Benjamin Schwartz, MD, MBA’s Post

Having been the only clinician or doctor in the c-suite, this picture is familiar to me, where it was not humanistic values at the head of the table. Most hospital boards are 70% non-clinicians and mostly bankers and Wall Street. They may be brilliant at math, but out of touch with human realities. Models built on spreadsheets do not get implemented smoothly when those in the frontline have to deliver news on cancer, discuss end-of-life or death with dignity, or fertility. Can you really "optimize" and "add efficiency" to sitting, face-to-face, kind expression, as someone processes what it means to be a mother and to know she will never be able to do that biologically but could adopt or do foster care? Most of those on boards receive VIP and concierge care and do not have the "regular person" experience of care they sign off on for others. When we talk of "medical gaslighting" and "doctors don't listen", where is that coming from? Personally, I was overtly told to speed up, cut my visit time by 1-5 minutes, and it was expected I would then get more patient complaints. I had zero patient complaints and being well below average (here a good thing) was not valued as compared to my being at the mean (within a margin of error slightly below) for patients seen per hour. The way averages work, mathematically, you will always have half "below" and what actually matters is variation or spread of data. If you shame and reprimand people for every 30 seconds spent on compassionate care, you will definitely create environments where patients are not "heard." The "fail fast" mentality needs to have guardrails so harm does not reach patients or staff or institutional reputation. These healthcare overlords bring the same unrealistic ideas - that gave us the 2008 crash and SVB failure - now applied to #healthcare. #VC mean well but they do not think about how much their need to deliver quick returns has shaped their world view in ways that is opposite to the ethos and ethics of medicine. That is not to say VC do not have a role to play, rather there needs to be more humility from them. Wall Street folks with humility is a bit of an oxymoron.

Interesting read.

As the industry expands, partnerships signify not only industry growth but also underscore the realization within the sector of the mutual benefits derived from collaborative endeavors. With the Digital Health ecosystem evolving, these alliances become increasingly indispensable, fostering collective advancement and ushering in a new era of transformative healthcare solutions.

Redesign Health lowers the barriers to change in healthcare, accelerating the pace of innovation across the industry. We’re taking the engine that has created 50 companies and applying it to advancing healthcare innovation alongside UPMC, General Catalyst and CVS Health. Thanks for shining a spotlight on Redesign Health, Modern Healthcare!

Interesting insights from Christina Farr on the bold paths digital health companies must take to transform healthcare amidst a landscape of challenges and incumbents #digitalhealth #startups https://lnkd.in/dZ9DrZGP

🌟Healthcare Innovation! 🌟 "Doctors for Health Innovation" is where visionary physicians take the lead in shaping the future of healthcare through groundbreaking technology! 🚀💡 👩⚕️👨⚕️ As a physician-owned venture capital fund, Doctors for Health Innovation is not just revolutionizing the industry; it's empowering doctors to drive change and impact patient care positively (while earning passive income). 🌐💉 🌐💡 Imagine a world where healthcare tech companies are backed by the insights and expertise of the very doctors who understand the intricate needs of patients and practitioners alike. That's the essence of Doctors for Health Innovation! Key Highlights: 1️⃣ **Physician-Led Innovation:** With a team of doctors (who are also tech startup EXPERTS) at the helm, this VC fund is uniquely positioned to identify and support healthcare tech startups that truly make a difference in medical practice. 2️⃣ **Passionate about Progress:** Doctors for Health Innovation is more than just a fund; it's a movement fueled by a passion for progress. Supporting startups that redefine diagnostics, treatment, and patient care, they are on a mission to transform healthcare as we know it (Thank Goodness). 3️⃣ **Investing in Tomorrow:** By investing in cutting-edge healthcare technologies, Doctors for Health Innovation contributes to the evolution of medicine. From telemedicine solutions to AI-driven diagnostics, they're shaping a future where technology and healthcare seamlessly converge. I want to celebrate the fusion of medical expertise and technological innovation! Visit Doctors for Health Innovation at www.D4HI.com to learn about how to safely invest with tech companies and be part of a community that believes in the transformative power of healthcare technology. 🚀🌍 #HealthcareInnovation #VentureCapital #DoctorsForHealthInnovation #TechInHealthcare #FutureOfMedicine #InvestingInHealthTech

