AMA, Sling Expand Work to Add Doctor Input into Health IT Innovation

The American Medical Association (AMA) and student-run biotech incubator Sling Health are expanding their joint efforts to include physicians in health IT innovation to improve clinical workflows and patient care. The two organizations are compiling insights from physicians in their clinical problem database, which will become a feature on the AMA’s Physician Innovation Network, an online community that connects and matches physicians with digital health companies and entrepreneurs. The physician insights are shared with Sling Health’s network of young entrepreneurs to inspire development of cutting-edge health IT and other medical technologies with a focus on clinical challenges. “Physicians and entrepreneurs are passionate about transforming health care, and by engaging collaboratively they can advance innovation that makes the health system work better for everyone,” said Michael Tutty, PhD, group vice president of professional satisfaction and practice sustainability at the AMA. “Through our collaboration with Sling Health, the AMA is helping physicians and medical students take on a greater role in driving technology forward that responds to real clinical needs. Gaining insights from physicians will help make medical technology an asset, not a burden,” Tutty added. The Physician Innovation Network includes more than 3,000 physicians and medical students, as well as roughly 1,800 entrepreneurs. Physicians matched with entrepreneurs through the network have consulted in a range of areas, such as improving clinical workflow, assisting to eliminate the guesswork for spinal punctures, piloting emerging solutions and identifying developers to co-develop solutions for pressing needs.