Business Group on Health

In response to the increased prevalence of pediatric obesity, the American Academy of Pediatrics published new comprehensive Clinical Practice Guideline for the Evaluation and Treatment of Children and Adolescents with Obesity in 2023. In addition to urging pediatricians to more quickly offer treatment, the guideline identifies the secondary medical complications associated with obesity that children are experiencing, including hypertension, fatty liver disease, diabetes and arthritis. In this episode of the Business Group on Health podcast, Dr. Ilene Fennoy, a pediatric endocrinologist at Columbia University Irving Medical Center / New York-Presbyterian, explains the guidance, offers recommended treatment options and shares strategies for communicating care needs to parents, teens and young children. Thank you to today’s episode sponsor Abett. More Information: CDC Recognized Family Healthy Weight Programs: https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/strategies/family-healthy-weight-programs.html Guest: Ilene Fennoy, MD | Pediatric Endocrinologist l Columbia University Irving Medical Center / New York-Presbyterian

As those who have experienced loss know, grieving for a family member or close friend doesn’t end when it’s time to go back to work. In the aftermath of the pandemic, many employers are building grief-informed strategies to better support their workforce during the grieving process. On this episode of the Business Group on Health podcast, Meghan Riordan Jarvis, a clinical psychotherapist and advocate for addressing grief, shares how employers can acknowledge and respond to grief at work with intention, and expands our definition of grief to include unresolved loss in the workplace. Thank you to today’s episode sponsor Abett. Guest: Meghan Riordan Jarvis | Clinical Psychotherapist and Author of The End of the Hour

Ten years of census data indicate continued population growth in rural communities in America. When paired with the estimate that 30% of all rural hospitals are at risk of closing, the outlook for health care becomes particularly concerning. In this episode of the Business Group on Health podcast, Alan Morgan sheds light on this and other challenges facing rural communities including workforce shortages and equity concerns, as well as the innovations that began in rural health that have improved access and care delivery, particularly for those patients in the home. Guest: Alan Morgan | CEO, National Rural Health Association

Uri Gneezy, a behavioral economist from UC San Diego, dives into the art of crafting effective incentive programs. He shares insights on how poorly designed incentives can backfire, drawing on personal anecdotes and case studies. Gneezy discusses the psychology behind incentive framing, revealing how loss aversion impacts motivation. He also highlights a study linking physical activity to improved academic performance, underscoring the benefits of integrating well-being into incentive strategies for sustainable behavior change.

In response to growing concerns around hospital safety and the impact on patient experience, The Leapfrog Group was founded to establish core safety standards and grading mechanisms for hospitals and empower employers to make data-informed purchasing decisions. On this episode of the Business Group on Health podcast, Leah Binder joins us to discuss the work The Leapfrog Group is doing to promote transparency around hospital quality and safety and drive a culture of improvement.  Leah shares how this data can be used by hospitals to improve their processes, and by employers and consumers alike to make informed choices. Thank you to today’s episode sponsor ComPsych. Guest: Leah Binder | President and CEO, The Leapfrog Group

Psychedelic-assisted therapy is a growing avenue for addressing mental health conditions such as treatment-resistant depression, and more progress is expected in the coming years. On today’s episode of the Business Group on Health podcast, we’re joined by Andrew Penn, a leader in the study and practice of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. Penn discusses the latest developments in the rapidly evolving world of psychopharmacology, including a new drug application submitted to the Food and Drug Administration in late 2023, designed to treat post-traumatic stress disorder. Penn describes the patient experience during psychedelic-assisted therapy, the integral role of nurses in current and future care models, and projections for future treatment innovation. Thank you to today’s episode sponsor ComPsych. Guest: Andrew Penn | Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner and Clinical Professor, University of California, San Francisco

Discover the surprising truth about male fertility issues, where nearly half of fertility challenges stem from male factors. Delve into the alarming decline in sperm counts and the societal stigmas that prevent men from seeking help. Hear about the emotional struggles young men face in preserving their fertility during cancer treatment and the critical link between male mental health and reproductive wellness. Explore groundbreaking advancements in fertility medicine, including stem cell innovations, and the pressing health disparities impacting men's life expectancy.

Despite the continued buzz about GLP-1s, obesity treatment does not end at the pharmacy counter. On this episode of the Business Group on Health podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Scott Kahan, a practicing obesity medicine specialist who leads the National Center for Weight and Wellness, a multidisciplinary obesity treatment center in Washington, DC, to discuss evidence-based care. Dr. Kahan speaks about the current state of obesity treatment, the progress made in the nearly two decades that he’s been practicing and the impact of societal dialogue surrounding GLP-1s. By 2030, 50% of United States adults are projected to have obesity — listen to this episode to learn how the treatment landscape may need to transform to accommodate the growing need. Guest: Scott Kahan, MD, Director of the National Center for Weight and Wellness Thank you to today’s episode sponsor Progyny.

Despite Long COVID impacting more than 10% of patients who recover from COVID-19, much is still unknown about the condition. As a result, treatment and the search for a cure continues to puzzle physicians. On this episode of the Business Group on Health podcast, we speak with Dr. Galiatsatos, a critical care physician serving on the Johns Hopkins Post-Acute COVID-19 Team, about his experience treating Long COVID patients, the current status of research and how employers can best support employees at risk of developing Long COVID. Guest: Panagis Galiatsatos, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

In this conversation, Sarah Emond, the President-Elect of ICER, dives into the transformative landscape of cell and gene therapies. She discusses how these innovations tackle the root causes of diseases like hemophilia and muscular dystrophy, offering hope for previously terminal conditions. Emond highlights challenges in manufacturing and accessibility, and advocates for innovative financing models, such as outcomes-based contracts, to make these life-altering treatments more accessible. The future looks bright, but equitable access remains crucial.