Faces of Digital Health

Tjasa Zajc

Faces of Digital Health is a podcast about digital health, exploring how different healthcare systems adopt technologies in healthcare. Its aim is to satisfy curiosity about different cultures, identify barriers to success in different countries and finding answers and advice for accelerating the success of digital health entrepreneurs. read less
TechnologyTechnology

Episodes

Healthtech in the GCC Countries: Focus on Infrastructure and Export Capabilities
09-04-2024
Healthtech in the GCC Countries: Focus on Infrastructure and Export Capabilities
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) brings together six Arab countries – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates  When one reads about the GCC countries, there’s nothing but the impression of prosperity: high investments, determination, and enthusiasm in tech-supported healthcare.  The spending on healthcare by the GCC governments is on an astronomical rise. From a regionwide US$2.4 billion in 2016, it rose to more than US$30 billion in 2021 and is projected to surpass US$104 billion this year, according to a report from the UAE Ministry of Economy.  In this episode, Pilar Fernandez Hermida International Go-to-Market expert with 20+ years of experience launching sales & partner ecosystem strategies, talks about the potential of the Middle East and MENA region for healthtech companies, the culture in the Middle East, how to interpret different style of communication here, what are the common entrepreneurial misconceptions, and where to find opportunities. Pilar says that the entrepreneurial spirit here is 10-times as strong as in the US, and that biotech and drug development are the next thing to watch for in the region. www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/ Show notes: [00:02:00] Pilar Fernandez Hermida, an expert in healthcare market strategies, shares insights from Abu Dhabi. [00:04:00] Analysis of the healthcare infrastructure development in GCC post-pandemic. [00:08:00] The role of expats in the Middle East's healthcare transformation. [00:10:00] Public-private partnerships as key opportunities. [00:12:00] Cultural considerations for startups in the GCC. [00:14:00] Misconceptions about the Middle Eastern healthcare market. [00:18:00] Building long-term relationships in business. [00:20:00] Navigating diverse cultural communication in healthcare. [00:24:00] Comparing the entrepreneurial spirit in the Middle East with the U.S. and Europe. [00:28:00] Strategic advice for healthcare entrepreneurs targeting the GCC. [00:30:00] Importance of understanding regulations and digital maturity in MENA. [00:32:00] Future potential in biotech and digital health in the GCC. [00:36:00] The convergence of digital health and biotech.
What Factors Should You Take into Account when Designing  ePROs - Electronic Patient Reported Outcomes Solutions?
19-03-2024
What Factors Should You Take into Account when Designing ePROs - Electronic Patient Reported Outcomes Solutions?
Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) have become increasingly integral in healthcare for assessing the effectiveness of treatments from the patient's perspective. It sounds like a reasonable step in improving clinical research and care provision, but gathering data can be more difficult then you may think. It isn't easy to get to marginalized communities. There are language barriers in collecting data. There are cultural aspects that impact responses. So, how can you design useful electronic solutions for patient-reported outcomes? Hear from Mustafa Ali Syed, Researcher at the Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, The University of Manchester, and Ben James, Co-founder/Chief Design Officer at uMotif - ePRO, an engagement platform designed to power clinical and real-world research. Both are co-authors of a recently published paper titled Exploring the Cross-cultural Acceptability of Digital Tools for Pain Self-reporting. www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/ Show notes: 00:00:00 Why Do PROs Matter? 00:04:00 Evolution of Data Collection 00:06:00 Importance of Diversity in Clinical Trials 00:08:00 Ethnicity, Culture, and Pain Perception 00:12:00 The Role of Technology in PROs 00:14:00 Designing Inclusive Digital Solutions 00:20:00 Challenges in Engaging Targeted Populations 00:22:00 Language and Communication Barriers 00:26:00 The Future of PRO Research
In the Rapid Advancements in Oncology Treatments, How Can Healthcare IT Support Clinicians? (Elekta)
04-03-2024
In the Rapid Advancements in Oncology Treatments, How Can Healthcare IT Support Clinicians? (Elekta)
The field of oncology treatments is advancing very fast with innovative therapies and approaches on the market every day. It can get very tricky to support these therapies from an IT perspective, which is what you will hear more about in this discussion. I spoke with Anish Patankar, SVP and GM of Elekta’s Oncology Software Solutions, and we discusses: How to go about the US hospital market,  Development in software for oncology treatments, Challenges in scaling healthcare IT software across markets.  Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/ www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Show notes: [00:00:00] Introduction to Elekta [00:02:00] Elekta's Global Presence [00:04:00] US Market Focus [00:06:00] Growth in Developing Countries [00:08:00] Segmentation and Technology Adoption in the US [00:10:00] Untapped Needs and Opportunities in the US [00:12:00] Elekta's Use of AI [00:14:00] Patient Feedback and Clinical Decision Making [00:18:00] Navigating Legacy Software in Healthcare IT [00:20:00] Modernization and Customer Satisfaction [00:22:00] Global Standardization and Regulation Challenges [00:24:00] Interoperability and Open Ecosystem [00:26:00] Future of Oncology Market Development: the interplay between medications and radiation, and the potential of theranostics. [00:28:00] Exciting Technologies in Healthcare Beyond Oncology: personalized healthcare, digital twins [00:30:00] Cautions for the Future: The critical debate on the balance between innovation speed and safety, particularly with generative AI.
