Augmedix calls itself the "first and largest Google Glass startup poised to revolutionize healthcare," touting a $3.2 million venture funding round and a move to a larger headquarters in San Francisco.
Now at 36 employees, the 2-year-old company is working on a flagship product that would free physicians from the "flood of data and documentation" they face on a regular basis. Augmedix’s service platform allows doctors to use Google Glass to push information to patient records and retrieve information verbally.
The company aims to help physicians to spend more time with patients and less time "feeding the beast" that is the electronic health record system. Funding came from DCM and Emergence Capital Partners, the company announced today.
"Doctors spend more than 1/3 of their day on the computer, inputting or retrieving data from electronic health records. The amount of data and documentation is overwhelming," company CEO and co-founder Ian Shakil said in prepared remarks. "Powered by Google Glass, Augmedix rehumanizes the doctor-patient interaction by delivering patient satisfaction, doctor efficiency, doctor satisfaction and health record quality."
Many groups have been enamored with the potential healthcare applications of Google Glass, including Philips Healthcare (NYSE:PHG). The technology giant has said that it’s interested in bringing Google Glass into the operating room in a big way, connecting the consumer technology with Philips’ patient monitoring solutions.
Wound Care Advantage is looking to bring Google Glass to outpatient wound care, teaming up with telehealth systems maker Pristine to develop hands-free clinical support.
Other clinicians and techies have tinkered with Google Glass, even using it to capture footage and live-stream a routine gastrointestinal surgery.