The Patients Speak

Welcome back to The Patients Speak podcast, where today's focus is on improving women's health through empowerment, education, and collaboration between patients and health providers.Michelle Griffin Michelle's Website @thedrcalled on Instagram 1. **Introduction to Dr. Michelle Griffin** - Dr. Michelle Griffin, a doctor, health educator, strategist, and business advisor with a unique perspective gained from almost 20 years as an OBGYN and a startup advisor. - Discussion on the changing landscape of overall health, particularly in women's health.2. **Patients' Needs and Effective Healthcare** - Dr. Griffin emphasizes the importance of understanding patients' wants, needs, and effectiveness to truly improve women's healthcare. - The dynamic nature of women's health, spanning from consumers seeking products to patients in need of expert medical intervention. - Quote from Dr. Michelle: "We're only going to be successful in increasing and improving the standard of women's healthcare by really examining what patients want and what they need."3. **Challenges and Gaps in Women's Health** - Exploring the challenges faced by companies aiming to address the diverse needs of women in healthcare. - The complexity of women's health, involving biological, social, and psychological factors. - Quote from Dr. Michelle: "Healthcare is complex, and it's not about the next shampoo that's going to make your hair feel really clean and shiny."4. **Clinical Trials and Gender Representation** - Highlighting the underrepresentation of women in clinical trials and the need for a broader perspective in protocol development. - Discussing the lack of research understanding around women's normal health before addressing abnormalities. - The necessity of increased funding for women's health research and the importance of gender-specific considerations in clinical trials.5. **Implications for Drug and Medical Device Development** - Dr. Griffin emphasizes the urgency in women's health, urging the industry not to reinvent the wheel but build on existing knowledge. - A focus on technology that addresses the impact on end-users, providing solutions that genuinely improve women's lives. - Quote from Dr. Michelle: "We need to look at things completely differently and everything that we did think was true... we need to look at this completely differently."6. **Physician-Patient Communication and Empathy** - Exploring the challenges physicians face within limited consultation times and the emotional toll of effective communication. - Importance of active listening, acknowledging patients' concerns, and transparency in physician-patient interactions. - Dr. Michelle shares her approach of using the ICE model (Ideas, Concerns, Expectations) to facilitate patient communication.7. **Role of Technology in Improving Consultations** - The potential role of technology in helping patients collect and present information, making consultations more efficient and focused. - Addressing the need for emotional and mental support for physicians dealing with intense, short patient interactions. - Dr. Michelle's encouragement for patients to bring recorded information, diaries, and notes to consultations.8. **Closing Thoughts and Call to Action** - Dr. Griffin concludes by emphasizing the need to recognize the uniqueness of women's health and the collective responsibility to improve healthcare standards. - Encouragement for patients to communicate and advocate for themselves, and for healthcare professionals, researchers, and others to actively seek ways to enhance women's...

Elevating Mental Health PracticesWelcome back to "The Patients Speak," where we bridge healthcare innovation with the patient voice. In this episode, our diverse panel dives deep into the complexities of mental health. Mark introduces Maggie Hallett, Senior Director at Mental Health America of Ohio; Jess Maitri, of YoThera Method in Boise; and Wayne Brown, a licensed clinical social worker in Buffalo.Key Topics:Mental Health in the WorkplaceMaggie sheds light on Mental Health America's role, emphasizing creating healthy work cultures and peer recovery support programs.Holistic Therapeutic ApproachesJess discusses her Yothera method, incorporating body, mind, and spirit into therapy, addressing the need for non-traditional approaches.Challenges of Community Mental HealthWayne highlights issues in community mental health, including burnout, lack of continuity, and the struggle to serve overwhelming caseloads.Importance of Joy in TherapyThe panel stresses the need for joy in therapy, shifting the focus from problems to joy and emphasizing the emotional investment therapists bring.Elevating Mental Health PracticesThe discussion touches on the necessity of valuing mental health professionals, ensuring fair pay, supportive work environments, and empowering therapists to choose fulfilling specialties.Quotes:Maggie Hallett: "When you create an environment in which people can actually take care of themselves, that they're paid enough... you are not leaving your stresses at the door when you walk in."Jess Maitri: "What's lacking in the therapeutic process is joy. It's more joy. It's actually bringing joy... helping them realize that they can still access joy."Wayne Brown: "They have the right, they have the obligation to find the therapist who's going to most meet their needs... we have to be true to ourselves and really do our best practice."This insightful conversation calls for a shift in mental health practices, emphasizing the need for joy, individualized care, fair compensation, and supportive work environments. Join us in our next episode of "The Patients Speak" as we continue to explore and advocate for the patient's voice in healthcare. Thank you for listening.BSB Media

