David Johnson

Here’s your recap of last week’s health IT news 🗞️ 👇 Notable partnerships 🤝 • WakeMed will roll out AI clinician assistant Regard across three hospitals by the end of the year.    • Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute adopted Story Health to support patients with AFib.    • Cone Health, Sentara Health, and A Plus Family HealthCare, along with 2 others are partnering with TytoCare to deliver primary care in local school districts.    • Ballad Health is integrating with teleneurology provider Sevaro to provide stroke care in the ED.    • Sturdy Health is utilizing Notable for appointment scheduling, demographic and insurance verification, and pre-registration form completion.    • Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin has implemented the Epic-based virtual care platform KeyCare to provide virtual visits nationwide. Product updates 👩🏼‍💻 • Transcarent launched an AI-powered platform for patients to navigate benefits, clinical guidance, and care delivery.    • Epic announced it will launch a new patient data insight tool relying on its Cosmos database.    • LG Electronics released its hospital-at-home platform, PrimeFocus.    • athenahealth released two new specialty care solutions for women’s health and urgent care.    • SmarterDx announced a $50M Series B funding round.    • Kyruus Health has expanded its network to include virtual behavioral health providers.    • Laguna Health released a new performance dashboard that detects metrics such as burnout risk and empathy in patient interactions.    • Crosby Health, which aims to automate claim denial appeals, announced the launch of its large language model and $2.2M in pre-seed funding.    • Radiometer and Etiometry Inc. are partnering to enhance clinical decision making in acute care settings.    • TurningPoint Healthcare Solutions acquired the AI prior authorization vendor Fairway Health.    • Komodo Health announced updates to its MapEnhance product, adding SDoH insights, and two new specialty data partners, GeneDx and COTA. Posts we enjoyed 👏 • We’ve been watching much of the recent news on nurse strikes as well as the political back and forth on AI regulation, and really appreciated Sarah Gebauer, MD’s take on AI governance: https://lnkd.in/e7Jkb3NC    • We enjoyed Nikhil Krishnan of Out-Of-Pocket's take on AI in healthcare, including his thoughts on defensibility and AI's impact on costs: https://lnkd.in/eVtH4ShC --- Want to stay in the loop? Sign up for the Elion Briefing to get all of the latest healthcare tech news delivered to your inbox 📬 👉 https://bit.ly/49z6AUW

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Mandatory bundles in surgery are a bi-partisan objective, and (in)ability to optimize cost/quality will dramatically impact hospital P&L. Regular insights from granular data , and AI-based decision support are the only way to systemically reduce unwanted variability and be both profitable and high quality.

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⚙️ Interim leaders provide more than short-term fixes—they deliver enduring value. Michael Castleman and Ysette Witteveen highlight how these leaders immerse themselves in an organization’s culture, align with strategic objectives, and spearhead essential projects, resulting in long-lasting improvements that remain even after they depart. From digital transformation to operational efficiency or piloting a new position, interim leadership brings specialized knowledge and accountability exactly when needed. Reach out if you'd like to learn more about how interim and on-demand talent can add significant value to your organization. #Leadership #ValueCreation #InterimLeadership #Healthcare #LifeSciences #Transformation #WittKieffer

