My big news today is that 4Leaf Global has a new partner: Switch Healthcare,  a Seattle-based startup with a vision to dramatically improve healthcare value for employers. 

According to yesterday's press release, "Switch has recently completed negotiations to purchase a 40% share in the interest of the ARCH system by 4Leaf Global. ARCH is an acronym for "automatically reducing the cost of healthcare." 

Dr. Carl Myers , CEO of Switch, will become the CEO of the combined venture. He describes here how the deal developed:

 

Switch has recently been alpha testing our member relationship change processes. Two of our trial participants were inspired to make stretch goals in their plans to eat healthier after taking the 4Leaf Survey online. Their experience was so compelling that we added 4Leaf to our library of motivational change options.

Later the same week, Jim Hicks, CEO of 4Leaf, emailed me a generous offer to combine our companies' efforts. Three weeks later the deal was done."

 

Although Jim had previously mentioned the collaboration potential between our companies, the discussions never gained any traction. It was Jim's recent push that caused this deal to happen.

The ARCH system has the potential to become an important asset in the Switch comprehensive approach to improve health. Although there is much work to do, our mutual sense of purpose to improve health aligns us to achieve significant synergy.

The fact that the 4Leaf System has been successfully vetted in a primary care physician's office fits with our initiative to be an asset for our members' physicians.

When asked about Switch Healthcare's next step, Dr. Myers replied,  

We are in the process of engaging one or more employers for beta testing. The savings and improvement in health are substantial. Now we're just working to optimize the benefits.

Adding 4Leaf is a major step for us, and our excitement continues to build. We're on track to make a big difference.

As for me, I am thrilled about this new partnership with Carl and his team that includes  Dr. Don Forrester as Chief Medical Officer and Philip Walling is Chief Operating Officer. 

Carl's entire team, including wife Jean, have been big proponents of whole food, plant-based eating for many years and I look forward to working with them to help self-insured employers save many millions of dollars on healthcare.

Conveniently, the deliberate dietary shift away from animal-based foods that saves large, self-insured companies millions of dollars--also does some wonderful things for the longterm sustainability of the fragile ecosystem that supports life on Earth. A true win-win for all concerned.

Carl's extensive healthcare experience includes 28 years as an oncologist followed by several executive positions. His educational credentials include an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. All of the above make him and his team ideal partners for 4Leaf Global.