Healthy Habits: Checkable

 Patty Post is a female entrepreneur who is breaking barriers in the healthcare industry. Despite being in a traditionally male-dominated industry, Patty has built a thriving business that is significantly impacting patients’ lives.

A personal experience sparked Patty’s passion for healthcare; she was frustrated by the healthcare system in bringing her children to the doctor to get tested for Strep since no at-home test is readily available on the market. Frustrated by the lack of options available, Patty decided to take matters into her own hands and create Checkable.  

With her background as a Medical Device Executive, Patty founded a healthcare startup that focuses on developing innovative medical devices and technologies to improve patient outcomes. Her company has already developed several cutting-edge products that are revolutionizing the healthcare industry. 

I had a chance to interview her to learn more.

            Why did you create Checkable?

I started Checkable because I knew other moms were like me and hated to sit in a clinic with their kids waiting to see a nurse to check for strep. It’s inconvenient, it’s not affordable, and it’s really time-consuming. I knew if the trusted diagnostic were made over the counter, like a pregnancy test, Mom would be willing to use it at home to diagnose a sore throat from strep throat. 

Why is it important for parents to have quick answers for certain medical conditions?

An acute medical condition such as strep can turn from a sore throat to a medical emergency if left untreated in a matter of days. Parents are busy, and healthcare isn’t accessible and attainable as the system wants us to believe. As parents, we watchfully wait symptoms out because the majority of the time, they subside after a period of time, but it would be exceptional to know what is making the child sick so you can see a provider and get treatment sooner and get them feeling better faster. I think ear infections and strep throat are two classic examples. 

What has been your biggest challenge in bringing the product to market?

Raising capital for a pre-FDA cleared device has been really challenging. Thankfully i’ve had 8 investors, and the State of North Dakota backs me and my team in pursuit of our efforts. 

What advice would you have for other women who are looking to create their own products?

My advice is first to understand the market. Know the market opportunity, know your competitors, and most importantly, know your customer. I created a business years ago around two yoga products that I intended to sell to yoga studios. They were beautiful, and people wanted them, but unfortunately, I didn’t know that yoga studios were really hard to sell to. First, they don’t answer the phone because they’re teaching yoga. Two, they don’t have a lot of money, and three, they aren’t business people, so they aren’t driven by creating new sources of income. If I would do it again, I would have created a digital first direct-to-consumer business and spent the time and money on ads and content. 

About Checkable Medical: 

At the forefront of home healthcare, Checkable Medical is revolutionizing the healthcare industry by bringing fast and accurate at-home test kits, telehealth services, and a line of wellness supplements to the home. Checkable is developing the first FDA-approved at-home strep throat test, UTI Test Strips, and Vaginal pH test Strips that pair with a proprietary digital telehealth app that instantly connects patients with healthcare professionals. These easy-to-administer home testing kits allow individuals to get the treatment they need when they need it, with fast and accurate results from the comforts of home.