In the first half of 2021, digital health investing reached approximately $30 billion. Fast forward to the first half of 2023 and that number is hovering at around $6 billion. Wondering what happened? We sat down with JD Friedland, Managing Director of Cleveland Clinic's venture arm, to discuss the shifting landscape of digital health investments. https://bit.ly/3utApaM #MeetingoftheMinds #DigitalHealth #MentalHealth #MeetingOfTheMinds #MOTM #ClevelandClinic

Investing in startups doesn’t have to feel risky. What if you’re a physician investing in healthcare startups that are going to improve how we care for patients? What if physicians with specific expertise in vetting startups advised you so you make the right decision? What if you simultaneously invested in several differen healthcare startups to keep your money even safer? What if you got to advise the companies in order to increase their chances on success (and even try new technology before anyone else!) This is is genius operation of https://www.d4hi.com (Doctors for Health Innovation), run by physicians who are experts in healthcare startups! What up and coming healthcare technology are you most interested in?

In the whirlwind of today's healthcare scene, the buzz around Foundation Health snagging a $6 million seed funding from heavyweights like Garry Tan, Transpose Platform, Exceptional Capital and Alt Capital is something we can't just scroll past. They're on a mission to shake up the consumer healthcare experience with digital-first solutions, and it's not just talk; they're taking significant strides towards changing how we think about healthcare engagement and delivery. At the core of Foundation Health's bold move is a clear commitment to delivering agile, scalable, and tech-savvy healthcare solutions. They're diving deep with offerings like APIs for Telehealth Prescribing and Pharmacy Services, Virtual Pharmacy, and Virtual Direct-to-Patient Service. This isn't just innovation for the sake of it; it's a thoughtful response to the shifting needs in healthcare and the crucial role technology plays in meeting these evolving demands. Their approach is a testament to the changing landscape, where digital healthcare solutions are moving from nice-to-have to absolutely essential, driven by the surge in telehealth services and the push for personalized healthcare. For entrepreneurs and startups watching these trends unfold, the takeaway is unmistakable. Leaning into innovation and centering your strategy around customer-focused tech solutions isn't just a good idea—it's critical for thriving in this new era. Foundation Health's journey is a clear indicator that strategic tech investments can flip the script on service delivery, amplify customer experiences, and carve out new paths for growth and profitability. While we often talk about navigating the digital transformation journey, Foundation Health's recent success prompts a deeper reflection. How can your venture tap into digital innovation to not just meet but exceed industry standards and reshape consumer expectations? This moment in healthcare is ripe for reimagining how services are delivered and experienced. Montaigne Smart Business Solutions #HealthTechInnovation #DigitalHealthcare #Entrepreneurship #ConsumerHealthcare #InnovativeSolutions #HealthTech #Telehealth Market Unwinded #PharmacySolutions #SeedFunding #MarketUnwinded #StrategicGrowth

A fun thought experiment around the HATCo The views are mine. General Catalyst's (GC) HATCo announcement confused many people - let's admit it: VCs rarely buy something like a health system. As we always do when we are confused, people have started to throw out wild guesses about whether this thing will succeed or fail and how this thing even would look like. To be honest, I don't know much about HATCo's exact strategy and GC's portfolio companies, so please take this as a fun thought experiment. Let's say HATCo acquired a health system. Then, I guess it's time to realize its vision of creating an open innovation platform [1]. So, imagine it brings Commure, a part of the health assurance ecosystem [2], to revamp the legacy IT department of the purchased asset. After the system can easily share data and streamline billing, a natural next step seems to be to invest in Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) and care navigation pieces with Cadence and Transcarent; I think more of these companies are in their portfolio, and I just picked two that I know. Maybe they also need to invest in Medicaid and underserved communities, so give some members to Cityblock Health to manage. Unfortunately, the traditional payment models do not heftily reward health systems for these preventive, coordination, and care management services. Enter the payers, Devoted Health, and Oscar Health. With the "true alignment of stakeholder interests," [1] I hope they figure out new breeds of value-based contracts where no party gets left out. Once the orchestration of these companies works out, it is finally time to "giv[e] [partner] health systems the opportunity to capitalize on new revenue streams." [1] The collection of payer contracts, technologies, and care services will be bundled and sold to new health systems (or acquire new health systems). I guess this would be very far from the real strategy there is, but just looking through all the GC healthcare companies, I was fascinated by the number of investments and the wide range of verticals. It would be interesting to see how HATCo figures out and clears all the roadblocks from change management. Yes, the change management would be really tough. But with a bold vision and conviction, some may push it through. I am genuinely curious how this will play out. [1] https://lnkd.in/g_wpwE4J [2] https://lnkd.in/gmseAdnF