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PROFILE

The breakthrough in health care access you’ve been waiting for.

Today, we meet Dr. Karen Klein and HealthCasa. Let’s learn more about the story behind this next innovation in health care access.

What is HealthCasa?

HealthCasa is a mobile healthcare company. The company provides in-home paramedical appointments that enhance accessibility of these healthcare services and also allow people to make better use of their employee health benefits.

Think DoorDash or UberEats, but for healthcare

What was the inspiration to launch this?

Driven by a desire to enhance healthcare accessibility, our collective experiences underscore the importance of convenience and a personalized approach in healthcare delivery. 

HealthCasa’s inception was sparked by my frustration with the cumbersome process of scheduling healthcare appointments, and the innate inefficiency of brick-and-mortar clinics, prompting my co-founder and I to introduce a solution that brings healthcare services directly to patients’ homes … wherever they call home.

How has it been received by the market? 

HealthCasa’s seen substantial growth over the last few years, recently seeing 40+% YoY growth in monthly appointments, treating thousands of patients and families across the GTHA and surrounding areas, and there are no signs of slowing down. 

We aim to bridge the gap between healthcare accessibility and busy lifestyles by saving patients valuable time - by eliminating travel time, waiting rooms, time off work, and other inconveniences associated with visiting a traditional clinic. 

On top of all this, our services are covered by your health insurance so there’s limited out-of-pocket expense for the patients.

How did you know you were ready to be a Founder?

I didn't. 

I didn't plan to found a company, however in my personal life I identified an unsolved problem in the healthcare industry. I entered my Rotman MBA program knowing I wanted to be in the healthcare industry in some capacity, but being a tech entrepreneur wasn't even on my radar. I was introduced to my now co-founder Mike, who previously owned a small chain of foot and orthotics clinics, and after some preliminary conversations, the idea for HealthCasa was born.

What has been the hardest part of your journey?

Nothing comes easy in the world of entrepreneurship. Sticking to your values and goals is paramount to navigating the endless flow of challenges that entrepreneurs face. 

Some other key points:

- Entrepreneurs wear many hats - be ready to do everything and anything for your company!

- Define what your company is but be ready to evolve if you need to

- Be comfortable with uncomfortable situations - it’s not supposed to be easy.

- Technology is NEVER easy or as straightforward as you think  - when it comes to technology development, it's important to ensure that you fully understand the real-world use-case/business-case of your offering BEFORE starting any technology development.

What has been the most pleasant surprise?

Hearing positive feedback from both sides of the marketplace we've created. 

The value we bring to the patients and their families, by way of convenient healthcare access and by providing our practitioners with a trusted, supportive work environment.

Who is the unsung hero of your team?

My co-founder Mike Gaspar.

We work really well together, complementing each others' skill sets while still having a common vision for HealthCasa. You can't start and run a successful company if there are internal conflicts - make sure you find the right team to build a business with.

What are your goals for the next 12 months?

Increase brand awareness, and in turn grow both sides of the platform. 

We want everyone to know that they can access healthcare appointments in their homes, that HealthCasa is the go-to provider of those services AND that these services are typically covered by your insurance benefits. Of course, this is all underpinned by focusing on providing a fantastic customer experience from booking to appointment to follow ups.

What is a piece of advice you wish you knew sooner?

Don't rush into technology development. Don't feel the need to build your own technology right away, if you can find off-the-shelf solutions that check MOST of your boxes. It doesn’t need to be perfect. You just need to start somewhere and then add on and build as you go.

Are you hiring? If so, how can people apply?

We're always looking to hire more practitioners, as long as they're great people first and foremost. 

If you're a healthcare provider, you can send your resume to us at [email protected] 

Interested in learning more about HealthCasa?

Dr. Karen Klein will be presenting at our upcoming TechTO: Together event at Rotman on April 24. Make sure you’re on the list to meet and mingle with her and other leaders in real life.

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On April 16th, Snowflake (NYSE: SNOW) held an opening ceremony for their new Canadian headquarters. TechTO sat down with  Shannon Katschilo, Country Manager of Canada to talk about their plans for expansion.

Snowflake will be doubling its headcount here in Toronto, hiring for more than 100 roles across engineering, marketing and professional services. Toronto is one of the company’s five global Snowflake Engineering Hubs and will be largely focused on their native app framework. 

The company plans to take an active role in the community, including hosting the Toronto Womxn in Data Science event on April 24.

You can search their open roles here. Welcome to the community!

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