Faces of Digital Health

HLTH (https://hlth.com/) is an event where you will see a literal forest on one of the stages, be able to take a selfie with a unicorn mascot, and get perks like hlth branded pink nail polist on your entrance. In the last few years, HLTH has become the most flashy, visible and must-go digital health event in the US.In this episode, Richard Scarfo, president of HLTH, talks about HLTH's approach to making events memorable, why HLTH is taking experience economy as a guiding principle in the investment in the scene at HLTH. You will also hear networking tips, and why HLTH is coming to Europe in June 2024. HLTH Europe (17-20 June 2024): https://europe.hlth.com/www.facesofdigitalhealth.comNewsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/

Migraine is 3 times more common in women than in men. 2/3 of patients with Alzheimer’s disease.Gender differences are real and they matter. The Women's Brain Project (WBP) is a Swiss-based international non-profit organization founded in 2016. It comprises a diverse team of academic and social scientists, medical doctors, engineers, patients, caregivers, artists, and AI experts. The WBP focuses on understanding sex and gender differences in brain and mental diseases to pave the way for precision medicine. This involves tailoring medical treatment to the individual characteristics of each patient, including factors like sex, gender, genomic and proteomics, microbiome, ethnicity, and socio-economic status​​.In this episode Antonella Santuccione Chadha, medical doctor and CEO of Women’s brain project and Anna De, Head of Stakeholder Engagement at Women's Brain Project explain: where are we with data about women’s health specifics, what is driving research in women’s health, what is the negative health and societal impact on women because of their predominant role in caregiving.Show notes: [00:03:01] Antonella Discusses Women's Brain Project: The gaps in medicine for not considering sex and gender. The transformation from an association to a foundation. The need for commitment and support for evidence generation. [00:05:20] Underrepresentation of Women in Research: Antonella explains historical exclusion of women and the current need for inclusion. Addressing biases and the importance of female leadership in medicine. [00:08:23] Evaluating Existing and New Treatments:The role of real-world data in addressing the gap in gender responses to treatments.[00:11:27] Key Findings and Successes:Antonella passes the conversation to Anna to discuss policy successes.[00:11:59] Anna Discusses Policy Impact: How Women's Brain Project informs global policy. Collaboration with large organizations and efforts to influence policy. [00:16:01] Migraine Research and Campaigns:Details on the migraine awareness campaign and insights on how it impacts women specifically.[00:19:30] Antonella on Scientific Evidence: The role of female hormones in migraines and other diseases. The importance of translating science into political measures. [00:20:38] Alzheimer's Disease in Women:Discussion on why two-thirds of Alzheimer's patients are women and associated factors.[00:26:00] Relationship Between Research and Medical Practice: Antonella shares her experiences as a clinician and the realization of gender disparities in her patients. The importance of educating healthcare professionals on sex and gender differences. [00:29:03] Anna Adds to the Discussion: The need to consider both sex and gender differences in healthcare. The societal impact of caregiver burden on women. [00:33:34] Identifying Questions and Approaches for Research:The conversation turns to the complexities of starting research with the right questions and data.[00:37:18] Key Changes Needed to Advance Women's Health:Antonella and Anna discuss the three key changes they hope to see: investment in women-driven innovation, prioritizing sex and gender differences in policy agendas, and empowering women with knowledge about their health.[00:41:34] Closing Remarks: The need for more research and better patient management, especially regarding menopause. The call for the younger female generation to lead change. Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/www.facesofdigitalhealth.com

Laboratory tests provide doctors with crucial information for diagnosis, monitoring disease progression, evaluating organ function, assessing risk factors for diseases and more. Laboratory testing can be reassuring, however, it is often deemed unnecessary. In this short episode recorded at HLTH, we’re going to talk about laboratory test optimization. How can it be done without undermining clinical autonomy, what kind of real-time insights can be offered to doctors with tech and more. You will hear from Pam Stahl, President of of Avalon Healthcare Solutions - American Lab Insights Company, that help payers and providers optimize treatments, improve outcomes, and drive down overall cost.Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/www.facesofdigitalhealth.comShow notes: [00:02:04] - Introduction to Avalon Health Solutions and their role in generating actionable insights from lab results.[00:02:21] - Discussion on the big picture problem in healthcare: the overuse and underuse of lab tests and the drive towards improving clinical decision-making.[00:03:25] - Clarification on Avalon's approach to managing unnecessary tests and their non-involvement in claims adjudication.[00:03:49] - Explanation of how Avalon provides guidance on appropriate test ordering and interpretation based on evidence-based medicine.[00:04:20] - The learning curve for providers in test ordering and the issue of test misuse.[00:05:16] - Areas where lab tests are often underutilized, particularly in cancer diagnosis.[00:05:45] - The potential of using lab data predictively, with a focus on chronic kidney disease.[00:06:20] - How Avalon creates patient profiles and uses predictive analytics to improve healthcare management.[00:06:53] - Avalon's ongoing development of predictive models and their impact on healthcare.[00:07:36] - The challenge of changing the status quo in lab test utilization and the cost savings involved.[00:07:47] - Avalon's growth and the scale of their operations, with a client base of 33 million members.[00:08:00] - The role of patient engagement and communication strategies in healthcare management.[00:08:41] - The importance of accurate and clear communication channels with patients to avoid confusion.[00:09:08] - The rapidly evolving field of genetic testing and Avalon's role in managing the abundance of available tests.[00:10:07] - Addressing concerns about over-systemizing lab test ordering and the potential for provider friction.[00:11:13] - Feedback from clinicians and Avalon's clinical advisory board on the impact of their services.[00:11:55] - The broader implications of cost savings and sustainability in healthcare through better lab test management.[00:12:11] - In-depth look at predictive analytics and its application in healthcare outcome improvements.[00:13:18] - Strategies for Avalon's customer expansion and managing growth.