How Do Pharma and Digital Health Converge in 2024? (Amir Lahav)
20-02-2024
How Do Pharma and Digital Health Converge in 2024? (Amir Lahav)
In 2023, Insilico Medicine—a biotech company developing medications with a heavy reliance on AI—used AI to develop an experimental drug for the incurable lung disease idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The treatment is in mid-stage trials in the US and China, with some results expected in early 2025. Biotech is one of the fields that has been using generative AI for years, even before ChatGPT brought the technology to public view. Latest technology is essential in drug development. However, the convergence of digital health and pharma seems less clear. Digital health apps started gaining popularity around 2015, and at that time, it seemed all pharma companies were trying to figure out what they could gain from apps, so they financed accelerators and incubators one after the other. We've seen many ideas about how Pharma should or could use digital health. In the last few years, there have been many notorious cases when partnerships failed—a seemingly unicorn, Proteus, which designed digital sensors-equipped pills, went bankrupt in 2019 after Otsuka Pharmaceuticals pulled out of a funding round. Pear Therapeutics, the guiding star in the DTx space and the leader in FDA-cleared prescription digital therapeutics, partnered with Novartis, but in the end, the company filed for bankruptcy in 2023. So where is Pharma in relation to digital health and digital therapeutics? In this episode, Amir Lahav shares his thoughts about the impact of AI on biotech, the state of decentralized clinical trials, and the potential of technology for improved drug development, clinical trials, and patient responses. Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/ www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Show notes: [00:02:00] The Convergence of Digital Health and Pharma Discussion on the role of digital health apps in pharmaceuticals. The rise and fall of pharma and tech company partnerships, with examples like Proteus and Peer Therapeutics. [00:06:00] AI Trends in Biotech and Pharma [00:08:00] Enhancing Clinical Trials with AI and continuous patient monitoring [00:10:00] The Importance of Data in Clinical Trials [00:12:00] The Reality of Oncology Trials and Endpoints [00:14:00] Quality of Life in Medicine as the Endpoint [00:16:00] The Rise of Decentralized Clinical Trials [00:18:00] Pharma's Evolving Digital Health Strategies [00:22:00] Impact on Digital Health Industry [00:24:00] Collaboration and Sharing Knowledge in the Pharma Industry [00:26:00] The need for long-term investment and strategic piloting of digital health solutions [00:28:00] What Inspires in Pharma and Biotech in Personalized Treatments [00:30:00] The State of Precision Medicine and Targeted Therapies [00:34:00] The Role of Pharmacogenomics [00:36:00] Anticipations for 2024 and Beyond
Gender Impact On Health Is Huge - Women's Health Research Needs More Investments
07-02-2024
Gender Impact On Health Is Huge - Women's Health Research Needs More Investments
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
How Can We Reduce Unnecessary Lab Testing?
23-01-2024
How Can We Reduce Unnecessary Lab Testing?
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.com Show 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.
