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To the HLTH Community,  In our last communication to the HLTH community, we stated that during this period of dynamic change, you can depend on us, to be honest, responsive and transparent. Our top priority is to ensure the safety of our attendees and uphold the values of the health community that we serve.  After critical and thoughtful consideration, and with the support and guidance from our <a href="https://www.hlth.com/hlth-matters/blog/An-Update-from-the-CEO-of-HLTH" target="_blank">Advisory Committee</a>, we have made the decision to transition HLTH 2020 to an entirely virtual event. <a href="https://www.hlth.com/virtual" target="_blank">HLTH VRTL 2020</a> will take place, October 12-15, 2020. The year everything changed - we are facing a global health pandemic, a cultural crisis and will have one of the most important Presidential elections of our time. Now more than ever, it’s essential for us to gather together to spark true change and discuss the impact that this past year will have on the industry going forward. We’re developing a brand-new virtual agenda that will focus on the history-altering events of 2020 that have affected our hearts, minds, and forced us to question our current policies and business models. <a href="https://www.hlth.com/virtual/agenda-overview" target="_blank">See the agenda overview here.</a> While we may not be able to meet in person this fall, you can still expect an exceptional virtual experience, bringing together leaders from across the health ecosystem to help solve some of the industry’s largest problems and to bring to life some of the most promising opportunities to improve health.  You’ll be able to attend sessions from top health &amp; political leaders, listen to startup pitches, meet with key solutions providers and sponsors, and build new partnerships and connections through 1:1 networking opportunities; including our virtual <a href="https://hlth.com/virtual/hosted-buyer" target="_blank">Hosted Buyer program</a>, <a href="https://hlth.com/virtual/funding-founders" target="_blank">Funding Founders program</a>, and <a href="https://hlth.com/virtual/table-talks" target="_blank">Table Talks</a>. Also, get ready to be surprised with some amazing entertainment! We’re so excited for you to see what we have in store. Right now, our mission has never been more important and we&#39;re so excited for the potential that a virtual experience has to bring us all together in new ways. We can’t wait to be able to connect virtually with you all. - The HLTH Team

