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Helping Patients and Families Stay Connected Throughout Care

Managing complex medical care can be overwhelming—for patients and the family members who support them. Appointments, tests, instructions, and follow ups often span multiple settings, leaving caregivers to manage critical information when clarity matters most.

To help address these challenges, Henry Ford Health is launching a pilot study of Care Bridge, a patient and family engagement application developed by Cura Collaborative. The pilot aims to improve care readiness, support caregivers, and enhance the overall patient experience by strengthening communication across the care journey.

Turning Families into Active Partners in Care

Care Bridge works alongside existing electronic health record systems, making families and approved caregivers active partners in a patient’s care. Through task based guidance and mobile access, caregivers receive clear, timely instructions that help patients prepare for visits, tests, and treatments before they arrive at the hospital.

For clinical teams, the platform offers real time visibility into patient readiness, helping reduce missed steps, confusion, and avoidable delays in care.

From Clinical Need to Innovation

The pilot is led by Dr. Avi Cohen, Director of Interventional Pulmonology at Henry Ford Hospital and physician champion for the project. Many of Dr. Cohen’s patients face complex diagnoses and treatment plans that require close coordination among patients, caregivers, and clinical teams.

Care Bridge replaces static, manual coordination tools with a shared digital experience—turning care plans and discharge instructions into clear, actionable responsibilities shared between clinical teams and the patient’s home support network.

“Creating a seamless experience for our patients has always been a top priority at Henry Ford Health,” said Dr. Cohen. “When someone is facing a complex condition, the last thing we want is for them to feel overwhelmed by forms, appointments, or follow up tasks.”

 

Innovation Focused on Real World Impact

The pilot and licensing agreement were facilitated by Henry Ford Innovations (HFI), which connects promising technologies with real clinical needs across the health system.

“This product addresses a long standing gap in healthcare collaboration,” said Dr. Scott Dulchavsky, CEO of the Henry Ford Innovations Institute. “Incorporating approved caregivers into care communications outside the clinical setting helps ensure patients are better supported—leading to improved outcomes and quality of life.”

Supported Through the Henry Ford Health + MSU Innovation Hub

Cura Collaborative has been supported through the Henry Ford Health + MSU Innovation Hub, a partnership between Henry Ford Innovations and the Michigan State University Research Foundation. Through the Hub, the company has accessed mentorship, resources, and programming to support this clinical pilot and continued growth.

“We’re thrilled to see Cura reach this milestone,” said Lizzie Kettlewell, Venture Associate at the MSU Research Foundation. “Our team has supported Cura from its earliest days, and we remain committed to their success.”

Cura Collaborative has also participated in the Conquer Accelerator and MSU affiliated incubator and venture programs.

Looking Ahead

The Care Bridge pilot represents another step in Henry Ford Health’s commitment to patient centered innovation, bringing clinicians, families, and technology partners together to improve care both inside and beyond the hospital.

“Together, we believe this technology can make a meaningful difference in patients’ lives,” said Dr. Thomas Stevenson, CEO and Co Founder of Cura Collaborative.

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