8 Top Pharma Trends In The Digital Health and AI Era - The Medical Futurist

One area of. AI adoption is in PHARMA. The reasons are simple

1. Large corporations have significant resources.

2. Intense competition.

3. Regulatory effects from CMS, and FDA

Amid the digital health era, the pharmaceutical industry has been experiencing a rapid evolution. Thanks to the new paradigms that novel healthcare delivery approaches and digital health technologies have brought about, pharma companies need to adopt new strategies and consider new investment opportunities to stay relevant in the ever-evolving healthcare landscape.

In this article, we cover 8 major trends for pharma companies to consider in the digital health era. We rank them based on their return on investment (ROI) and return on vision (ROV). The latter is particularly relevant in this era considering its rapid rate of evolution. 

To better appreciate the importance of ROV, we can consider the Apollo program. While it was focused on space exploration, the endeavour has resulted in a multitude of spin-off products across various fields. In the healthcare sector, those spin-offs range from medical imaging to innovations in dental care. 

As such, current investments can have wide-ranging applications in the future. From AI in drug development to digital therapeutics, a host of new technologies and trends hold promising ROI and ROV for pharma companies.

We share a collection of 8 major ones below, ordered from the most practical and promising to the least

The niche is rich in  applications

1. Artificial Intelligence for drug research and development

The process of drug research and development has traditionally been a time-consuming and labor-intensive one. This has involved considerable trial-and-error research before a drug can proceed to further developmental stages. This process can be made more time- and cost-efficient with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI).

AI models, such as those developed by Benevolent AI, can analyze significant amounts of datasets from scientific literature, clinical records, and chemical databases in a more time-efficient manner than humans can. From this information, they can precisely identify targets and how potential drugs will interact with them.

Companies like Schrödinger and Google DeepMind have used AI for drug formulation. Their software predicts the behavior of drug candidates and assesses their safety and effectiveness.

2. New reimbursement models

Pharma companies can tap into the new healthcare experience that patients can have in the digital health era to offer more than just medication. By combining medication and technology packages, they can offer more enticing reimbursement models for both payers and providers.

There have been several examples of such innovative models in the past that combine pharmaceuticals with technology. GSK has worked with Propeller Health on smart inhalers. Partners Healthcare Center and Japanese drug maker Daichii-Sankyo teamed up to bring a connected wearable for patients with atrial fibrillation.

Digital tools have been shown to improve health outcomes while minimizing financial costs. With such offerings, pharma companies can make their products stand out while being beneficial for both patients and insurance providers.

3. Large language models for improved workflow and customer service

Large language models (LLMs) have been popularised by tools such as ChatGPT and Google Gemini. Beyond the hype, the technology is a practical trend in the pharma industry.  LLMs can boost a company’s efficiency by optimizing internal operations and customer service.

Roche’s internal LLM tool, Roche GPT, assists the pharma company’s team in optimizing repetitive tasks and sharing knowledge. The tool further supports their business by automating structured data extraction about therapies and patients from scientific articles and clinical test results. Pfizer has also deployed a similar tool to help with its marketing efforts.

LLMs could further be used to improve customer service. With an LLM-powered chatbot, patients can get answers to their queries such as medication side effects in their native language

4. Automation in the supply chain

The pharma industry’s supply chain stands to gain a lot by embracing automation in its midst. For example, by integrating AI, drug shortages can be averted. By analyzing data from various sources, AI software can forecast potential disruptions and suggest adequate measures to ensure a steady supply of essential medication.

Automation in the supply chain does not only involve AI software but robotics is also part of the picture. Denso Robotics’ robots are capable of automating tasks in the manufacturing process. Exoskeletons are another example of robotics assistance. While not fully automating tasks, they augment manual factory worker’s ability to carry heavy loads and work in uncomfortable positions. In the future, we can even expect automated drone deliveries to be carried out within manufacturing sites and beyond.

5. Digital therapeutics 

Using software as treatment might have sounded like a science fiction concept a decade or so ago, but this prospect is very real and promising with the advent of digital therapeutics (DTx). DTx can be described as evidence-based software applications designed to prevent, manage, or treat medical conditions.

The accessibility, privacy, and minimal side effects that DTx provides have enticed pharma companies to invest in this trend. Pfizer has teamed with Sidekick Health to launch a DTx solution for atopic dermatitis. Eli Lilly also partnered with Sidekick Health to develop apps to support breast cancer treatment. 

