Building for Impact: How Bridge is Transforming Healthcare Through Scalable, User-Centric Architecture
By Alex Marich, Principal Architect
At The Garage, our mission is clear: to change healthcare for good. In our latest video, we explored how our architectural approach to building Bridge reflects that mission. Here's a deeper look at some of the key questions we addressed and how our philosophy shapes the platform.
What does it mean to be digital-first, data-first, and how does that align with The Garage's mission?
Being digital-first, data-first isn't just a technology decision; it's a mindset. At The Garage, this approach means that we lead with data and digital solutions to improve care delivery and health outcomes. It aligns directly with our mission by ensuring that every innovation is rooted in data integrity and digital accessibility, creating a strong foundation for transforming healthcare at scale.
What is the architectural vision behind Bridge?
The architectural vision behind Bridge centers on creating a modular, scalable, and intelligent platform that empowers users, from case managers to executives, to make impactful decisions. Every element of the architecture is designed with a purpose, ensuring the platform is not only powerful but also flexible enough to adapt as healthcare evolves.
What does a "digital-first, data-first, at-scale platform experience" look like in practice?
Everything starts with the data. Data is King, and Bridge is the kingdom. We must ensure that the data we collect is accurate down to the individual patient level. At small scales, this seems manageable, but what happens when you're managing data for millions of patients? We've designed Bridge to deliver accurate analytics without compromising performance. No one should wait ten minutes to access a patient record. Users need to trust the data, and they need it fast. That level of trust and performance empowers our users to do the most good and helps us achieve our mission to change healthcare for good... one community at a time.
How do you collaborate with stakeholders to align architecture with business and user goals?
Collaboration is baked into our development process. We continually engage with business leaders, user experience experts, and end-users to ensure that our architectural decisions support real-world workflows and objectives. This continuous feedback loop keeps our platform aligned with what matters most.
How does Bridge ensure adaptability as technology and healthcare evolve?
There's a great analogy from Juval Lowy's "Righting Software" that captures our philosophy. Imagine putting all your favorite possessions in one room, and then a grenade is thrown in. Everything's gone. Now, imagine each item is in its own safe. A grenade can be thrown into one of those safes, and while one safe might be destroyed, the others remain intact. That's how we design Bridge. Each component is encapsulated so that if technology changes or a module becomes outdated, we only need to update that one part, not the whole system. This approach minimizes disruption and enables us to embrace change without fear.
What excites you most about working on Bridge?
Honestly? I love a good puzzle, and healthcare is the ultimate puzzle. It's complex, it's evolving, and it's full of opportunities for optimization. I'm constantly thinking about how to fit the pieces together, especially with new tech like AI entering the scene. Finding ways to incorporate these advancements without limiting our users is what keeps me energized. Bridge gives me the chance to not only solve the puzzle but to refine it again and again.
How do you stay aligned with The Garage's mission while scaling the platform?
As Principal Architect, my role is to design systems that scale without compromising their core values. That means every technical decision is weighed against our mission. We innovate, we scale, but we never forget who we're doing it for-the communities and the people who rely on our platform every day.
