INTERVIEWS

Dr. Jeff Stark, MD, Head of U.S. Medical Immunology at UCB, and a rheumatologist, discusses the recent update by the ICD-10 Coordination and Maintenance Committee (a subcommittee of the National Center for Health Statistics at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) that created a code specific to non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-AxSpA), a chronic inflammatory condition that mainly affects the spine and sacroiliac joint. The condition will now be formally indexed to ICD-10 sub-category M46.8 and effective Oct 1, 2020.

David Cohen, FACHE, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Greenway Health discusses why and how healthcare can work like other industries thus overcoming and meeting new healthcare consumerism expectations once and for all and how innovative tech capabilities such as voice recognition, ML, and NLP will enable healthcare providers to meet these new needs and expectations of patients.

KC Morse, who grew up with sickle cell disease (SCD) and is now a school teacher shares her experience and encourages young adults as they transition from pediatric to adult care for SCD.  She is joined by Dr. Wanda Whitten-Shurney, a pediatric hematologist/oncologist at Children’s Hospital of Michigan and CEO of the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America (Michigan chapter), who discusses why it is so important for young adults with SCD to stay up to date with their medical care during times of transition and especially now being at increased risk for COVID-19.

Singer/songwriter Crystal Bowersox, who has diabetes, and Dr. Gregory Dodell, member of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, discuss the new initiative “Know Before the Low” to help those living with diabetes be prepared for low blood sugar, which includes having a “rescue plan” in place for very low blood sugar emergencies and telling their support network about it in advance.

Eric Chan, Head of Pharmacy at Blooms The Chemist , Australia’s leading community pharmacy, discusses the recent White Paper detailing its response to the COVID-19 pandemic titled “Lessons Learnt from the Frontline of a Health Emergency” and he also talks about how pharmacies are adapting to new technologies and systems to increase their offering. 

Pamela Bishop, Chief Marketing Officer at Blooms The Chemist, Australia’s leading community pharmacy, discusses the recent White Paper detailing its response to the COVID-19 pandemic titled “Lessons Learnt from the Frontline of a Health Emergency” and she also talks about their brand strategy.

Emmanuel Vavoulas, head of retail at Blooms The Chemist, Australia’s leading community pharmacy, discusses the recent White Paper detailing its response to the COVID-19 pandemic titled “Lessons Learnt from the Frontline of a Health Emergency”  that includes “Ensuring the Community’s Access to Health and Medical Supplies”, such as home-delivered medicine and maintaining access for vulnerable customers. 

Returning guest, Bill Rancic discusses his ongoing partnership with the Astellas Oncology C3 Prize (Changing Cancer Care) program.  The C3 Prize is a global challenge to advance ideas beyond medicine that can make a big impact in the cancer community.  This year, Astellas Oncology is looking for ideas that can bring solutions to everyday challenges, including concepts that can ease the increased burden of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer care and health disparities affecting cancer patients and caregivers. The program will award $200,000 in grants and resources to help winners further advance their ideas.  Applications are open from now until September 28, 2020.

Abby Westerman, founder of the b-present Foundation, winner of the Astellas Oncology 2019 C3 Prize (Changing Cancer Care) Emerging Ideas Winner, discusses the mission of the foundation which is a social support network for young adults with cancer.  She talks about how the C3 Prize made it possible to launch their b-there tool, including important changes to the software recommended by reviewers, as well as the development of all content, training, and help center materials to make b-there beta available online.  Astellas Oncology’s 5th Annual C3 Prize has launched and applications are being accepted through September 28, 2020.

The Nanny Angel Network in Canada was the grand prize winner of the Astellas Oncology 2019 C3 Prize (Changing Cancer Care).  Audrey Guth, Founder of the organization discusses her inspiration to start the network in 2009 to support mothers in cancer treatment and their children.  She talks about how they have been able to continue to carry out their mission, in part due to the C3 Prize, despite COVID-19 – by delivering meals, virtual visits, a “Homework Club” to assist with homework and prepare for tests and an online support group with a nurse navigator for moms.  Astellas Oncology’s 5th Annual C3 Prize has launched and applications are being accepted through September 28, 2020.