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Cape Town, 13 November 2024 – Vantage Health Technologies, part of the South Africa-headquartered BroadReach Group, is taking its groundbreaking African artificial intelligence (AI) solutions to the US to enhance access to quality cancer care.

Based out of Cape Town, Vantage has been working in Africa over the past 10 years implementing AI driven solutions to solve some of the world’s toughest healthcare challenges including scarce resources, overburdened healthcare systems and lack of access to affordable, quality healthcare.

“The data driven, AI powered solutions help to consolidate disparate data sources and guide healthcare providers and programs with the next best actions to address gaps. This allows teams to focus on priority patients and gaps in treatment and move scarce resources to where the biggest impact is needed. Vantage has proven to be successful in the management of population health programs through targeted interventions. For example a doctor working in an HIV clinic no longer has to interpret complex data and analytics and is, instead, given recommendations – ‘next-best-action’ – on what to do next so that they are improving health outcomes and effective use of scarce resources,” says Ruan Viljoen, Chief Technology Officer at Vantage.

In the same way, the US is now seeing the benefit of the platform in cancer care. Vantage’s SocialHealth360 solution is being used by oncology providers to ensure that the social determinants of health affecting many vulnerable patients such as transport, food security and living conditions are addressed, enabling patients to access and stay on treatment.

Dr. John Sargent, co-founder of BroadReach Group, says “an example of impact through collaboration is using our experience and learnings in Africa addressing health inequity and applying them to promote health equity in cancer care in the US. Our teams work across geographies, and this collaboration has shown that we can more effectively and rapidly improve patient care because of this experience. Although every geography and market has its differences, many of the same core principles, critical lessons learned, and approaches apply, allowing us to rapidly adapt and implement solutions that have a real impact for populations in need while ensuring that the health system is using its resources in the most impactful way.”

Sargent further explains: “applying healthcare lessons learnt in one country can have a profound global impact through collaboration. By sharing best practices, innovations, and research findings, countries can collectively address common health challenges more effectively. Collaborative efforts enable the adaptation of successful strategies to different contexts, promoting universal health improvements and accelerating progress towards global health goals. This exchange of knowledge fosters a more interconnected and resilient global healthcare community, where advancements in one region benefit all.”

About Vantage Health Technologies

Vantage Health Technologies, part of BroadReach Group, sees a world where access to good health enables people to flourish. BroadReach Group helps health organizations deliver better outcomes, improved resource efficiency, cost savings, enhanced organizational performance, and sustainable systems. Vantage delivers innovative data driven, AI powered solutions for healthcare organizations to get the most impact out of their resources and to transform how work gets done. Its solutions go beyond dashboards, empowering health professionals to make the best decisions and take the next-best-actions at the best time.

For more information, please visit Vantage Health Technologies or follow us on
LinkedIn: BroadReach Group; Vantage Health Technologies

American Oncology Network and Vantage Health Technologies Partner to Improve
Cancer Patient Outcomes with AI-enabled Value-Based Care Platform

FORT MYERS, FL., October 29, 2024 – American Oncology Network (AON) (OTCQX: AONC), one of the fastest-growing oncology networks in the United States, has partnered with Vantage Health Technologies to enhance access to and delivery of exceptional cancer care. Vantage’s AI-enabled platform provides real-time health data for actionable insights and next-best-actions that can promote better patient experiences and outcomes, reduce provider burnout, and lower the cost of care. The platform also helps AON further enhance its Value-Based Care model in community oncology.

“We are pleased to collaborate with Vantage Health Technologies to further enhance our ability to provide exceptional, patient-first care in our community-based cancer clinics across the country,” said Alti Rahman, chief strategy and innovation officer of American Oncology Network. “Everyone benefits from Value-Based Care models powered by actionable data that offer providers a more holistic, real-time picture of their patients so they can meet them where they are and help them make better-informed decisions. Providers have the information they need to offer exceedingly personalized and effective care, patient experiences and outcomes are expected to improve, and the cost of care can be reduced for the entire ecosystem. This partnership will further our ability to provide an exceptionally high-quality experience for all.” The first phase of the partnership will harness Vantage’s SocialHealth360 solution to enhance patient navigation and care coordination services, with an emphasis on addressing Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) for vulnerable patients. The World Health Organization cites research indicating that SDoH, such as housing, food security, transportation, and health literacy, significantly influence up to more than half of patient outcomes. Initial findings attributed to the use of SocialHealth360 found that it helped improve patient experience, treatment outcomes, and total cost of care among cancer patients. Additionally, health professionals using Vantage’s SocialHealth360 are expected to save up to five to eight hours per week on administrative tasks through workflow efficiencies, which decreases burnout and increases time they can spend helping patients. Subsequent phases of the partnership will focus on applying AI solutions to operationalize upstream and downstream Value-Based Care use-cases.

Vantage Health Technologies is part of BroadReach Group, a global healthcare social enterprise. “Healthcare globally faces shortages of providers, shrinking budgets and inadequate resources,” said Dr. John Sargent, co-founder of BroadReach Group. “We believe that technology can be a game changer for these healthcare challenges by automating and streamlining time-consuming processes, by assisting providers to manage patients more efficiently, and by empowering patients to more effectively self -manage aspects of their care. We have been proving this for the past decade in multiple countries across three continents. Our partnership with AON allows us to deploy this experience and expertise to community oncology to ensure better patient outcomes and experience, to reduce staff burnout and create pioneering approaches to value-based care.”

