In Parts 1 and 2 of this series, we introduced the concept of “Collaborative Investing”. In short, “Come VC with us” is tied to a very basic question posed to our physician and healthcare community:
If a low-minimum, low-expense vehicle existed, would you like to invest along side your medical peers within a 10 to 15 company venture portfolio that is vetted, chosen and managed democratically by the group and runs autonomously through low-cost software?
Merge Medical’s goal is to provide action items to get physicians more involved within healthcare innovation, the private capital markets and the business of medicine. The public thinks that we are all rich, but across the board, that’s just not true. A ton of pain exists within the provider community… loss of autonomy, loss of enjoyment of the job, year-over-year declining reimbursement and an alarmingly rate of suicide. #1 among all professions. Not a stat to be proud of.
Merge Medical takes a stance that it’s ok to focus on family and self while also supporting our patients. A happy doctor makes the best clinician and patient partner!!
The best way to achieve this is to be on sound financial footing. This allows us to say “No” to bad contracts, predatory buyout offers and bad employment situations. This also allows us to partner with and/or fund companies and initiatives that are positive for our profession.
….But how can this be accomplished? Our opinion is that this comes from strength in numbers and creation of an empowered community comprised of physicians and healthcare professionals.
Merge Medical has an open lane as it relates to positioning ourselves within the private capital markets and on the forefront of healthcare innovation. Through strength in numbers and our collective knowledge base, we are advantaged as a group and as individual investors. When it comes to deal access, in addition to communicating directly with founders, we can work with other formed networks, family offices, asset managers and VCs.
The co-creators at Merge Medical feel that we are just scratching the surface of what is possible. Merge Medical has an open lane as it relates to positioning ourselves within the private capital markets and on the forefront of healthcare innovation.
Do we move the needle for the entire market? Not likely. Do we move the needle for our profession, ourselves and our patients? Hell yes.
Partnerships and Collaboration
Because we don’t directly compete with many other formed communities, it’s our hope that we can partner and/or collaborate with numerous individuals, communities and companies that are pro-physician and pro-healthcare provider. To this point, many companies that we have spoken with love this message and totally get it. They support us…and see how we’re getting totally screwed by big pharma, E H R companies, health systems and the mega-insurers. Join Merge Medical. Join the Healthcare Change Consortium.
