Hooman Fakki

A whirlwind of activity last week at the America's Physician Groups conference. Lots of solid insights shared by health system leaders. Some notable thoughts: +++ Artificial intelligence is intelligent in different ways: By now, we all know ai has a diverse set of use cases, incorporated in different applications and tools. But there are fundamental differences in how the intelligence itself is brought to life. Examples include: - Predictive AI, used to forecast future outcomes by leveraging historical data. Shout out to UCLA’s CKD/ESRD early intervention protocol (Joycee Berin) and Diagnostic Robotics’ intelligence care post-dicharge journeys (Kira Radinsky) - Protocolized AI, used to automating a user’s administrative load by using a set of detailed, pre-defined rule sets. Thanks to ARC for sharing their experience using Elaborate 's automated outpatient lab summaries (Manish Naik) - Generative AI, used to create new content. Great overview of ambient documentation at MGB as well as Cedars’ Sinai talking through its medical ontology model powering acute triage (Caroline Goldzweig) Across system leaders and experts, there was clear agreement that the first step to implementing intelligence intelligently is defining the ‘jobs to be done’. That way, internal and external stakeholders are clear on what they're solving for when they architect the solution.  +++ Scaling AI takes time and rigorous observation: Market leaders describe a phased pilot approach that allows clinicians to build confidence and system leaders to measure ROI before deploying systemwide. Loved hearing Rebecca Mishuris outline MGB’s novel approach of piloting two solutions against one another, to pressure test implementation, workflow, and value creation. +++ Proving ROI continues to be challenging: Lots of vendors using lots of different metrics to prove value, but the majority of leaders agreed that estimating the ROI of these new tools today is part science, part art. Demonstrating the ROI of the “soft” metrics around provider burnout and retention seemed to be a big opportunity, especially for investment in more efficient primary care and PCP wellbeing. After all, PCPs drive referrals to specialty-level care (and higher reimbursements) for health systems. Appreciated Anurang Revri's overview of how working team setup can also impact ROI estimates. +++ Value-based care = tools + humanity: VBC will require not only implementing tools to support clinical documentation, risk capture, upcoding, etc, but also humanizing interactions to engage patients. Countless examples, but one that made me smile was a depression focused chat bot responding in the following interaction: - Context: post-discharge check in Bot: Hi Freida, how are you feeling today after your surgery?  Patient: I’m having a tough time, am in a lot of pain.  Bot: Well, it can’t be that bad, I’m sure it will get better with a positive mindset!    🤣 🤣 🤣 Can't wait for next go-around!

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I always read Rock Health's digital health reports as they give a nice pulse feel for what is happening in the digital health funding space. Good to see funds raised in H1 2024 suggest funding in the sector seems to have stabilized at 2023 levels. Its no surprise the report emphasis the buzz around AI and healthcare. There have been clear winners in the AI healthcare space in the area of process and cost optimization and the R&D space. The impact of AI in care and treatment delivery is so far much more muted. One area I never though to look at AI was in its ability to bring together multiple healthcare pathways and digital point solutions into a more holistic seamless experience for the patient. There is a clear trend away from using stand alone digital health point solutions, and could AI address this challenge by facilitating the efficient integration of disparate processes and technology into unified care programs. I can see this happening with digital health products but this will be more tricky to do with physical care programs involving clinicians and HCPs. “AI is helping us combine multiple parts of the care journey, across all care experiences. In the future, benefits navigation, clinical guidance, and care delivery won’t be delivered by separate companies or point solutions within the healthcare ecosystem. They’ll be features that work in concert within products, and they’ll happen in under 90 seconds for a seamless patient experience.” – Glen Tullman, CEO, Transcarent and Managing Partner, 7wireVentures

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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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Function wants to reimagine healthcare. The preventative diagnostics platform closed a Series A investment led by a16z Bio + Health, bringing its total funding to $53M. Co-founded by functional medicine expert Mark Hyman, MD, the company leverages robust lab testing to improve longevity and healthspan. Taking a proactive approach, twice-annual 100-biomarker panels are reviewed by AI and human clinicians to spot and treat disease. Members can also opt for additional tests as needed. Operating in beta since April, Function Health counts 50K paying customers, a 200K person waitlist, and recently partnered with Equinox. Losing faith in traditional healthcare, more people are seeking preventative scans, alternative medicine, and longevity protocols. Democratizing diagnostics, Function wants to prioritize health over healthcare. 

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Thank you to Pulse 2.0 for highlighting FeelBetter's story! It’s been an incredible journey, and I'm so proud of our team for developing an AI-powered platform that directly and comprehensively tackles the challenges of polypharmacy. Our goal from the start has been to ease the burden on healthcare providers and help them deliver better care, ensuring patients get the right treatments and the right time, without unnecessary deteriorations or hospitalizations. It’s exciting to see how far we’ve come, and there’s much more ahead. Check out the full interview to learn more! If you are at #HLTHUSA, let's meet! #polypharmacy #medicationmanagement #AI #valuebasedcare #populationhealthmanagement #pharmacoclinicalintelligence

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-In Q1 2024, U.S. digital health startups raised $2.7 billion across 133 deals, reflecting a decrease from previous quarters -AI-led digital health firms drew significant attention, securing $1.1 billion, representing 40% of the quarter's total funding -Despite a challenging economic landscape, the focus has shifted towards startups that demonstrate strong outcomes and value for investment, emphasizing the importance of solid performance metrics over mere growth potential. #digitalhealth #healthcareai #venturecapital

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Redesign Health has launched its largest fund to date, securing $175M to support over 20 new healthcare startups. Founded in 2018, the venture builder has previously incubated more than 60 companies, including Scriptology and Vivid Health. The new fund aims to address challenges such as healthy aging, interoperability, and expanding sites of care. This funding underscores investor confidence in tackling the $4T healthcare market's persistent challenges.

