AI In Healthcare: A Conversation With Jack Stoddard, CEO, Patina

In July 2022, Amazon acquired One Medical in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $3.9 billion. According to an Amazon press release, One Medical is a human-centered, technology-powered national primary care organization on a mission to make quality care more affordable, accessible, and enjoyable through a seamless combination of in-person, digital, and virtual care services that are convenient to where people work, shop, and live. The premise is to reinvent the healthcare experience. Even prior to this acquisition, One Medical strived to leverage technology and AI to drive a strong patient and provider experience and to optimally manage population health.

Before One Medical made the news, Patina launched with $57 million in funding from Andreesen Horowitz and GV (Google Ventures) in late October 2021. Patina is led by Jack Stoddard, a healthcare executive with an impressive set of experiences – Eden Health, Haven, Accolade and Optum. Patina’s mission is to profoundly improve the healthcare and aging experience for older adults and the loved ones who care about them. I talked to Jack to better understand his thesis and motivations with Patina. Here are some key takeaways:

Why the focus on adults 65 and over?

Jack: Everyone deserves a better care experience that’s led by a team who sees them; who understands their values, goals and preferences; and who creates a personalized plan that enables each person to live their fullest lives. The current system is built with hospitals and clinics at the center, and aligned to the needs of the average adult, resulting in one-size-fits-all care, delivered in the production model of short, episodic and transactional office visits. This model doesn’t work for older adults, who have unique clinical and psychosocial needs that affect their ability to live independently and enjoy the highest quality of life. A model that achieves this goal doesn’t exist in healthcare today, so we are building it.

Why primary care?

Jack: Primary care is the backbone for overall health. When done right, primary care reduces healthcare spending and improves health outcomes. Primary care practitioners have the opportunity to understand patients holistically – their story, values, preferences, goals – and help them make informed decisions. There are many opportunities today for innovation and growth in this market. Primary care lends itself to new approaches, leveraging technologies such as digital and virtual channels.

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