Digital Content

We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience, serve personalized ads or content, and analyze our traffic. We’ll assume you’re ok with this, but you can opt out if you wish. See our 

Footer

Column Name Goes Here

Footer V2

2024 Event

Event Global

New HLTH Insights Programs

Become a Hosted Buyer

Become a Sponsor/Exhibitor

Apply for Media Pass

Promote Your Presence

2023 Event

Event Global Footer

Startup Opportunities

Hotel

2022 Event

LLC Global

2021 Event

LLC Menu

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, our team will be interviewing experts from across the ecosystem to bring the HLTH community timely facts and updates. Frank Rivera: Patient Advocate- Fight for those who can&#39;t fight for themselves! Frank Rivera founded Sarcoidosis of Long Island in 2012. In 2011 Frank was diagnosed with Sarcoidosis after being misdiagnosed with lung cancer for 7 years prior. Since opening Sarcoidosis of Long Island he has been a local, state and federal advocate for Sarcoidosis. Frank strives to raise awareness for Sarcoidosis nationally, but specifically in the government sector. He has represented the Rare and Sarcoidosis community as a speaker at two Congressional briefings for Sarcoidosis. https://twitter.com/SarcofI Kristal Kent: Kristal is a Patient Advocate for the Fibromyalgia, Veteran, Chronic Pain and Chronic Illnesses Communities. Utilizing social media, Kristal educates and provides support for her communities. Kristal serves on the Cleveland Clinic Patient Panel and a Board Of Trustee for the Fibromyalgia Care Society Of America. The Fibromyalgia Pain Chronicles: https://www.facebook.com/FibrolPainChronicles/ Candace Lerman: Candace Lerman, Esq., is an attorney, consultant, and author of the rare disease blog, RareCandace.com. She earned her Juris Doctorate with a concentration in Health Law at the Shepard Broad School of Law at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and a certificate in Healthcare Compliance from Seton Hall University School of Law. In addition, she holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in International Affairs from Florida State University. A rare disease patient, Candace researched and repurposed a drug to put her blood disorder into remission twice! She works closely with members of Congress on federal healthcare policy, and can often be found on Capitol Hill meeting with staff on various topics involving health policy. Candace serves on the board of Our Odyssey, an organization dedicated to fostering support and community among young adults living with rare and chronic conditions. https://twitter.com/RareCandace

