The Beat

Early in her career as a nurse practitioner, Dr. Kristi Henderson realized that many of her patients didn’t have access to care early enough. And she set out to get healthcare to the people who needed it.Dr. Henderson found a solution in technology and launched the first telehealth program in conjunction with the University of Mississippi Medical Center in 2003.Today, Dr. Henderson is the CEO of MedExpress at Optum and SVP at the Center for Digital Health. She began her career as a nurse in emergency medicine in Jackson, Mississippi, and continued to practice for 24 years while building telehealth programs across the country. Dr. Henderson’s resume also includes roles as VP of Patient Access & Healthcare Transformation at Ascension and Clinical Operations Leader at Amazon Health.On this episode of The Beat, Dr. Henderson joins hosts Dr. Gautam Gulati and Dr. Jordan Shlain to discuss the challenges she faced in building and scaling that first 24-hour emergency telehealth program. Dr. Henderson describes the barriers to innovation in healthcare that lifted during the pandemic and explains how she thinks about deciding where healthcare should be delivered. Listen in to understand the role ‘speed of trust’ plays in implementing new innovation and learn how technology might be used to improve efficiency, effectiveness and engagement in healthcare delivery.Topics CoveredDr. Henderson’s early experience as a nurse in emergency medicine in Jackson, MSWhat inspired Dr. Henderson to launch the first telehealth programThe challenges Dr. Henderson faced in building and scaling a successful 24-hour emergency telehealth program in MississippiHow Dr. Henderson continued to work as a nurse practitioner while building telehealth programs on a national scaleThe barriers to innovation in healthcare that lifted during the pandemicHow Dr. Henderson thinks about deciding where healthcare should be deliveredCreating a hybrid model that balances virtual and in-person careThe role speed of trust plays in implementing new technology in the healthcare systemThe relationship between improved outcomes and lower healthcare costsUsing tech to capture the doctor-patient interaction vs. entering info in EMR systems Connect with Dr. Kristi Henderson OptumDr. Henderson on TwitterDr. Henderson on LinkedIn Connect with Dr. Gautam Gulati & Dr. Jordan ShlainHLTHDr. Gulati on TwitterDr. Gulati on LinkedInDr. Shlain on TwitterDr. Shlain on LinkedIn ResourcesAscensionAmazon CareHarvard Study on Workplace HarassmentNightHawk Radiology Introductory Quote[14:29] “What can we NOT do via telehealth? That’s what needs to be in a clinic. And then you can kind of work backwards. Let’s try to solve everything with the most convenient and less costly solution.”

With all the buzz of new innovations, it's easy to forget that healthcare is a people business in need of technology, not a technology business in need of people. Consensus Cloud Solutions is using new technology solutions to help doctors continue to communicate in a way that’s comfortable for them, then processing that data and making it usable for the entire healthcare team. It’s about putting the humanity back into healthcare technology.With over 20 years of experience in healthcare technology, Bevey Miner is the Global Chief Marketing Officer at Consensus Cloud Solutions. Bronwen Huron is a nurse devoted to improved health IT and is the Head of Healthcare Product and Strategy at Consensus Cloud Solutions.Consensus Cloud Solutions started as an interoperable digital cloud faxing solution over 25 years ago and has grown to be the global leader of digital cloud fax technology, moving from simple digital documents to advanced secure data transport using healthcare standard HL7/FHIR, Natural Language Processing (NLP) and AI to convert unstructured documents into meaningful structured data that keeps providers connected through each patient's continuum of care.On this episode, Bevey and Bronwen join hosts Dr. Jordan Shlain and Dr. Jessica Shepherd to discuss how Consensus is providing communication solutions that make it possible to transfer unstructured electronic health records (EHRs) into structured data usable by everyone else on the healthcare team.Listen in to understand how Consensus Cloud Solutions is working on solutions to speed valuable healthcare information forward to improve results for practitioners and their patients.Topics CoveredWhat makes health information technology so challengingHow looking back at healthcare communication is helping Consensus find today’s technology solutionsThe vital importance of creating technology solutions that support how providers communicateHow Consensus is making the transition to technology more efficient for providersWhy Consensus is focused on technology that provides better patient care outcomesHow to translate human words and emotions into shared health information using AIWhy Consensus is driven to put the humanity back in health care technologyConnect with Bevey MinerBevey Miner on LinkedInConnect with Bronwen HuronBronwen Huron on LinkedInConnect with Dr. Jordan Shlain, Dr. Jessica Shepherd, & Dr. Gautam GulatiDr. Shlain on TwitterDr. Shlain on LinkedInDr. Shepherd on TwitterDr. Shepherd on LinkedInDr. Gulati on TwitterDr. Gulati on LinkedInResourcesConsensus Cloud SolutionsViVE