Other companies like RelieVRx or HelloBetter integrate cognitive behavioral therapy principles in their apps to ease chronic pain. We share more promising DTx examples in a dedicated article.

6. in silico clinical trials

in silico clinical trials promise to enable the conduction of experiments wholly via computer simulation, without the need for animal or human testing. By running drug trials on computer simulations of organs, this approach can be both time and cost-effective while circumventing the side effects on live participants. 

While this promise has yet to be fully realized, progress has been made towards it. The Wyss Institute has developed organs-on-a-chip to emulate the complex structures and functions of living human organs. Their technology has been leveraged by Emulate Inc. for efficient drug development. The mathematical model of human physiology created by HumMod has been used in several research projects. Further envisioning a future trending towards in silico trials, the Virtual Physiological Human Institute has been set up to encourage the effective adoption of in silico medical research.

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8 Top Pharma Trends In The Digital Health and AI Era - The Medical Futurist

How will the Trump Administration Affect Medicine and Healthcare

The Trump administration's impact on medicine can be analyzed through several key areas:

Healthcare Policy**

Affordable Care Act (ACA)**: Efforts will be made to repeal and replace the ACA, which could have affected coverage for millions.

Medicare and Medicaid**: Proposals to reduce funding or change eligibility could impact access to healthcare for vulnerable populations.

FDA (Food and Drug Administration

President-elect Trump stated he will clean up the FDA, to eliminate waste and improve transparency as well as modernize drug and vaccine approvals. Robert F. Kennedy Jr has been mentioned as a possible candidate to head the FDA.

Drug Pricing**

   - The administration will focus on lowering prescription drug prices, including initiatives to allow the importation of cheaper drugs and promoting price transparency.

Regulatory Changes**

 The administration aims to speed up drug approvals and reduce regulatory burdens, which could enhance innovation and raise safety concerns.

Public Health Initiatives**

   - Efforts to address the opioid crisis will include funding for prevention and treatment programs.

Research Funding**

   - Changes in funding for agencies like the NIH could affect medical research, with potential shifts in focus areas depending on administration priorities.

Global Health**

   - The administration's approach to global health, including funding for organizations like the WHO, could influence international health initiatives.

The Trump administration's policies could have a lasting influence on the structure, accessibility, and affordability of healthcare in the U.S., shaping the landscape of medicine for years to come.

Other important Cabinet nominees are:

Trump's Cabinet picks?

Susie Wiles, 67, has been chosen for Chief of Staff. She was a senior advisor to Trump's 2024 presidential election and the first major decision that Trump announced after his win. Although not a Cabinet position, this is a key role in the White House.

Mike Waltz, 50, has been chosen for National Security Advisor. He is a Florida Congressman, a retired Army National Guard officer, and combat-decorated Green Beret. This position reports to the Secretary of Defense.

Tom Homan, 62, has been tapped as 'border czar' to oversee border control, again. He previously acted as Trump's head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and will join his new administration. Homan will report to the Secretary of Homeland Security.

Elise Stefanik, 40, has been chosen for United Nations ambassador. She is a New York congresswoman and has served as House Republican Conference chair since 2024 and would fill Trump's first U.N. ambassador role. Nikki Haley held this post in the last Trump administration. Though not a Cabinet position, ambassadors report to the Secretary of State.

Stephen Miller, 39, has been chosen to return as Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy. He served as a senior advisor in Trump's first administration and White House director of speechwriting. This is a key advisory role outside of the Cabinet.

Lee Zeldin, 44, has been chosen to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. He is a former New York congressman and officer in the United States Army Reserve. The EPA administrator is not in the Cabinet but is seen as a Cabinet-level role.

Kristi Noem, 52, has been picked to serve as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. She is the Governor of South Dakota and is described as a "loyalist" who will be key to his domestic agenda.

Mike Huckabee, 55 a political commentator has been appointed as Ambassador to Israel

Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) Modernization Initiative | HRSA

Are you or a family member on a waiting list for a kidney, heart, or other organ transplant?  CMS and HRSA are working on finding and making available these organs for patients in need of an organ.