In this episode, you’re going hear about the German market for digital health startups, the innovation approach at Charite, one of Europe's largest university hospitals, the challenges with digital therapeutics in Germany and beyond. I spoke with Dorothée Marie-Louise Döpfer,Deputy Head of Digital Labs and program Manager of the Digital Health Accelerator & Community Building at Charite UMC Berlin. Dorothee also shared her expectations about the impact of AI on European health systems. Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/www.facesofdigitalhealth.com

ePrescribing has become a norm in the US healthcare system. Now, the expanded role of pharmacists and the integration of non-physician prescribers into the healthcare system signifies a move towards a more accessible healthcare model, potentially alleviating some of the clinicians' burdens.Surescripts is the national provider of the ePrescribing infrastructure in the US. In this short discussion, I spoke with Dr. Lynne Nowak, Chief Data and Analytics Officer, and Melanie Marcus, Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer at Surescripts, about the importance of ePrescribing on a national level, the changing role of pharmacists, and how it facilitates the redistribution of healthcare provision burdens. Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/www.facesofdigitalhealth.com

Marija Butkovic, founder and CEO of Women of Wearables, discusses the challenge of providing care to women without sidelining men, data-driven approaches in women's health, trends for 2023 including a broader understanding of fertility issues.

Technically, we've never been more connected or had relationships with as many people as we do today, thanks to social networks on the internet. Yet, while these platforms bring convenience, they are also increasing loneliness and reducing face-to-face interactions. However, technology isn't solely a problem; it can facilitate the easier pairing of individuals who wish to assist those lacking a real-world social network. Take Papa, for example, a company that provides social support by pairing older adults and families with trained and vetted companions known as Papa Pals. In this brief episode, you will listen to a discussion with Ellen Rudy, the former Head of Research and Social Impact, whom I met at HLTH 2023. Ellen shares her insights on the causes of solitude and the potential of technology to mitigate loneliness.Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/www.facesofdigitalhealth.com

HLTH is recognized as the United States' number one health innovation event. Its unique and vibrant approach sets it apart from typical industry conferences. Each stage at HLTH is distinctively themed and designed, featuring motifs like the moon, sky, and earth, creating an awe-inspiring experience reminding of of a child's first visit to an amusement park. Beyond the captivating atmosphere, the core attraction of HLTH lies in its substantive content and guests. These include key stakeholders from top tech companies, including pop stars who entered healthcare, or public figures such as Arianna Huffington or Chelsea Clinton. In 2024, HLTH will also be organized in Europe. The event concept will be the same, but the content will be prepared by a European team to touch upon key topics in the European space. While they were enjoying their team building in Ljubljana, Tjasa Zajc sat down with Jody Tropeano, Head of Content at HLTH US and Henry Stoneley, Head of UK and Netherlands. They discussed Jody’s and Henry’s reflections on healthcare in the US, key trends, and challenges.Video interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blT9PIJGfuANewsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/www.facesofdigitalhealth.com

In patient included or patient centred healthcare approach, patient feedback is key for improved care, and healthcare experience. Pep Health uses a digital platform to collect and analyze patient feedback from various online sources, moving away from traditional, less effective survey methods.The platform provides detailed scores and insights, allowing healthcare providers to make targeted improvements in specific areas like access and quality within their facilities. The data and insights generated are influencing healthcare policies and practices, leading to changes in areas such as maternity services and mental health care delivery.At HLTH 2023, founder of Pep Health Meghan Leaver shared more insights behind: Innovation in the patient feedback gathering, What actionable insight healthcare providers can get from PEP insights, Impact patient feedback analysis can have on policymaking Episode summary: https://www.facesofdigitalhealth.com/blog/why-patient-feedback-is-a-goldmine-for-improvementsNewsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/

Generative AI is making waves in healthcare, with an already visible impact in documentation and potential in drug development, medicine, care, and more. With 2023 nearing its end, it's time to reflect on the impact of AI in 2023. This episode offers:🔍 A recap of AI innovation in healthcare in the past year, 🔎 What has realistically changed in clinical practice,🔍 Where are the practical applications of AI and LLMs in healthcare,🔎 How is AI regulated so far and what are the upcoming changes, 🔍 What can we expect in the upcoming years? Speakers: 👉 Shweta Maniar, Director of Global Healthcare & Life Sciences Industry Strategy at Google,👉 Rachel Dunscombe, CEO of openEHR International Foundation, 👉 Kira Radinsky, CEO & CTO at Diagnostic Robotics,👉 Harvey Castro, MD, MBA., Clinician, Healthcare Futurist, Public Speaker See the video recording if this live stream: https://www.youtube.com/live/Aul1vm2lUzQ?si=RBS9RG4hHRZRqxBUCheck out the newsletter for the summary which will be published soon: https://fodh.substack.com/www.facesofdigitalhealth.com