Healthcare Startup PreciPS Develops Scalable Solutions to Improve Patient Care and Hospital Operations

A new health tech startup, PreciPS, is emerging from the University of Alabama at Birmingham ecosystem with a bold mission: to drive sustainable change in healthcare systems by empowering frontline medical teams.

Supported by the Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, the startup is focused on helping healthcare professionals identify and solve real-world operational challenges that directly impact patient care, efficiency, and staff wellbeing.

A New Approach to Healthcare Problem Solving

Founded by Rick van Pelt, chief clinical transformation officer at UAB Hospital, PreciPS is built on years of hands-on experience working with frontline care teams—including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and care coordinators.

At the core of the startup is the Precision Problem Solving methodology, an evolution of van Pelt’s earlier “3D Prioritization” approach. This structured framework focuses on:

  • Discovery – Identifying key challenges
  • Distillation – Narrowing down root causes
  • Definition – Creating actionable solutions

Unlike traditional improvement models that rely on predefined metrics, PreciPS starts by listening to frontline frustrations and real challenges, ensuring solutions are grounded in actual care environments.

From Hospital Innovation to Scalable Health Tech Platform

PreciPS is now working to commercialize its methodology through a scalable web-based platform and training system. The goal is to provide healthcare organizations with tools to:

  • Solve complex operational problems
  • Improve team collaboration and communication
  • Deliver long-term, measurable improvements

By transforming a proven methodology into a digital solution, the startup aims to bring system-wide change across healthcare institutions.

Real Results in Patient Care and Efficiency

The methodology has already demonstrated impressive outcomes at UAB. One standout example involved redesigning operations within the hospital’s Acute Care Surgery and Trauma division.

Previously, patients were handed off between multiple teams, disrupting continuity of care. By applying Precision Problem Solving, the hospital introduced an integrated care model, allowing patients to be managed by the same team throughout their stay.

The results were significant:

  • Reduced average patient stay by 1.4 days
  • Cut trauma diversion days by 79%
  • Achieved major improvements in quality and efficiency

Across more than 20 clinical teams, the approach has improved productivity, safety, and staff morale.

Why Engagement Is the Key to Success

A defining feature of PreciPS is its focus on team engagement and ownership. By involving staff from the start, the solutions become practical, accepted, and sustainable.

As van Pelt explains:

“When teams are engaged from the beginning, the solution becomes their own—and it lasts.”

The methodology also emphasizes addressing conflicting viewpoints early, helping teams build a shared understanding before implementing solutions.

What’s Next for the PreciPS Startup

With the company now formally established as an LLC, PreciPS is developing its minimum viable product (MVP) and seeking partners and funding to expand its reach.

Initial pilot programs will continue at UAB, with plans to scale the platform to other healthcare systems and potentially beyond.

While healthcare is the starting point, the startup’s broader vision is clear: precision problem solving can be applied across industries, from business operations to personal challenges.

Transforming Healthcare Through Innovation

PreciPS represents a new wave of healthcare innovation, where solutions are driven not by top-down policies but by real insights from frontline workers.

By combining human-centered problem solving with scalable technology, the startup is positioning itself to make a lasting impact on global healthcare systems.