COVID-19 Discussion with Patient Advocates

Blog - 0020

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, our team will be interviewing experts from across the ecosystem to bring the HLTH community timely facts and updates. As the industry focuses heavily on the COVID-19 pandemic, the health science community is working overtime to conduct research that will lead to treatment, vaccine, and better diagnostics. Here at Elsevier, we continue to update our <a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/capitals/hockey-teams-bachelor-contestants-according-very-good-thread-predators?fbclid=IwAR2p50l5DaeQp5_dEoL7Zu2DKdntLNFRWYl1AfiTRRhJbhHU95Qhp7J641w" target="_blank">Novel Coronavirus Information Center</a> to help public health authorities, researchers and clinicians contain and manage this disease. From research papers, data sets, patient care plans, and clinical decision support tools, these resources are available for free to the health science community, clinicians and patients around the world. As an extension of this effort, we also recently launched our <a href="https://elsevier.health/" target="_blank">COVID-19 Healthcare Hub</a> as a free resource to aid frontline healthcare workers managing the current coronavirus health crisis and the <a href="https://www.elsevier.com/clinical-solutions/coronavirus-research-hub" target="_blank">Coronavirus Research Hub</a>, which provides a suite of best-in-class tools for researchers and data scientists to freely access.   The importance of free access to research In the past four months, we have seen the research community change focus rather quickly to themes relevant to COVID-19. This is all part of a larger trend that we are seeing in infectious disease research. Over the past decade, research publications on emerging infectious diseases has grown at an <a href="https://www.elsevier.com/connect/infographic-global-research-trends-in-infectious-disease?dgcid=_EC_PR" target="_blank">average rate of 6.9% annually</a>.  We also know that following an outbreak of a disease, there is a sharp spike in disease-specific publications. This is evidenced by a rise in publication counts following outbreaks of SARS, Influenza A (H1N1), Ebola and Zika virus. We can expect to see that for COVID-19 as well. Suffice it to say, there is a lot of research available that could help inform a response to the evolving pandemic – and it is clear that the research community is hard at work and eager to access information like this. As a member of the health science community, I believe it is Elsevier’s duty to do everything in our power to support the urgent global effort to understand, contain, and eradicate this new virus. This is why Elsevier, and many other publishers, have signed the Wellcome Trust’s <a href="https://wellcome.ac.uk/press-release/sharing-research-data-and-findings-relevant-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak" target="_blank">statement</a> that calls for research findings and relevant data to be shared rapidly and openly to inform the public health response and help save lives. This is why we have worked quickly to pool all available information in one place on our coronavirus resource hub. Ultimately, science does not happen in isolation; it requires timely collaboration and knowledge sharing.    Using AI to sort through data  You may be asking, with this growing amount of data and research, how do we expect our busy clinicians to sort through and break the information down into actionable next steps? This is where artificial intelligence can shine, as it sorts through thousands upon thousands of journals and databases to expertly curate relevant peer-reviewed papers. This technology also allows researchers to comb and surface real-time clinical trial data. But, how does this ultimately impact patient care?  Research impact on patients  When looking at the direct impact of research on patients, first we must look to past infectious disease outbreaks, such as SARS, Influenza A (H1N1), Ebola and Zika virus. Through the research completed during and after these outbreaks, the health science community discovered new approaches to treat and curb the spread of diseases. As we are problem-solving for the current situation with COVID-19, many are looking to past successes, and in some cases, even failures, to apply learnings to the challenge at hand. Ultimately, this can accelerate the speed of discovery for successful treatments, vaccines, and diagnostics for the novel coronavirus.   Right now, we need any and all research findings on every aspect of this virus. This will help us improve diagnosis, offer urgently needed treatment possibilities and enable a greater understanding of the pathogen itself and its evolution. This has become especially clear in the last few months, as we have seen a rapid response from public health organizations to advance various treatments, vaccines and diagnostics based on existing data and new research results. As we move forward, research will also provide insight into the long-term effects of the treatments, vaccines and the virus itself, as we have little knowledge of this currently. Eventually, as the global community recovers from COVID-19, we can use our learnings to improve outcomes for future outbreaks.  COVID-19 has had a massive global impact, with extreme economic disruption, strain on local and global public health resources and, above all, human health. As we work together in the fight against this pandemic, we must remember that the fundamental first step rests in research.  About John Danaher, MD: John Danaher, MD, MBA, is Global President of Clinical Solutions at Elsevier, a global business focused on improving patient outcomes and reducing unnecessary healthcare costs through advanced clinical decision support and clinical process improvement. Before joining the Clinical Solutions group, John was President of Education (Nursing and Health Education) at Elsevier.  Prior to joining Elsevier, John was President of the Schools of Health Sciences and Nursing at Kaplan University. He brings a great depth of experience in digital media in health care and education from his time at Kaplan, Discovery Communications, and as Executive VP of WebMD. John has deep domain expertise and a successful track-record in managing health information businesses. His experience, in both government and the private sector, extends beyond the US and into global markets, including assignments and experience with Japan, Pakistan, the UK and Australia. John received his medical degree from Dartmouth Medical School and is Board Certified in Internal Medicine. He received his MBA from Stanford University and earlier in his career was Resident &amp; Chief Resident in Internal Medicine at Stanford University Medical Center. John has served on diverse corporate and not-for-profit boards, community organizations, teaching faculties and fellowships, including a White House Fellowship.

