Healthcare Archives

Revolutionizing Healthcare: Roles of AI, Machine Learning

November 14, 2023 Brad Gerick

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning in healthcare is poised to revolutionize the industry by enhancing efficiency, transforming medical education and augmenting the role of healthcare professionals.

The latest Private Equity Insights Report from BluWave shows strong interest in AI data analytics as well as robust activity in the healthcare industry.

LISTEN: The Window of Opportunity: Healthcare and PE Insights

Scott Becker, founder of Becker’s Healthcare and Partner at McGuireWoods, discussed these topics with BluWave CEO and Founder Sean Mooney on the Karma School of Business podcast.

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Efficiency in Healthcare Processes

Becker’s insights into the role of AI in healthcare reveal a significant shift toward efficiency, particularly in areas like revenue cycle management.

He spoke to the remarkable reduction in workforce requirements.

“You’ve got places that have 1,500 employees. They can get down to 1,000 employees with using AI,” he said.

This reduction is not about diminishing the human element but rather reallocating it. By automating routine and repetitive tasks, AI allows healthcare professionals to focus their expertise on more complex and nuanced cases.

This shift is not just a matter of numbers; it represents a fundamental change in how healthcare operations are managed. Becker elaborated on the challenges faced in staffing these roles.

“A lot of those jobs are relatively lower-wage jobs where the turnover was tremendous,” he added.

This also speaks to the importance of AI in creating a more stable and focused workforce.

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Transformation of Medical Education

Becker also said that the medical education system is in dire need of an update.

“Medical school is still designed pre-internet,” he said. “A specialist isn’t out of school until they’re in their early thirties.”

This not only prolongs the training period but also imposes significant financial and mental burdens on aspiring medical professionals.

“You’ve got this horribly inefficient medical school program and residency training program,” he added.

By leveraging artificial intelligence for educational purposes, the learning process can be significantly streamlined, reducing both time and cost for students.

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Augmentation of Medical Professional Roles

There are many use cases for existing medical professionals as well. Mooney offered one example.

“They’re going to have these amazing copilots that will help do all those kind of brain sequences,” he said.

Mooney views AI as a tool to assist, rather than replace, human expertise. AI’s ability to process vast amounts of data and identify patterns can significantly enhance the diagnostic process, allowing medical professionals to focus on critical decision-making and patient care.

“I don’t think you could ever turn them over to the robots, at least in our visible future,” Mooney added.

The integration of AI promises to elevate the quality of healthcare, making it more precise, personalized and effective.

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While the potential of AI in healthcare is immense, challenges such as resistance to change and vested interests could impede its adoption. Its future prospects, however, are promising.

The integration of AI and machine learning in healthcare represents a significant shift toward more efficient, effective and personalized care.

The invite-only Business Builders’ Network is full of AI experts who work with healthcare businesses on a regular basis.

Connect with our research and operations team, and they’ll provide a short list of tailor-made resources within 24 hours.

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Scott Becker of McGuireWoods: Insights from the Mind Behind Becker’s Healthcare

September 8, 2023 Brad Gerick

When Scott Becker speaks, the healthcare and private equity sectors listen. As a partner with McGuireWoods and the founder and publisher of Becker’s Healthcare and Becker’s Hospital Review, Scott’s insights are invaluable. Recently, he shared his journey and perspectives on the Karma School of Business podcast, hosted by Sean Mooney.

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3 Takeaways from Scott

1. The Evolution of Becker’s Healthcare

“I started it literally 30 plus years ago,” Becker began, “trying to develop a reputation as somebody who knew the business and legal issues around, at that point, surgery centers, better than anybody else.”

This drive was not just about establishing a brand but about creating a niche in a saturated market. Scott’s vision for Becker’s Healthcare was rooted in his legal background and his desire to provide thought leadership in the healthcare sector.

Over the years, the focus of Becker’s Healthcare expanded. While it was initially centered around surgery centers, it now revolves around hospitals, health systems and health IT, among other areas. This evolution showcases Scott’s adaptability and his keen sense for market needs.

2. Recognizing and Capitalizing on Opportunities

“A lot of it is not brilliant. It’s following what’s working and doubling down on it as a constant business imperative,” Scott emphasized.

This approach is not about reinventing the wheel but about recognizing what’s effective and enhancing it. Scott’s success is a testament to his ability to identify emerging trends and strategically position himself and his ventures to benefit from them.

Mooney, echoing this sentiment, added, “If you’re the smartest person in the room, you need to find a new room.”