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Read how StoryMD is transforming patient engagement by changing the way patients view their health data, empowering them to understand, engage, and take control.

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Join host Sam Tejada in this compelling episode of ‘A Healthy Point of View’ as he sits down with Dr. Joseph Purita, a pioneer in functional and regenerative medicine, to discuss groundbreaking methods for health and longevity. Dr. Purita shares his journey from traditional orthopedics to becoming a leading expert in regenerative therapies and the science of cellular health. This conversation covers a fascinating array of topics, from Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy and the role of mitochondria in preventing neurodegenerative diseases, to cutting-edge treatments like intermittent hypoxia therapy and extracorporeal blood oxygenation. Throughout, Dr. Purita emphasizes the importance of viewing the body as both hardware and software—highlighting how our cellular pathways and mitochondria play a pivotal role in keeping us youthful and energized. If you’re curious about the future of health, healing, and functional medicine, this episode is a must-watch. Tune in to hear insights from two health visionaries dedicated to reshaping wellness care. PUR-FORM Joe Purita, MD #AHealthyPointOfViewPodcast #AgeManagement #Wellness #FunctionalMedicine #PurForm #DrJosephPurita #Viral #OOTD #Fashion #HealthTok #HealthTips #HealthyTips #IVDrips #Liquivida #SamTejada #Stemcell #VO2Max #DexaScan #Biohack #biohacker #WINNERGY

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Check out our latest podcast episode!

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👍 In the first half of 2024, U.S. digital health startups secured $5.7 billion across 266 deals, showing a strong rebound after years of slowed investment, according to Rock Health. With early-stage deals driving the momentum, the sector is on track to surpass funding totals from 2019 and 2023. https://bit.ly/4cCRy2W Via Healthcare Dive #digitalhealth #digitalhealthfunding

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Women's health isn't "niche" -- and it costs commercial health plans a LOT of money. "Women's health" has been an exploding category the last few years, with new startups targeting conditions that uniquely, differently, or disproportionately impact women coming to the forefront. We desperately need these solutions. Women's health has been historically understudied and underfunded, and many women are left to suffer as a result. It also makes business sense for employers & plans to invest in women's health. Underserved areas of women's health like gynecology, women-specific preventive care, & more surprisingly drive higher costs than maternity. It's just more difficult to spot in claims. As plans & employers start to learn about these costs (and, of course, how these conditions impact their employees/members), we'll see a continued upward trend in investment in women's health. #womenshealth #virtualcare #digitalhealth #healthtech

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This is quite incredible to see. Very few #CMMI demonstrations can point to any savings at all. And “…MSSP savings go further than savings generated by Medicare Advantage…” #ACO #VBP #Primarycare #MSSP #healthcareinnovation

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Join me on a panel along with healthcare leaders at the #ATANexus Conference in Phoenix, May 7th! AI, Administrative Burden, and Consumer Demands in the Patient Journey. Use ATA24SPKNET for an exclusive offer!

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What’s next for health optimization? Come find out in Las Vegas, on December 11-12, 2024, at the Health Optimization Medicine and Practice Symposium. This isn’t just another conference—it’s a deep dive into the future of health, #AI, and building a better practice. Speakers like Dr. Ted Achacoso, Dr. Scott Sherr, Lucia Aronica will cover everything from leveraging AI to hands-on health optimization strategies with #epigenetics. These are the leaders shaping where this field is going. You’ll get a chance to experiment with the latest in health tech, but more importantly, you’ll have time to connect with other practitioners who are serious about growing their businesses and communities. Oh, and we’ve got a networking event at Meow Wolf, because the future of health deserves an unconventional setting. Come for the knowledge, stay for the connections, and leave with a clearer vision of where health optimization is headed. Details here 👉 https://lnkd.in/d3wwcVJW #healthoptimization

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We just released our H1 2024 Digital Health funding summary. https://lnkd.in/gAZY64tp H1 2024 Digital Health funding closed at $12.4 billion invested across 719 deals. - Q2 2024 is outperforming Q1 by 34% ($7.1 billion vs. $5.3 billion)! - Digital Health funding has shown sustained investor confidence. Funding in Digital Health in North America is up 14% to $9.5 billion. Investment in Europe is down 10% to $1.52 billion, while funding in APAC dropped by 7% to $1.17 billion. - Partnerships in Digital Health are flat in the first half at 1,730. NVIDIA has been the strongest corporate partner in H1 2024 - 96 M&As, 8 bankruptcies, 5 delistings from the stock market and 3 relistings from NASDAQ to OTC market. The full report will be available for free next week. Feel free to comment and share if you want to receive a copy prior to our official launch 😊 Galen Growth | Insights You Can Trust #funding #digitalhealth #investments #partnerships

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