AMA, Sling Health partner to help doctors shape tech innovation

The American Medical Association and a student-run biotechnology incubator are working to ensure that healthcare entrepreneurs incorporate physician feedback into their digital health solutions.

The AMA and Sling Health have launched the Clinical Problem Database as part of the Physician Innovation Network (PIN), AMA’s online community that connects and matches doctors with startups.

The database will be used to gather input from physicians on suggested improvements to clinical efficiency and patient care that will help to shape new medical technology product development.

According to the AMA, doctors are often treated as an “afterthought” when developers design their digital health products. What’s needed instead, contends the physician group, is the ability to co-develop technology solutions that actually meet the needs of clinicians and advance healthcare delivery.

“Physicians and entrepreneurs are passionate about transforming healthcare, and by engaging collaboratively, they can advance innovation that makes the health system work better for everyone,” says Michael Tutty, group vice president of professional satisfaction and practice sustainability at 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,” adds Tutty. “Gaining insights from physicians will help make medical technology an asset, not a burden.”

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“The best medical technologies directly tackle pressing clinical needs, enabling higher quality, less expensive and more efficient care,” says Stephen Linderman, president of Sling Health. “Working with the physicians nationally through the AMA, teams of innovative students across the country are able to create new medical technology to address problems impacting providers on the front lines of patient care.”