About Vantage Health Technologies
Vantage Health Technologies, part of BroadReach Group,sees a world where access to good health enables people to flourish. BroadReach Group helps health organizations deliver better outcomes, improved resource efficiency, cost savings, enhanced organizational performance, and sustainable systems. Vantage delivers innovative artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled solutions for healthcare organizations to get the most impact out of their resources and to transform how work gets done. Its solutions go beyond dashboards, empowering health professionals to make the best decisions and take the next-best-actions at the best time. Vantage believes that data alone cannot solve the world’s most complex health challenges; it also requires a deep understanding of the social, cultural, and economic context in which people live. For more information, please visit Vantage Health Technologies or follow us on LinkedIn: BroadReach Group; Vantage Health Technologies

About American Oncology Network
American Oncology Network (AON) (OTCQX: AONC) is an alliance of physicians and
seasoned healthcare leaders partnering to ensure the long-term success and viability of community oncology and other specialties. Founded in 2018, AON’s rapidly expanding network represents more than 250 providers practicing across 21 states. AON pioneers innovative healthcare solutions through its physician-led model, fostering value-based care that improves patient outcomes while reducing costs and expanding access to quality care. AON equips its network physicians with the tools they need to thrive independently while providing comprehensive support, integrated revenue-diversifying ancillary services, and practice management expertise, enabling physicians to focus on what matters most – providing the highest standard of care for every patient. AON is committed to promoting health equity by addressing disparities in cancer care and ensuring that all patients have access to the care they need to achieve optimal health outcomes. With a focus on innovation and collaboration, AON is shaping the future of community oncology. For more information, please visit AONcology.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube.

Vantage Health Technologies / BroadReach Media Contact
Shelley Diesel
Vantage Health Technologies
[email protected]
+27-215-148-300

American Oncology Network Media Contact
Karen Riley Sawyer
American Oncology Network
[email protected]
+1-541-221-1472

Spread the good news: U=U gives hope to people living with HIV and their loved ones

South Africa, xx September 2024: While Sub-Saharan Africa is the region in the world most affected by HIV, there is an important message of hope to spread through all our communities, which is that people living with HIV (PLHIV) who stay on their HIV medications can live normal lives with peace of mind that they can’t infect their loved ones.

“In short, we call this message U=U. It stands for Undetectable = Untransmittable. What it means is that people who stay on their prescribed HIV medications without any breaks or interruptions can bring down their viral count so much that it becomes basically undetectable in tests, and once the viral level is undetectable it prevents sexual transmission of HIV. If everyone who lives with HIV can stay on their meds and get their viral loads undetectable, we can stop the spread of HIV together very soon. We can look forward to a future where HIV is no longer spreading and we can all live happy, healthy and safe lives,” explains Dr Ziyanda Makaba, Clinical Specialist for HIV and Paediatrics at BroadReach Health Development.

Dr Makaba explains that there are three major benefits to U=U:

• U=U means an undetectable viral load prevents the sexual transmission of HIV
• It prevents the further spread of HIV now and for future generations
• HIV medications available in state clinics are highly effective, with greater health benefits if they are taken correctly and consistently as prescribed.

PEPFAR, an initiative of the US President’s office over the past 20 years and in long-time collaboration with the Department of Health and implementation partners like BroadReach, has conducted several surveys with adult South Africans living with HIV to see if they recognised and understood the U=U messaging. The surveyed group reflected the demographic profile of South Africa. It found that there was a lower level of awareness that there were effective available medications that could prevent the transmission of HIV. Critically, only about one third of PLHIV knew what U=U meant or knew that if they stayed on their HIV medications, they could protect their partners from getting the virus.

“It’s very important that we start spreading the U=U message all through our communities. People need to know there is real hope. We can stop HIV in its tracks very soon we can achieve undetectable viral loads,” says Dr Makaba. An example of these kinds of interventions that empower communities to proactively manage their treatment, is DREAMS. DREAMS is a joint programme run by BroadReach Health Development, the Department of Health (DoH) and international funders such as USAID and PEPFAR. This program is aimed at reducing rates of HIV amongst adolescent girls and young women through a holistic approach including access to HIV testing, treatment and prevention and other educational, economic strengthening and violence protection initiatives that address their vulnerability to HIV. One of the key areas this program focuses on is peer support initiatives to encourage adolescent girls and young women to get tested, linked to medications for the prevention and treatment of HIV, and for those that tested HIV positive, to maintain ultra-low, and therefore undetectable and untransmittable, HIV viral loads so that they can go on to pursue their dreams and live fulfilled lives. DREAMS stands for Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored, and Safe (DREAMS) and is supporting high-risk young women and girls around the country.

Dr. Makaba adds, “Let’s all spread the word together that the amazing HIV medications we have available – if you take them exactly as prescribed, without skipping a day and achieve viral suppression – this is highly effective in protecting people living with HIV and sexual partners. People need to know their HIV status and if HIV positive, start on the HIV medication and then know their viral count. You can get tested at your local clinic and it’s free and discreet. Once you know what your status is, and if you are confirmed HIV-positive, you can start on the life-saving HIV medications that are available in all public hospitals and clinics today, and this can save you and your partner and family. This is very good news that everyone in South Africa needs to hear today.”

For more information about U=U, please visit https://www.facebook.com/UequalsUza.

ENDS

HIV FACTS:

According to the United Nations’ children’s agency (UNICEF), Sub-Saharan Africa is the region most affected by HIV, and more needs to be done to get young people into clinics to be tested and if HIV negative linked to prevention strategies and if positive linked to treatment for HIV. Their data shows that adolescents and young people made out a “growing share of people living with HIV worldwide” and that in Southern Africa only 25% of adolescent girls and 17% of adolescent boys aged 15-19 years were being tested for HIV.