We have worked with medical device companies, politicians, and technology companies to find innovative solutions to the most difficult problems.
DISRUPTIVE INNOVATIONS IN HEALTHCARE
The Problem: Millions of Americans lack access to affordable, quality, primary healthcare resulting in expensive overutilization of emergency rooms
The Status Quo Solution: Build more medical schools and educate more physicians
Innovation: Use telephonic, video, web based technology to increase the fractions of unused and inefficient time in the doctors’ day
Pragmatic Solution: Use electronic health records, video and telephonic consultations providing the tools for doctors consult with patients remotely. Quality metrics were built around the interaction.
Results: Teladoc, Inc. becomes the nation’s largest telehealth company
BIO-THREAT TO UNPROTECTED PEOPLE
The Problem: Emerging viruses and bio-terrorism threatens humanity
Status Quo Solution: Wait for virus emergence and scramble for immunization
Innovation: Create and distribute a safe, effective protective device
Pragmatic Solution: Using nano-technology and electro-chemistry, create an anti-viral, anti-bacterial comfortable mask.
Results: Filligent, Inc. (later Ionixx, Inc.) creates “Bio-Friend Mask” and C & A Bio distributes to the US government
TELEMEDICINE HEALTHCARE FOR AMERICANS LACKS QUALITY ASSURANCE
The Problem: Telemedicine is used to treat hundreds of thousands of Americans, yet has no quality metrics
Status Quo Solution: Allow doctors to practice according to their standards
Innovation: Create web-based technology to communicate in real time with remote doctors
Pragmatic Solution: Evidence-based protocols, guidelines, educational modules, quality assurance metrics imbedded into doctors interaction with patients
Results: Teladoc, Inc receives first National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) accreditation
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PROPOSES TO CLOSE DOWN TELEMEDICINE THROUGH DRACONIAN RULES
The Problem: The US Senate proposes Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) which has an amendment that effectively criminalizes telemedicine
Status Quo Solution: Lobby to eliminate the amendment
Innovation: Web-based mobilization of all interested parties (patients, insurance companies, providers, health systems [ERs], employers)
Pragmatic Solution: Mobilize patients and businesses helped by telemedicine in the Chairman’s state. Have a mutually trusted leader meet with the Chairman the morning of the vote
Results: Senate and House Bills (SB 3187, HR 5651) pass without the telemedicine killer amendment.
CHILDREN LACK ACCESS TO QUALITY TELEMEDICINE
The Problem: Although adults receive measurable quality, affordable, access to telemedicine, children do not have the same opportunity
The Status Quo Solution: Allow all telemedicine doctors to care for children
Innovation: Use electronic health records, video and telephonic consultations providing the tools for doctors consult with patients remotely.
Pragmatic Solution: Build a national network of Board certified, state licensed pediatricians to use telephonic, video, web based technology to increase the fractions of unused and inefficient time in their day. Quality metrics were built around the interaction.
Results: Teladoc, Inc. becomes the nation’s largest telehealth company serving children .
THE UNITED STATES LACKS ENOUGH PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS
The Problem: The United States has too few primary care physicians to care for its population resulting in over-utilization of emergency rooms and expensive, inefficient care. Young doctors seek higher paying specialties with less after-hours responsibility
The Status Quo Solution: Build more medical schools and educate more physicians
Innovation: Bring doctors to patients instead of the reverse. Increase the fractions of available time within a doctor’s day by using telemedicine to connect doctors to remote patients.
Pragmatic Solution: Pay physicians for their time on telephone calls. Hire physicians who are effective yet retired, disabled, stay-at-home mothers and fathers, locum tenens, and ER specialists (work other times than their shifts), or whose practice is not at 100% capacity.
Results: Hundreds of thousands and potentially millions of people have convenient, affordable, access to quality healthcare.