What You Should Know:
- Oshi Health today announced strategic investments by the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) and the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) GI Opportunity Fund.
- The landmark support of both gastroenterology (GI) associations signals the importance of evidence-based, multidisciplinary care delivered through hybrid collaborative models to address the urgent and growing problem of limited access to digestive healthcare in America.
Chartering a Course for GI Practices to Improve Healthcare
This unique collaboration between Oshi Health and both leading gastroenterology specialty medical associations charts a faster scalable course for GI practices to provide dietary and behavioral health interventions as recommended by guidelines, in a high-touch, iterative care delivery model that is proven to improve outcomes and is ideally suited for virtual delivery. As part of the arrangement, both the ACG and AGA have made strategic financial investments in Oshi Health as an illustration of the importance of providing patients access to the evidence-based, multidisciplinary care offered by Oshi.
“This is a tipping point for a modern, proven approach to digestive health in America,” said William D. Chey, MD, AGAF, FACG, Chief of Gastroenterology & Hepatology at the University of Michigan Medical School and Treasurer of the ACG. “As an organization, ACG aims to empower gastroenterologists to embrace the science supporting new guidelines and how to integrate them into clinical practice. ACG’s backing of Oshi’s evidenced-based approach is testament to the College’s commitment to excellence in clinical innovation and world class care delivery that benefits patients and practices alike.”
Digestive health issues cover a wide-ranging set of symptoms and conditions that affect 1 in 4 working age adults in America and drive more than $135 billion in annual healthcare costs – more than diabetes or heart disease. Its impact is likely far greater as millions more go undiagnosed and indirect costs such as reduced workplace productivity are difficult to measure.
Lack of access to multidisciplinary care and support between traditional GI care visits can result in poor patient outcomes and avoidable emergency services. With better analytics, the true nature of prolonged and avoidable suffering comes into view, attributed to the diverse nature of these conditions and symptoms, the stigma often attached to them, and gaps in access to viable treatment plans that bring sustained relief.
The strategic investing round also includes investment by Scott R. Ketover, MD, AGAF, FASGE, President of MNGI Digestive Health and Chair of Health Policy at the Digestive Health Physicians Association (DHPA), the largest association representing independent GI practices.
