Michael O’Neil’s personal health journey led him to establish Get Well, a digital health company based in Bethesda, Maryland, focused on providing patients with essential educational tools.
Back in the early days, twenty-five years ago, O’Neil was a graduate student at Georgetown University, preparing for marriage while simultaneously recovering from cancer treatment in a hospital bed.
Little did he realize that his own diagnosis would lead him to transform the patient experience in hospitals by founding a company that provides crucial educational resources.
In a recent interview with Dan Simons on the latest episode of WTOP’s Founding DC, O’Neil reflected on this pivotal moment in his life.
“I spent eight long days waiting for my pathology results while lying in that bed, uncomfortable from surgery, confused, and terrified—like many patients—I was desperate for information,” O’Neil recounted.
Finally, he thought he might get some clarity on his diagnosis, thanks to advice from a nurse.
The nurse reassured him, “I know you’re anxious about CHOP chemotherapy. But we have an educational channel on Channel 12.”
To his dismay, instead of relevant cancer information, the channel aired a baby care video: “I was shocked. How was I supposed to find useful information in that?” O’Neil said.
This experience became a defining moment for O’Neil. He resolved to dedicate whatever time he had left to ensure that other cancer patients wouldn’t face the same confusion he did.
Soon after, with a nurse’s pen in hand, O’Neil began sketching out his vision for Get Well, which has now transformed into a leading digital health information service.
“I found myself diagramming the TV that hung in the corner of my room,” he explained. “I started drawing icons labeled ‘my education,’ ‘my entertainment,’ and ‘my family and friends.’”
O’Neil compared his vision to the convenience of hotel TVs, where guests can order room service or request a movie.
At just 28 years old, O’Neil envisioned taking outdated hospital TVs and converting them into functional devices that serve the needs of patients.
“We developed software that transformed what was essentially a glass panel into a computer interface. We linked it to the electronic health record system,” O’Neil described. “This allowed us to create personalized content that would guide patients through their care journeys.”
O’Neil emphasized how his team evaluated the effects of patient engagement on various outcomes, such as reducing hospital stays, decreasing readmissions, and improving overall patient satisfaction.
Following these insights, O’Neil formally launched Get Well.
“We offer the software to healthcare systems or hospitals, but ultimately, it is the patients who interact with it,” O’Neil stated. “Our software has positively impacted around 85 million individuals during some of the most vulnerable moments.
