In a conversation with iHealthBeat, John Goldstein -- co-founder and managing director of Imprint Capital -- discussed how foundations and other philanthropic organizations working to improve health care quality can advance their mission by investing in health IT tools and other innovative technologies.
According to Goldstein, private foundations traditionally donate about 5% of their funds annually and invest the remaining 95%. He noted that foundations focused on health care could use that 95% to provide financial support for innovation in the health IT sector.
Foundations also have the capital to take on certain risks by investing in pioneering health care technologies, while commercial investors might avoid such risks, Goldstein said.
He added that foundations could serve as the "connective tissue" to ensure that underserved populations can access innovative tools and technologies aimed at improving health care quality and lowering costs (iHealthBeat, 4/27).
The complete transcript of this report is available as a PDF.
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