HRSA Makes Multi-Vendor Modernization Awards to Support the Nation’s Organ Transplant System

For the first time in 40 years, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has awarded multiple contractors to apply their expertise and proven experience to improve the national organ transplant system. This transition from a single vendor to multiple vendors to support OPTN operations is a critical step in advancing innovation in the transplant system to better serve patients and their families. It also implements the bipartisan Securing the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Act signed by the President in September 2023.

As part of the first release of awards under the new Operations Transition contract, HRSA awarded multiple OPTN modernization awards to support critical actions, including:

1. Improving Patient Safety–Arbor Research Collaborative for Health will address patient safety and the policy compliance systems and processes overseen by the OPTN Board of Directors and the Membership and Professional Standards Committee to improve oversight of the multiple entities in the OPTN.  
2. Supporting OPTN IT Modernization: General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc. will focus on opportunities to improve the OPTN organ matching IT system and inform HRSA’s Next-Generation IT procurement and development work. 
3. Increasing Transparency and Public Engagement in OPTN Policy Development–Maximus Federal Services will advance opportunities to improve public visibility and engagement in the OPTN policy-making process including improving transparency around OPTN policy-making committees’ deliberations and actions.
4. Strengthening Patient-Centered Communications–Deloitte Consulting will focus on improving communications from the OPTN, within the OPTN, and, importantly, with patients and families. 
5. Improving OPTN Financial Management–Guidehouse Digital will address improvements for OPTN’s budget development and management systems and processes. 

Together with HRSA’s actions earlier this summer to create a separate OPTN Board of Directors and award a new OPTN Board Support vendor, HRSA is taking critical and historic steps to modernize and improve the National organ transplant system– while ensuring access to lifesaving transplants continues without disruption.   

Artificial Intelligence can enhance the process as well

I can significantly enhance the process of finding organs for transplantation in several ways:

1. Matching Donors and Recipients

Data Analysis: AI algorithms can analyze vast amounts of data from donor and recipient medical records to identify the best matches based on compatibility factors, such as blood type, tissue type, and other health criteria.

Predictive Modeling: Machine learning models can predict which donors are likely to have organs that will be accepted by specific recipients, improving the chances of successful transplants.

2. Optimizing Organ Allocation

Logistics Management: AI can optimize the logistics of organ transportation by predicting the best routes and timing for organ delivery, ensuring that organs are transported efficiently and arrive in the best condition.

Resource Allocation: AI systems can help allocate organs not just based on medical needs but also by considering factors like geographical location and waiting times, ensuring a fair distribution.

3. Identifying Potential Donors

Health Records Analysis: AI can analyze electronic health records to identify potential organ donors more quickly, including those who may not have been considered otherwise.

Risk Assessment: Machine learning can help assess the risk factors associated with potential donors, aiding in the decision-making process for organ donation.

4. Monitoring and Predicting Outcomes

Post-Transplant Monitoring: AI can monitor recipients post-transplant, analyzing data from wearable devices and health records to predict complications and optimize recovery.

Long-Term Outcome Predictions: AI models can provide insights into the long-term success of transplants, helping to refine future matching processes.

5. Public Awareness and Education

Engagement Tools: AI can be used in chatbots and apps to educate the public about organ donation, improving awareness and potentially increasing the number of registered donors.

Conclusion

By leveraging AI technologies, the organ transplantation process can become more efficient, leading to better matches, improved outcomes, and ultimately, saving more lives.

August 2024  Updates

Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) Modernization Initiative | HRSA

What's Happening In Your Stomach? - Gastric Alimetry Review

There is a huge demand for a better understanding of the workings of our gastric systems, and so far, nobody has been able to meaningfully collect digital health data about them. Although the stomach is controlled by an electrical conduction system that regulates its contractions, the signals are a hundred times weaker than the heart's.

Imagine a device you wear that will measure the electrical activity of your gut. The technical challenge so far was to find a way to capture these mild signals in a clinically reliable way. A reliable solution that could either be used by patients at home or at the point of care would be a hit.

The Alimetry device has received FDA clearance. However, for the most current and accurate status regarding FDA approvals, it's best to check the official FDA website or consult recent news sources. Regulatory statuses can change, and new approvals or indications may have been granted.

What is in the ‘Body Surface Gastric Mapping System’ package?

