UC Davis Launches Digital Transformation Collaboration

University of California (UC) Davis Health and venture capital firm General Catalyst announced a collaboration to support the health system’s digital transformation and drive innovations using artificial intelligence (AI) and digital health technologies.

The press release states that under the partnership, UC Davis Health is set to leverage General Catalyst’s network of companies to drive these innovations across several areas, including healthcare delivery, research, education, public service, operations, and outcomes.

“Digital innovations in medicine have the potential to not only improve patient outcomes but be a game-changer for the entire health care sector,” said Ashish Atreja, MD, chief information officer and chief digital officer at UC Davis Health, in the press release. “This collaboration will create an environment that fosters open innovation in digital health, which we hope will lead to new solutions to improve the lives of our patients, increase the efficiency of health care systems and have a positive impact on the health of our communities.”

The press release further indicates that knowledge-sharing between UC Davis Health and General Catalyst is also central to the partnership.

The two organizations will form a joint committee to explore collaboration opportunities, such as co-development of new businesses and products, services, and technologies, using UC Davis Health as an innovation center. The committee is also set to ensure strategic alignment, mutual accountability, and operational connectivity between the two organizations.

General Catalyst will also host UC Davis Health for sessions to highlight emerging trends in digital health and strategies around advances at the intersection of technology and healthcare, according to the press release. These sessions are designed to help UC Davis incorporate health equity, digital literacy, and data inclusivity approaches.

The partnership is part of UC Davis Health’s efforts to advance digital medicine through its Digital Collaborative for Innovation and Validation (Digital CoLab), which is the digital health and AI innovation hub for the health system. The Digital CoLab is focused on advancing these technologies to make healthcare accessible, inclusive, and equitable.

“This unique collaboration will create an environment of shared learning to maximize the value for the funders and streamline the innovation efforts at UC Davis Health and across the UC system,” said Yauheni Solad, MD, chief medical information officer for Digital Health and vice president of innovation at UC Davis Health, in the press release.

This is UC Davis Health’s latest collaboration leveraging AI to improve care.

The health system recently partnered with AI software company Illuminate to develop a centralized abdominal aortic aneurysm surveillance program aimed at identifying at-risk patients who may have been ‘lost-to-follow-up’ as a result of missed care during the COVID-19 pandemic or due to other factors.

Using Illuminate’s Discovery 360 Services and ActKnowledge AI software, UC Davis Health can identify existing patients within its network who may have an abdominal aortic aneurysm and require follow-up care. These patients are then flagged and contacted by a nurse navigator for further education, monitoring, and follow-up.