Ep 43 | From House Calls to AI Models | Jay Parkinson | Serial Founder

🎧 Episode Summary:In this episode of NerdMDs | Efficiency Unlocked, host Dr. Adam Carewe welcomes the trailblazing Dr. Jay Parkinson, founder of Automate Clinic. Known for pioneering digital-first healthcare models, Jay shares the origin story of his unconventional journey—from launching one of the first iPhone-powered house call practices to building platforms supporting AI in clinical workflows. They delve deep into how AI can meaningfully integrate with physician expertise and reimagine primary care delivery. Listeners will come away inspired by Jay’s visionary thinking and grounded perspective on technology’s role in healthcare’s future.

🔹 00:00 – Intro & Jay’s Career BeginningsAdam introduces Jay Parkinson, reflecting on his influence in digital health and primary care innovation. Jay recounts how his medical journey began with a passion for visual design and tech, which led to the creation of a pioneering iPhone-enabled house call practice in NYC.

“What if health care was a process and we designed it really well? You could make it pretty elegant for people.”

🔹 07:21 – Thinking Differently in MedicineJay shares how his preventive medicine training at Johns Hopkins and natural curiosity drove him to question traditional models. His approach has always centered on systems thinking and embracing nonconformity within healthcare.

🔹 11:22 – Building the First iPhone House Call PracticeJay describes the practical innovations behind his early tech-driven clinic—embedding calendars, collecting symptom data online, and forming curated specialist networks—all before the App Store existed.

“The job of a doctor isn’t always to treat and heal. It’s to navigate you to the right place.”

🔹 16:34 – Introducing Automate ClinicJay introduces his latest venture, Automate Clinic, designed to connect doctors and engineers to improve AI models. He explains how doctors interact with flawed outputs from AI scribes to train models through smart, conversational prompts.

“It’s not about fancy tech. It’s about connecting the right experts to the right data problems.”

🔹 24:46 – Behind the Scenes of AI TrainingJay discusses the internal mechanics of Automate Clinic, emphasizing how their platform mimics attending physicians challenging residents to enhance data quality through natural interaction—turning passive labeling into meaningful engagement.

🔹 30:32 – Tech vs. Sales: The Real Healthcare ChallengeThe conversation explores how success in health tech often hinges more on sales and distribution than raw innovation. Jay stresses the importance of connecting product development with real-world physician needs.

🔹 41:37 – Rethinking Primary Care as Project ManagementJay proposes a shift from episodic visits to project-based care, especially for conditions like pneumonia. He advocates for models that support patients continuously through their healthcare journey, not just during appointments. He even plugs to newest healthcare startup General Medicine.

“Healthcare issues should be looked at as projects to be managed over time by a team.”

🔹 46:58 – Nerd Alert Round: Jay’s Personal SideJay shares personal anecdotes—from his first Public Enemy concert to his admiration for archery and photography. He reflects on his grandfather’s influence and the challenge of maintaining deep relationships across time and space.