A charger dock – with 4 different adapters for all kinds of global outlets, making the device universally usable. The dock needs to be plugged in to charge the reader

A reader with Bluetooth connectivity and wireless charging capability, you only need to place it on the dock, no wires are needed here. One confusing thing: once you pair your reader with the tablet, it stops showing battery charging levels, even if you disconnect them. The tricky part is that the app also keeps showing the battery charge level it had when it was paired, so you need to unpair and pair them again if you want to see the actual figure while charging  

Two packages of disposable arrays and array templates, each pair separately sealed

An iPad mini preinstalled with the Alimetry app – and locked to its exclusive use

A user manual booklet with very detailed information on the device, its parts, the setup, and the whole process.

What will the test deliver?

The test aims to detect the causes of overlapping gastric symptoms with distinct underlying phenotypes. In this study, researchers tested 43 patients with indistinguishable symptoms and were able to identify two distinct subgroups. 

The Gastric Alimetry platform is currently being used in clinical practice to differentiate between chronic nausea and vomiting syndromes (NVSs) that originate in the gut and those that arise through a centrally mediated pathway—a phenotype often tied to anxiety and depression.

The 64-channel reading of the Alimetry devices focuses on the fact that gastric dysfunctions are associated with abnormalities in the gastric bioelectrical slow waves. As shown in this study, the device was efficient in differentiating between patients having gastric neuromuscular disease or dysregulation of the brain-gut interaction. 

The tracing looks much like an electroencephalogram with multiple channels covering the abdomen. 

Conclusion

References:

American Journal of Gastroenterology. (a peer-reviewed article listed in PubMed, from the National Library of Medicine (NIH)  The American Journal of Gastroenterology 118(6):p 1047-1057, June 2023  DOI: 10.14309/ajg.0000000000002077

The Gastric Alimetry device is a first-of-a-kind solution, fully fitting all principles of digital health. It is making patients the point of care and it targets a niche area with massive demand. I am eager to see where Body Surface Gastric Mapping develops in the coming years.

The total time requirement of such a test is significant, patients need to dedicate a total of 10.5 hours to it. The discomfort of the prolonged process is tolerable, many gastric diagnostic methods are much more demanding. If you have chronic NVS and would like to find a way to detect its causes, it is well worth the effort. 

At the moment it seems Alimetry is a good tool to detect the underlying causes of chronic NVS, and the company is working on how to apply it to other gastrointestinal conditions, including functional dyspepsia and gastroparesis.

What's Happening In Your Stomach? - Gastric Alimetry Review

Concierge Medicine---Consider it

Direct Primary Care, with a monthly prepaid contract.

If you are young and fairly healthy with minor issues this plan costs less than your health insurance plan. You can supplement it with a major medical plan.

Unger’s blog | SignatureMD

The Nobel Prize in Physics 1901 - An illuminating accident - NobelPrize.org

Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen
The Nobel Prize in Physics 1901

Born: 27 March 1845, Lennep, Prussia (now Remscheid, Germany)

Died: 10 February 1923, Munich, Germany

Affiliation at the time of the award: Munich University, Munich, Germany

 Röntgen studied cathode radiation, which occurs when an electrical charge is applied to two metal plates inside a glass tube filled with rarefied gas. Although the apparatus was screened off, he noticed a faint light on light-sensitive screens that happened to be close by. Further investigations revealed that this was caused by a penetrating, previously unknown type of radiation. X-ray radiation became a powerful tool for physical experiments and examining the body's interior.

The Nobel Prize in Physics 1901 - Speed read: An illuminating accident - NobelPrize.org

Salivary Enzyme Behind Our Carb Cravings May Have Unexpectedly Ancient History – NIH Director's Blog

                   

In today's world our diet is far different from that of prehistoric man and even that of several centuries ago. Modern diets now contain many processed and genetically modified wheats, grains and domesticated animals such as cows, poultry, and pigs.

These foods are altered by freezing, and preservation.  In addition to those alterations they are not fresh, nor eaten immediately after harvesting or processing.

The packaging is often plastic leading to contamination with micro plastic particles.

Studies reveal microplastic particles in water, and in our blood stream. Microplastics are not biologically active and remain for indefinite periods.  It is not yet known what effects this will have on living systems.

