Marissa Fayer

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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Thank you Saul Marquez for being on "This Week in Pharmacy" --TWIRx In this insightful episode, we sit down with Saul Marquez, veteran of Medtronic and the visionary founder and CEO of Outcomes Rocket, a #podcast and company dedicated to improving healthcare outcomes and driving business success. Outcomes Rocket is a unique shared knowledge hub that brings together healthcare leaders, non-healthcare operators, and investors to discuss and solve pressing healthcare challenges. Key Discussion Points: About Outcomes Rocket: Saul explains how Outcomes Rocket started as a podcast and evolved into a company with a mission to connect healthcare leaders, share best practices, and break down industry silos. By focusing on collaboration and knowledge-sharing, Outcomes Rocket aims to transform healthcare into a more efficient and patient-centered industry. The Power of Connection: Saul dives into how Outcomes Rocket connects healthcare silos, enabling leaders to share knowledge and improve outcomes. By fostering collaboration across the industry, Outcomes Rocket helps bridge gaps and drive positive change in healthcare delivery. Join us as we explore how Saul Marquez and Outcomes Rocket are making a significant impact in the healthcare landscape by fostering a community of leaders committed to improving care and business success. Whether you're a healthcare professional, investor, or entrepreneur, this episode will provide valuable insights into the power of connection and collaboration in healthcare. YouTube Interview here: https://lnkd.in/eEXXRyTz

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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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We just released our H1 2024 New York Healthcare Innovation Report, and it's generating lots of buzz. Why? Funding is up: 56 companies raised $2.2B in H12024, about 35% greater than the same period last year. There's lots of positive momentum within the NY #digitalhealth community heading into the second half of the year. Download the Digital Health New York report : https://go.dhny.co/h1-2024

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Burnout is a reality for so many founders in medtech and healthtech, and it’s not talked about enough. I’ve seen firsthand how the weight of building and scaling a company can take its toll on even the most resilient leaders. That’s why solutions like fractional partnerships can be a game-changer – providing much-needed support without adding more to your plate. If you’re feeling the strain, know that you’re not alone, and there are ways to lighten your load. Feel free to reach out.

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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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👍 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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As Women's Health Week comes to and end, NEOMED recognizes the importance of maternal health. Director of the Center for Global Health Innovation, Bernhard Fassl, M.D., found his calling while working in Nepal and experienced tragic events of women being unable to give birth in a safe environment. That experience led him to focus on pediatrics and maternal health in the context of global health and he has facilitated similar opportunities and experiences for students of medicine. He says “People need access to at least basic support services for maternal care. By basic, I really mean basic. You don't need a doctor. You just need a trained health care provider who knows how to monitor and to intervene early enough to prevent the most common causes of mortality." Read the story about Dr. Fassl's calling to pediatrics and maternal health: https://ow.ly/lruT50RLaHm

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In this CDO Magazine podcast, Dr. Stuart Knechtle, Professor of Surgery at Duke University School of Medicine, speaks with Dr. Anthony Cristillo, PhD, MBA, MS, Digital Health Partner at Guidehouse, in a video interview about the meaning of data-driven culture in the field of transplantation, the possibilities unlocked by data interoperability, and addressing the challenges associated with disparate data sources. Watch the full interview: https://lnkd.in/eYBHnhvf   Guidehouse Health | #Healthcare #BigData #DataManagement

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Excited for our webinar tonight: Investing in Healthcare Startups: An Angel Perspective When: tonight at 6 pm eastern Where: https://lnkd.in/dPUFNbhe We had had a couple last minute changes and I am very excited to have an engaging conversation with Thanasi Tsiodras, Dr. Shaun Kuan and Regina Prasad, MS. We will be discussing: 1. How to start investing in startups 2. Lessons from your winners and losers 3. What are some red flags in a startup 4. What is your diligence process like? 5. How do you get deal flow?  6. What is the ideal angel investor archetype? Who should invest in startups and who shouldn't. #healthcare #venturecapital #angelinvesting

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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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Remote patient monitoring is at a tipping point: rising chronic diseases, strained systems, and mounting costs demand immediate action. Enter Remote Patient Care. At #AHA24, Cadence shared the largest U.S. analysis to date, delivering a clear message: scalable solutions exist. The results? Fewer hospitalizations, improved blood pressure control, and lower total costs, with a majority of patients in underserved areas.

