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TikTok partners with Cleveland Clinic for mental health information

TikTok is teaming up with the Cleveland Clinic and the National Institute of Mental Health to provide users with reliable information on mental health issues as a response to the prevalence of misinformation on social media.

TikTok partners with Cleveland Clinic for mental health information

Due to the rampant spread of misinformation on the internet and social media platforms, TikTok is collaborating with the Cleveland Clinic and the National Institute of Mental Health to provide users with reliable and accurate information. When TikTok users search for mental health-related terms, the app will direct them to online articles from the Cleveland Clinic and NIMH. 

Initially, this will cover conditions such as depression, anxiety, and trauma, with plans to include 40 neurological diseases and mental illnesses by the end of the month. The impact of social media on mental health, especially among young people, has been a subject of extensive study. 

TikTok, the second-largest social media platform for 12- to 17-year-olds after YouTube, has become a coping mechanism for many teenagers, shedding light on various mental health issues and reducing associated stigma. TikTok has a substantial community of mental health influencers, with the hashtag #mentalhealth accumulating over 100 billion views. The platform is actively encouraging users to participate in discussions and provides resources for safety. 

Concurrently, TikTok is facing a lawsuit in Utah, alleging that prolonged use of the platform negatively affects the mental health of children in the state. Furthermore, TikTok has faced bans in multiple states and countries, particularly on government devices, due to concerns about cybersecurity related to its parent company, ByteDance, and its ties to the Chinese government. Initially, the mental health links will be available in English, with TikTok planning to expand their availability in different languages for various parts of the world in the near future.

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Noom offers clinical obesity management program to employers

Noom is expanding its weight loss services for employers with Noom Med, a clinical obesity management solution. Noom Med offers personalised care plans and, when suitable, GLP-1 medication. 

Noom offers clinical obesity management program to employers

Noom, a digital platform focused on aiding weight loss, has extended its services to employers with the introduction of Noom Med, a clinical obesity management solution.

The New York City-based Noom assists individuals in establishing healthier habits through the use of psychological tools like food tracking, coaching, and community support. Noom Med, which was previously available exclusively to consumers, encompasses these same features in addition to more extensive clinical assistance. 

Noom Med is accessible to two categories of patients: those with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher and those with a BMI of 27 or higher who have one or more weight-related health conditions. 

Upon joining Noom Med, patients undergo a thorough health assessment conducted by a physician or a physician-supervised nurse practitioner, along with necessary lab work. They subsequently engage in video consultations with the physician to devise an individualised care plan that considers their specific biological factors and objectives. If deemed appropriate, patients may be prescribed medication, such as GLP-1s. They can follow the care plan, which includes educational resources and nutrition and exercise tools, through Noom's mobile application. Once their goals are achieved, Noom Med supports patients in the process of discontinuing medication use.

Dr. Linda Anegawa, chief of medicine at Noom said “Not everybody necessarily needs a GLP-1, so that’s part of the process and part of the value proposition of what we offer,”

“The other thing is based on people’s individual characteristics, they might actually do better with a non-GLP-1. For example, if you’re somebody who only gets cravings when you’re stressed as opposed to that gnawing constant physiological hunger that some people have, maybe a GLP-1 isn’t right for you.”

Anegawa also stressed the necessity of providing lifestyle support in addition to GLP-1s. When the Food and Drug Administration approved Wegovy, a GLP-1 medication for chronic weight management, it recommended that the drug be used in conjunction with diet and exercise.

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Evernorth acquires tech platform Bright.md

Cigna's Evernorth acquired Bright.md to enhance virtual care services at MDLIVE. With Bright.md, patient symptoms and data are inputted for preliminary diagnoses, integrated into electronic health records.

Evernorth acquires tech platform Bright.md

Insurer Cigna's health services branch, Evernorth, has revealed its acquisition of the asynchronous platform Bright.md, with the aim of enhancing the virtual care services provided by its portfolio company, MDLIVE.

Bright.md, headquartered in Portland, specialises in an automated patient intake and virtual care connection platform designed to enhance the efficiency of hybrid care delivery for both healthcare providers and patients.

Through the Bright.md platform, patients input their symptoms and background information, typically collected during in-person visits, enabling clinicians to receive a preliminary diagnosis and treatment plan for their review, which is then automatically integrated into the electronic health record (EHR).

MDLIVE is a virtual care platform offering round-the-clock access to healthcare providers via phone or video, delivering services spanning urgent care, primary care, mental health, and dermatology.

MDLIVE has disclosed its plans to introduce asynchronous care through its virtual urgent care platform in 2024, with intentions to expand this capability to chronic disease management and wellness visits over time. Additionally, the company has committed to adding health coaching to its virtual primary care service for patients dealing with chronic conditions.

It is worth noting that Evernorth acquired MDLIVE in 2021, and shortly after, Cigna declared its intention to offer access to telehealth services via MDLIVE to participants in employee-sponsored health plans. Furthermore, they introduced a virtual-first plan tailored for specific employers.

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