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I’m excited to share what we've been obsessing over for the last six months! Introducing Threshold Health, a unique patient engagement platform that puts healthcare operators in the driver's seat of modern care gap closure campaigns. Shockingly, only 1 in 20 US adults is up to date on their recommended preventive care, such as cancer screenings or blood pressure testing. This statistic is paradoxically low, especially given the increasingly direct financial incentives tied to increasing population-level care quality. When my longtime friend and now cofounder, Dr. Doug Murad, and I started exploring why patient engagement is so low, we quickly discovered a recurring pattern. Time and again, we heard from passionate operators across diverse healthcare organizations who struggled to mount effective patient engagement campaigns, often waiting until the last few months of the contract year to close important care gaps in their patient populations. In almost every case, these operators seemed to be building campaigns from scratch, deploying blunt tools like bulk SMS, physical gift cards, and manual call centers, and relying on lagging indicators of success. Unsurprisingly, these efforts were operationally expensive and often fell short of their targets. Dr. Doug and I aim to empower healthcare operators level up their patient engagement with campaigns that are cheaper, better, and faster than building something themselves. To do this, we’re building a self-serve platform that makes it easy for operators to rapidly launch and iterate on modern campaigns that integrate well with their existing care coordination workflows. If we’re successful in this first step, we will have a vehicle to deliver an increasingly sophisticated library of campaign templates and next-generation patient engagement technology. So far, we’ve developed a prototype that allows operators to go from zero integration to a modern deployed campaign in fewer than 10 clicks. We’re excited to run our first pilot in mid-July and continue developing the product with 2-3 launch partners through the rest of this year. There's a lot left to learn -- I plan to post regular updates and lessons here. Reaching this level of conviction took a lot of time—not just from me and Dr. Doug, but from numerous experts across various fields who have been extremely generous in sharing their expertise and feedback. I especially want to thank our network of advisors: Daniel Croymans, MD, MBA, Benjamin (Benny) Axt, Indira Gowda, Ivo Vlaev, Suruchi Kothari, MD, Melissa G., Christian Spier and many others; our investors Jane Wang and Saumitra Thakur at MedMountain Ventures; and our first full-time employee Joe Bonneau. Also, shout-out to Shirley Mao and rvnway for designing and building our new website: https://threshold.health With all that said, we’re open for business! Let’s chat :)

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I use concierge services for all my primary care needs because I believe the traditional model of primary care is not just outdated—it's fundamentally broken. While the health equity concerns raised around access to care are valid, we need to recognize that many of the communities described as 'underserved' may not even realize they are being underserved. Long waits and limited access have become their norm, making it seem 'normal' to struggle to see a doctor or receive timely care. This reflects a deeper systemic issue that isn't just about disparities in access but about the very structure of how care is delivered. The traditional primary care model relies heavily on outdated practices, such as requiring patients to be physically present for most interactions, maintaining overworked staff, and using inefficient documentation systems. Meanwhile, advancements in technology, concierge services, and virtual care show us what’s possible when we reimagine healthcare delivery. The problem isn’t just that certain populations lack access to these innovations—it’s that the old model hasn’t evolved to meet modern expectations. In fact, upgrading the standard of care in underserved areas would likely mean that traditional modes of primary care, with all their inefficiencies, would be rendered obsolete. Concierge care and newer models of service like virtual care offer flexibility, efficiency, and personalization that traditional systems can’t match. Rather than perpetuating inequities, these innovations can pave the way for a rethinking of primary care that prioritizes access, responsiveness, and quality for all. Instead of adapting to a flawed system, we should be aiming to replace it entirely with something better. It’s long overdue,

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Direct Pediatric Care and the other derivatives of direct care are becoming mainstream. Agree, it is not just a fad, or a fringe model, or one only for patients with disposable income. Direct care models are part of the solution to our broken fee-for-service medical care. It is about prevention, not repair. It is about relationships, not throughput. It is about doing what is right for the patient, not the industry. I love seeing the rapid progress and attention in the market place. https://lnkd.in/gHHKSwBd

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🚀 Just listened to this incredible episode of #HLTHForward featuring Smriti Kirubanandan and Matthew Holt—a true deep dive into the raw realities of healthcare today! 🩺✨ Matthew’s insights as a healthcare veteran, mixed with Smriti’s strategic lens, made this conversation both eye-opening and thought-provoking. Catch the full episode here and join the conversation on what’s next in healthcare. ⬇️ #Healthcare #HealthTech #Podcast #Leadership

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Another real-world study shows patients struggle to take GLP-1 medications. Mayo researchers analyzed EHR and Surescripts data from 8996 patients (BMI>30) who filled a liraglutide or semaglutide prescription and looked at one-year results. Key findings were that only 41% of patients took the drug for at least 9 of the 12 months, and average weight loss across the group was 3.7 percent. Not surprisingly, patients who took the drugs for more months and those who took semaglutide lost more weight. The authors had access to pharmacy fill data, which is helpful. What they didn’t have was the reason why patients didn’t fill their prescription, presumably loss of insurance coverage, supply issues, side effects, or just a change of plans. In the context of much more robust clinical trial results, here’s more evidence GLP-1s aren’t a magic bullet.