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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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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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It’s time to call out NxStage Medical, Inc. social media “strategy” for what it is: a shallow, mind-numbing charade. Every post, every fake smile, every sterile, overly polished ambassador photo comes across with all the authenticity of a cardboard cutout. But #NxStage seems to think this parade of exhausted faces, endlessly recycled content, and superficial wellness messaging actually works. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t. The social media writers over there are showing off an impressive dedication to mediocrity. It’s as if they’ve been handed a checklist: #RecycledPost #GenericSmile #GlossyAmbassador. Rinse. Repeat. Who’s running NxStage’s social media department—monkeys with clipboards? Because this whole operation has all the depth of a puddle. Let’s face it: this isn’t just a social media issue. Look around, and you’ll see NxStage’s reputation is trending downward with customers who feel misled, unsupported, and frustrated by both their equipment and the faux inspiration the company tries to sell online. Check the comments. Look at the reviews. The complaints aren’t just isolated incidents—they’re a chorus of disillusionment. The real stories of home #dialysis are complex, nuanced, and real, and yet NxStage has doubled down on its strategy of pretending otherwise. Their so-called “content” could use a massive dose of reality. And NxStage, if you’re reading this? Do us all a favor: stop insulting your audience with these staged, factory-produced, cookie-cutter posts. Take a step outside your shallow playbook and try connecting with real people. We’re done buying into the shiny, puppet show. We deserve better, and so do the people actually living the realities you’re supposed to support.

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The Femtech industry is currently valued at $51 billion, and it's expected to hit $103 billion by 2030. That’s a LOT of growth and innovation across all area of women's health - we love to see it. 💜 Here are a few areas and companies to watch as the Femtech industry evolves: ◾ Mental health support for postpartum depression Companies to watch: Mamaya Health, Poppy Seed Health, and She Matters Inc ◾Support for perimenopause and menopause  Companies to watch: Joylux, Inc, Gennev, Elektra Health ◾Reproductive and fertility solutions Companies to watch: Carrot Fertility, Ovum Health, Maven Clinic, Fairtility ◾AI tools for disease detection:   Companies to watch: Endiodiag (https://www.endodiag.com/), DotLab, Genexia Health Want to catch the latest on Femtech developments and interviews with Femtech founders? Subscribe to our newsletter and podcast today! 📰 WDH Newsletter: https://lnkd.in/dUEredew 🎧 WDH Podcast: https://lnkd.in/gkTdR7tk #womensdigitalhealth #womenshealth #digitalhealth #podcast #newsletter #femtech #womenintech #healthtech

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10 mid-market PE deals from the past week: ➡️ Vector Capital Management has acquired Bigtincan Holdings, which provides sales enablement software and AI solutions. ➡️ Argosy Healthcare Partners sponsored a recap of Nicklas Medical Staffing, a FL-based staffing firm for pathology and histology labs ➡️ Platinum Equity invested in Global the Source, a master distributor of HVAC/R components, with will be merged with existing Platinum portfolio company MARS ➡️ RECOGNIZE invested in SDG Corporation, a CT-based provider of cybersecurity services ➡️ CES Power, a live events infrastructure firm owned by Allied Industrial Partners, acquired Base Craft | Nationwide TV and Film Equipment Leasing, a provider of services and equipment for the motion picture industry ➡️ OpenClinica, a MA-based portfolio company of Thompson Street Capital Partners, acquired BuildClinical, a NY-based provider of patient recruitment software for academic researchers ➡️ Comvest Private Equity bought Bland Landscaping Company, an NC-based provider of commercial landscaping services ➡️ Morgan Stanley Capital Partners agreed to buy Prescott's, a CO-based provider of outsourced clinical engineering services ➡️ Priority Courier Experts Express, a Minneapolis-based portfolio company of TRIDENT acquired Indiana's NOW Courier Inc. ➡️ TTDS Thermal Technology Distribution Solutions, a Cincinnati-based portfolio company of Gryphon Investors, acquired Applied Thermal Systems of Minneapolis ➡️ Echo AI (acquired by Calabrio), which uses generative AI in a customer conversation platform, was acquired by Thoma Bravo-backed customer interaction analytics specialist Calabrio, Inc. ➡️ Amulet Capital Partners, LP acquired Theoria Medical, a managing service org for senior living communities #PrivateEquity #MergersandAcquisitions #Acquisitions #PE #Acquisitions

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