Connectivity giant AT&T (News - Alert) is opening IoT Foundries all over the U.S., and the sixth and newest one will focus on health care and has found a home at the Texas Medical Center Innovation center in Houston, according to a recent release.
Health care providers across the country are working out a difficult problem: There aren’t enough doctors and nurses to meet the needs of an ever-increasing number of patients. Meanwhile, as I’ve said, healthcare might be the only way to secure the trust of consumers in the IoT.
“We’ve been listening to the health care industry, many of whom are already customers, about the challenges they face today,” said Chris Penrose, SVP, IoT, AT&T. “We want to help create stronger connections between caregivers and patients. By applying the Foundry model and IoT insights into health care, we can help providers accomplish their goals.”
The Foundry will reside on Texas Medical Center’s campus, the largest medical center in the world. Along with fostering new and innovative companies in the space, it will be a resource for Texas Medical Center’s physicians and innovators looking to create integrated and connected healthcare solutions. The Innovation Institute houses several medical innovation programs including the TMCx accelerator, a fellowship program, as well as a workspace for health startups and innovation incubators.
“The Houston AT&T Foundry is unique because it’s located directly among our potential customers. We’ll collaborate with the hospitals, clinics, startups, and other TMC (News - Alert) facilities to address big problems in the industry,” said Igal Elbaz, Vice President, Ecosystem and Innovation, AT&T. “Working with Texas Medical Center and their network of hospitals and researchers will help strengthen and accelerate the innovation we bring to market.”
“The opening of the AT&T Foundry at the Texas Medical Center demonstrates how global industry leaders are playing an essential role in advancing the life science and innovation ecosystem,” said Robert C. Robbins, M.D., President and CEO of the Texas Medical Center. “Digital health is the next frontier for innovation as we work to improve the way we take care of patients in our hospitals, ultimately extending that care beyond hospital walls and into patients’ daily lives at home.”