How Does AI Work For Medical Note Taking and Risk Scoring? (Augmedix, HDAI)
06-11-2023
How Does AI Work For Medical Note Taking and Risk Scoring? (Augmedix, HDAI)
If you’re still trying to wrap your head around the use of AI in healthcare, this episode will give you an idea about the use of generative AI to create clinical notes during an interaction between a doctor and a patient. Augmedix, a healthcare technology company that delivers ambient medical documentation and data solutions. Their clinician-controlled mobile app uses generative AI to instantaneously create a fully automated draft medical note after each patient visit. I spoke with Manny Krakaris - CEO of Augmedix, about the HOW. How is their data model built, what and what kind of technology do they use in their product? Manny also explains why they’re not covering revenue cycle management or RCM-related codes in their data structuring processes, and what are the biggest challenges in the industry at the moment.  The second part of this episode is unrelated to generative AI, and illustrates how existing medical data can be used to create risk prediction tools for medical care. You will hear from Nassib Chamoun, Founder and CEO of the Health Data Analytics Institute, an analytics company that is developing risk modeling methodology to ease clinical decision-making by assigning patients different risk scores based on their medical history. This enables clinicians to design follow-up protocols based on an individual's potential health deterioration. Both discussions were recorded at HLTH. Read a longer article about insights related to generative AI from HLTH, which includes an overview of the key player in medical notes generation space: https://fodh.substack.com/p/generative-ai-in-healthcare. Episode summary: https://www.facesofdigitalhealth.com/blog/ai-for-medical-note-taking-and-risk-scoring-augmedix-hdai Augmedix: https://augmedix.com/ HDAI: https://www.hda-institute.com/ Discussion summary: More about healthcare data in the US: Healthcare data in the US series: https://www.facesofdigitalhealth.com/blog/healthcare-data-series-in-the-us-foundy-epic-komodo?rq=epic%20 Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/ Website: www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Leave a rating or review in iTunes: https://www.facesofdigitalhealth.com/subscribe
How Is Patient Data Consolidated and Presented to Doctors in the US? (Reveleer)
01-11-2023
How Is Patient Data Consolidated and Presented to Doctors in the US? (Reveleer)
In the United States, individuals' healthcare information is dispersed among various healthcare providers. But many companies have been working on creating consolidated patient views, Reveleer being one of them.  Data fragmentation often occurs because people tend to switch healthcare providers when they change jobs and, as a result, their health insurance plans. Since insurance companies have specific networks of affiliated healthcare providers, a change in insurance necessitates a change in providers. Because providers use different information technology systems, individual healthcare data becomes compartmentalized and difficult to consolidate. In this episode, Jay Ackerman, CEO and president of Reveleer, a healthcare technology workflow, data, and analytics company, supporting payers and risk-bearing providers in their value-based care programs, explained: how Reveleer consolidates patient data to give clinicians a single overview of the patient,  what are the biggest pain points in healthcare data management in the US, how is generative AI affecting Reveleer’s product development?  Discussion transcription: https://www.facesofdigitalhealth.com/blog/healthcare-data-consolidation-reveleer More about healthcare data in the US: Healthcare data in the US series: https://www.facesofdigitalhealth.com/blog/healthcare-data-series-in-the-us-foundy-epic-komodo?rq=epic%20 Generative AI in Healthcare: "The biggest challenge is in PR": https://fodh.substack.com/p/generative-ai-in-healthcare Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/ Website: www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Leave a rating or review in iTunes: https://www.facesofdigitalhealth.com/subscribe
VR in healthcare: What are the Indications and How Far Is Accessibility?  (Aaron Gani, BehaVR)
24-10-2023
VR in healthcare: What are the Indications and How Far Is Accessibility? (Aaron Gani, BehaVR)
VR is becoming a well-established tool in healthcare and medicine to help treat pain management, anxiety, mental wellness, and more. Thousands of studies have shown the efficacy of VR approaches for health because of the impact of the immersive experience offered by this technology. We covered VR in medicine in several episodes in the past, and I’m adding the link to those in the show notes. In this episode, Aaron Gani, CEO of BehaVR, a company providing virtual reality solutions to address pain management, anxiety, mental wellness, and social engagement, shares: the latest on reimbursement, shifts in digital therapeutics companies' business models, which might make VR solutions more widely accessible with direct-to-consumer approaches, the impact of VR on decreasing opioid use in pain management, thoughts about VR and psychedelics since both approaches leverage altered states of consciousness. Enjoy the discussion. You can also read the summary of this chat on our website; the link is in the show notes. And if you haven’t yet, do check out our newsletter at fodh.substack.com. The latest edition focuses on the state of generative AI in healthcare, and the past editions have info on how France is approaching the reimbursement of digital therapeutics. You can find an overview of healthcare and digitalization in Africa, insight into the APAC and LATAM regions, and much more. Do check it out! Discussion summary: https://www.facesofdigitalhealth.com/blog/vr-healthcare-behavr-aaron-gani BehaVR: https://www.behavr.com/how-it-works/ https://www.facesofdigitalhealth.com/ Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/ Past episodes on VR: F106 VRx: What has over 5000 studies taught us about the healing effect of VR? (Dr. Brennan Spiegel) https://www.facesofdigitalhealth.com/blog/f106-vrx-what-has-over-5000-studies-taught-us-about-the-healing-effect-of-vr-dr-brennan-spiegel VR: Promises and Challenges in 2021 (Rafael Grossman, Jennifer Esposito, Aaron Gani): https://www.facesofdigitalhealth.com/blog/vr-rafael-grossmann-behavr-magic-leap