We look at the plethora of Diabetes “solutions” and focus on our best of breed at RIMIDI.
The apparent growth in the market, so to say, of people suffering from Diabetes – has not been unnoticed by software and clinical solutions vendors – and yet it seems such a surprise, nonetheless. It is redolent of overnight pop-star successes, who have been quietly carving their career for the past decade, but without public recognition. Until now.
The question tho – is that, from among the vendors of solutions that are now visible – which ones will fly and which are merely good eggs?
The answer is not about clinical excellence. You can safely say that all diabetes solutions have their merits. The answer is about understanding their market, and having the gotomarket strategy and planning, to execute that strategy.
This is the forte of the RIMIDI company, whose CEO, Lucie Ide, talked to me a few evenings ago.
The RIMIDI solutions sits in the hospital itself, but can be accessed online.
Let’s start with the key points – there are two. RIMIDI is a clinical solution borne out of accidental observation. Lucie is a Doctor in her own right, but with a background in VC Finance. Having spotted the opportunity, it was a logical next step to create an App that focuses on the essential problem – how to get patients to monitor their own situation in an easy to do, way; and how to access and then use that info, in ways that can make a clinical difference – and therefore, a commercial difference for the hospital concerned. RIMIDI crosses the bridge from being a “clinical” data transfer solution – to one that empowers the Community. There is a strong and unique focus on “wellness”, joining up of the dots, for the clinician to see the Big Community Picture.
But more than that – RIMIDI focusses commercially on strategic alliances with the big EHR vendors (they have agreements with Cerner and AthenaHealth) – as their means of getting bandwidth. This is astute – but also worrying. Whilst it avoids the need for the sales process – it also loses control. in many ways this recognition explains the presence at HIMSS. The Cerner collaboration gives implicit credibility in front of the myriad of individual hospitals that will pass by.
Ultimately RIMIDI success will come down to Lucie’s view as a pragmatist; her final words put it well” “RIMIDI is about saving time. Any solution can get information together. At RIMIDI, we make it possible to save time doing what every clinician needs to do, and what every Community needs to deliver.”.
The question will be, with Lucie’s VC background – will there be a buy-out in the next year or two? Or will RMIDI as a brand become a market leader, and saw a range of similar Apps? We hope it will be the latter.