Bridging the Gap between Patients and Clinicians through Chronic Care Management Products and Services Mehmet Kazgan, Founder & CEO of cliexa

Unleashing the Power of Patient-Reported Data

cliexa^® is a leading provider of chronic care management products and services that enable patients to track their chronic disease activity with clinically-proven and scientifically-tested scoring models. Mehmet Kazgan partners with his clients to bridge the gap with patients and clinicians to ensure the highest quality of care in the most efficient manner possible. He also provides specialized platforms for varying chronic care conditions to better suit each patient in their journey towards an improved lifestyle.

More about Mehmet Kazgan, Founder & CEO through a Q&A

What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful business/IT leader?

Relationship management, quick learning and being adaptive to change are the top three skills I feel are needed to be a successful business/IT leader.

Can you brief us about the history of your company?

cliexa which stands for “CLinicalEXcellence Algorithms” is a HIPAA-compliant cross communication platform for patients and clinicians built for collecting patient-reported data. Right after the company was formed in late 2015, the first application, cliexa-RA, was launched in the Apple Store for Rheumatoid Arthritis in January 2016. This beta version was reviewed and rated as one of the top Rheumatoid Arthritis applications among 936 and featured in an officially published NIH study and article.

In May 2016, cliexa received the FDA Clearance for an evidence-based data indexing model and has been selected as one of the digital health startups at Boomtown Accelerator Program in Summer 2016 in partnership with Colorado Permanente Medical Group. cliexa launched its first pilot at Kaiser Permanente Colorado in November 2016. The company filed for two patent applications: one for Disease Management Systems and one joint-application with University of Colorado Boulder Neuroscience Department for multi-dimensional pain tracking algorithms. Since 2016, cliexa has launched 8 platforms from primary care to endocrinology, published 2 case studies focusing on real patient involved clinical pilots. In late 2017, cliexa acquired Preventative Technology Solutions Inc, along with their Adolescent Resiliency and Sexual Risk Prediction models validated by UCHealth Longmont Clinic in Colorado.

cliexa won Village Capital Peer Review Award in September 2017. They were featured as one of the Best Rheumatoid Arthritis Apps in 2018 by Healthline, as well as one of G-Startup Worldwide Top 50 Startups. In March 2019, cliexa was selected as one of the winners of the Human Health Services Agency for Healthcare and Quality Step up Challenge for patient self-assessment mobile platform design.

There is nothing more important for a successful small business than a well-defined mission and vision statements. Can you explain your M&V statements in brief?

cliexa’s mission is to provide a patient-centered platform for clinicians and a unique experience for patients. Our vision is to become the state-of-the-art digital intake and remote patient monitoring platform for multiple comorbidities and real-time data provider for future medicine by increasing patient-provider engagement and compliance.

What is your greatest fear, and how do you manage fear?

My greatest fear is to over-promise and under-deliver, in any form, within a business or non-business related context. I manage fear by acknowledging it and facing it when the time comes.

What were the biggest initial hurdles to building your business and how did you overcome them?

Convincing others about my entrepreneurial approach and vision was one of the biggest hurdles. Validating the concept and demonstrating the outcomes was one of the ways I worked to overcome them.

What do you hope to accomplish in the long run?

Making cliexa to become the USB of the patient-reported data platform in healthcare is my goal in the long run. We also have plans to focus on A.I. in the future since the market for it is growing rapidly and we also feel it is necessary for the transition.

What would you say was the single most influential factor in your business’ success?

Trying to understand and see the picture as to how patients feel. Patients are the most important part and center of healthcare that we are trying to solve. This was the single most influential factor for my business.

What other leaders do you look up to, and why?

I look up to many leaders for various purposes. Steve Jobs for his resiliency, Elon Musk for his enthusiasm, Bill Gates for his philanthropy, Marc Benioff for his vision, and finally, Jeff Bezos for his vision and passion towards his ever-expanding business.

If you had one piece of advice to someone just starting out, what would it be?

Look for ways to build the proof of concept without funding if possible. Do not give up as being persistent will eventually pay off.

What do you think is the most memorable moment in your career?

Having cliexa featured in an NIH research article and finding that out by chance was an amazing feeling and something I consider as the most memorable moment in my career.

The Man with Hope and Persistency

Mehmet Kazgan, Founder and CEO: Mehmet has been in software development and technology leadership roles for over 15 years working with companies like Microsoft, Google, PayPal, Visa including FDA regulated software development processes with Philips and GE. Mehmet left Aetna while in executive management in May 2016 to start cliexa with Boomtown Accelerator program which he continues his involvement as a mentor. Since the launch of cliexa, Mehmet has been a mentor, advisor, judge and speaker at accelerator and incubator programs, state grant programs, non-profit organizations, and research institutions. Mehmet also has raised about $7MM in 2018 starting a Medicaid-based Pain Treatment and Surgery Center, along Behavioral Health Center which also includes a UA Lab and Diagnostics center and later in 2018 acquired Physical Therapy clinics.

He has obtained two degrees from the Hacettepe University including a Bachelor’s in Science focusing on Mathematics and Computer Science Engineering. Later, he obtained his Master’s in Science on Petroleum Engineering at the Colorado School of Mines. Later he completed his Master of Science (MSc), MBA in Computer Science Engineering.

“Our platform enables physicians and hospitals to fully leverage patient-reported data to improve clinical care and outcomes while maximizing reimbursement.”

Keep in touch: www.cliexa.com