Lilly Stairs

This 👂 podcast episode and insight’s from a16z Bio + Health's Julie Yoo spoke so clearly to the fundamental challenge facing both 🩺 clinicians and 🏥 healthcare systems.  There is a huge disconnect between supply, in the availability of clinicians, and demand, in the increasing volume and complexity of healthcare needs. -     36% of physicians plan to reduce their hours next year according to the AMA -     48% of physicians reported feeling burned out in a 2024 Medscape survey At the same time, the demographic baby boomer bubble and steady increase in the prevalence of major chronic disease, which consumes up to 90% of healthcare expenditures according to some estimates, is driving demand. With this context, Yoo points to a major opportunity for AI adoption in healthcare in 2025. Yeah, a VC hyping a wave of new AI companies that will replace the decades of training and experience of clinicians, the skeptic would say.  But Yoo is thoughtful in pointing to the role AI can play, and is already playing, through solutions such as ambient, autonomous scribe solutions (of which local star Abridge is leading the pack) in not replacing, but freeing up productivity for clinicians. There is so much unstructured context in both the complexity of disease and treatment options and the social/emotional considerations that we shouldn't be looking for AI to *replace* clinicians. But companies are getting better at finding the structured, repetitive and time-consuming places where AI tools can *help* clinicians. Nearly two-thirds of doctors cited bureaucratic tasks as the leading contributor to burnout. Rigorously trained-AI driven solutions can be a force multiplier for clinicians, and I’ve seen several interviews where nurses and doctors go as far as to say some of these solutions are ”restoring their joy in practicing medicine”. Our health is precious; and we rightly want any technology engaging with it to be developed thoughtfully and thoroughly tested. This requires top AI talent and diverse and realistic training data. Pittsburgh’s strengths in both areas is why we are an emerging hub for data-driven healthcare. #AIinhealthcare #clinicianburnout #healthinnovation #digitalhealth

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For those of you who have been following our work on Pathways to Population Health Equity, one beautiful outcome of applying that framework in Rhode Island has been the recognition of the full scope of the #CHW role in building bridges between clinical and community environments to create upstream investments in population and community health. Drawn from communities closest to the challenges, these natural civic connectors, who skilled at relationships and navigation but can also be trustworthy and effective leaders of clinical-community coalitions and partnerships to address upstream community conditions like housing availability and tenant rights and root causes like racial inequities in the environment. In this week's issue of NEJM Group, we share how this led to a roadmapping process among 140 CHWs and allies about how to sustain the role with braided and blended funding and describe the process. The four roadmaps developed to sustain the role of CHWs were about: 1) Growing the role, agency, and leadership of community health workers 2) Workforce development for CHWs and their supervisors 3) Payment and sustainability 4) People and place-based coordinating infrastructure The full roadmaps can be found here: https://lnkd.in/eND39AEU A year after implementation, there remained strong engagement and support for the implementation within the state and advancement of key functions to support CHWs. More remains to be done to align funding for long-term sustainability. https://lnkd.in/eXvNvsEx Special appreciation to co-authors and co-leaders in this process, Swanette Salazar Geraldine McPhee, Deborah Garneau and many others including James Day, Linda Cabral, Kristen Rego, Michelle Mooney, Michelle Abuna, Jonathan Scaccia and our whole team at Well-being and Equity (WE) in the World who supported this roadmapping process and contributed to building CHW leadership along the way, including Hilda Ortiz, Sarai Arpero at Latino Health Access and Kevin Barnett at CACHE #equity #healthequity #populationhealth #civicmuscle #vitalconditions #P2PHE Durrell Fox