About Kristen ValdesKristen Valdes is the founder and CEO of b.well Connected Health. She is a transformative force in today’s healthcare marketplace, spearheading the conversation on how empowering consumers can transform healthcare delivery. Kristen is a seasoned healthcare executive with over 20 years in the industry and has dedicated her life to pioneering inventive solutions. Her powerful personal story has primarily driven this quest as the mother of a child suffering from a significant autoimmune disorder. Prior to founding b.well, Kristen was a Vice President at United Healthcare, running Medicare Advantage plans across 12 states. Mrs. Valdes has been recognized as a 40 Under 40 Healthcare Innovator, and b.well Connected Health has won various competitions and awards, including being named Top Innovator by Accenture in their Global Health Tech Innovation Challenge.Things You'll LearnPatients have tons of accounts and passwords to keep up with for their healthcare portals.Healthcare providers need to make it simple to tell patients they need specific care.American consumers are not educated about their fundamental rights from the healthcare perspective.Consumers are used to having multiple options from where to choose.Providers now have to be consumer-minded with everything they offer.ResourcesConnect and follow Kristen on LinkedIn.Discover more about b.well.

About Richard ScarfoRichard Scarfo is the president of HLTH, a leading platform bringing together the entire health ecosystem, focused on health innovation and transformation.Before leading HLTH, he was the Vice President of PCHAlliance at HIMSS. He has also had positions in Sales, Marketing, and Strategic Alliances in several renowned healthcare industry companies. Things You'll LearnEvents are more successful when they are focused on the experience they want to deliver.Producers and organizers also concentrate on curating the network they are building for the event.The Outcomes Rocket ViVE podcast series is here to help you catch up if you weren’t able to be at the in-person conference.ResourcesConnect and follow Richard on LinkedIn.Discover more about HLTH.

Over time, drug development has become more and more challenging.Success rates of clinical trials hover in the single digits, and the cost of developing a new treatment is greater than $2.5B.So, what can we do to make drug discovery faster, less expensive and more successful? How might advancements in machine learning and the availability of biomedical data revolutionize the drug design process?Daphne Koller is the CEO of Insitro, a company that is rethinking drug discovery using machine learning. She spent 18 years as a professor in the computer science department at Stanford before leaving to build the education platform Coursera. In 2016, Daphne returned to her passion for improving human health with machine learning, first as Chief Computing Officer at Calico Labs and then as the Founder of Insitro.On this episode of The Beat, Daphne joins host Dr. Gautam Gulati to explain how her experience with her father’s autoimmune condition informs her work and why we need to rethink the fundamental categorization of disease. Daphne describes how releasing machines from our preconceptions of what’s important uncovers new science around the drivers of disease and serves as a critical starting point for developing new interventions. Listen in for Daphne’s insight on leveraging machine learning to improve clinical trials and learn why data collection should be part of the fabric of every biopharma company.Topics CoveredDaphne’s background in machine learning, biology and medical dataHow Daphne’s experience with her father’s autoimmune disease informs her work at InsitroWhy we need to rethink the fundamental categorization of what disease isDaphne’s insight on the history of machine learning and the danger in overhyping what the technology can doThe pros and cons of using end-to-end learning to make predictionsHow releasing machines from preconceptions of what’s important helps uncover new scienceWhy understanding the drivers of disease is a critical starting point for developing new interventionsWhy data collection should be part of the fabric of every biopharma companyHow Daphne’s work in machine learning can be used to improve clinical trialsWhy now is the right time for a company like InsitroHow Daphne thinks about privacy and issues of informed consent Connect with Daphne KollerInsitro Connect with Dr. Gautam GulatiHLTHDr. G. on LinkedInDr. G. on Twitter ResourcesCourseraArt Levinson at CalicoDr. Hal Barron at GSKAducanumabChasing My Cure: A Doctor’s Race to Turn Hope into Action by David FajgenbaumInsitro’s Partnership with GileadUK Biobank Introductory Quote[5:34] “What I really wanted to build was a company that rethought drug discovery and development from the ground up, using machine learning as a foundational tool.”

