Next generation condition management – Whitepaper

Full stack providers are nimble, tech-enabled companies that provide services at every point along the patient journey connected to a particular condition or medical situation. The term “full stack” comes from the description of a web developer who is able to work across both the front and back ends of the digital product. It was adapted by entrepreneur and investor Chris Dixon to describe the new startup model in which companies build an entire product or service “end-to-end” so users are no longer reliant on competitors.

In healthcare, full-stack providers build a clinic (virtual, bricks and mortar, or both) that delivers care for patients at each step—from education to appointment booking, to care planning, to symptom tracking. Unlike B2B health startups, which build a single piece of technology to license or sell to existing healthcare organizations, full-stack providers bypass these existing organizations entirely and act as a one-stop shop.

This paper explores 4 main characteristics of a full-stack provider:

1. They focus on patient education to reduce medical literacy barriers
2. They use digital tools to keep patients engaged over time, even in remote areas
3. They personalize treatment interventions and communication based on patient data
4. They work to decrease social and economic barriers to care

We feature interviews with team members from Risalto, Paloma, Tempest, and MyBirthSpace.