Anita Darden Gardyne

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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🌟 Exciting News in the Fight Against Homelessness in California! 🌟 🏠 Imagine a world where healthcare extends beyond the hospital walls and directly into the communities that need it most. That's exactly what California is pioneering with its CalAIM initiative! Launched in 2022, CalAIM is transforming how Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program, addresses homelessness by integrating healthcare with critical housing support services. 🤯 Did you know? In 2023 alone, over 68,600 Californians benefited from CalAIM’s “housing trio” services, which help individuals secure housing, maintain their living situations, and manage initial move-in costs. But that's not all - the program also offers medically tailored meals, medical respite care, and more, all designed to create a healthier, more stable environment for those in need. 🔄 However, there’s a catch - this groundbreaking program operates under federal waivers that are set to expire at the end of 2026. The future of CalAIM hangs in the balance, depending on the renewal decisions of the federal administration. This uncertainty poses a significant challenge to the continuity of services that many depend on. 🔍 Looking ahead, California advocates are pushing to make these essential services a permanent part of Medi-Cal, aiming to safeguard the future of healthcare and housing integration. This proactive approach illustrates the critical need for sustainable solutions in addressing homelessness. 🏛️ At PHOCIS Capital™, we believe in the power of sustainable development and the role of private money in driving social change. Our commitment to financial empowerment and success ties directly into initiatives like CalAIM, where thoughtful investment can yield transformative societal impacts. 💬 We'd love to hear your thoughts! How do you see the integration of healthcare and housing evolving? What role can private investors play in supporting initiatives like CalAIM? 👍 Like, comment, and share to spread the word about this innovative approach to tackling homelessness! 📢 #RegisterNow to stay updated on how you can contribute through impactful investments with PHOCIS Capital™. #HousingForAll #SustainableDevelopment #PrivateMoney #fixandflip #hardmoney #FinancialEmpowerment #RealEstateHumor 🔗 [Your thoughts and actions can help pave the way for a brighter, healthier future!]

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California Bill Would Require State Review of Private Equity Deals in Healthcare — Consumer advocates and labor unions are enthusiastic about the plans, but hospitals are not A bill pending in California's legislature to ratchet up oversight of private equity investments in healthcare is receiving enthusiastic backing from consumer advocates, labor unions, and the California Medical Association, but drawing heavy fire from hospitals concerned about losing a potential funding source. Hopefully, more states will initiate the same approach to keeping close tabs on private equity buying healthcare-related entities. Private equity firms raise money from institutional investors such as pension funds and typically acquire companies they believe can be run more profitably. Then they look to boost earnings and sell the assets for multiples of what they paid for them Critics say the profit-first approach isn't good for healthcare. Look to Stewart Health Care where the CEO and C suite lined their pockets while driving the health system into the ground. "Almost all of the most distressed U.S. healthcare companies are owned by private equity firms." Time to rein in private equity vultures out there in healthcare trying to make a quick profit, raising the costs of healthcare in their quest to generate profits. #privateequity, #runningthehospitalintotheground, #vulturecapitalist, #forprofithealthcare https://lnkd.in/ea3pFz43

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This is certainly an interesting development. While Envision leaving California might resolve the issues at hand, the imperatives driving scrutiny of PE-backed enterprises are not going away any time soon. There many concerns voiced in the late 1990's as well, during the PPM boom, but in this case, I sincerely don't think we'll see anything close to the retrenchment we saw in the early 2000's. I also think it's easy for some people to point fingers at PE (and there have admittedly been reasons for concern with some enterprises), but financial incentives can theoretically interfere with the care process exists in almost every context I can imagine, regardless of ownership. So where do we draw the line about what improperly interferes with a physician's independent medical judgment and the best interests of a patient? I, for one, don't believe that it's appropriate to paint all PE enterprises with the same brush, just like it's unfair to compare rural critical access hospitals to major academic teaching hospitals without understanding the differences.

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Healthcare 1.0 - what's keeping it afloat? Think really hard about this for a moment. On operating revenues of $100,847 Kaiser Permanente had: Operating costs of $100,518 vs $96,678 in 2023 Operating margin of .3% or $329M vs ($1,270) in 2023 Other income was $3,793 vs ($4,468) in 2023 Let's pause. Costs are up by almost 4 billion. Without the other income KP is losing money every single day. Membership declined by 51K but that's NOT the story - the story is ZERO growth. Are you getting it yet? Sick people drive revenues. Really sick people drive more costs because they cannot bend the cost curve ahead of time. Premiums and Copay revenue always lags a year. Digital Health is an operating cost to Healthcare 1.0 because their business model is sickness - revenue. And that will NEVER change. Healthcare 1.0 lives on the brink between life and death and the willingness of debt holders who collect their fees. Healthcare 1.0 is on life support. Why invest in something that is on life support. It cannot be fixed. Lonnie Hirsch, Ellen Brown, Adam Carewe MD https://lnkd.in/eppxSNUb