Even before the pandemic, mental health was the #1 cause of disability worldwide.Yet most people didn’t feel comfortable sharing their mental health struggles and many waited until they were in crisis to ask for help—if they asked for help at all.So, how can we destigmatize mental health and provide people all over the world with access to ongoing support?Alyson Watson is the Founder and CEO of Modern Health, a global mental health benefits solution for employers. Modern Health takes a preventative approach to mental health, leveraging clinically validated assessments to offer employees access to their own personalized mental healthcare plan.On this episode of The Beat, Alyson joins host Dr. Gautam Gulati to explain how she defines health in terms of the mind-body connection and describe how she thinks about mental health on a spectrum. Alyson walks us through the process of using the Modern Health app and discusses the benefit of providing mental health support options beyond traditional therapy. Listen in for Alyson’s insight around the opportunity for innovation in the mental health space and learn how Modern Health is working to make mental health support more accessible to employees around the world.Topics CoveredHow Alyson’s experience with therapy inspired the creation of Modern HealthHow Alyson defines health in terms of the mind-body connectionWhat prompted our growing awareness of mental health needsHow Alyson thinks about mental health on a spectrum from green to redWhy technology has a negative impact on our mental healthModern Health’s function as a mental health benefits platform for employersHow Modern Health provides access to personalized mental healthcare plansHow Alyson’s team keeps employee information confidential (and what data they DO share with employers)Providing options for mental health support beyond the therapy-first modelThe opportunity for innovation in the mental health support spaceConnect with Alyson WatsonModern Health Connect with Dr. Gautam GulatiHLTHDr. G. on LinkedInDr. G. on Twitter ResourcesTogether: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World by Vivek H. MurthyInternational Coaching FederationCognitive Behavioral TherapyAcceptance and Commitment TherapyBehavioral TherapyMotivational InterviewingCircles by Modern Health Introductory Quote[4:46] “Well, it’s really interesting to think about that even before this pandemic hit, mental health was the #1 cause of disability worldwide."

How does access to healthcare data save lives? Consider the story of a 28-year-old patient who died from an opioid addiction. After the fact, his healthcare team realized that the young man had visited seven different emergency departments in the two months prior to his death. But without access to that information, none of the EDs realized the full extent of the problem. With the right data, they would have intervened differently, and the patient might still be alive today.Don Woodlock is Head of the Healthcare Business Unit at InterSystems, the leading provider of creative data technology solutions for the healthcare, finance and logistics industries. Don has 30 years of experience in healthcare IT, and he is dedicated to empowering care providers and connecting care communities through easy-to-use health information.On this episode of The Beat, Don joins host Jody Tropeano, Content Director at HLTH, to discuss the difference between healthy and unhealthy data, offering examples of how healthy data makes a powerful difference in patient care. Don explains the benefits of data interoperability and shares his take on machine learning as the future of healthcare. Listen in to understand why predictive models have yet to make a difference in patient care and learn how clinical data can be used to empower research and improve public health.Topics CoveredInterSystems’ work in building creative data solutions for healthcareThe difference between healthy and unhealthy dataExamples of how healthy data makes a powerful difference in patient careHow data interoperability benefits health systems, vendors and patientsWhy analytics projects are not ‘done’ when the dashboard goes liveDon’s take on machine learning as the future of healthcareWhy predictive models have yet to make an impact in the healthcare spaceUsing clinical data to improve public health, research and patient careConnect with Don WoodlockInterSystemsDon on LinkedInDon on TwitterConnect with Jody TropeanoHLTHJody on LinkedInJody on TwitterResourcesCoordinate My CareIntroductory Quote“We really believe data is this key asset that we can all leverage to make healthcare better.”

For the last decade, telemedicine has been dominated by urgent care—and it’s delivered a great deal of value for patients in need of quick access to a doctor for something like the stomach flu. But for the technology to reach its full potential, the experience needs to expand beyond ‘blind date’ telehealth. What if we used telecare to enable established clinician-patient relationships? How might follow-up care improve if medical professionals could, for example, check in on cancer patients every day?Roy Schoenberg is the President and CEO of American Well, the United States’ leading telehealth platform. Since its rollout in 2008, the American Well ecosystem has onboarded more than 200 of the nation’s largest payers, health systems, employers and retailers. Roy is a thought leader in the realm of healthcare technology and IT policy, and he was the 2014 recipient of the American Telemedicine Association Industry award for leadership in the field of telehealth.On this episode of The Beat, Roy joins Dr. Kuku to discuss how seeing a relative wait too long to seek care informs his work in telehealth. He shares his vision of the future of telemedicine, explaining how its applications will evolve from facilitating urgent care to enabling existing, trusted relationships between clinicians and patients. Listen in for Roy’s insight around the art of making good decisions in healthcare and learn how technology might reinvent the way we follow up with patients in need of ongoing care.Topics CoveredHow seeing a relative wait too long to seek care informs Roy’s workWhy we delay or interact with the health system as little as we canRoy’s insight on telehealth as the consumer revolution of healthcareRoy’s vision of leveraging telehealth to enable existing relationshipsHolding physicians accountable for the level of quality in telehealthHow tech is likely to reinvent the way we follow up with patientsUsing tech to raise the level of quality for every person in the USMaking tech disappear so the healthcare experience is more humanThe challenge of innovating in a skeptical industry that says NO firstRoy’s take around why making good decision in healthcare is an artConnect with Roy SchoenbergAmerican WellRoy on LinkedIn Connect with HLTH & Dr. KukuHLTH ConferenceDr. Kuku on LinkedInDr. Kuku on Twitter ResourcesKRYBabylon HealthFSMB Model Policy for the Appropriate Use of Telemedicine Technologies