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For those of you who have been following our work on Pathways to Population Health Equity, one beautiful outcome of applying that framework in Rhode Island has been the recognition of the full scope of the #CHW role in building bridges between clinical and community environments to create upstream investments in population and community health. Drawn from communities closest to the challenges, these natural civic connectors, who skilled at relationships and navigation but can also be trustworthy and effective leaders of clinical-community coalitions and partnerships to address upstream community conditions like housing availability and tenant rights and root causes like racial inequities in the environment. In this week's issue of NEJM Group, we share how this led to a roadmapping process among 140 CHWs and allies about how to sustain the role with braided and blended funding and describe the process. The four roadmaps developed to sustain the role of CHWs were about: 1) Growing the role, agency, and leadership of community health workers 2) Workforce development for CHWs and their supervisors 3) Payment and sustainability 4) People and place-based coordinating infrastructure The full roadmaps can be found here: https://lnkd.in/eND39AEU A year after implementation, there remained strong engagement and support for the implementation within the state and advancement of key functions to support CHWs. More remains to be done to align funding for long-term sustainability. https://lnkd.in/eXvNvsEx Special appreciation to co-authors and co-leaders in this process, Swanette Salazar Geraldine McPhee, Deborah Garneau and many others including James Day, Linda Cabral, Kristen Rego, Michelle Mooney, Michelle Abuna, Jonathan Scaccia and our whole team at Well-being and Equity (WE) in the World who supported this roadmapping process and contributed to building CHW leadership along the way, including Hilda Ortiz, Sarai Arpero at Latino Health Access and Kevin Barnett at CACHE #equity #healthequity #populationhealth #civicmuscle #vitalconditions #P2PHE Durrell Fox

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As an official press support sponsor for HLTH USA, the Pharmacy Podcast Network had the privilege of capturing insights and conversations from key participants, including Matthew Higham from IDEO, Shaheen E Lakhan, MD, PhD, FAAN of Click Therapeutics, Inc., Christine H. Kim with MedMe Health (YC W21), and Melanie Marcus, Chief Marketing & Customer Experience Officer at Surescripts. The 3-Part series aims to empower #pharmacists by illuminating the vital role of digital health in shaping the future of pharmacy care. Independent Pharmacy Cooperative (IPC) played a significant role at #HLTH2024 as the only technology platform and trade group representing Independent Community Pharmacy. Present at innovation booth number 4240, IPC showcased its #iCare+ #digitalhealth platform, designed specifically for independent community pharmacies. With approximately 18,000 independently owned pharmacies operating across the U.S., IPC is committed to enhancing public health, especially amid the ongoing pharmacy desert crisis. “Community pharmacies are critical healthcare access points for many Americans, and it is essential that we equip them with the digital tools they need to thrive in today's evolving healthcare landscape,” said Ashton S. Maaraba, J.D, President at IPC iCare+. “Through our presence at HLTH and the insights shared in this podcast series, we hope to inspire pharmacists to embrace digital health solutions and advocate for their pivotal role in patient care.” The three-part podcast series will delve into the innovative ideas presented at the conference, emphasizing the intersection of technology and pharmacy practice. Listeners can expect to gain valuable perspectives on how digital health is transforming pharmacy services and enhancing patient care. Here's part one: https://lnkd.in/e4B6Hnyh

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When the Digital Health Awards categories came out this year, we were thrilled to see one called "Biggest Healthcare Savings Story". Oshi Health continues to demonstrate total cost of care savings: first in a clinical trial, then in 18 months of a value-based contract with a national payer and now with dozens of employers over multiple years. When you provide high-touch care that identifies root causes of #digestivehealth conditions and helps patients gain control of their condition, the cycle of repeated diagnostic testing and emergency room visits stops and total cost goes down. We are honored to be a finalist in this important category! #valuebasedcare #wholepersoncare

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#AnchoringEquity: "You are more than enough!" Read about Michael L. James, MBA, Cambridge Health Alliance's Chief DEI Officer, and the work his team is doing to anchor equity through every part of the organization. Read more here ⤵️

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Massachusetts Ties $415M to Health Equity 🏥 Massachusetts has introduced a groundbreaking $415M Medicaid waiver, linking hospital reimbursements directly to health equity measures. This approach is about the actual performance and outcomes of health equity measures. In our recent webinar, we’re joined by Christina L. Cordero, PhD, MPH, Sr. Program Director at Joint Commission, Drew Stevens, counsel at Parker, Hudson, Rainer & Dobbs LLP, and Carla Fogaren, National Consultant on Equity and Language Access in Healthcare, to walk through the importance of this waiver that parallels provisions in Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA): by tying financial incentives to health equity measures, hospitals are accountable for their actions and incentivized to actively work towards reducing disparities in care. 🎬 Watch our webinar to learn more about how this can impact your organization and strategies to succeed under this new framework: https://bit.ly/3SmAy8M #AMNHealthcare #HealthEquity #MedicaidWaiver #HealthcareWebinar