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Fabulous webinar and conversation yesterday about AI in Healthcare cross-country from Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group | Kaiser Permanente with my colleague from SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PERMANENTE MEDICAL GROUP Dr. John Rott, thank you Chris Corriveau and the entire team who helped organize. Sharing these apropos tips from our most recent Forbes Technology Council article on "19 Ways To Manage Different Stakeholders 😍" https://lnkd.in/eWymqdkg Top 19! 1. Strive For Collaboration 2. Prioritize Investments Based On Results 3. Communicate Openly 4. Embrace A Long-Term Portfolio Strategy 5. Prioritize With A Strategic Framework 6. Assess Dependencies 7. Develop A Transparent, Systematic Framework 8. Determine Needs And Wants 9. Use Outcome-Oriented Metrics 10. Consider The Value 11. Help Stakeholders Find Common Ground 12. Establish And Follow A Principle-Driven Approach 13. Let Data Drive Your Decision-Making 14. Implement Teams To Focus On Stakeholder Engagement 15. Prioritize Streamlining Workflows And Processes 16. Understand Your Customers’ Needs 17. Hold Stakeholder Meetings Regularly 18. Put A Governance Mechanism In Place 19. Encourage Empathy

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🚀 #Founders - Are you venture scale? 🚀 If you are in Washington State and trying to figure out how to take your startup to the next level, consider making the largest technology association in North America part of your strategy. November 25th is the last day to apply for the WTIA Cohort 12. 📈 Educational curriculum through tracks related to growth, financing, product, and business fundamentals. 🗣 Individual mentorship and group coaching with experienced mentors and experts. 🤝 Peer mentoring and networking with fellow founders and relevant connections to investors, potential partners or customers, and local leaders. 💲 Free WTIA membership and associated benefits like $10k of AWS credits and discounts on tools like Carta, HubSpot, and more. Don't miss out - and please share with your network! #WTIA #Startup #BuildingBusiness #Technology #PNW #Seattle #Entrepreneurship #VentureScale #Innovation #DigitalTransformation University of Washington UW Foster School of Business Koki Sato Nick Ellingson

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We all have seen by now that AI holds the promise of reshaping healthcare delivery, and this goes particularly for marginalized communities. Its widespread adoption, however, necessitates careful navigation of potential biases and ethical concerns to ensure equitable outcomes for all! As we embrace AI's transformative potential, we must continue to actively address issues of access, transparency, and workforce readiness in order to promote a future where technology enhances, rather than hinders, health equity initiatives. #HealthEquity #Healthcare #AI

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Oshi Health: Insights to Scale a Specialty Care Model… It is hard to stomach the fact that there are an estimated 60 – 70 million Americans who suffer from gastrointestinal (“GI”) conditions, costing the U.S. healthcare system approximately $140 billion annually, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. BCC Research tallied the costs of just the therapeutics and associated diagnostic procedures were $86 billion last year, increasing to more than $123 billion by 2028. There are now more than 100 million GI ambulatory care visits each year and GI conditions are thought to be one of the four most expensive diseases.   In part as a function of the pandemic when the healthcare system had to become virtual/on-demand/predictive/always-on overnight, there was a dramatic influx of capital in 2021 of nearly $30 billion invested in healthcare technology companies, much of which went to launch virtual specialty care models across many diseases.    As we now appear to be in an “emerging winners” phase of the market, some observations on what it takes to scale virtual specialty care models into substantial businesses. https://lnkd.in/eTJeAFBu Flare Capital Partners #digitalhealth

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"As a founder, one of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned is the importance of purpose." At The Investor's Den SF, we’re connecting startups focused on meaningful change—like MyBabyMyWay.AI—to the resources and support they need to thrive. In healthcare, impact and innovation must go hand-in-hand. Are you a founder with a purpose-driven mission? Let’s work together to bring that vision to life. #StartupLife #VentureCapital #SocialImpact #HealthTech #AI

