Episode 19: Kimball Thomas, CEO & Co-Founder at Walrus Health

In this episode of the Digital Health Heavyweights podcast, Norm Volsky interviews Kimball Thomas, CEO and founder of Walrus, a company dedicated to improving medication adherence and reducing pharmacy costs for employers. Kimball shares his personal journey into healthcare, inspired by his own experiences with asthma and the complexities of the healthcare system. He discusses how Walrus leverages data insights to provide personalized medication management, emphasizing the importance of user engagement and the unique value proposition of their services. The conversation also covers the impact of Walrus on employee health, cost savings for employers, and the innovative Walrus RX Rewards program that incentivizes healthy behaviors. Kimball highlights the role of technology in enhancing the patient experience and the ongoing need for pharmacists to provide personalized care in a rapidly changing healthcare landscape.

Takeaways

🔹 Kimball Thomas is the CEO and founder of Walrus, a company focused on improving medication adherence and reducing pharmacy costs for employers.
🌬️ Kimball's personal experiences with asthma and the healthcare system inspired him to enter the healthcare space.
📊 Walrus leverages data insights to address pharmacy spend and improve health outcomes for employees.
📱 The company focuses on user engagement, achieving higher engagement rates than most digital health companies.
💊 Walrus operates as a precision pharmacy, providing personalized medication management and support.
🎁 The Walrus RX Rewards program incentivizes employees to engage with their health and medication management.
💰 Walrus has demonstrated significant cost savings for employers through improved medication adherence and reduced hospitalizations.
🤝 The company collaborates with existing pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to enhance the user experience without displacing them.
🧠 Kimball emphasizes the importance of understanding the consumer experience in healthcare.
📞 Walrus's approach includes ongoing support and communication with patients to ensure they receive the best care possible.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Walrus and Kimball Thomas

02:34 Kimball's Journey into Healthcare

09:47 The Unique Approach of Walrus Health

18:17 Precision Pharmacy: A New Paradigm

22:02 Case Study: Success with Pitney Bowes

27:48 Walrus Technology Evolution

34:28 Personalized Patient Engagement

39:40 The Role of Pharmacists in Modern Healthcare

45:20 Walrus RX Rewards Program

47:16 Personal Health Practices and Team Culture

53:10 Outro

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