In a new partnership with VF Corporation, THINKMD will implement its clinical intelligence solutions and data analytics offering into footwear and apparel factories in Cambodia to improve health outcomes for factory workers, with the ultimate goal of strengthening overall factory operations. Expansion into this new arena builds upon THINKMD’s existing partnerships in school health and Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) across 10 countries globally.
In the partnership with VF Corporation, one of the world’s largest apparel, footwear and accessories companies, frontline health workers in on-site factory clinics of VF supplier factories will utilize THINKMD’s clinical assessment software, enabling high quality clinical assessments for factory workers regardless of the training level of the health worker. Data collected during each assessment will be seamlessly acquired, with the potential of easing time constraints and reducing data-entry errors associated with paper-based data-collection. The acquired data will be analyzed to provide critical insights to clinic staff and factory management, which is expected to improve factories’ healthcare services.
By offering this technology within factory clinics, the pilot project will support the objectives of VF Corporation’s Worker and Community Development (WCD) Program, committed to improving worker health and wellbeing in VF supplier factories in Cambodia. The partners will analyze how THINKMD’s solutions can improve the quality of care provided as well as increase trust in the factory clinics’ services. The partners also expect demonstrable gains in factory productivity, a reduction in turnover and absenteeism and an overall improvement of the health of factory workers. The clinical assessment software will launch in two factories, with a majority of the workforce being women between the ages of 25 and 40 years-old who would most benefit from maternal and adult primary care support.
THINKMD CEO, Chris Powell, says, “This pilot project is an opportunity for THINKMD to demonstrate its value in workforce health and we couldn’t be more pleased to be working with VF Corporation to do this. Optimizing the health and wellbeing of women in low- and middle-income countries is critical for gains to be made in health equity globally.”
Jens Aas, Worker and Community Development Program Manager at VF Corporation comments, “By supporting the workers in our supplier factories with quality healthcare services, we hope to nurture safer and healthier workplaces in our supply chain. We are excited to be working with THINKMD and hopeful that their technology will advance the mission of VF’s WCD program, while ultimately leading to improved health resilience in factories.”
The technology is scheduled to be launched in the factories in mid-2023.