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"This could be a great time for investors to make a truly contrarian bet - and right now, it’s against the grain to bet on human beings." An excellent piece by Christina Farr. That betting on human beings in healthcare would be considered "contrarian" says a lot about why so many of these efforts have failed to find traction. We've whipsawed from Health Tech 1.0 (trying to virtualize everything) to Health Tech 2.0 (trying to AI everything), but the results will be largely the same. The fascination with replacing or outperforming doctors with AI is little different than the fascination with subverting brick-and-mortar care. Both approaches demonstrate a lack of understanding about how most of healthcare is delivered (including what patients and doctors want from the system). It bears mention that two of the most successful healthcare startups (in terms of exit, at least) are One Medical and Oak Street Health. Both are hybrid approaches infused with tech but with the vision of offering a better overall care experience. In other words, they've at least made an attempt to build "solid service businesses that are truly helping patients." You can't SaaS healthcare the way you can SaaS other industries. Non-PE investors seem timid around the idea of investing in traditional or mostly traditional care delivery in favor of telemedicine, virtual care, and now AI. It's a missed opportunity. Healthcare is cyclical. Eventually the employment trend will reverse itself, and doctors will seek out opportunities that provide autonomy, ownership, fulfillment, and partnership. Patients want to build relationships, they want to be heard, and they want more humanism from medicine. AI mostly gives you the perception of these things. Ain't nothing like the real thing. #medicine #healthcare #health #aiinhealthcare #healthcaretechnology #healthtech

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Despite the "less conclusive quality and cost findings" shown by Hospital-at-home AHCAH programs for Medicare, participants in the program (both patients and clinicians) give it a thumbs-up. Big proponent of moving appropriate acute/post-acute care into the homes, however, a lot of these programs were not well executed and many were not appropriately resourced. It's not surprising that the overall data on quality and cost is underwhelming. Hopefully, the 2 yr extension (currently legislation due) should allow for this picture to become clearer. #HaH #AHCAH #Hospitalathome #Homehealth

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The US Physician Workforce will be decimated by the boomer doctor retirement cliff between now and 2030. A disturbing pattern in recent study findings makes this issue much more urgent - and the timeline to impact much shorter - than the government predictions. Let me show you why. The new statistics, the references ... everything The dots will all line up when you watch this short video and I'm happy to have the chance to show them to you. If you are a physician leader, this video is a Must-Watch because the mainstream media is not covering this phenomenon. Employers are only focused on short-term results: the numbers at the end of this second quarter, or the end of 2024.  They don't see this long-term trend. I also strongly recommend you share these videos with your C-suite - especially if your organization does not have a Corporate Wellness Strategy in place at this time. Learn what to watch out for - and what you must start doing now - to implement a Physician Wellness Strategy while there's still time. This trend will play out over the next three or four years. It's inevitable. You can't fight father time and nobody's getting any younger. Every doctor needs to know what is coming. Watch these short outtakes from this week's Wellness Champion Summit Webinar https://lnkd.in/gFYckWS4 **You will learn** 👉 What is the Boomer Doc retirement cliff? 👉🏽 How bad is it? 👉🏿 Recent changes in female physician and medical student behavior make things much worse. 👉 How the answer to this one question to your CMO doubles the projected physician shortage of 2030. 👉 Does AI at the same time make things better or worse? 👉🏿 What your organization must do now to prepare. 👉🏽 Why I'm predicting a brief window of opportunity for a corporate Physician Wellness Strategy - but you must act now!

