The company says its name is too similar to its CarePort Health subsidiary, and is "highly likely to cause confusion." 11:54 AM
Allscripts filed a trademark lawsuit in federal district court on Thursday against CarePortMD, a Delaware-based telehealth company. In the suit, the EHR giant argues that it has used the CarePort trademark since 2013 and that in 2018 the telemedicine company changed its name from ER at Home to CarePortMD. This, says Allscripts, could cause confusion among potential consumers. "CarePortMD’s use of CarePortMD in connection with its services is highly likely to cause confusion with Allscripts' services provided under the CarePort mark, because CarePortMD’s services are directed to healthcare services, including without limitation telemedicine services through an online platform, which are similar to or conflict with Allscripts’ healthcare software services, also offered via an online platform," says Allscripts in its suit. "CarePortMD followed the guidelines put forth by the [U.S. Patent and Trademark Office] and was issued a lawful trademark on a name that is a conjugate of 3 common terms. No objections were made by Allscripts during the requisite 6 month period prior to the issue of our trademark," said CarePortMD CEO Dr. Ashok Subramanian in a statement to Healthcare IT News. "We did in fact make several deliberate and amiable attempts to understand and resolve the nature of the Allscripts concern after they approached us, but they were unanswered." "Unfortunately, we view this as an example of large business strangling promising startups for no justifiable reason – regrettably at the expense of the much-needed and effective care model we have deployed. We put our trust into the USPTO’s process of granting our trademark," Subramanian continued. Allscripts did not respond for a request for comment. WHY IT MATTERS
According to the filing, Allscripts became aware of CarePortMD – and its use of the name – in November 2019. Around that same time, it also became aware that CarePortMD had obtained a federal registration for CarePortMD, which is currently in the name of ER at Home, LLC. "However, upon information and belief, ER at Home, LLC now operates under the name CarePortMD, LLC," reads the filing. Allscripts argues that CarePortMD's use of the name is likely to cause confusion among potential clients "to the detriment of Allscripts and its actual and prospective consumers." It also says that Allscripts' counsel sent letters to CarePortMD starting in December 2019 asking the company to stop using the name and that, after months and back and forth, the telehealth organization has refused to do so. Allscripts is asking for an injunction against CarePortMD to prevent it from using the CarePortMD name, for the CarePortMD registration to be transferred to Allscripts and for damages caused by the alleged infringement. THE LARGER TREND
Allscripts filed its suit in anticipation of its sale of CarePort Health to WellSky for $1.35 billion. Allscripts bought CarePort in 2016 to help bolster its population health management software. In 2018, CarePort Health took over management of AllScripts' Care Management technology to aid with acute-case management and post-acute referrals. Earlier this summer, CarePort launched a tool to help hospitals comply with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' interoperability final rules. "It is time for cross-continuum care coordination to be made a priority, and CarePort's extensive network is uniquely positioned to foster increased communication and transparency between hospitals, physicians and post-acute providers," said CarePort CEO and founder Dr. Lissy Hu in a statement in May. ON THE RECORD
"As a result of CarePortMD’s infringing conduct, Allscripts has suffered substantial damages in an amount to be proven at trial, as well as the continuing loss of the goodwill and reputation established by Allscripts under its federally registered mark and other marks," wrote Allscripts' representatives in the suit. "This continuing loss of goodwill cannot be properly calculated, and thus constitutes irreparable harm and an injury for which Allscripts has no adequate remedy at law. Allscripts will continue to suffer irreparable harm unless this Court enjoins CarePortMD’s conduct," they continued.

Allscripts files trademark lawsuit against telemed platform CarePortMD

Retail health clinics have been part of the trend in making healthcare more convenient, and now another option is being offered—testing for diabetic retinopathy—according to a Medscape report . However, an ophthalmologist won’t make the diagnosis at the clinic; instead, it will be made by an artificial intelligence (AI) system called IDx-DR. Testing will be offered through CarePortMD, the first retail health clinic to adopt this type of AI diagnostic technology, and offered at clinics inside Albertsons grocery stores. The second largest grocery chain in the United States, Albertsons added five CarePortMD clinics to stores in Delaware and Pennsylvania this past year.

