Hi there. Today’s newsletter is 575 words-long, or a 2-minute read.
Think about it 💡
📈 In the first half of 2024, the digital health sector showed it's got more resilience than a rubber band, with early-stage funding providing a solid boost. U.S. digital health startups raked in $5.7 billion across 266 deals, setting the stage for 2024 to possibly outshine 2019 and 2023. Early-stage deals, especially Series A rounds, were on fire, fueled by hefty investments in AI-powered innovations. The decline in unlabeled funding rounds hints at a return to more stable investment rhythms, while the IPO market sprang back to life with three companies making their debut in Q2. Even though digital health firms are playing it cool with fewer acquisitions, private equity has stepped up its game, showing that this sector isn't just surviving—it's thriving and ready for sustainable growth.
🩺 Physician burnout rates have finally dipped below 50% for the first time since COVID-19 turned the world on its head, according to the AMA. Last year, 48% of doctors reported feeling burnt out, a nice drop from 53% in 2022 and a staggering 63% in 2021. While this is a step in the right direction, the burnout battle is far from over. Doctors are leaving in droves, digging a gaping hole in patient care. The CDC has cooked up a plan to make mental health support easier for health workers to access, and a 2022 law funneled over $100 million into burnout reduction programs—though this funding might vanish unless Congress steps in. To truly tackle burnout, we need to cut the red tape and boost access to mental health care. After all, physician burnout is costing the U.S. a cool $4.6 billion annually in turnover and lost clinical hours.
System sizzle 🌶️
…your zoom in on ingenious health systems.
🏥 Mount Sinai is charging full steam ahead to embed artificial intelligence throughout its IT systems in the next five years, recognizing AI not just as a passing craze but as a critical edge in healthcare competitiveness. Bruce Darrow, Chief Digital and Information Officer, stresses the imperative of implementing AI safely, effectively, fairly, and ethically. Tackling obstacles head-on, Mount Sinai focuses on ensuring AI delivers real-time, actionable insights to the right care teams, moving beyond dull data displays. Ongoing initiatives span predictive models for patient care, creative AI for documentation, and tools supporting radiologists in diagnoses, all while streamlining operational efficiency. Looking forward, Mount Sinai envisions AI seamlessly woven into clinical workflows, equipping clinicians with timely information during patient interactions and decision-making, with the goal of integrating AI insights fluidly rather than as isolated nudges. Rather sizzling.
Neat News 🗞️
💰 Mental health start-up Meela raised €2.6 million in seed funding for its patient-therapist matchmaking platform. Neat.
💸 AI-powered Regard raised $61M to find missed illness, boost hospital revenue. Super neat.
🎉 Illinois-based Carle Health is bringing Epic-integrated Nabla to their 1,500 providers. Unbiasedly, we think this is pretty neat indeed.
Clean Content 🧼
🛒 David Wainer dissects why trying to Walmart-ify healthcare falls flat.
💡 Christina Farr and Randi Seigel have dropped the ultimate cheat sheet on how policymakers are regulating AI in healthcare.
🚢 Navigating the ambient AI seas of clinical documentation? No sweat, we've got the playbook right here.
This is what you came for 🍑
🧹 Ever wondered why some couples go the distance while others hit the skids? Apparently, it's not just about love—it's about who's willing to get their hands dirty (literally). According to the extramarital expert Gleeden (not exactly peer-reviewed material, but well), 73% of women who ventured off the beaten path blamed their partners' chore aversion. Turns out, women still spend an extra 74 minutes a day scrubbing and sweeping compared to men. And here's a cheeky twist—research out of the University of Alberta hints that chipping in around the house might just lead to more than just a tidy living room, if ya know what we mean. So, gents, if you want to keep the flame burning, maybe it's time to grab that sponge and embrace the art of choreplay.
Byeeeee,
🙌 A massive shoutout to the brilliant minds who fueled the Hoagie this week - Adriana Krasniansky, Mihir Somaiya, Sari Kaganoff, Maya Goldman, Naomi Diaz, David Wainer, Femtech Insider, Marina Temkin, Emma Beavins.