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Key trends and takeaways from HLTH 2024: 1. AI's Evolving Role: AI dominated discussions, with executives acknowledging its potential while also recognizing challenges in accuracy and clinician trust. There's a shift towards focusing on the practical applications of AI, with a call for partnerships to ensure reliable testing and implementation. 2. Infrastructure Focus: Beyond the glitzy AI tools, there's a growing emphasis on the "picks and shovels" needed for healthcare data accessibility, including infrastructure, compliance, and interoperability. Executives believe that improving data flow will facilitate the effective use of AI. 3. Middlemen Under Scrutiny: Pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) faced criticism for their role in rising drug costs, with discussions highlighting misaligned incentives and the need for transparency in healthcare pricing. 4. Women's Health Spotlight: Women's health initiatives gained attention, particularly following government funding announcements and personal stories shared by advocates. However, investment in women's health remains minimal compared to overall healthcare funding. 5. Interest in Psychedelic Medicine: The potential of psychedelics for treating mental health conditions garnered significant interest, with discussions about funding and research moving forward, especially within the Veterans Affairs system. Executive Takeaways: Leaders from various sectors emphasized the importance of consumer-focused strategies, collaboration, and the need for responsible AI usage. There was a consensus on the critical role of addressing healthcare accessibility, improving patient experiences, and fostering innovations that genuinely enhance care delivery.

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There's a lot to unpack in this 2023 snapshot of obesity rates in the US. Further monitoring and investigation is needed to fully understand the causal impact of GLP-1s, the effects on cardiovascular risk and long-term health, the extent of rebound weight gain after discontinuation, and a wider range of appropriate use cases across cardiometabolic health. #obesity #glp1 #healthcareonlinkedin

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Health care spending in the US is projected to have grown 7.5 percent in 2023, much faster than the nominal GDP growth rate of 6.1 percent, according to the wonks at CMS. About 17.6% of the share of the nation’s economy is now devoted to health spending or about $4.8 trillion. The entire GDP if the UK is about 2.3 trillion pounds or just shy of 3 trillion dollars. https://lnkd.in/eg_yK8yK

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The numbers are linked - value add: here are my humble thoughts on headwinds and tailwinds reading between the lines: Headwinds and Tailwinds for NeueHealth within the Value-Based Care (VBC) Industry: Tailwinds: Consumer Growth and Market Expansion: Strong quarterly growth across Medicaid, Medicare, and ACA markets indicates demand for value-based models. Additionally, partnerships with federally qualified health centers provide a competitive edge in expanding accessible care. Provider and Payer Relationships: The expansion in Central Florida showcases NeueHealth’s ability to grow via payer partnerships and reflects the industry’s shift towards coordinated, quality-driven care. Capital-Efficient Growth: The company aims to leverage existing relationships and a scalable model to drive growth without extensive capital outlays, which is well-aligned with VBC trends. Headwinds: Financial Losses and EPS Decline: Despite positive EBITDA, the EPS miss and revenue decline underscore challenges in achieving profitability and scaling revenue growth sustainably in the VBC industry. Costs in Provider Enablement: The NeueSolutions segment reported a $5.8 million loss in Q3 due to internal payments related to ACO Reach. Managing these costs while expanding partnerships may affect near-term profitability. Regulatory and Market Risks: Shifts in CMS policies or state-level Medicaid funding could impact future growth potential, especially as NeueHealth grows its Medicaid service footprint. In summary, while NeueHealth faces near-term financial challenges, its solid consumer growth, payer partnerships, and alignment with VBC demand trends position it for potential long-term gains in the value-driven healthcare market.

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“Disruption” is something most pundits claim to want in healthcare. And so any non-traditional entrant to any part of the industry is typically labeled “disruptor” (or if the author wants to be coy, maybe “would-be disruptor”). It comes with an automatic “outsider” label, usually a positive trait in an industry beset by frustration. But who or what actually deserves the title? Whenever any non-healthcare giant jumps into the healthcare world, it definitely elicits clicks to call it a disruptor. But what is almost always labeled as “disruption” is usually just “participation.” A new competitor joins the fray and life goes on much as before. But that’s not always true, and it’s definitely not always true that actual disruption comes from the outside. In today’s Union Healthcare Insight post, our chief education officer Amanda Shoemaker Berra shares some insight from her recently aired Strategy Bootcamp on the state of healthcare disruption, with thoughts on how to recognize true disruption from old-fashioned market entry. Like/repost/subscribe—and message us if you want to learn more about our Bootcamp series. #healthcare #disruption #healthcareinnovation

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Hospital financial performance continues to present significant challenges.  While median operating margins are up, 40 percent of organizations are still losing money.  That means it’s critical to continue to lean in around harnessing the power of philanthropy as an alternative revenue source.  For more on the current financial state of health care, read here: https://lnkd.in/eTUK2cqj

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