Tech company settles in Cruces
Electronic Caregiver develops personal health monitoring device
LAS CRUCES — Electronic Caregiver is an emerging national tech company, the kind that could readily be found in Silicon Valley.
But instead, it’s chosen to operate in the Mesilla Valley — a fact the company made much more prominent last weekend when its logo and name appeared on the side of the Las Cruces Tower, the tallest building in the city.
The 60-employee company has its roots in a home-security business. But nearly a decade ago, company officials foresaw a shift in demand, not simply for home security devices but for ones that help to ensure the personal health and safety of elderly residents living at home by themselves. Electronic Caregiver was born.
After years of scientific research and $14 million invested in development, company officials believe the business is poised for bumper growth, thanks to a growing potential customer base and heightened public interest in the types of products they’re creating.
In addition to a booming number of seniors, people are tending to live longer, said Tony Dohrmann, CEO of Electronic Caregiver. With that in mind, the company set out to invent technology that would fill gaps in the need for senior care services.
“The products we put together are going into the market, and they’re being widely adopted,” he said.
The company’s goal is to help seniors stay independent as long as possible, said Bryan Chasko, chief technology officer for Electronic Caregiver. “We are in the mission of aging in place,” he said. “We want to keep people in their homes longer than previous generations.”
Company officials say their products go beyond the usual call-for-help monitoring devices. They also track activity levels to make sure the individual isn’t unconscious, that he or she is sticking to a doctor-prescribed treatment plan, and to make sure the person is taking prescription medication on time and in the right amounts. They give access to on-the-spot medical consultation, via a partner company in Syracuse, N.Y.
Dohrmann said the release of another major product — a tabletbased, interactive virtual medical assistant known as Addison — is set for this summer. It will offer additional functions such as collecting key vitals and monitoring for falls. As part of that, an animated character, known as Addison, verbally interacts with users. The aim is to give a friendly, compassionate face to technology, he said. Those services are expected to range from $199 to $499 monthly.
The company employs 60 people and plans to add 50 to 70 more in the next year.