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Massachusetts Ties $415M to Health Equity 🏥 Massachusetts has introduced a groundbreaking $415M Medicaid waiver, linking hospital reimbursements directly to health equity measures. This approach is about the actual performance and outcomes of health equity measures. In our recent webinar, we’re joined by Christina L. Cordero, PhD, MPH, Sr. Program Director at Joint Commission, Drew Stevens, counsel at Parker, Hudson, Rainer & Dobbs LLP, and Carla Fogaren, National Consultant on Equity and Language Access in Healthcare, to walk through the importance of this waiver that parallels provisions in Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA): By tying financial incentives to health equity measures, hospitals are accountable for their actions and incentivized to actively work towards reducing disparities in care. 🎬 Watch our webinar to learn more about how this can impact your organization and strategies to succeed under this new framework https://bit.ly/4d70az1 #AMNHealthcare #Empowerthefutureofcare #HealthEquity #MedicaidWaiver

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I am thrilled to be part of the 3rd edition of the Africa HealthTech Summit - AHTS. It is an exciting time for global health collaboration, and I look forward to sharing insights on how we can build stronger connections between health ecosystems worldwide. Looking forward to seeing many of you there! #AHTS2024 #GlobalHealth #DigitalHealth #HealthcareInnovation"

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Attention Founders: SUCH VALUABLE ADVICE shared below by Christina Farr about healthcare PR.

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It's great to see Midi Health tackle menopause care, a topic often overlooked, even amidst the AI boom. In India, companies like Pee Safe, which focuses on menstrual hygiene and intimate care, and The Womans Company, promoting eco-friendly menstrual products, are leading the way. It’s time for more founders to step up and innovate in these vital areas for women’s well-being. #WomenHealth #Startups #Innovation #TabooTopics #Entrepreneurship https://lnkd.in/gWWj_34y

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Another large funding round in the virtual behavioral health space. It's interesting to note Talkiatry's focus on a physician-centric care model with W-2 providers, as opposed to most of the other players who are delivering care with 1099 mid-level therapists. However, it's still not clear to me how they are measuring care quality and outcomes, which is the foundation of true value-based care.

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***From Best Practices to Next Practices*** Digital Health is an Emerging Determinant of Health says OCED's first-ever chapter on Digital Health in their annual Health-at-a-Glance report. Digital health readiness is considered a determinant of health as it influences health data usage, healthcare service delivery, and health outcomes through digital transformation. Countries with higher digital health readiness have better responses to health crises, improved resource utilization, lower costs, and enhanced patient experiences. Perhaps the most important point is featured in the image below, where the HUMAN FACTORS live. We have over-invested the last decade in the technologies and data systems to support Digital Health, however, we have heavily under-invested in the capacity and literacy building, community collaboration, transparent governance, and systems thinking that is required to take advantage of said technology and data. I liken it to 100 years ago, in 1924 when the automobile first arrived. At that time 95% of the world was still operating the horse and buggy, it took 40-50 years later to harness the power of the automobile to transport goods and services to every community. It's time we realize our healthcare system is the HORSE and BUGGY of this century... Here is a link to the copy of the chapter: https://lnkd.in/gzJ-GQbp #DigitalHealth #HealthTech #HealthData #HealthcareInnovation #HealthcareTransformation #DataSecurity #Interoperability #PatientEngagement #AIinHealthcare #PublicHealthImpact #digitalreadiness #communityimpact

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Which founders fit the mold for success in healthcare? I spoke with Anne DeGheest, Founder and Managing Director at HealthTech Capital, about the key characteristics of successful #healthtech entrepreneurs. Listen to the full conversation here: https://lnkd.in/eqwUCkPx

