(1) Evaluation Report
Veera Health Evaluative Report
Executive Summary
The following report evaluates the efficiency of the 2020 startup Veera Health, a women healthcare initiative to offer PCOS treatment through holistic and accessible management plans. It notes the success of the startup in addressing the PCOS challenges of more than 50,000 women through its PCOS reversal program. It elaborates on the efficiency of the consistent nutritional and medical consultation, and the role of a care manager. The report also recommends the areas of improvement in the focus of the Veera Health program with regards to mental health and physical fitness. The report is based on the client experience, reports and statistics in news articles and the official Veera Health website.
Preface
This report has been made possible due to the diligent reflections of a patient at Veera Health. A special mention to a Veera Health care manager whose insights are used in this evaluation report.
Content Page
Introduction
Veera Health is a digital clinic that provides a holistic management of PCOS. PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) is a metabolic disorder resulting from an abundance of hormonal imbalance in women. There is an abnormal amount of androgens produced in women against the usual small amount present. Though the exact cause of PCOS is unknown, insulin resistance is seen in many cases. The body’s inability to use the insulin produced builds up insulin levels that may increase in androgens. The combination of a myriad disconnected symptoms make it extremely challenging to detect PCOS. Most cases, women try to treat the symptoms without knowing the underlying cause.
Veera Health was founded in 2020 by two sisters, Shobhita and Shashwata Narain. The initiative aims to bridge the gap between women and the access to quality healthcare based on scientific evidence through telephonic and digital means. It involves the Veera Health mobile application that serves as the primary contact between the organisation and the patients keeping track of the progress and enabling constant communication and support. A subscription to a Veera Health package provides the patient with a nutritionist cum care manager, a gynaecologist and a fitness plan all in one for a duration of 6 months.
Findings
The objective of the initiative has been met to a large extent as it has benefited more than 50,000 women through its various services. It has become the world's largest online PCOS clinic. According to its survey, 93% of women who have subscribed to Veera Health said that it has been more effective than self-management or other programs. 3 in 4 women have regularised their periods (menstrual cycles) with Veera and 75% of women have lost weight within the first month at Veera. The symptoms of PCOS such as irregular periods, weight gain, excess body or facial hair, mood disorders are monitored through gynaecologist consultation and regular update through weekly telephonic check-ins by the nutritionists cum care managers. This constant communication has not only been effective in keeping track of the progress of the patient but also helping them reflect upon their lifestyle choices throughout the week and express their concerns or thoughts, making it a safe space for healthy discussion on their health. The care managers not only provide nutritional assistance but also act as a motivator and a person to talk to, making the journey of PCOS less stressful.
The customizability of the program has been highly successful as the care managers device diet plans and fitness routines after understanding each patient’s lifestyle, schedules and work. The diet plans are devised keeping in mind the geographical location, traditional eating practices and the availability of provisions and facilities to the patient. This leads to efficiently dealing with obesity, insulin resistance and inturn facilitating PCOS reversal.
The gynaecologist consultation tracks the working of the plans devised by the care managers through the examination of the medical tests prescribed to the patients. Based on the test results, the gynaecologist coordinates with the nutritionist to make the required changes to meet the goals. The PCOS reversal is broken down into attainable and specific goals such as the reduction of a set of symptoms, and focussing on hydration, sleep, physical activeness, reduction and management of stress et cetera.
Recommendations
Nutrition is placed the utmost importance in the functioning of the Veera Health program. This is shown in the basic and broad fitness plan given to the patients. The lack of a designated fitness coach can lead to less or insufficient monitoring of the patient’s fitness. Other than the weight and measurements of the patient, there is no other monitoring mechanism. A fitness coach would enable the patient to be effectively consistent and take a healthy and appropriate physical fitness routine suiting their body and lifestyle. Since weight reduction and active lifestyle is a major part of the PCOS reversal, more organised fitness monitoring would be beneficial to the patients.
Furthermore, PCOS can cause significant challenges to mental wellbeing. Though the care managers serve as a great means to open up about the mental health challenges faced by the patients, professional help plays a significant role in supporting the patients. Veera Health provides psychological consultation if asked for by the patient with extra charge. This leaves the job of detection of any mental health problem solely to the patient, which can negatively affect the progress of the patient’s PCOS reversal. If a mandatory psychological consultation be part of the program through an assessment and a basic counselling session to understand and detect any signs of mental health challenges to the patient before making it a charged elective.
Conclusion
The Veera Heath startup has successfully met its objective to bridge the gap between women and their access to quality healthcare based on scientific evidence. The growth of the startup in mere two years shows the impact it has built on 50,000+ women. It is also consistently expanding through its collaborations to increase its reach and diversify to focus on women-centred healthcare. There is scope for improvement and betterment to meet its goals optimally.
Appendix
Appendix 1
Health Desk. (2022, October 25). Veera Health partners with Tata 1mg to launch comprehensive test for diagnosing PCOS. Financial Express. https://www.financialexpress.com/healthcare/diagnostic/veera-health-partners-with-tata-1mg-to-launch-comprehensive-test-for-diagnosing-pcos/2739581/
Appendix 2
Tech-Enabled Veera Health Continues To Move On An Exponential Growth Journey; Benefits Over 50k PCOS Women. (2022, September 29). Outlook. Retrieved January 8, 2023, from https://www.outlookindia.com/outlook-spotlight/tech-enabled-veera-health-continues-to-move-on-an-exponential-growth-journey-benefits-over-50k-pcos-women-news-226735
Appendix 3
Appendix 4
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