We always hear that 5% of people consume 50% of a population’s health spending. I call this group “The Five Percenters.” This is the reason why there are initiatives worth hundreds of billions of dollars— things like Medicare Advantage— and the subsequent rush of billions of VC money into that crowded space. The thinking is the 5% cohort are heavy users and designing for this … Continue reading Focusing on heavy users of healthcare is the wrong way to control costs.

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When I was in med school, there was a term we used to describe the folks at the top of the class— a “gunner.” I wasn’t one as I had very little interest in studying 100 hours a week just to be in the top 3. I always needed balance in my life. I was too curious about photography or exploring nature around me or … Continue reading On being a gunner (and taking a break)

To officially diagnose COVID-19, a physical test must be performed. Here’s what telehealth should be able to do: ‪1: Establish pre-test probability of disease from patient self-reported symptoms. ‪2: Based on symptoms, communicate to the patient detailed next steps and exactly where to go and what to do. 3: Connect pre-test probability with actual test results. 4: Maintain a relationship with the patient throughout the … Continue reading What is the role of telehealth at this stage of the COVID-19 pandemic?

Urgent care and telehealth exist because PCPs made themselves inaccessible. Both urgent care and telehealth are symptoms of dysfunction. Healthcare, at its core, is just communication. Now that humans communicate with far more modalities than just in-person meetings, why should some doctors say “I only talk with you via a quick video chat and you can’t ever talk to me again” and others say “I … Continue reading Telehealth is a feature, not a company

Sherpaa launched on February 7, 2012. And on February 7, 2019 Crossover Health acquired Sherpaa. I’ve joined Crossover to lead the development of our platform. And our doctors will continue to deliver the same level of care our Members have come to expect. Today is the dawn of a new era in healthcare. And we’re chomping at the bits to show you an entirely new care … Continue reading Sherpaa + Crossover Health

Today’s tech, by nature, is designed to optimize a user’s experience, streamline processes, and do it as inexpensively as possible. Lyft, Uber, Airbnb, you name it. That’s the point of technology. Tech has revolutionized the world because a user cares about these things and entrepreneurs can now easily build services that unlock whole new ways of doing things. So, what does this mean for healthcare? … Continue reading Better, faster, cheaper— but for whom?

Any time a healthcare innovation gains traction, the old guard screams “show me the data that proves this new thing is better!” And then the press jumps in and starts trolling everyone because controversy drives clicks and page views and revenue, and trolling is today’s business model for the press. Here’s the latest example: Leapfrog, a group that rates hospitals, is going to start rating … Continue reading The old guard’s definition of the gold standard is the primary reason why healthcare innovations flounder.