MedStar Health Announces Healthcare Partnership With 1776 in Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwired - Apr 29, 2014) - MedStar Health a not-for-profit health system dedicated to caring for people in Maryland and the Washington, D.C., region, today announced a strategic partnership with 1776, an incubator platform based in Washington, D.C. MedStar joins Microsoft, Comcast Business and the District of Columbia in becoming the fourth and final Founding Partner of 1776.

Under this multi-faceted partnership, MedStar Health clinicians and administrators will have a significant presence at the 1776 campus so they can actively work alongside the startups that are building solutions to health care and other major challenge areas. MedStar will also provide educational workshops and experiential opportunities for innovators seeking to stay current with the evolving healthcare delivery landscape.

In addition, MedStar Health will be a leading sponsor of the Challenge Cup Festival (http://challengecup.1776dc.com/festival/), a tournament of the world's 64 most promising startups to be held from May 9 to May 17 in Washington. MedStar will also be the Presenting Sponsor of the Health Industry Finals on May 14 at Studio Theater.

"The U.S. healthcare system is incredibly complex with a unique range of administrative, technical, and regulatory considerations," said Donna Harris, co-founder of 1776. "MedStar Health combines significant expertise in healthcare human factors and usability with a history of innovation in simulation techniques and health information technology. They are the ideal partner to work with the 1776 members and to help catalyze a healthcare entrepreneurial ecosystem that can develop and commercialize solutions that truly benefit our society."

Kenneth A. Samet, FACHE, President and CEO of MedStar Health, said, "Health care in America is being transformed in all respects, and healthcare providers like MedStar must reinvent ourselves to lead change in the face of immense challenges so we can continue to best serve our communities. Our partnership with 1776 expands MedStar's commitment to innovate and advance health into a highly dynamic and collaborative environment. We are excited by the possibilities we see."

Opened in April 2013, 1776 is a global platform for startups that are tackling major world challenges such as health care, education, energy, and transportation. Located a few blocks from the White House, 1776 provides its now 200+ startups with the mentorship, programs, and unique access to the connections that can most help them grow their businesses within government regulated or influenced industries.

Mark S. Smith, MD, director of the MedStar Institute for Innovation and a Challenge Cup judge for 2014, said, "Our mission is to catalyze innovation that advances health. True innovation often starts with an idea from outside the system, is shaped by input from content experts, and then informed by the friction of real experience in an actual clinical environment. Between 1776 and MedStar Health, we have all three components. Working together, we increase the probability of indentifying and testing those new technologies, approaches, and business models that will be big wins for patient care. This relationship is really something special."

"Day-to-day access to MedStar's subject matter experts will be a tremendous asset to healthcare entrepreneurs like me," said David Fairbrothers, co-founder of healthcare startup Dorsata, who is based at 1776. "As an early stage working to bring its product to market, it's hard enough to be able to access leadership at large health system, so being able to receive candid input and feedback is paramount. Their presence on campus will
 foster even stronger collaboration among companies in our space, and we are excited to soon take advantage of their office hours and workshops," he added. Dorsata was the winner of the Challenge Cup competition for the Washington, D.C., Region in the Healthcare category.

The schedule and additional details on the Challenge Cup Festival Healthcare Finals can be found here.

About 1776
1776 is a platform to reinvent America by connecting the hottest Start Ups from around the world with the assets of the most powerful city on Earth. In the heart of Washington, D.C., just a few blocks from the White House, 1776 is where startups tackling major national challenges in education, energy, health care, government, and all other highly regulated industries can engage to build the future of our economy. For more information, visit http://1776dc.com or follow at @1776dc.

About MedStar Health
MedStar Health is a not-for-profit health system dedicated to caring for people in Maryland and the Washington, D.C., region, while advancing the practice of medicine through education, innovation and research. MedStar's 30,000 associates, 6,000 affiliated physicians, 10 hospitals, ambulatory care and urgent care centers, and the MedStar Health Research Institute are recognized regionally and nationally for excellence in medical care. As the medical education and clinical partner of Georgetown University, MedStar trains more than 1,100 medical residents annually. MedStar Health's patient-first philosophy combines care, compassion and clinical excellence with an emphasis on customer service. For more information, visit MedStarHealth.org.