Microplastic particles in blood

Microscopy of Intestine. A,B controls. C,D post ingestion of MP

Digestion involves much more than just your stomach. The digestive process that fuels your body begins in your mouth each time you take a bite of food and chew. An enzyme in your saliva, called amylase, then starts to break down complex carbohydrates—or starches found in many fruits, vegetables, and grains—into simpler sugars to give you their sweet flavor followed by a burst of energy.

Amylase is the reason we’re so good at turning starch into calories, but it isn’t the same for everyone. There’s plenty of genetic variation in the number of salivary amylase genes (AMY1) our cells carry and, therefore, in how much of this essential starch-busting enzyme people have. Studies have suggested a link between changes in amylase gene copy numbers over time and both the rise of agriculture and starch-heavy diets. Now a study in Science , supported in part by NIH, suggests that extra copies of AMY1 are not only connected to our ability to effectively digest carbs, but also may be more ancient than previously known, arising even before modern humans split from Neanderthals and long before the advent of farming.

Genomic studies reveal the amylase protein has evolved since paleolithic times.

The new findings come from a research team led by Omer Gokcumen  at The University of Buffalo, NY, and Charles Lee  of The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT.

JAX Farmington, CT

JAX Bar Harbor, ME

This variation in amylase genes would have afforded our ancestors dietary flexibility, allowing them to adapt as diets changed over time. But these discoveries aren’t only fascinating from an evolutionary or historical point of view. They may also lead to new understandings of genetic differences among people today, with potentially important implications for our metabolisms, nutrition, and health.

NIH Director's Blog

Salivary Enzyme Behind Our Carb Cravings May Have Unexpectedly Ancient History – NIH Director's Blog

Lawmakers aim to block Medicare payment cuts to doctors, but clock is ticking

Lawmakers in Congress are working to prevent planned Medicare payment cuts to physicians, much to the relief of a host of healthcare organizations.

Republicans and Democrats have sponsored a bill to avoid Medicare’s scheduled reduction in physician payments for 2025. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services have proposed a 2.8% cut in payments to doctors next year.  This despite the annual inflation rate of 2-5% annually.

The AMA said that Medicare payment rates have dropped 29% over the past 20 years, when including the higher costs of running practices. Doctors and their advocacy groups have said the continued cuts in recent years could hurt access to care, as physicians leave the profession or they opt not to accept Medicare patients.

On Tuesday, lawmakers introduced the legislation, dubbed the Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act. U.S. Reps. Greg Murphy, R-N.C., and Jimmy Panetta, D-Calif., are the prime sponsors, but other lawmakers, Republicans and Democrats alike, are backing the measure.

In addition to averting the cuts, the legislation would give doctors increases in payments that are equivalent to half the Medicare Economic Index, which reflects changes in the annual operating costs for physicians.

“Medical inflation is much higher and the cost of seeing patients continues to rise,” Murphy said. “Unfortunately, reimbursements continue to decline, putting immense pressure on doctors to retire, close their practices, forgo seeing new Medicare patients, or seek a less efficient employment position. 

Many physicians merged with other physicians or agreed to be purchased by venture capitalists, supposedly improving effficiency having a larger group, and consolidating management.   None of this proved to be true, and the downward spiral has continued.

This bipartisan legislation would stop yet another year of reimbursement cuts, give them a slight inflationary adjustment, and protect Medicare for physicians and patients alike."

Lawmakers aim to block Medicare payment cuts to doctors, but clock is ticking

How are emergency departments in the US going to deliver high-quality care

How are emergency departments in the US going to deliver high-quality care if payments to emergency medicine practices continue to decrease from private insurance companies, government insurers, and patients - all at the same time? 

A strong emergency medicine system needs a stable funding source to deliver 24-7 care to acutely ill and injured people, no matter where they live or who they are. Do we really want to skimp on life-saving care?

Check out the article, "UnitedHealth Emails Reveal Tension Over Cuts to Doctor Pay" in Bloomberg by John Tozzi. Excerpt:

Doc Pay Cuts Sparked Strife at Insurer

UnitedHealth Group systematically cut its payments to out-of-network doctors for emergency department (ED) visits and mental health care, sparking internal tension, according to newly unsealed court documents reported by Bloombergopens in a new tab or window.

The records open a window into the workings of its UnitedHealthcare unit, the largest U.S. health insurer, and shed light on a bitter battle between financial heavyweights in the $5 trillion U.S. medical system,"UnitedHealth Group Inc. systematically cut what it paid for emergency room visits and mental health care to doctors outside of its network, sparking internal tension over how those changes were handled and the potential effect on members, newly unsealed court documents show.

