Nearly two-thirds of American adults suffer from some form of sleep
disorder, but seven out of 10 admit they don’t discuss their sleep
problems with their doctor. It’s why this seemingly universal
condition was the perfect intro for HouseCall123, which launched the
first condition-specific interactive portal–www.insomnia123.com this month.
”The mission of Housecall123 is to empower patients,” says Christine Macadams, co-founder of the company, which is based in the Philadelphia region. “Insomnia is a very serious and widespread condition, yet a lot of sufferers and their doctors aren ‘t talking about it.”
It is estimated sleep deprivation contributes to more than 100,000 car accidents and costs $100 billion in lost productivity, missed work, and medical expenses annually. It may also contribute to symptoms of depression, medical issues such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and decreased sexual drive. Understanding the diagnosis and treatment of sleep problems could be the first step towards resolving them. In addition, people facing sleep problems are encouraged to consult sleep doctors (such as Gwinnett Sleep) nearby or contact them online.
The effects of little to no sleep, mentioned previously, can be detrimental to a persons’ health, that is why it is incredibly important for the right help to be accessed, for example, talking to a sleep doctor like the one above, as well as looking into the best hybrid strains for those who go for more recreational treatments will put the person on the right path for them so they can combat this issue head-on.
Housecall123’s model includes educating users about the condition, tips and information to help them talk to their doctor, and tools and points how to manage the condition day-to-day. MacAdams believes the model can be applied to many health conditions.
MacAdams, 41 and a former trainer of pharmaceutical sales reps, founded the company about a year ago and spent much of the last 12 months building the site and settling on a condition to start with. She partnered co-founder Dr. Mike Steinberg, a Philadelphia-area native who practices in New Brunswick, N.J., and provides content for the site via text and streaming video.
The site features an interactive sleep diary in which users track their sleep and answer a variety of questions about medications, diet, exercise, and other factors that contribute to sleeplessness. Users can chart patterns over time and use it for self-assessment or take it to their doctor. To aid relaxation, the site offers downloadable sleep music or guided imagery. MacAdams said they also have an iPhone application under development they hope to launch in the next few months.
Housecall123 employs nearly a dozen, who work remotely. MacAdams, who resides in Glenside, plans on assessing the site’s progress and tweaking it before approaching advertisers.
”We’re getting great feedback from end users, who have compared it to other (health portals),” she says.
Source: Christine MacAdams, Co-Founder of Housecall123
Writer: Joe Petrucci
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