Moneyball Medicine

Harry talks this week with Salesforce's vice president of strategic research, Peter Coffee. The computer-industry veteran and former tech columist says that in the era of 1) outcomes-based payments for medical care, 2) an aging patient base, and 3) ubiquitous sensors and continuous data collection, there's a huge opportunity—and financial incentive—for healthcare providers to employ technology platforms that improve the client experience. Might Salesforce end up marketing such a platform? Coffee says it's logical for the company, best known for its cloud-based customer relationship management software, to think about offering hospitals or medical service providers a configurable, CRM-style system for managing patient intake, consultations, recurring exam schedules, transportation to clinics, and the like. Coffee says Traditional healthcare organizations didn't have the insights or incentives to think about improving long-term wellness or keeping their customers (patients) happy—just the opposite, in fact. &q