The records open a window into the workings of its UnitedHealthcare unit, the largest US health insurer, and shed light on a bitter battle between financial heavyweights in the $5 trillion US medical system. Doctors have long blamed the company for refusing to fully cover their bills, with private equity-backed physician groups filing a string of lawsuits accusing it of shortchanging clinicians from outside of its insurance network.

...The senior vice president questioned plans to cut reimbursement levels for out-of-network emergency room visits. UnitedHealth had already reduced payments from 450% of what Medicare pays — the benchmark that many insurers use as a starting point for their own figures — to 250%, and the company planned to drop it further to 150%, according to the email.

How can an emergency room visit be out of network?  A patient with a critical condition such as crushing chest pain, loss of consciousness, stroke is taken to the nearest level I or II emergency deparrtment, by law. To do so otherwise would be against standard of care.

At the April trial, an executive testified that the company didn’t move forward with the deepest cuts, according to a transcript.

Such a cut would have put UnitedHealth below national averages: Employers and private insurers paid on average about 250% of Medicare’s reimbursement in 2022, researchers from the Rand Corp. reported, counting both in-network and out-of-network rates. Providers often accept discounted payments in exchange for network agreements that give them greater access to patients.

hashtag #emergencymedicine

#American College of Emergency Physicians

#American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM)

#Society of Emergency Medicine Physician Assistants (SEMPA)

#Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

#Society of Physician Entrepreneurs

Numerous employers brought suite against UHC

‘Californian Votes Really Matter’: What the Election Could Mean for Reproductive Health | KQED

Dr. Sophia Yen finds it difficult to talk about the future her daughters could face under a second Trump presidency without tearing up.

Yen, co-founder of an organization specializing in reproductive care, fears their access to such vital care could be further limited if former President Donald Trump wins the election. And she’s not alone.

“How do I get two girls through college?” Yen asked, pointing to the fact that 1 in 4 undergraduate women have reported being sexually assaulted.

Nationwide, she said, reproductive rights have “already gone back. And we need to fix it.”

After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, spurring some states to limit access to abortion, infant mortality rates increased — in Texas, by as much as 13%. Pinning down the maternal mortality rate is harder. According to a recent study from the Commonwealth Fund, women were more at risk of dying at or around childbirth in states with stricter abortion laws. In Texas, the maternal mortality rate rose 56% from 2019 to 2022, while nationally, it ticked up 11%, according to the research nonprofit Gender Equity Policy Institute.

According to a Gallup Poll released this summer, 54% of Americans identify as pro-choice, maintaining “historically high levels” of support for abortion rights since the overturning of Roe v. Wade. And 32% of registered voters said they would only vote for a candidate that shared the same views as them on abortion, up 8 points since 2020.

In an election featuring two candidates with wildly differing views on abortion who are polling extremely closely, Bay Area residents and experts are left to wait and see what the future of healthcare holds.

Even though state laws protect the right to an abortion in California, Yen — who is also a professor at Stanford Medical School — said the stakes are still high for abortion-rights voters in the Bay Area.

“For Californians, we think we’re protected,” she said. “But we’re not.”

In truth the Dobbs Act, rescinding the Federal decision to allow abortions, the Dobbs act moves the dedecision to the states.   Many states have already passed laws allowing abortion under certain circumstances.

alifornian Votes Really Matter’: What the Election Could Mean for Reproductive Health | KQED

Better Surgery?

Stop the B.S.

A decade ago, a Pew survey found that 92% of Americans preferred financial 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 over upward 𝗺𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆. If we asked for a healthcare equivalent today, the answer would be the same: people want a stable, functional, reliable healthcare system more than the latest drug, device, or procedure.

Yet, the system churns out endless “progress” and “innovation”:
💊 A new drug with fewer side effects!
🪚 A better surgical technique with less bleeding!
🩸 A blood test that cuts ER visit times by 12 minutes!

Medical research never asks: How do we make care feel stable and dependable? Where are the innovations that get you an appointment in 1 week instead of 2 months? Where is the NIH grant focused on creating day-to-day reliability?

Maybe we’re just building products that don’t fit what the “customer” wants. Do we have no product-market fit?