Monday, August 30, 2021
Issue 128
This past week, I wrote a piece exploring the reasons why big tech firms seem to suffer big setbacks repeatedly in healthcare. Counting the Haven Healthcare debacle, four big tech firms – Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Apple – have had very public failures in the healthcare space over the past decade. Big tech is no stranger to failed experiments, and their core technology business seems to be doing well in the healthcare sector. However, something seems to go wrong when they cross the rubicon into core healthcare services.
In my article, I point to structural issues within big tech firms that stand in the way of the success they seek. Social media comments to my article – which was shared widely – provided additional insights. One former executive from a big tech firm pointed out that healthcare isn’t core to big tech, suggesting that the failures arise from a lack of real commitment to healthcare. Others pointed to misaligned incentives, faulting big tech firms for being more interested in making money off of healthcare data than on healthcare services. Some defended big tech firms, pointing out how they are already making a big difference through technology-enablement of care.
Clinicians pointed to the big gap between bench and bedside with technology-enabled care – in other words, the translational issues arising from trying to apply innovative technologies to patient care in real-time. They also pointed to the constant refrain that the current technology solutions often increases clinicians’ workload instead of reducing them.
Most readers agreed that the recent setbacks were more of a “re-calibration” than an abandonment of healthcare sector ambitions by big tech firms. As my friend Wido Menhardt put it, “It took many, many attempts before Everest was scaled.” And so it may well be.
In my latest podcast, Dr. Roy Schoenberg, President and CEO of telehealth major Amwell, makes several insightful observations on the current state of telehealth and the role of technology firms. I also asked him whether he thought healthcare is just too hard for tech. Take a listen.
Have a great week.
Paddy
Featured Podcast
In this episode, Dr. Roy Schoenberg, President and CEO of Amwell, discusses the current state of telehealth in the U.S. and how its adoption is impacting the experience for healthcare stakeholders – consumers, providers, and payers.
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This Week in Digital Health Markets
We are selectively featuring guest posts in our newsletter from senior leaders in healthcare and technology. Reach out to us if you would like to contribute a blog to one of our upcoming newsletters.
Is healthcare too hard for Big Tech firms?
In the wake of Google shutting down its Google Health business and Apple deciding to scale back its healthcare services operations, I discuss the challenges for big tech when it comes to healthcare. Healthcare IT News
Will breaking apart Google’s health bets give them a better shot at success?
Google is once again overhauling its ambitious health efforts. But this time around, some experts see its shakeup as less of a stumbling block than a potential path to progress. STAT News
Alphabet’s Verily, Mayo Clinic team up on decision support tech for cardiovascular careAs many Americans clamor for mental healthcare amid a pandemic, two major companies in the field are joining forces. The two companies see an opportunity to provide a full range of mental-health services, from coaching, therapy, and psychiatric care to basic resilience-building techniques like meditation. Fierce Healthcare
Beth Israel Deaconess creates homegrown telehealth with help from AmazonHalf of telehealth visits were done by video at peak, and BIDMC staff expect telemedicine to continue at the current volume of 20% of all ambulatory care visits. The CMIO, CIO and CTO of the Boston health system tell the story of the build. Healthcare IT News
Headspace and Ginger plan merger to form a mental-health powerhouseAs Congress starts drafting a massive $3.5 trillion infrastructure package, a collection of provider groups is making a case for value-based care legislation to be included. Fast Company
Foundation Medicine, Epic partner to integrate genomic insights into EHRAs a result of the partnership, clinicians using Epic will be able to order Foundation Medicine’s genomic profiling tests directly from the EHR and view results in the system, providing them with clinical decision support. MedCity News
Allscripts sells genetic test businessAllscripts Healthcare Solutions has sold 2bPrecise, a service and technology provider that integrates genetic and genomic test results into electronic health records, to AccessDx Holdings for an undisclosed amount. Modern Healthcare
Note: Some of the articles linked in this newsletter may be behind paywalls that need a subscription.Events
Enterprise Digital Transformation: The Geisinger Experience
Our CEO Paddy Padmanabhan and Geisinger EVP and CIO Karen Murphy to present best practices and learnings from how a large integrated health system is driving a multi-year digital transformation roadmap at HIMSS21. View the presentation here. Event Presentation
The Health Technology Podcast – Accelerating the Future with Paddy Padmanabhan
In this podcast, our CEO Paddy Padmanabhan shares insights on the path in developing as an industry thought leader of healthcare technology strategies. He highlights how the pandemic has given digital technology strategies a much-needed boost across the industry. Podcast
Damo Consulting Thought Leadership and Research
The ‘giant sucking sound’ of digital health consolidation
The ongoing wave of mergers and acquisitions makes sense for startups and their VC backers. What does it mean for CIOs at their health system customers? Blog
The Digital Health Solution Selection Process When health systems look for solution partners to execute their digital priorities, the decision process typically looks like this. Infographic
AI-enabled physicians: rethinking care delivery
While traditionally deeply skeptical of artificial intelligence in clinical settings, in today’s fast-changing care delivery landscape many physicians are thinking more proactively about how how AI can improve quality and patient experience. Blog
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