Early proprietor of direct practice medicine for the mid-market. Current Health is also a test lab for Dr. Shlain’s homegrown care improvement tools. Like HealthLoop: A web hosted communications tool that helps him collect automated feedback from patients under his care, on a platform they already use—email. A patient registers for HealthLoop. Then each day, for a duration set by Dr. Shlain, the patient receives an email with a multiple choice question requiring a single-keystroke response: ‘Are you the same? Better? Or worse?’ Responses feed into an EMR. According to triggers set by Dr. Shlain that consider the patient’s history and current treatment, HealthLoop alerts him if he needs to change a script, make a house call, or suggest the ER. A light and easy fishnet for data, HealthLoop improves quality and reduces costly ER visits with minimal intrusion to patient or doctor.

“These tools help, but the defining factor of good healthcare won’t be new technology, or more sophisticated drugs and procedures. It is a population that values their health like any other investable asset. Patients who value their health this way are more engaged, and have more meaningful relationships with their doctors. This usually makes for happier doctors—and happier doctors always translates into better outcomes.”