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By Michelle Chang and Conor Cook, Comcast Ventures

We’re excited to announce our investment in Sword Health, a groundbreaking AI Care platform that combines expert human clinicians with proprietary AI to provide world-class healthcare at home.

As part of Comcast Ventures’ focus on health tech, we are looking at innovative at-home care solutions – like Sword – that leverage high-quality connectivity to expand modes and accessibility of care, as well as evaluating how these companies are approaching emerging technologies like AI, to enhance personalized care.

Sword uniquely pairs human clinical expertise with AI technology to create customized and comprehensive programs based on each member’s needs and goals. Members use Sword’s proprietary devices, like those equipped with sophisticated computer vision technology and AI – including seamless integration with Phoenix, the first AI Care Specialist – to track movement and provide real-time, personalized feedback and corrections. All treatment programs can be done at home on the member’s schedule with ongoing oversight from humanclinical professionals, all of whom hold a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree.

Sword was founded ten years ago with a mission to make high-quality, personalized treatment for musculoskeletal pain more accessible. Today, Sword serves more than 10 million people through partnerships with major employers and health plans including Citi Group, Cisco, and Independence Blue Cross.

At Comcast Ventures, we have been very impressed with Sword’s leadership team, which is comprised of AI technologists, doctors, and clinical operators who demonstrate a strong execution ability and focus on clinical outcomes. Virgilio “V” Bento, CEO and Co-Founder, developed Sword while pursuing his PhD in Electrical Engineering and has since secured 33 patents and co-authored 40 research papers. His inspiration also stems from a deeply personal experience – watching his brother’s lengthy rehabilitation after a severe accident that resulted in a year-long coma. This experience showed him the limitations of traditional care models and the challenges patients face as they heal.

Sword’s exceptional outcomes demonstrate the platform’s value to all stakeholders (patients, employers, and providers) with patients recovering faster and better when compared to in-person physical therapy. After enrolling, Sword claims that 67% of patients report being pain-free, 68% report an increase in productivity, and surgery rates drop by 50%. Sword also states that employers see a gross savings of $3,177 per member per year on care for MSK disorders and related chronic conditions and 2x higher engagement than in-person physical therapy. For employers and health plans, every dollar invested in Sword yields three dollars in savings due to more effective, personalized treatment, and avoidance of unnecessary surgeries, the company says.

Using its innovative approach, Sword has delivered over 5 million AI Care sessions to date, helping members manage pain and receive individualized care. As we partner with Sword in their next phase of growth, we’re excited to support their mission of expanding access to quality at-home care, using connectivity to drive strong clinical outcomes.