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🚀 Excited to share highlights from an incredible conversation at #HLTH #HLTHUSA on "Direct to Patient" Consumerism in Healthcare! 🌐 Joined by thought leaders and innovators in the field: Nate Beyor - Managing Director & Partner at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and Global Leader in Health Tech Suzy Engwall - HealthTech Strategies, LLC & Co-Host of Planetary Health First Mars Next Alyssa Abo, MD, MBA - CEO of A² Consulting Group & Senior Medical Contributor at Planetary Health First Mars Next The panel explored how GLP-1s are accelerating the demand for patient-first models in healthcare, emphasizing direct engagement and creating a path for more personalized, accessible, and safer care. Key takeaways: 1️⃣ Direct Engagement with Patients: New models are putting patients at the center, empowering them with real-time, personalized healthcare access. 2️⃣ Opportunities for Pharma and Providers: Pharma companies and providers are seizing opportunities to enhance patient experiences, building trust and delivering better outcomes. 3️⃣ Physician and Provider Role: Ensuring a focus on safety and accessibility, while leveraging new tech to connect patients with the right care when they need it. Wow moment!!! The power of the highly motivated patient moving fours to fives! The shift to a "Direct to Patient" approach holds massive potential, paving the way for a healthier future where patients are not just recipients of care but active participants. #HealthcareInnovation #HealthTech #DirectToPatient #PatientEngagement #FutureOfHealthcare #ConsumerismInHealthcare #PlanetaryHealthFirst #MarsNext #HLTH Planetary Health First Mars Next

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Two companies in the Kidneyverse orbit are joining forces to leverage the power of human touch to unlock the "last mile" of social impact and cultural connection. SameSky Health is merging with GroundGame.Health, which closed a $17 million funding round led by 7wireVentures after the companies joined. The combined company will accelerate a shared mission to improve health and advance health equity by closing the loop around health-related social needs and gaps in care at scale. Together, their coverage spans all 50 states. [1] SameSky is a DaVita Venture Group portfolio company. We also shared an article in last week's Across the Kidneyverse written by an investor from 7WireVentures that (naturally) referenced GroundGame as a noteworthy examples of a digital health company embracing local communities and on-site services. Other examples mentioned included Live Chair and Waymark. [2, 3] Speaking of social determinants, you might have seen the Fierce Healthcare article sharing how Papa is looking to drive deeper support for insurance plans through new offerings focused on Star ratings and SDOH. The company is pitching Papa as a way for health plans to improve their Star ratings—by enlisting pals to drive members to annual wellness visits and preventive disease screenings. [4] Is it just me, or can we find some way to adapt and scale these programs for people, households and communities impacted by kidney disease? We have a home dialysis bill in the mix, a new FDA VR/AR Home as a Health Hub project, and a push for more last mile, in-home support. [5] How long before these trends come together and make a dent in US health/care? Let us know what you think! 👇🏼 Sources: [1] https://lnkd.in/gqKjfWSF [2] https://lnkd.in/gNFmJ8Pr [3] https://lnkd.in/gz_-PSaM [4] https://lnkd.in/g-Rj998A [5] https://lnkd.in/gh9gt8Cd

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In our recent chat, Christina Farr defined today’s healthcare market in one word: weird. As “stay alive until 2025” shifts to “grow now,” boards and investors are seeking new CEOs to usher in long-term sustainability. But the weird market is complicating things. That’s why I was excited to join Chrissy, Ash Zenooz, MD, and Luba Greenwood, J.D. on the latest episode of the Second Opinion Media podcast. Listen here: https://lnkd.in/edyDpGny We discussed everything companies and candidates need to build the relationships that form successful CEO searches. Here are three key takeaways. 1) The traditional view of what makes the “right” CEO is changing. Boards need to look beyond what CEO candidates have done and where they’ve worked. A first-time CEO who understands your challenges and offers creative solutions might be a better bet than someone who’s been there and done that. 2) CEO success is a give and take. To deliver results, your next leader needs to bring adaptability, reliability, and quick decision making — an experienced executive chair, and patience to build the proper team will pay long term dividends. 3) Relationships beat transactions. Just as transactional relationships hurt healthcare, transactional CEO searches hurt companies. Finding the right leader is about understanding candidates as people: their backgrounds, thinking, and outcomes. Invest the time to build a relationship with your candidates, and do it in person. Thank you for sitting down and talking all things healthcare talent with me, Chrissy, Ash, and Luba! YouTube: https://lnkd.in/edyDpGny Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eWb6p_z2 Apple: https://lnkd.in/eEDTp4VQ

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