The Fundamental First Step to Fighting COVID-19: Research

Blog - 0035

President and CEO of the Clinical Effectiveness Business

The massive pivot to virtual care during the pandemic not only showed the potential for disruption, but it also served as a dry run for widespread adoption of new modes of care delivery and enabling technologies.  According to a recent AMA report, <a href="https://www.ama-assn.org/system/files/ama-return-on-health-report.pdf" target="_blank">Return on Health: Moving Beyond Dollars and Cents in Realizing the Value of Virtual Care,</a> “This evolution to digitally enabled care will fundamentally transform the value equation for health care professionals and payers…the attention will shift to how we can use innovative technologies to enhance overall episodes of care, blending a virtual and in-person experience in ways that improve access and experience for some patients while maintaining or improving quality and reducing long-term costs.” Virtual care affects consumers whether they’re engaging with their PCP over video or with their insurer. Regardless of who initiates the engagement, providers, payers, regulators, and other stakeholders must ensure a strong supporting infrastructure exists. The stakes, from the impacts on consumer health to safety, satisfaction, and cost, are too high to ignore.  For its part, my organization, Wolters Kluwer is providing valuable access to trusted clinically valid, expert-vetted content and tools to those driving this massive shift in care, both providers and payers. For more than 30 years, through UpToDate and other deeply entrenched healthcare platforms, we have provided healthcare professionals in traditional settings with evidence-based technologies to ensure they can confidently treat patients and answer even the most complex clinical questions.  Moving forward, all members of the healthcare ecosystem might reasonably expect that care, whether onsite, virtual, or preventative, is guided by the same evidence. With a validated base of evidence – one that is organized and accessible – we can eliminate variability across a consumer’s health journey, reduce diagnostic and treatment errors, create alignment with preventative care, and lower costs.  This is why Wolters Kluwer is expanding access to our trusted content and tools beyond traditional care settings, where its benefits are already proven. We now provide unprecedented access to these resources through two new solutions: one for virtual care vendors who are developing tools for providers and patients and one for payers who seek to engage more frequently and effectively with their members. Opportunity and Support for Virtual Care Vendors Virtual care is a rapidly evolving, quarter trillion-dollar market, and players must move quickly to meet consumer demand. A <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221101005204/en/Nearly-Four-in-Five-Americans-Who-Have-Used-Virtual-Primary-Care-Say-It-Helped-Them-Take-Charge-of-Their-Health" target="_blank">recent Harris poll </a>of 5,000 consumers, commissioned by Elevance Health, found that more than half of respondents (52%) say they would use virtual primary care in addition to the care they receive from their current primary healthcare provider within the next year.  Our Digital Health Architect platform is a content-as-a-service solution that lets virtual care vendors build, customize, and deliver their own digital health solutions. Our first suite of content, aimed at Consumer Education, includes hundreds of multimedia programs, drug information, and articles.  Virtual care vendors will rely on more than technology and usability alone. New applications must link to dynamic content and tools that have measurable impact on health, are safe for consumers, and reduce costs. Starting from scratch is costly, time-consuming, and likely to introduce more variability in care, which negatively impacts patient outcomes. We’ve created a solution for perhaps the most time-consuming and costly aspect of delivering virtual care at scale, reliably and without compromise: API-enabled access to dynamic expert healthcare content that already guides patient encounters across more than two thirds of U.S. hospital systems. Saving time and costs for virtual care developers while ensuring content is always reliable is good for them and fulfills our mission to help ensure best care everywhere. Helping Payers Increase Engagement and Improve Outcomes For insurers, engagement is critical to financial success and, more important, a driver of better health outcomes. In <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/healthcare-systems-and-services/our-insights/supercharging-the-roi-of-your-care-management-programs" target="_blank">“Supercharging the ROI of your care management programs,”</a> McKinsey authors estimated that “payer care management can leave 90% or more of potential value ‘on the table’ because payers are not able to engage the vast majority of members they identify for care management.” EmmiGuide is a member engagement solution that helps payers improve outcomes by influencing positive health behaviors through compelling content and guidance based on sound behavior science. By sharing accurate, evidence–based content that is already widely used, plans not only build trust with members, but also help them gain confidence managing their health.  EmmiGuide provides access to disease treatment plans, drug information, and industry-leading patient engagement, communication, and education materials. It’s fully configurable for diverse populations and rapidly scalable across platforms – email, portal, or interactive voice response. Studies show that Emmi, the foundation for EmmiGuide, works: 83% of individuals using Emmi through their provider say it motivated them to take new actions to improve health. For payers, this is strong evidence for future ROI. <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/healthcare-systems-and-services/our-insights/the-untapped-potential-of-payer-care-management" target="_blank">McKinsey advocates</a> for payer care management as well, estimating that “payers may be able to generate more than two-to-one (2:1+) ROI, meaning that for every $1 invested there may be a $2 return, while also ensuring a better, healthier experience for members.” Conclusion: Go Virtual, Stay Grounded Virtual care will continue to evolve and improve. We know now that healthcare is about more than inpatient visits; it involves a constellation of smaller interactions away from a physician’s office or hospital. These interactions will increasingly be initiated by payers as well, with members receiving targeted support to improve adherence to everything from medications to diet and exercise.  Virtual care, including prevention through care management by payers, has an important place in our healthcare and wellness futures, but the evidence and insights that have sustained us for centuries at physical points of care must guide virtual engagement too. By expanding access to our trusted, clinically valid, expert vetted content and tools beyond traditional care settings, we can be the same catalyst for best care everywhere in the virtual world as we’ve been at traditional points of care for decades.