Healthcare Resources

3. Challenges and Trends in Healthcare

Scott delved deep into the current landscape of healthcare, highlighting several significant trends: “Challenges with margins, labor shortages, especially in the physician and nursing sectors, and the increasing involvement of various players in the healthcare space.”

These challenges are not isolated but are interconnected, shaping the future of healthcare. For instance, as healthcare sites increase, there’s a projected shortage in certain specialties, like anesthesiologists. This, in turn, affects patient care, with many unable to access their doctors promptly, leading to a resurgence in ER visits.

Scott’s insights provide a comprehensive overview of the challenges and opportunities in the healthcare sector, offering a roadmap for professionals navigating this complicated domain.

READ MORE: Specialized Healthcare Recruiters

Becker’s keen insights offer a deep dive into the intricacies of healthcare and private equity. His journey from attorney to entrepreneur and his ability to recognize and seize opportunities make him a voice worth listening to in the industry.

When you’re done checking out his episode, head to the main BluWave podcast page for more conversations with business leaders.

Healthcare Compliance: Due Diligence Checklist

August 21, 2023 Brad Gerick

Healthcare is a hot sector for private equity firms looking to acquire new portfolio companies.

Buy-side commercial due diligence on healthcare compliance is table stakes before any deal gets done.

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One expert service provider from our network says his firm has seen an influx of diligence requests in this industry since the beginning of 2022, and it hasn’t slowed down since.

“There continues to be a lot of interest in the healthcare sector, whether it’s device manufacturers or contract manufacturers, and even services,” Don Jenkins* of M&A Healthcare Experts says. “Whether it’s tele-health-related services or just other technology platforms that can address healthcare service delivery.”

Here are some of the top trends and must-haves in healthcare due diligence.

Private Equity: Healthcare Sector

With so much money to spend on hand, Jenkins says that middle-market private equity is all over the map.

When he thinks about the last 50 projects they have done for private equity firms, he estimates they would span 20 different markets.

There are a couple, however, that have stood out since as we head deeper into an uncertain, if not turbulent economy. One of those is healthcare.

Firms want to dig deep to learn more about the devices and software systems being used in hospitals. Just as popular, though, are in-home services that allow people to receive diagnosis and treatment from the comfort of their home. This trend has become especially important since the onset of COVID.

Healthcare Due Diligence Process

“Essentially the goal of commercial due diligence is to validate the story that the target’s telling, or to identify the reality of the marketplace out there so that they can make an informed decision on their investment,” Jenkins says.

While the fundamentals of commercial due diligence are the same from one market to another, there are nuances to businesses based in hospitals, pharmacies and other related medical organizations.

Since these companies are creating or using products that affect people’s health, there’s increased risk, which means more scrutiny is needed.

“It can be a very different set of objectives, but if it’s a product, then there definitely will be regulatory issues involved,” Jenkins says.

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Top Trends in Healthcare Due Diligence

Service providers in healthcare aren’t just trying to make better products and improve services, they also want to be more affordable.

“It’s still technology, but we’re not trying to design the greatest device, the greatest stent in the world, or the greatest cardiovascular diagnostic product ever made,” Jenkins says. “It’s really what sort of products and services can we develop that are going to not only get the job done, but do it in a more cost-effective manner so that it’s more affordable for the healthcare ecosystem.”

In particular, that ecosystem includes insurance providers and patients. The easier it is for them to engage with a health company’s products or services, the more successful the business will be.

“There are just a lot of moving parts in healthcare that make it an interesting space,” Jenkins adds.

BluWave co-head of research and operations Scott Bellinger most frequently fields calls related to these areas:

Medical Devices: “Regulatory review on manufacturing processes to make sure they’re FDA compliant.”
Operational Diligence: “Understand how you can manufacture those devices at a faster more efficient clip.”
Ancillary Service Buildouts: “For example, if you’re ear, nose and throat, do they have an ambulatory services center?”

Jenkins isn’t the only one seeing an increased demand for commercial due diligence in healthcare. It continues to be one of the most important industries to our clients as well.

That’s why we spend so much time connecting with and evaluating due diligence service providers who know healthcare – and every other sector that touches private equity – inside-out, backward and forward.

Our research and operations team takes a hands-on, white-glove approach to every project they service, from the first scoping call until after the engagement is complete.

If you’re looking for proven, PE-grade service providers to conduct buy-side diligence on your healthcare acquisition, contact us today. We’ll provide two or three best-fit options for your exact situation and specific needs within a single business day. From there, we’ll hold the third-party resource accountable and make sure they’re meeting all your needs until the ink is dry.

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*Privacy is important to us. While the source and company name have been changed, these are real quotations from a real service provider in the BluWave Business Builders’ Network.