Akos - Entrepreneur of the Year

Company: Akos, Phoenix, AZ
Entry Submitted By:Brodeur Partners
Company Description: Akos powers a new type of virtual practice, offering a fully integrated HIPAA-compliant healthcare solution for patients, physicians, employers and medical centers across the United States. By combining smart technology, seamless design, a patient-centric approach, grassroots strategy and the collective power of a preferred provider network, Akos is reinventing the traditional healthcare model.
Nomination Category: Entrepreneur Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Entrepreneur of the Year - Health Products & Services

Nomination Title: Dr. Kishlay Anand: a COVID-19 frontline entrepreneur

Dr. Kishlay Anand is a practicing cardiologist and CEO and co-founder of Akos. He is also president of the Arizona Cardiovascular Institute, a cardiac-specific surgery center with Joint Commission and Medicare Certifications to perform outpatient cardiovascular procedures.

COVID-19 was a major turning point for Akos. As the virus surged in Arizona, Dr. Anand was one of the primary players that stepped up by partnering with Governor Doug Ducey and the Arizona Department of Health Services to expand COVID-19 testing for Arizonans. Dr. Anand has been on the front lines of the pandemic both as a healthcare leader and a technology service provider, and Akos was at the forefront of streamlining the COVID-19 testing process in Arizona.

Instead of waiting hours to receive testing, Dr. Anand created a scheduling service that sends testing staff directly to patient cars at their allotted testing time. With a valid Arizona ID, everyone is able to qualify for this service, even if they don’t have insurance. Because of Akos’s excellent work, Governor Ducey highlighted the company in his COVID-19 briefing on June 25.

In addition to drive-in COVID-19 testing, Akos also brings testing to the workplace. Upon request, Akos’s medical staff arrive at a place of business and conduct onsite COVID-19 testing quickly and affordably. Through Akos’s efficient process, no employee registration is necessary—all they need to do is arrive for testing. Employees can access their results by enrolling through the Sonora Quest portal, and in the event of a positive result, an Akos provider contacts the employee directly to discuss a care plan and quarantine.

What sets Akos’s return to work approach apart from its competitors is its history in helping companies promote the health and safety of their employees. While others have just started developing solutions to meet COVID-19 demands, Dr. Anand had been providing similar services for years. Since 2017, he has been streamlining illness and work-related injuries processes so employers can slash insurance costs and workers' compensation claims by reducing employee visits to urgent care and the emergency room.

Another thing that sets Akos apart is its Akos 360 platform. Through the platform, employers can access heat maps of employee conditions, identify at-risk employees and provide educational materials regarding workplace health. Akos 360 also enables users to view their health history and fill prescriptions without the need for an in-person follow up.

In addition to Dr. Anand’s work with COVID-19 and Akos, he also co-founded another company in September of 2020: Apricus Health. Created by Dr. Anand and other Arizona physicians, Apricus Health is a healthcare company providing members a direct one-on-one relationship with healthcare providers and Care Navigators who are accessible from any location to diagnose and treat a wide range of medical conditions. Through its technology, 24/7 care management and near real-time analytics, Apricus Health is changing the care delivery model, helping physicians who work in Value-Based Care environments improve care outcomes while reducing health costs.

Dr. Anand developed Apricus to fill a critical gap in care accessibility he observed from his extensive experience. At no cost, Apricus offers its members the following:
-A personalized Care Navigator to help schedule appointments, refill prescriptions, arrange telehealth visits and navigate today’s complex healthcare system
-Access to over a dozen popular prescriptions at no charge and reduced costs on other prescriptions
-Free home delivery of medications
-24/7 access to telehealth providers who have the patient’s current medical records
-Proactive, Home Monitoring for members with chronic diseases

Dr. Anand’s vision for Apricus is to shift the focus from reactive, episodic care to a continuous relationship focused on preventive solutions and chronic care management. Apricus is continuing to expand, having added nine new provider groups in 29 locations across Maricopa and Pinal County in the month of September. As healthcare delivery evolves over the next decade, Dr. Anand is a leader to watch.

-Served on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, both as a cardiologist and a technology service provider
-Was recognized by Gov. Doug Ducey on June 25 for his excellent work in testing
-Quickly and affordably organized drive through COVID-19 testing in Arizona
-Brought COVID-19 testing services to Arizona workplaces
-Founded Apricus Health in September 2020 to make healthcare more accessible for patients
-Partnered with Devoted Health to offer a competitive Medicare Advantage plan to Arizona residents