Most of us would define longevity in terms of the length of our lives. But what if there’s more to it than that? What if quality matters as much as quantity? What if we could extend our healthiest, most productive years?Alex Zhavoronkov is the Founder and CEO of Insilico Medicine, a venture-backed company that seeks to extend healthy longevity through innovative AI solutions for drug discovery and aging research. Insilico has R&D labs in Belgium, the UK, Korea, Russia, Hong Kong, the US and Taiwan, and in 2017, the company was named one of NVIDIA’s Top 5 AI companies in its potential for social impact.   On the inaugural episode of The Beat, Alex joins Dr. Kuku and Dr. Shlain to discuss his work in the field of longevity biotechnology, describing his particular focus on extending our most productive years as opposed to the end of life. He introduces us to the new science around aging clocks and weighs in on the possibilities of using their data to reverse age-associated pathologies. Listen in for Alex’s insight around the potential for AI to influence our political systems and learn how a sole focus on rejuvenation rate would support global economic growth.Topics CoveredAlex’s transition from information technology to biopharmaThe intersection of technology and the human elementThe concept of quality-adjusted life years or QALYsAlex’s focus on extending productive years vs. end of lifeHow Alex sees longevity as more than just living longerThe science around aging clocks and their notable accuracyDeveloping actionable interventions from aging clock dataHow economic forces influence which diseases we researchEmbracing MMA principles as an approach to drug discoveryAlex’s work with triple-negative breast cancer moleculesAlex’s insight into how AI might influence political systemsThe parallels between gain of function and economic growthHow Peter Diamandis’ work gives Alex cause for optimism Connect with Alex ZhavoronkovInsilico MedicineAlex on LinkedIn Connect with Dr. Gulati, Dr. Shlain & Dr. KukuHLTH ConferenceDr. Shlain on LinkedInDr. Shlain on TwitterDr. Kuku on LinkedInDr. Kuku on TwitterResourcesDeep Medicine: How Artificial Intelligence Can Make Healthcare Human Again by Eric TopolThe Ageless Generation: How Advances in Biomedicine Will Transform the Global Economy by Alex ZhavoronkovSteven Horvath’s Aging Clock ResearchInsilico’s Partnership with CTFHAbundance: The Future is Better Than You Think by Peter H. Diamandis and Steven KotlerExponential Medicine

A lot of people are hesitant to reach out to a doctor for help. And when the issue they face is a stigmatized one like hair loss, birth control or erectile dysfunction, they’re even less likely to engage. So, how can we normalize conversations around care for these very common health concerns?Melissa Waters is the Chief Marketing Officer at Hims & Hers, a health and wellness startup out of San Francisco that seeks to eliminate stigmas and make it easier for people to access care and treatment for the conditions that impact their daily lives. Melissa brings 15-plus years of experience building top brands to her role in leading all marketing and communications for the company. Prior to Hims & Hers, Melissa served as Lyft’s VP of Marketing and Pandora’s VP of Brand and Product Marketing.  On this episode of The Beat, Melissa joins Dr. Kuku to explain how Hims & Hers provides care in stigmatized categories like erectile dysfunction and sexual wellness. She shares Hims & Hers’ ambitions around normalizing these stigmatized issues, democratizing access to care, providing price transparency and delivering a high-quality experience. Listen in for insight on Hims & Hers’ stand on access to contraception as a human right and learn how the platform is building trust and credibility with consumers. Topics CoveredHow Hims & Hers empowers consumers to be part of a solutionHow Hims & Hers provides care in stigmatized categoriesHow Melissa thinks about digital as strictly a delivery systemDemocratizing access to care + normalizing stigmatized issuesHims & Hers’ aim to provide price transparency + quality experienceThe number of Hims & Hers clients seeing a doctor for the first timeHims & Hers’ formidable Chief Medical Officer and his teamHims & Hers’ stand on access to contraception as a human rightThe need for more research dollars devoted to women’s healthHow Hims & Hers is moving slowly to ensure safety + build trust Connect with Melissa WatersHims & HersMelissa on LinkedIn Connect with HLTH & Dr. KukuHLTH ConferenceDr. Kuku on LinkedInDr. Kuku on Twitter ResourcesThe Innovator’s Dilemma: The Revolutionary Book That Will Change the Way You Do Business by Clayton M. ChristensenThe Innovator’s Prescription: A Disruptive Solution for Health Care by Clayton M. Christensen, Jerome H. Grossman and Jason Hwang