AI Screening for Diabetic Retinopathy Moves to Retail Clinics

Roxanne Nelson, RN, BSN
November 26, 2019
Retail health clinics have been part of the trend in making healthcare more convenient, and now another option is being offered — testing for diabetic retinopathy . However, an ophthalmologist won't make the diagnosis at the clinic; instead, it will be made by an artificial intelligence (AI) system called IDx-DR. Testing will be offered through CarePortMD, the first retail health clinic to adopt this type of AI diagnostic technology, and offered at clinics inside Albertsons grocery stores. The second largest grocery chain in the United States, Albertsons added five CarePortMD clinics to stores in Delaware and Pennsylvania this past year. "Ours is a hybrid model of telehealth plus the convenience and access of a retail clinic, with the scalability and opportunity to coordinate with telemedicine." said Ashok Subramanian, MD, the CEO of CarePortMD. "Our clinic has diagnostic equipment, point-of-care testing with a full complement of laboratory testing, and virtual connection to an urgent care doctor or a primary care provider or a specialist and an onsite clinical pharmacy staff. Although the IDx-DR exam is not performed by a physician, it is also not a self-service device like blood pressure cuff machines that are seen in some retail outlets. By prescription only, it is administered by the clinic staff. "It is important to understand CarePortMD is a primary care visit hosted within a retail setting," said Michael D. Abramoff, MD, PhD, founder and president of IDx and a professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences, electrical and computer engineering, and biomedical engineering at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. "Primary care physicians place orders for the IDx-DR diabetic retinopathy exam just like a physician in a traditional clinic setting as part of their diabetes management." He told Medscape Medical News a clinician reviews the results with the patient as in a primary care setting. "Positive patients are routed to an eye care provider for closer management and treatment where required," Abramoff said. "This is in line with the AMA's Medical Home concept as well as the [US Food and Drug Administration's] mandate that AI is safe, effective, and equitable." Accelerated Approval
Interest in AI is growing across the board in healthcare, and its use in ophthalmology is no exception. One recent study found that it was at least as effective as experts, and sometimes more effective, at detecting 53 kinds of vision-threatening retinal diseases. Researchers used Google's DeepMind deep-learning technology, and the computer system was able to make a diagnosis in seconds with an accuracy rate of 94%. Results from a prospective study that evaluated the IDx-DR were convincing enough for the FDA to fast-track its approval last year. As reported by Medscape Medical News, the AI system had a sensitivity of 87.2%, a specificity of 90.7%, and an imageability rate of 96.1%, when tested in a primary care setting. Those researchers pointed out that, in comparison, three previous studies showed board-certified ophthalmologists who perform indirect ophthalmoscopy have an average sensitivity of 33% to 73% compared with the same Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study severity scale standard. Commenting on the study at the time for Medscape Medical News, T.Y. Alvin Liu, MD, had predicted the system would be available in places such as major drugstore chains within 3 years. Liu is a retina specialist and assistant professor of ophthalmology at Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland. His prediction has seemingly come to pass. One-Stop Shopping
The exam typically takes 5 to 10 minutes and the device can easily be operated by someone who is not a physician. An automated fundus camera is used to take pictures of the retina and it only takes a few hours for nonmedical personnel to learn the procedure. The photos are then scanned by the autonomous AI's diagnostic software, which searches for signs of diabetic retinopathy. An immediate diagnostic report is produced at the point of care, allowing the physician to discuss the results with the patient while he or she is still in the office. "Once we have the diagnosis, it does two things for us," said Subramanian. "It recognizes patients that need linkage, and if they have their own eye doctor, we will go ahead and set up an appointment. If they don't, we will give them same-day or next-day follow up with a specialist." IDx-DR has been up and running for approximately 6 weeks, and patient feedback so far is positive. "We are excited to work with partners who offer IDx-DR diabetic retinopathy exam in convenient retail settings," said Abramoff. "Given the national rate for screening is as low as 15%, improving access to this care is paramount to improve clinical outcomes and patients' lives." Charles C. Wykoff, MD, PhD, is also enthused about the technology and the push to implement access to it. "This is exciting technology and I believe still just the beginning of efficient and effective tele-screening options for retinal diseases, including diabetic retinopathy," said Wykoff, a retina surgeon and ophthalmologist at Retina Consultants of Houston and the Houston Methodist Blanton Eye Institute in Texas. "There remains far too much needless visual loss and blindness from diabetic retinopathy across the US, much of it attributable to lack of appropriate screening." "Most cases of blindness from diabetic retinopathy are preventable if identified early in the disease course," he added. "I look forward to widespread, easy-access screening technologies that meaningfully improve diabetic retinopathy screening rates across the US." lDx is currently developing additional AI-based diagnostic systems for the detection of macular degeneration, glaucoma, stroke risk, and ear infection. Wykoff has disclosed the following relevant financial relationships: Serve(d) as a director, officer, partner, employee, advisor, consultant, or trustee for: Alcon Laboratories, Inc; Allergan, Inc; Alimera Sciences; Alnylam Pharmaceuticals; Bayer; Clearside Biomedical, Inc; Dutch Ophthalmic Research Center International; Clearside Biomedical, Inc; ONL Therapeutics; Regeneron Pharmaceuticals; ThromboGenics; Valeant; Genentech, Inc. Serve(d) as a speaker or a member of a speaker's bureau for: Allergan, Inc; Regeneron Pharmaceuticals. Received research grant from: Alcon Laboratories, Inc; Allegro Ophthalmics; Allergan, Inc; Apellis Pharmaceuticals; Clearside Biomedical, Inc; Iconic Therapeutics; Genentech, Inc; Regeneron Pharmaceuticals; Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network; Ophthotech Corporation; ThromboGenics, Inc; Tyrogenex. Received income in amount equal to or greater than $250 from: Alcon Laboratories, Inc; Allegro Ophthalmics; Allergan, Inc; Apellis Pharmaceuticals; Alimera Sciences; Alnylam Pharmaceuticals; Bayer; Clearside Biomedical, Inc; Dutch Ophthalmic Research Center International; ONL Therapeutics; Regeneron Pharmaceuticals; Iconic Therapeutics; Genentech, Inc; Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network; Ophthotech Corporation; ThromboGenics, Inc; Tyrogenex; Valeant.

