Disruptive companies transforming healthcare

The systemic disposition towards a treatment-first approach - focusing on managing illnesses - rather than a preventative-first approach is at the heart of many cost-related issues in the American health system. This approach tends to treats problems when they’re more fully formed, which can lead to higher costs and suboptimal outcomes. Slowly but surely, we are shifting paradigms - propelled in part by the rise of value-based care as well as a growing emphasis on preventative health. At the bleeding edge of this transformation is the startup ecosystem, redefining how healthcare is consumed and delivered.

Digital twins allow physicians to create virtual replicas of patients, allowing clinicians to simulate treatments, predict outcomes, and tailor interventions with high levels of precision. But this is only accurate if the underlying model is accurate. Understanding where these models come from helps answer how can we trust these virtual models in critical healthcare applications.

The healthcare landscape is undergoing a significant transformation, as more and more doctors move to concierge and direct primary care models. We discuss why this is happening, and the implications for the health system as a whole.

At-home care delivery is at the forefront of the healthcare transformation. At Bedford Bridge, we are continually exploring opportunities to invest in innovative companies that align with our mission of improving human health and patient outcomes, and we are constantly on the lookout for themes that have asymmetric upside, anchored by technology, with category defining, de-risked businesses. We recently identified and analyzed nearly 100 companies innovating within the at-home care delivery space - the sector is exceptionally promising and merits closer examination.

The healthcare industry’s workforce shortages are only getting worse. Allowing technology to address many of the challenges is a paramount issue. It is vital that regulation and norms continue to allow technology-driven solutions to address the underlying challenges that we see today.

Healthcare delivery is hard. It is challenging even for companies where it constitutes a primary business focus. For retailers like Walmart and Walgreens, whose core competencies lie elsewhere, it proved even harder.

Technology companies must understand the flow of money and deliver better products aligned with the existing transaction models, as opposed to unwinding entrenched market participants that would otherwise have every incentive to resist change.

Real-world evidence helps provide insights into the effectiveness, safety, and value of medical interventions in real-world settings. This is possible through sophisticated analysis of real-world data to answer specific questions.