St. Francis Care, whose flagship hospital is Hartford’s St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center, said it has paid to join a Chicago-based health accelerator and consultancy called Avia.
Founded in 2011, Avia helps healthcare providers identify how emerging technology systems fit best within their respective facilities. St. Francis has been working with Avia to choose technology for a program within the Connecticut Institute for Primary Care Innovation — its joint venture with UConn’s School of Medicine.
Uniquely, Avia also invests in some of the emerging technology companies it sees as promising. And St. Francis said its membership may give it the opportunity to co-invest.
Crain’s Chicago Business wrote in January that Avia had approximately 40 member hospitals that pay between $50,000 and $250,000 in annual dues.
It’s not clear if any other Connecticut providers are members. The Hartford Business Journal has reached out to Avia for comment.