Press enter to search
Nurses use an automated fundus camera to take pictures of a patient’s retinas, which are then scanned by IDx-DR's autonomous AI’s diagnostic software for signs of diabetic retinopathy
CarePortMD retail health clinics at Albertsons Cos. grocery stores can now administer an eye exam to identify diabetic retinopathy by FDA-cleared autonomous artificial intelligence (AI) diagnostic system IDx-DR. The in-store health clinics are the first to roll out this type of AI diagnostic technology. Albertsons has opened five CarePortMD clinics in Delaware and Pennsylvania stores over the past year. “Artificial intelligence diagnostics like IDx-DR align seamlessly with our mission to increase the access, affordability and quality of health care,” said Ashok Subramanian, M.D., CEO of Newark, Del.-based CarePortMD . “We are proud to offer this service to our patients as part of our comprehensive diabetes care program.” 
IDx-DR employs AI to diagnose patients with diabetic retinopathy and macular edema, common complications of diabetes and a leading cause of blindness. Although experts recommend annual eye exams to catch the disease in its early stages, only about 15% of Medicare patients actually undergo such exams, a study from the American Diabetes Association’s Diabetes Care journal has found. “Our goal is to ensure all patients with diabetes have access to the diabetic retinopathy exam so that we can improve patient outcomes,” explained Michael Abramoff, M.D., Ph.D., founder and CEO of Coralville, Iowa-based IDx . “More patients are getting their health care in retail clinics, so there is value in exploring the space. We were attracted to CarePortMD’s care coordination model; it’s critical that results make it back to the patient’s medical home and are triaged appropriately. This is a great opportunity to do AI the right way together.”
The exam normally takes 5 to 10 minutes. Nurses use an automated fundus camera to take pictures of a patient’s retinas (the back part of the eye). These pictures are then scanned by the autonomous AI’s diagnostic software, which looks for signs of diabetic retinopathy. An immediate diagnostic report is issued at the point of care, enabling a physician to discuss the results with the patient in the office right after the exam. “What I’m most excited about is that the retinal exam provides a rich source of information, helping to identify patients who are at highest risk for complications of diabetes,” added Subramanian. “If we catch these high-risk patients earlier, it can result in significant savings for the health care system and better patient outcomes.”
IDx-DR is IDx’s first product. The company is currently developing additional AI-based diagnostic systems to detect macular degeneration, glaucoma, stroke risk and ear infection. Boise, Idaho-based  Albertsons Cos. , which operates stores across 34 states and the District of Columbia under 20 banners, including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market, Haggen and Carrs, is No. 3 on  Progressive Grocer’s Super 50 list .