HLTH 2020 Has Gone Virtual

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Chief Medical Officer

Ever hit ‘Accept’ on the Terms &amp; Conditions of a newly downloaded app, skipped the fine print, and scrolled all the way down to move ahead? It’s a likely scenario, but now we’re facing the reality of what we may have agreed to. Up until recently, most of us fell for this standard practice, something the tech industry counted on and benefited from: gathering personal data from mobile devices and well beyond the app. What they did not account for was the consumer distrust of this sneaky behavior, developing very protective boundaries around the use of their private information, once becoming informed. For example, Apple recently updated its privacy label to clearly reveal how data is obtained, giving the consumer a choice. At that time, a reported 95% of all Meta (formerly known as Facebook) users with an iPhone iOS opted not to share their data*. Social media platforms could expect a hit to their revenues and could see people start to leave the platform as a compromise of their non-health data privacy breeds mistrust. Healthcare industry is no different, but there’s time to correct the pattern Healthcare systems and payers are using consent forms in the same way and with a similar purpose, having patients sign away their rights to their data, and not fully explaining the multitude of secondary data sales (from operational improvements to clinical research) that they may have unknowingly agreed to share. As this becomes more apparent, if healthcare systems do not get out in front of this they risk consumers questioning the intent of their care teams and the security of their personal information. They can easily say, “if I pay for my services at the hospital, I expect that only the provider and I will access my data for my personal care. When did I agree to having my data re-used and re-sold?” Legally in almost all states, healthcare systems actually do own the data that they collect – though this is not apparent to many patients. Neither are the long-term repercussions if that data is ransomed, stolen, or used to make more expensive healthcare products or services that might be out of their price range. Healthcare systems and organizations have a vital opportunity to rebuild trust with their consumers by embracing privacy by consent and being transparent with the use of their data. Consumer as a Partner: Two-way trust system The opportunity is ripe for building consumer engagement around creating transparent methods of information gathering. Safely, securely, and in most recent cases, virtually, consumer engagement can be the differential consent-based business model that can harness user trust through reciprocal data sharing and rewards for participation. So, who is doing this right? One of the best examples of a privacy-based consent approach is the All of Us Research Program, led by the National Institutes of Health, with support from Scripps Research Translational Institute, where Dedalus has been conducting ongoing customer service with participants. With a unique and intimate view into this two-way engagement approach, it’s clear that consumer trust can be gained when there’s unwavering privacy in this current environment and they’re positioned as a key stakeholder. While stating ambitious goals of recruiting one million or more participants, the most notable part of the program is that it was designed around privacy and security, to build trust with communities, especially those who have been underrepresented in biomedical research, including racial and ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ people, residents of rural areas, and other groups. As a trusted partner, Dedalus developed and maintains an ongoing FISMA Moderate security posture. In other words, <a href="https://www.dedalus.com/na/perspectives/all-of-us-research-program/" target="_blank">Dedalus</a> operates under an extensive set of security controls while engaging with participants and when collecting their healthcare data. Positioning participants as active partners, helping to guide efforts and decide how their data will be used for research, is only going to lead to more trust, discovery and interest in their wellbeing in the long term. The <a href="https://clicktime.symantec.com/3Er1xHV7YUpvYiSwEiSp5F97Vc?u=http%3A%2F%2Fjoinallofus.org%2F" target="_blank">All of Us</a> Research Program to date, has engaged more than 400,000 participants in sharing their data, and is the first of any program that provides information back to the participant, if interested, as a benefit of their participation. The participant is also made aware of the outcomes their data has served, developing a true partnership when the reciprocation is valued on both sides and utilized for the greater good of our future generations. *<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-07-14/facebook-fb-advertisers-impacted-by-apple-aapl-privacy-ios-14-changes" target="_blank">https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-07-14/facebook-fb-advertisers-impacted-by-apple-aapl-privacy-ios-14-changes</a> About Dr. George Mathew, CMO George Mathew, M.D. M.B.A, F.A.C.P. is the Chief Medical Officer for Dedalus Group, North America, and serves as the clinical informaticist, expert and healthcare thought leader to our customers in the transforming healthcare marketplace of payer, provider, life sciences and federal, state and local government healthcare businesses. His experience includes consulting, technology development, and business development work at GE, Goldman, Sachs and Co., WebMD, Pfizer, Medidata Solutions, and Aetna/CVS. Dr. Mathew brings a strong technology innovation focus to this role having founded a healthcare technology start-up earlier in his career and continues to advise several healthcare IT startups through the Health 2.0-NYC community. George is based in the greater New York City area and continues to practice medicine as a hospitalist.

Healthcare Data Privacy: Who's Doing It Right?

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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

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Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder

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. 

About Zachariah Reitano:

Zachariah Reitano is the CEO and cofounder of Ro, a patient-driven healthcare company that powers three digital health clinics -- Roman (men’s health), Rory (women’s health) and Zero (addiction treatment) -- providing a personalized end-to-end telehealth experience from diagnosis to delivery. 

HLTH Team: Ro recently launched a Coronavirus Telehealth Assessment. What is it?

Zachariah Reitano: Ro has created a free telehealth triage service for people seeking guidance and information about the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

If an individual thinks they may be experiencing signs or symptoms of the novel coronavirus, they can complete Ro’s online assessment and, if appropriate, Ro will connect them with a provider who will follow up via secure messaging, phone or video consultation.

The service is currently available nationwide (and Washington D.C.). 

HLTH Team: What are the benefits of a service like this?

