Updox links doctors to patients, others
Michael Morgan has a background in technology, but he has a heart for health care.
Morgan is CEO of the rapidly growing Dublin health-care technology firm Updox, which helps connect independent physicians to other providers and their patients.
Forty thousand physicians use Updox to send secure electronic faxes and emails, offer online patient portals with scheduling and reminders, and coordinate with other providers to achieve better care for the 50 million patients in the system.
Beyond his day job, Morgan in 2009 co-founded Lifting Hopes, a nonprofit organization aimed at supporting pediatric cancer patients through the treatment process. The volunteer-based organization raises money and provides resources and support for Ohio children and their families battling cancer and other childhood illnesses.
Q: What is Updox and how does it operate?
A: We help physicians’ offices and pharmacies and post-acute care (facilities) transfer information securely. Right now, a lot of faxing happens — close to 1,200 pages a month — and calls can take three times to reach a patient. You can’t search information online if it’s on paper, so you’ve got a lot of paper and manual coordination. Updox helps physicians eliminate paper, be HIPAA-compliant, have a more efficient practice and have the foundation for a move to value-based care. We’re solving pragmatic problems today with the benefit of setting you up for success in the new world.
Q: How broad is Updox’s reach?
A: Our reach is nationwide. Over 50 million patients ... are in the Updox system. We have over 40,000 physicians nationwide. There are competitors for pieces and parts of what Updox offers, but they don’t have 40,000 physicians. Our growth will continue or even accelerate as we enter the pharmacy and post-acute markets. There are over 500,000 independent physicians out there in specialties like optometry and dentistry.
Q: What do you see as the biggest benefits of Updox services to patients?
A: That’s the thing that’s really exciting. As consumers of health care, we’ve all felt the pain of moving between providers. With Updox, wherever you move in the care continuum, your info will be in the right place at the right time. There’s a portal to interact with doctors. Better satisfaction because you can message on your own terms and access medical records or transition. More convenience and more confidence in better coordinated care. If you have chronic conditions, you might be on five medications. With the right information, the pharmacist can say, ‘Take this in the morning, and this in the evening.’
Q: How has being located in central Ohio benefited the company?
A: From a business side, there are a lot of resources for businesses to start and grow. Rev1, (known as) TechColumbus when we worked with them, helped Updox grow and get started. We took advantage of JobsOhio; it was a good source of
capital. There’s just a general environment where larger organizations are open and collaborative with helping new companies get started. OhioHealth, Mount Carmel and larger tech groups are generous with their time and mentorship and helping to understand health care. There’s a good health-care presence and a Midwest mentality of collaboration.
Q: Is there a connection between Updox and the nonprofit you co-founded, Lifting Hopes?
A: The mission of Lifting Hopes is in pediatric cancer and assisting in the treatment process. Our big event is Pump and Run and Family Fitness Day. We also have Chapel Hill House, a cabin in Prospect, Ohio, where patients and families can go. We partner with Nationwide Children’s Hospital to serve dinner once a month on the oncology floor and support transportation needs — nationwide 2.8 million kids miss appointments due to lack of transportation. It’s all volunteer-based. There’s no official connection to Updox, but many Updox employees do choose to volunteer on their own.