Last week, an AI system did something remarkable: it predicted a patient’s heart attack before any human doctor saw the warning signs. Across the country, a virtual reality platform helped surgeons rehearse a complex brain procedure that would have been impossible a year ago. These breakthroughs are early signs of a seismic shift in how we prevent, diagnose, and treat disease. Trump’s policies could ignite an explosion of digital health breakthroughs, accelerating America’s healthcare revolution. 

As the CEO of CareYaya, one of America’s fastest-growing healthtech startups, I see a unique convergence of opportunities that could transform American healthcare through artificial intelligence, connected devices, and digital platforms. We have the chance to accelerate innovations to save lives, reduce costs, and transform the largest sector of the American economy. 

Digital transformation is a $360 billion opportunity to solve America’s healthcare crisis, according to research from McKinsey. From precision medicine to AI diagnostics, from remote patient monitoring to digital therapeutics, we’re on the cusp of a revolution that could dramatically improve healthcare outcomes while reducing costs. Here’s why the next four years could accelerate this transformation:

First, Trump’s commitment to deregulating emerging technologies aligns perfectly with the needs of healthtech innovators. Current FDA and CMS regulations, designed for traditional medical devices and pharmaceuticals, often stifle AI-driven healthcare solutions. Modernizing these frameworks could unleash a wave of innovation in predictive analytics, personalized medicine, and automated clinical decision support systems.

Consider the breakthrough potential: AI algorithms are already outperforming human radiologists in detecting certain cancers. Machine learning models are predicting patient deterioration hours before traditional monitoring systems. Natural language processing is revolutionizing medical documentation and clinical research. At CareYaya, our AI platform has reduced care coordination costs by 60% while improving outcomes. But we’re just scratching the surface of what’s possible.

The administration’s focus on American technological leadership creates unprecedented opportunities for public-private partnerships in healthtech. While China and the EU are investing heavily in digital health innovation, America has the chance to lead this revolution. We’re seeing groundbreaking developments in quantum computing for drug discovery, CRISPR gene editing for personalized treatments, and advanced robotics for minimally invasive surgery. These technologies are reshaping the very foundation of medicine.

Trump’s emphasis on workforce development could accelerate the creation of a tech-enabled healthcare workforce. We need clinicians and caregivers who can work seamlessly with AI systems, digital therapeutics, and remote monitoring platforms. By combining clinical training with technical education, we could create a new generation of “augmented healthcare providers” who leverage technology to deliver better care at lower costs.

The economic implications are staggering. Beyond the direct market opportunity in digital health, the potential cost savings through technology-enabled care could help address America’s healthcare spending crisis. Smart implementation of AI and automation could save the U.S. healthcare system up to $360 billion annually by 2026, according to McKinsey’s work. This means better care at lower costs for millions of Americans.

For these innovations to reach their full potential, we need policy support. This means modernizing FDA approval pathways for AI/ML healthcare applications and creating meaningful tax incentives for healthtech R&D. We must expand Medicare coverage for digital health solutions while supporting technical training programs for healthcare workers. Perhaps most critically, we need to facilitate seamless data sharing between healthcare providers and tech platforms while maintaining robust privacy protections.

Critics might worry about privacy and safety concerns with increased technology adoption. These are valid concerns, but they’re solvable through thoughtful regulation that protects patients while enabling innovation. The real risk is falling behind as other countries embrace these technologies and capture the economic benefits of healthtech leadership.

The Triangle’s tech community is particularly well-positioned to lead this transformation. With our unique combination of world-class universities, healthcare expertise, and tech talent, we could become the Silicon Valley of healthtech innovation. Local startups are developing breakthrough solutions across the healthcare spectrum – from innovative digital therapeutics to digital health platform enablers, from AI-powered medical co-pilots to nationwide care marketplaces.

The next four years represent a critical window for American healthtech leadership. With supportive policies and continued innovation, we could fundamentally transform healthcare delivery while creating thousands of high-paying tech jobs. The technology exists – what’s needed now is the vision to scale it.

To maintain American leadership in healthcare innovation, we need policies that embrace rather than resist technological change. This means streamlining regulatory pathways for digital health solutions, investing in technical education for healthcare workers, and creating incentives for healthtech research and development. Most importantly, it means fostering an environment where entrepreneurs and innovators can build the next generation of healthcare solutions.

The battle for the future of healthcare won’t be won in Washington’s corridors of power, but in America’s innovation hubs where dreamers and doers are building tomorrow’s solutions today. The opportunity is ours – let’s seize it.

About the author

Neal K. Shah is the CEO of CareYaya Health Technologies, one of LinkedIn’s 2024 Top 50 Startups in America. He runs an AI-powered technology platform that connects thousands of college students with families needing elder care across America. Mr. Shah is a “Top Healthcare Voice” on LinkedIn with a 50k+ following, and has been a featured contributor for CNBC, Wall Street Journal, Barron’s and TechCrunch.