[ad_1]
The United States spends more on health care than any other developed country, yet has the worst outcomes. Here are the hard numbers: We spend 16.6% of our GDP on health care, compared to most developed countries, which spend an average of 9.2% of GDP. Despite this, the United States performs worse than average on 77% of health status indicators, including life expectancy and amputations due to diabetes, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
“We’re paying a lot of money for a system that’s fragmented and impersonal, and doesn’t work for most people,” says Dr. Assaf Bitton, executive director of the Boston-based Ariadne Labs Health Innovation Center and an associate professor at Harvard Medical School.
He points out that the root cause is that the US health care system does not focus on prevention. Instead, it is geared toward a system of specialists who look at individual problems. Most cases are treated only when they become emergencies, which is bad for the individuals and the system. “We’re good at caring for acute patients, but we’re less good at building longitudinal relationships that maintain and improve health,” says Peyton.
Many of the companies recognized this year as the most innovative companies in healthcare are stepping forward to pick up the pieces. For example, digital health company Egnite wants to reimagine heart disease care. It uses AI-powered data analysis to screen patients for early symptoms of stroke and heart failure before they become life-threatening.
CopilotIQ attempts to improve health care for older Americans by offering a more comprehensive view of their health through personalized suggestions. It provides remote healthcare monitoring and collects 1,000 times more patient health data than a traditional doctor’s office. Patients also receive weekly calls from nurses who provide coaching based on their results.
Children’s Health, based in Texas, trains primary care providers to diagnose and treat mental health conditions in order to address the mental health crisis in youth. The average wait list for a psychiatrist visit is three months or more, if the psychiatrist is taking new patients at all. The Child Health Program aims to have children receive preventive mental health care before they reach crisis point.
The other side of the coin is making health care more affordable. “The challenges of cost, equity and access are the quiet roaring train that continues to move through health care,” says Peyton. Included Health works with employers to help them get better health outcomes for every dollar they spend on employees, by partnering with high-quality healthcare providers. Walmart has cut 11% of the total cost of care, reducing hospital readmissions by 26%. Galileo offers affordable health care to small employers, at $19 per month per employee instead of about $700, which is the industry standard.
“If you don’t have a strong primary care system that coordinates and integrates care, you’re paying for a very top-heavy system that prioritizes expensive technological measures,” says Peyton, noting that the United States spends much less on primary care than other countries. . “There is a real opportunity here for companies that can figure out how to scale and support improved primary care outcomes across the system.”
Explore Fast Company’s complete 2024 list of Most Innovative Companies, featuring 606 organizations that are reshaping industries and culture. We’ve selected the companies with the biggest impact across 58 categories, including advertising, AI, design, sustainability, and more.
[ad_2]
Source link