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What does calling my cable company have to do with Medicaid? I had to call a certain notorious cable/internet provider recently. The one with customer service so bad that it was skewered in a classic South Park episode. I blocked out an hour and braced for my inevitable PCOM aneurysm rupture. Shockingly, it was a breeze. The rep was friendly, and my issue vanished in minutes—a far cry from their usual 'dial-one-to-scream-into-the-void' reputation. So, what changed? Competition happened. A decade ago, our choices for cable and internet were as limited as the soda options in a health spa. Now, thanks to a buffet of streaming services—even including live local TV—the old cable giants had to step up their game or step aside. Turns out, competition is more effective than caffeine at improving service quality. Why can't Medicaid beneficiaries get the same treatment? Currently, most Medicaid coverage is through Managed Care Organizations (MCOs), where the state pays a fixed monthly rate per patient. This model should spur cost-efficiency, but it often just limits the scope of care. Low payments to doctors, restricted access to necessary services—who does that help? Could strict government regulations guarantee better service? Maybe, but FA Hayek (and a basic reading of history) prove that bureaucracy alone can't engineer excellence. And choice for Medicaid patients? Virtually non-existent. Many areas offer just one MCO. If you're dissatisfied, too bad—there's no alternative. It's like being stuck with dial-up in the era of fiber optics. Long wait times for basic procedures, no freedom to seek better coverage... It's eerily reminiscent of the old cable monopoly days. In the private sector, at least there's a semblance of choice: HMOs, PPOs, HSAs... But for Medicaid recipients? Sorry, the state chooses for you. Hope you like it. Our Medicaid system desperately needs a dose of competition. Isn't it time we offer Medicaid patients the luxury of choice that drives quality up and costs down? https://t.co/C7XE6CpIIP Joe Grogan Lisa Grabert Joanne Spetz Cheerag Upadhyaya, MD, MBA, MSc, FAANS, FACS Brian R. Gantwerker, MD, FAANS, FACS Sanjay Dhall Larry Bucshon, M.D.

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Thanks 🙏 Derek Sivers for supporting our UCLA Health Guest Speaker Series! What Healthcare Can Learn from Derek Sivers' Philosophy of Simplicity Today I had a chance to interview Derek Sivers. His radically simple approach to business and life holds powerful lessons for healthcare transformation. Sivers built CD Baby into a $22M music empire with an unrelenting focus on simplicity. No fancy systems. No bloated processes. Just ruthless prioritization of what actually serves customers. Consider this- - The average hospital uses 16 different EMR systems - Clinicians spend 2 hours on administrative work for every 1 hour with patients - A typical primary care visit generates 13 different workflows across 7 departments What if we approached healthcare with Sivers' philosophy? His famous quote resonates: "If you're not saying 'HELL YEAH!' about something, say no." Imagine evaluating every process, form, and meeting against a simple standard: Does this directly improve patient care? If not, why are we doing it? Sivers also emphasizes "Addition by subtraction" - the power of removing unnecessary complexity rather than adding new solutions. In healthcare, we often layer new tools and workflows onto broken processes instead of fixing root causes. The path forward isn't more complexity disguised as innovation. It's having the courage to strip away what doesn't serve our core mission: helping patients thrive #HealthcareInnovation #Simplicity #ProcessImprovement #HealthcareTechnology #Leadership

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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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Thank you Arik Hill for the shout out and thank you to Shirley Wang and The Wall Street Journal for including our work at Lyssn, as well as my colleague Tim Althoff in her thoughtful piece on the use of and impacts of chatbots in mental health.  (Gift link in comments.) Properly validated and tested AI does indeed have a role in improving both access and quality in mental health, human services, and crisis intervention. And, as the article notes, there are both significant risks and growing opportunities to do both in a way that enhances patient outcomes while supporting clinicians on the front lines. At Lyssn, we use a research-led model of product development to ensure that our platform supports the use of evidence-based practices and minimizes risk, including bias.  Even in high-risk situations like crisis calls and 988, our NIMH-funded work with @protocall is demonstrating the platform’s safety and utility. We've been working on AI and mental health for over 15 years. Now, change is coming more rapidly. We believe that clinically-validated tools, including chatbots, will make a meaningful difference in the lives of people suffering from mental health challenges.

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In the evolving field of street medicine, real change is happening in how we care for those without homes. California is leading the way, with 64 street medicine providers offering care directly to those living on the streets—making it the most significant hub in the country. Groups like Healthcare in Action, founded by Sachin Jain, show that treating homelessness and illness together can save lives and reduce hospital costs. Thanks to innovative Medicaid funding, their revenue has soared from $2 million to $15.4 million since 2021. However, as street medicine becomes more integrated into the healthcare system, there are concerns about corporatization and the loss of the spirit of social justice that started the movement. It’s a growing field with both promise and questions. What do you think? Is this the future of healthcare for vulnerable populations? What do you think? Is this the future of healthcare for vulnerable populations? Share your thoughts! Eric Giesecke Steve Yaskin Christine Lemke #HealthcareInnovation #StreetMedicine #Homelessness #CompassionateCare #HealthTech

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