MedRhythms teams with contractor to bring 'prescription music' to veterans, military personnel

Photo / Courtesy of MedRhythms MedRhythms' InTandem device is now available for military members and veterans through a partnership with a Florida-based contractor.

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By Renee Cordes

Weeks after MedRhythms launched a “prescription music” device called InTandem to improve walking and movement in chronic stroke victims, the Portland digital health startup has enlisted a government contractor as a vendor to veterans and military personnel.

Called InTandem, the product is available by prescription for at-home use to improve walking and movement in chronic stroke patients. The neurorehabilitation system works by using music from Universal Music Group NV’s extensive catalog to unconsciously synchronize motor and auditory systems in the user's brain.

To make the device accessible for military members and veterans, MedRhythms has joined forces with Lovell Government Services, a Pensacola, Fla.-based government contractor and Small Business Administration-certified Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business.

Lovell will serve as InTandem's vendor, providing access to all government organizations and federal healthcare systems, including the Veterans Health Administration, the Military Health System and Indian Health Services.

The move comes as more than 80,000 veterans have experienced at least one stroke, a leading cause of long-term disability including impairments to walking ability.

Recent research shows the potential for continued recovery in the chronic phases of stroke. Interventions, such as InTandem, that can be prescribed for patients to use independently at home, are an effective answer to create access to this much-needed rehabilitation care, according to MedRhythms.

Distribution plan

InTandem is listed on the Federal Supply Schedule and GSA (General Services Administration) Advantage federal contract to streamline the acquisition process and help government agencies meet procurement goals, according to MedRhythms.

"We are a proud partner of Lovell and as such be able to serve those who served our country by providing access to InTandem," said Barbara Heikens, vice president of commercial at MedRhythms.

Chris Lovell, CEO of Lovell Government Services, a retired major in the U.S. Marine Corps, said his company is honored to offer InTandem in its catalogs.

"MedRhythms' InTandem is a perfect fit for Federal Healthcare. It allows patients who have survived stroke to regain their quality of life, in a way that is engaging and enriching, all from the comfort of their home or domiciliary," he said.