Thousands of individuals have forked out $2,500 to obtain full-body MRI examinations from Prenuvo, a company whose technology can detect more than 500 disorders. These tests last around an hour and are checked by one of Prenuvo's certified radiologists. In the words of Prenuvo CEO Andrew Lacy, "If you're able to pinpoint stage one cancer, you could be saving someone's life."
Dr. Julianne Santarosa was celebrating July Fourth on a boat in Tyler, Texas when she received the results from her full-body MRI scan from Prenuvo. Viewing the images on her phone, Santarosa, who works as a spinal access surgeon in Dallas, noticed a nodule in her lungs circled. Surprised, she thought to herself "unless I swallowed a taco chip, that something should not be there." Although she was feeling generally off since going through in vitro fertilization, she had no indication of this spot specifically being wrong. So, she decided to pay the $2,500 for the scan after seeing an ad on Facebook. Upon the follow-up CT scan, the nodule was cancerous and Santarosa had it removed the following week. Prenuvo's services have been widely welcomed, including by the likes of Kim Kardashian and Cindy Crawford who have designated it a "life saving machine." Despite limited coverage from insurers, the imaging proved to save Santarosa from undergoing life threatening treatments, as the cancer had not spread before being detected.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is usually ordered by physicians and interpreting the images is a sophisticated task. The scan can take more than an hour, even if it is only an area of the body. Prenuvo's specially designed MRI machines, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2018, have the ability to examine a person's entire body in roughly an hour. When the scan is finished, one of the company's 30 licensed radiologists reviews the images. Customers usually get their outcomes within 5 to 10 business days. Demand is high, with long waitlists—for instance, the soonest available entire body scan in New York is listed on Prenuvo's website as March. A similar case is true for the Los Angeles clinic and Dallas's Irving clinic, where availability begins in mid-December. Lacy reported that recognition has grown "incredibly" in the last 12 months. He remarked that people often mention Prenuvo when he explains what he does. In addition to full-body scans, Prenuvo provides scans of the head and torso for $1,800 and only the torso for $1,000.
Lacy asserted that Prenuvo is striving to reduce prices by utilizing "old-fashioned scaling." To this end, some businesses are offering Prenuvo scans as a benefit for employees, promoting its accessibility. This is a good option for firms with self-funded insurance policies, as they can change their plans while taking on any risks associated with them. Traditional insurers are taking notice; Lacy said that the data generated will assist them in determining whether or not to incorporate the scans into their policies. In addition, Prenuvo is using artificial intelligence and cutting scan durations to further lower costs; with the cost being directly proportional to the amount of time customers spend in the machines.
Radiologists are a key part of Prenuvo's operations, but they have their own issues to face - burnout as a result of the rising number of cases due to an aged population, and the fact that new technologies like AI have persuaded some younger medical professionals to stay away. As per the Association of American Medical Colleges, the US could be facing a shortfall of up to 35,600 radiologists and other specialists by 2034. Despite the accompanying danger, Prenuvo has managed to dodge it; it has a lot of radiologists wanting to work for them. Being the first to detect Stage 1 cancer can be a life-saving experience for the radiologists.
Despite being in its infancy, Prenuvo's full-body MRI scans are not equipped to replace thorough medical checkups like mammograms, as they have their own limits and might not be able to spot all abnormalities. The price is also a concern. Dr. Jasnit Makkar from Columbia University Medical Center further states that it should not be used as a substitute for a full medical examination. Dr. Kimberly Amrami from Mayo Clinic Rochester adds that patients should manage their expectations. Different body parts need to be examined using distinct procedures. An MRI, no matter how advanced, cannot answer all questions. To that end, Prenuvo does not use contrast, which is injected into the blood vessels and has raised controversy. It uses other methods to produce a result that is almost as good. If something worrisome has been spotted, they advise a follow-up that may involve contrast. The doctor should be consulted to find out which imaging technique is best suited for the patient.
Lacy was inspired to start Prenuvo when he began to ponder the effect of his fast-paced lifestyle on his health. Previously, he had started an internet search business and co-founded a gaming company, among other projects. He encountered a radiologist offering a full-body MRI scan, and learned a great deal from the experience. "My lifestyle was affecting my health, but nothing too alarming," Lacy remembered. "I remember feeling tremendous peace of mind." To ensure a stress-free setting, Prenuvo created an atmosphere combining the atmosphere of a spa and a doctor's office at its New York clinic. Clients are shepherded from a comfortable waiting room to a private area to change into scrubs and take off jewellery. During the scan, the patient is provided headphones to either listen to music or watch TV. When Lacy visited his practice, Dr. Eduardo Dolhun, a family doctor located in San Francisco, was somewhat sceptical but intrigued by the technology and chose to fly to Vancouver, British Columbia to experience it for himself. After analyzing the results with a Prenuvo radiologist, Dolhun called one of his medical school mates at the Mayo Clinic, saying, "I think this is going to revolutionize medicine." Dolhun has since had scans every 18 months or so, and recommends it to some of his patients. He, however, still suggests getting exams such as physicals and mammograms. "Good science takes time," he said. Amazon has linked up with One Medical to provide Prime customers with access.
Comments