The New York City Investment Fund (NYCIF), a private fund founded in the 1990’s by Henry R. Kravis, founding partner of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., announced last week that it joined the New York eHealth Collaborative (NYeC) and the NYS Department of Health (DOH) to launch a new program called the New York Digital Health Accelerator (NYDHA). According to officials, the goal of the program is to make New York a hub for the emerging digital health technology industry.
In the next few months, the program's administrators will choose 12 early- and growth-stage companies that are developing digital health care technology products and services, primarily those in care coordination, patient engagement, analytics and message alerts for healthcare providers. Once chosen, each company will receive up to $300,000, together with mentoring from senior-level executives at leading hospitals and other providers in New York, stated in a press release.
Ultimately, the products and services developed through the program will help New York state's Medicaid Redesign Team and its new “Health Homes” program, an initiative intended to make the state's treatment of Medicaid patients more coordinated and efficient.
“Health information technology is helping us transform our healthcare system to provide high-quality, cost-efficient, and patient-centered care for the 21st century,” said New York State Health Commissioner Nirav R. Shah, M.D., M.P.H. “The Digital Health Accelerator program will further advance New York's national leadership in health IT as it will attract leading-edge companies at the forefront of developing the technology necessary for robust electronic health records and digital care coordination systems.”
“When the government and the private sector work hand-in-hand to encourage business growth in our state we see results. This Accelerator will help New York keep and attract businesses that grow our state's economy and create jobs in our communities,” said Maria Gotsch, President and CEO of NYCIF. “Our initial investment will go a long way towards attracting additional investment into New York,” she added.
An application for the program is available at digitalhealthaccelerator.com. An informational session for companies interested in participating will be held on May 10, 2012 in New York City. Applications for the NYDHA program are due June 1, 2012.
Edited by
Brooke Neuman