Zachariah Reitano: The CDC and other public health agencies have strongly encouraged patients and providers to have remote consultations (phone, video, text) as an initial step. Telehealth services like Ro’s have key public health benefits during a crisis:

Unburdening the system: Through telehealth consultations, Ro can keep low-risk patients from going to the hospital or doctor’s office and free up appointments and hospital beds for people who need them most. Telehealth can mitigate the risk of health centers from getting overwhelmed with patients. Ro will help facilitate in-person care for higher risk patients.
Increasing safety: For low-risk patients, it might be more dangerous to spend time in a hospital or clinic than to self-quarantine at home.
Providing care quickly: People have easy, free access to a doctor and can avoid typically long wait times.
Tracking spread to help with containment: Ro is collecting valuable data about symptoms, geography, and travel history that can be shared with public health officials in an anonymized format.

HLTH Team: How does the service work?

Zachariah Reitano: Developed with guidance from infectious disease specialists, Ro’s telehealth assessment collects health information from the patient (e.g., health history, symptoms, travel history, locale, proximity to confirmed cases). Based on that information and using the most up-to-date guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and state/local public health departments, we provide an initial risk assessment.

Those who are symptomatic or have other risk factors (e.g., travel history or proximity to confirmed cases, pre-existing/underlying conditions) will be connected to a U.S. licensed provider who will follow up via secure messaging, phone or video consultation

During the consultation, the provider will collect additional information about the patient’s symptoms and concerns, recommend the proper course of action (which may include self-quarantine), and, if recommended, instruct them to follow up with a local provider for testing and diagnosis. For patients who are recommended to seek in-person care, we will provide them resources to find a local provider so they can get the help they need. Suspected cases of COVID-19 are also reported to applicable public health authorities, as required, to help inform local and national response efforts.

Individuals who are at low risk of having contracted COVID-19 will be guided to a number of resources at our Coronavirus Resource Hub and will be encouraged to keep monitoring their symptoms. These resources are regularly updated and are based on the latest government guidelines and best practices. Our goal is that these resources will help the public understand this complex virus and help keep themselves, their families, and their communities safe.

Please note: Ro is not providing testing or diagnosing for COVID-19. 

HLTH Team: How can executives out there contribute to the solution with Ro?

Zachariah Reitano: As soon as we launched, companies, health care institutions, government agencies, and individuals reached out to see how they could spread the word and help. Startups wanted to offer the telehealth assessment to their employees. Online education platforms were interested in offering it to their students at home. Marketplaces wanted to offer it to their freelancers, especially those who may not be insured.

While we’re in uncharted territory and uncertain times, the optimist in me is grateful people have been willing to work together, day and night, to lend a hand in whatever way they could.

If any organization, institution, or agency would like their own branded free coronavirus telehealth assessment page and to help in whatever way they can, please fill out this form and we’ll get back to you within 24 hours.

HLTH Team: Will Ro share any of its data with public health officials?

Zachariah Reitano: We have the ability to collect and provide relevant and anonymized data to public health officials. We would welcome their advice on the types of data that would aid their efforts. If you are part of an agency or healthcare institution that is responding to the COVID-19 outbreak and think Ro could be helpful in any way, please contact covid19-feedback@ro.co.

HLTH Team: Will telemedicine be more widely adopted in a post-Coronavirus world?

Zachariah Reitano: Today, providers like Ro are focused on the public health response to COVID-19. As reported in NEJM and widely covered since COVID-19 emerged, telehealth can help to slow the spread of COVID-19 and keep the “worried well” and those with mild COVID-19 symptoms from overwhelming the healthcare system, keeping high-risk patients and providers safe. Outside of COVID-19, individuals may still need to consult with a physician and, in some cases, receive care for other conditions and acute illnesses, like sinus infections and UTIs. Telemedicine can help to treat those individuals, while also keeping those patients out of the healthcare system in this time of overwhelming need. 

Tomorrow and over the long-term, we believe that telehealth will not only be used in times of crisis, but more and more as a safe, high-quality, accessible and affordable healthcare option.

How Ro is Responding to COVID-19

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