During my time at this year’s HLTH conference in Las Vegas, I had numerous conversations with health system leaders, venture capital investors, and digital health executives. I also had the opportunity to attend some of the event’s programming, which delved into discussions on the ever-evolving realms of healthcare delivery and technology.
Here are seven candid insights that I gathered from my time at HLTH 2024:
1. FDA Commissioner Robert Califf expressed concern that AI may be exacerbating health disparities by segregating patients based on profitability rather than focusing on uplifting those who are disadvantaged.
2. Tampa General Hospital CEO John Couris pointed out that retailers entering the primary care industry are struggling to understand the complexities of healthcare economics, emphasizing the importance of not trying to fit a retail model into the healthcare space.
3. A panel at the conference discussed the economic consequences of strict abortion laws, with Dr. Irene Agostini highlighting how these laws are impacting physician recruitment and medical residency applications in different states.
4. Andrew Adams from Oak HC/FT noted that many investors have come to realize that they backed products, not companies, leading to a shift in the digital health investment landscape.
5. Sven Gierlinger, chief experience officer at Northwell Health, emphasized the importance of viewing patients as customers and recognizing healthcare as a customer service industry.
6. Abby Miller Levy from Primetime Partners predicted that exit activity in the digital health space may remain stagnant next year, with private equity firms potentially becoming more active in acquiring healthcare businesses.
7. Arcadia CEO Michael Meucci stressed the need to stop treating AI as a mere buzzword and to focus on its practical applications in improving the healthcare consumer experience. El piensa que AI tiene el poder de conectar el hueco entre las experiencias fragmentadas y frustrantes que los pacientes tienen hoy en día y donde necesitamos estar mañana.
Pero necesitamos dejar de usar AI como una palabra de moda y empezar a definirla por lo que es: una herramienta que puede transformar la atención médica, eliminar ineficiencias y ayudarnos a cumplir con las necesidades y expectativas de los pacientes como consumidores de cuidado. Creo que AI puede empujar los EHRs hacia el fondo, convirtiéndose en el copiloto que necesitamos para capacitar a los médicos, mejorar los resultados de los pacientes y crear un sistema que finalmente funcione para todos”, comentó.
Foto: HLTH