Albertsons In-Store Clinics Launch AI-Powered Diabetes Exam

Andrea Park -
With the launch of artificial intelligence-powered diabetic retinopathy eye exams at its in-store CarePortMD clinics in Delaware and Pennsylvania, Albertsons has become the first retailer to offer the diagnostic technology. The clinics, located in five Albertsons locations — four Acme Markets grocery stores and one Safeway — now use the FDA-approved IDx-DR system. The AI technology works completely autonomously to identify patients with diabetic retinopathy and macular edema, diabetes-related complications and leading causes of blindness. Results of the exam, along with patient vitals and other health information, are immediately transmitted from the CarePortMD clinic to the patient's physician. "What I'm most excited about is that the retinal exam provides a rich source of information, helping to identify patients who are at highest risk for complications of diabetes," Ashok Subramanian, MD, CEO of CarePortMD, said in a news release. "If we catch these high-risk patients earlier, it can result in significant savings for the healthcare system and better patient outcomes." More articles on consumerism:

Albertsons rolls out in-store AI diabetic retinopathy tests

ZH Healthcare is a global health IT innovator and developer of blueEHR, one of the most powerful Electronic Health Records (EHR), Electronic Medical Records (EMR) and Revenue Cycle Management solutions used by patients, physicians and healthcare providers, health systems and health IT companies in over 100 countries.

ZH Healthcare

ZH Healthcare , a provider of health IT as a service , has announced an agreement for the use of its BlueEHR HITaaS platform in CarePortMD kiosk-based telemedicine services , according to a press release .

CarePortMD teams with ZH Healthcare on telemedicine kiosks

blueEHR (BE) is a cloud-based electronic health record (EHR) platform that captures a patient's comprehensive and unified health record and provides multidisciplinary care within the context of social determinants. It assures compliance with different payers' and funders' program-specific procedures, rules, and reporting requirements to maximize revenue. It was founded in 2008 and is based in Bethesda, Maryland.

blueEHR

Companies developing, offering, or using electronic and telecommunication technologies to facilitate the delivery of health & wellness services from a distance. *Columns updated as regularly as possible; priority given to companies with the most and/or most recent funding.

Telehealth

CarePortMD is a platform that connects patients with clinicians at 1) its CarePortMD clinics and 2) through the patient's smartphone, tablet, laptop, or computer from their home or anywhere they are internet-connected, 24/7.

Wells Fargo Success Story

Professional Services

Platform Overview

CarePortMD

Compete with CarePortMD?

Compete with CarePortMD?

Discover the right solution for your team