All Virtual Care and Care Management Must be Grounded in Evidence

Blog - 0149

General Manager

Clinical trials are more complex than ever. Pharmaceutical companies, medical device companies, and clinical research organizations (CROs) are collecting more research data than ever. The amount of data from novel sources that support decentralized trials has also increased over the last several years. As a result, research sites and clinicians are struggling to meet sponsor deadlines for increasingly complex trials.   Technology can help solve this challenge, when it’s deployed appropriately. Here are four tips for managing clinical trial complexity:   1) Stay focused on the experience When I say experience, I mean that in a couple of different ways. First, we should focus on the experience of the user – the sponsor team designing and conducting the trial. Better workflows can make the difference between meeting and missing a critical research decision point or deadline. Second, and just as important if not more so, we should focus on patient and clinician experience. The future of trial recruitment will be heavily influenced by the patient’s expectations for a smooth digital experience and the clinician’s ability to deliver to sponsor expectations.  2) Enable direct data flow Direct data flow, meaning the ability to collect data directly at the source (i.e., the patient, clinical setting, directly from equipment or testing systems) and flow that data to the sponsor systems, has gained momentum with the COVID pandemic and the associated healthcare disruption. Direct data flow is complex, and some technologies contribute to complexity, especially if they are not connected to each other or otherwise inhibit data flow by requiring data transformations.   As an example, clients are more frequently asking how electronic health records (EHRs) can be directly integrated with electronic data capture (EDC) systems to simplify data collection for clinical trials and better integrate that into clinician workflows. There are significant differences between how healthcare data is collected in a clinician setting versus how it is collected for clinical research. As the industry identifies ways to smartly apply technology solutions and data transformation that reduce the data disparities between the use cases, the ability to connect clinical data with clinical trials data becomes a viable path forward.   3) Apply artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) strategically When working with AI and ML technologies, it’s important to have a specific purpose and a clearly defined use case/problem statement to be solved. We were among the first to apply AI to medical coding and have had success in that area for a long time, showing that machine learning solutions embedded within workflow can significantly reduce overall effort. Because of this experience, we are working on other targeted applications of machine learning, specifically for streamlining operational workflows and improving overall quality.  4) Lean into the expertise of your technology vendor Research requires completing a host of difficult tasks in support of complex trial designs. Technology vendors should be able to help solve those challenges. They should be able to proactively advise in these cases and not just be reactive recipients of information.  For example, adaptive clinical trial design enables planned modifications to one or more aspects, which offers distinct advantages. We helped a client with adaptive trial design, so that researchers can add multiple treatment arms throughout the study lifecycle. Another client used adaptive design to enable adjustments to the randomization schedule, based on the variable or unequal probability of treatment assignment.  Complexity will continue to increase in the clinical trial space, but innovative technologies continue to help teams rise to the challenge. Applying these principles can also help future-proof clinical trial design in the years to come.  Jennifer Duff is Merative’s General Manager for Zelta. She has more than 24 years of experience in the Life Sciences industry and specializes in enabling and scaling industry-leading services and technology solutions for biopharma clients.

4 Tips When Using Tech to Manage Clinical Trial Complexity

Blog - 0156