Boutique investment bank Progress Partners added a managing director earlier this month as part of a move into digital health. It’s previously focused on media, marketing and enterprise technology, among other areas. But as deal value in the digital health sector has grown, the company sees more opportunities to invest and advise entrepreneurs in the sector on strategic planning, financing and M&A.
Jake Boos previously was the Chief Technology Officer with PatientPoint, a health IT company that develops patient education and care management tools. Earlier this year Dr. Geeta Nayyar moved from AT&T to PatientPoint to work as Chief Medical Information Officer. Boos works with senior managing director Chris Legg. He previously worked as a managing partner for technology investor Tandem Expansion Funds in Montreal and as a partner with Argo Global Capital.
In response to an emailed question on which areas of healthcare technology interest him, Boos identified population health management, clinical decision support and patient engagement. “[They are] changing the game by identifying gaps in care, reducing duplicate orders and preventing costly hospital re-admissions,” he said. “All of these technologies will deliver improved quality of care at a lower cost.”
With the Rise of AI, What IP Disputes in Healthcare Are Likely to Emerge?
Munck Wilson Mandala Partner Greg Howison shared his perspective on some of the legal ramifications around AI, IP, connected devices and the data they generate, in response to emailed questions.
Asked about the challenge of using health IT to respond to the needs of the under-served senior market, Boos said: “The key is technology that integrates into the lives of seniors seamlessly with intuitive design. Cram a space-age gizmo down their throats with tiny buttons and it will end up in the garbage. But give them an iPad for their check-in at the doctor’s office with a simple interface and they’ll smile, fill it out just as fast as paper and then tell all of their friends that their doctor is ‘cutting edge.’ Technology doesn’t have to be scary.”
