's services, provided by a team of physicians, nurse practitioners, and wellness coaches, will be backed by a clinical advisory board, according to the press release. The board members have a wide range of experience in women's healthcare, including bone health, cognitive health, and urogynecology.

Upliv is the first of several virtual care companies that Aegis Ventures and Northwell Holdings are working to develop. In April, Aegis Ventures said it planned to invest at least $100 million in seed-stage funds in joint ventures with Northwell Health. Upliv is expected to receive $8.4 million in seed funding through 2023.

Women's healthcare is emerging as one of the key areas where telehealth use is expected to remain high.

Though telehealth usage has dropped 37 percent overall since the second quarter of 2020, the drop among women was far lower than among men, according to a report by market research firm Trilliant Health.

The report, which analyzed the firm's national all-payer dataset that includes claims for more than 300 million Americans on a deidentified basis, shows that telehealth use decreased by 3.4 percent among women and 11.2 percent among men between January 2021 and March 2022.

Another report released last month by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that women (42 percent) were more likely to use telehealth than men (31.7 percent) in 2021.

In addition, providers are increasingly turning to virtual care strategies to enhance women's healthcare, including menopause services.

In July, Mayo Clinic and digital health company Lisa Health launched Midday, a personalized application that leverages artificial intelligence (AI) and digital therapeutics to provide menopause management. According to a press release, the app can evaluate menopause progression and deliver customized insights, such as tips and education based on menopause stage and symptoms.