I am genuinely inspired by the work being done to further the cause of health. This month alone, three developments have struck me as particularly game-changing.
The first was how researchers at Northwestern University and Washington University School of Medicine have developed the first bioelectronic medicine, a wireless device that is implanted at the site of nerve damage to speed regeneration and healing. After a period of time, the biodegradable device disintegrates and is absorbed by the body.
The second comes from predictive medicine, where University of Washington researchers have created a machine-learning system called Prescience that uses patient data and operating-room sensors to predict the likelihood that a patient in surgery will develop low blood oxygen, allowing surgeons to better anticipate complications and use real data to recommend the best treatment for each patient.
Finally, exciting advances are also happening in precision medicine. By leveraging machine learning to analyze massive amounts of patient data, practitioners will soon be able to administer specific treatments according to a patient’s particular biological signatures.
Stronger Together
What strikes me about each of these examples is that none of them could have been accomplished by experts in just one field of study. Bioelectric, predictive and precision medicine draw upon the expertise of physician-scientists, engineers, statisticians, computer scientists – just to name a few. Only by combining the knowledge and skills of multiple disciplines – each of which takes a lifetime of study to master – have these accomplishments been made.
While some of these examples are still years from clinical use, the rate at which medicine and medical technology continues to advance is truly remarkable. Unfortunately, some hospitals are struggling to acquire advanced technology that is already available. In an industry that operates on average margins of less than five percent, cash-strapped providers are often forced to choose between medical technology upgrades and other competing and equally important capital priorities.
Partners in Progress
For more than 30 years, DLL has worked with healthcare manufacturers and technology providers to navigate the dynamic healthcare marketplace, making sure hospitals, clinics, general practitioners, and laboratories can acquire the tools they need to provide their patients the highest level of care. DLL’s deep understanding of healthcare markets and individual assets allows us to customize financial solutions that address the unique financial challenges of the healthcare industry.
In the last three decades, assets have become more sophisticated and the needs of our partners have changed. Thirty years ago, the primary concern was financing the equipment itself. Today, this has evolved into bundled solutions (including equipment, maintenance and consumables) that address the total cost of ownership (TCO) of each asset. Examples include Managed Equipment Services agreements and usage-based offerings. And as technology continues to advance – especially in areas of data collection and the Internet of Things (IoT), we are committed to developing new and even better ways to ensure our partners have what they need to provide the highest possible level of care.
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The academics and researchers whose work is mentioned above have embraced the idea of leveraging the strengths of others to accomplish something neither could do alone, a concept DLL firmly embraces.