Welcome to another enlightening episode of "The Patients Speak." I'm your host, Mark Stinson, and today we're diving deep into the intricacies of healthcare processes, focusing on patient empowerment and improved experiences. Our special guest is Dr. Doug Slakey, a renowned transplant surgeon, educator, healthcare professional, and administrator. He's also the author of the thought-provoking book, "The Process Manifesto."Patient-Centered CareOur conversation kicks off by stressing the importance of patient-centered care. Dr. Slakey emphasizes that patients should be seen not just as cases but as individuals on unique health journeys. A patient's perspective often differs significantly from the healthcare system's, and understanding this shift is crucial. "We have to realize that at some point in our lives, each of us is a caregiver and each of us is a patient, and it really is a continuum."Compassion in HealthcareWe explore the role of compassion in healthcare. Compassion, Dr. Slakey argues, is action-oriented and a foundational element that should guide interactions between patients and healthcare providers. It fosters communication, empathy, and a more human-centered approach to care. "Compassion is action-oriented. It's about recognizing individual needs and providing care that extends beyond mere empathy."Empowering PatientsDr. Slakey stresses the importance of patients actively participating in their healthcare journey. Patients should educate themselves, ask questions, and clearly articulate their expectations. Additionally, they can play a more proactive role by sharing personal context that may affect their care.Outcome-Oriented CareShifting from traditional process-centric care, we delve into the importance of measuring patient outcomes. This involves evaluating whether patients are achieving their desired health goals. Outcome-based care holds the potential to realign payment models and drive improvement in healthcare processes.Aligning Processes with Patient ExpectationsAligning healthcare processes with patient expectations is the key to success. Dr. Slakey highlights that healthcare providers should be transparent in communicating the journey, so patients can actively participate in their care and understand what's happening at each stage.Decentralizing ControlA vital call to action is the decentralization of control in healthcare. Placing control at the front lines, where providers directly interact with patients, enables the use of knowledge, education, compassion, and empathy to create positive change in the patient experience.The conversation with Dr. Slakey reinforces that healthcare is a multifaceted journey and that acknowledging the patient's voice, experiences, and expectations is pivotal. With continuous quality improvement and a patient-centric approach, we can reshape the healthcare landscape to ensure better outcomes, more compassionate care, and enhanced patient experiences.Douglas Slakey Dr. Douglas Slakey is an internationally recognized transplant surgeon, educator, author, healthcare professional, and administrator. Doug is currently a professor of surgery at the University of Illinois, Chicago, and the president of Process Health Consulting, a healthcare consultancy focused on enhancing and optimizing operations and process flow, emphasizing complex system management strategies that optimize patient outcomes. He is a global educator and speaker who inspires healthcare teams to provide effective, compassionate patient care. Douglas's Website @d3slakey on Instagram Join us in our next episode of "The Patients Speak" as we continue to explore and advocate for the patient's voice in healthcare. Thank you for listening.BSB Media

Welcome back to another enlightening episode of "The Patients Speak" with Mark Stinson, where we fuse the realms of healthcare business and scientific innovation with the patient's voice to expedite their journey from diagnosis to wellness. Today, we're thrilled to have Chuck Rinker, a colon cancer survivor and the CEO of Prsonas, a company that pioneers a unique blend of human and AI technologies to enhance patient engagement and communication.Chuck's journey, from the world of EA Sports and gaming to his current role, is intriguing. His personal experiences as a patient and caregiver have informed his mission to create more personal patient communication. As Chuck explains, their technology is designed to focus on patient needs and is set to revolutionize healthcare in several ways.Chuck says, "From clinical outcomes to operational efficiencies, we've overlooked the impact on the patient's mental state and journey. Prsonas with a purpose, as we call it, fills the gap in healthcare technology."Prsonas' technology introduces digital communication avatars that improve the patient experience across various healthcare settings. A remarkable use case is helping patients navigate the labyrinthine hospital environment. In this role, the avatars serve as digital wayfinders and concierge services, ensuring patients can find their way, whether they speak English, Spanish, or even sign language. They make the healthcare system less burdensome for both patients and the staff.Chuck adds, "The ultimate goal is to provide a concierge service that speaks your language, is culturally sensitive, and helps you navigate the complex healthcare system."But what can healthcare learn from large corporations like Disney and Wrangler, who've mastered brand intimacy and one-on-one marketing? Chuck asserts that the healthcare system needs to shift its focus from treating patient populations to treating patients as individuals. Achieving brand intimacy, where patients feel represented, heard, and cared for, is key to retaining and attracting patients.Chuck's personal journey has fundamentally reshaped his work at Prsonas. Being thrust into the whirlwind of information and disinformation when facing a critical illness, Chuck was determined to place the patient at the center of healthcare technology. This shift in focus, from commercial success to patient success, led to the birth of "Personas with a Purpose."And what does Chuck say to his teams to ensure they maintain a patient-centric focus? He highlights the importance of creating a gaming-like experience, where each patient feels represented, cared for, and heard, rather than selling products. By creating an advocate who communicates on a personal level, healthcare can shift from focusing on patient populations to treating patients one-on-one.Chuck Rinker's story is an inspiring example of how personal experience and dedication can drive innovation in the healthcare field. You can find out more about Prsonas at ihealthassist.com and prsonas.com to explore their innovative solutions and philosophy.Chuck Rinker Chuck's Website @cjrinker on Instagram Chuck on YouTube At "The Patients Speak," we believe that embracing medical innovation and new technologies, combined with listening to patients' stories, is the path to better healthcare. BSB Media

In this podcast interview on "THE PATIENTS SPEAK" with Mark Stinson, Ken Dychtwald, author, thinker, and philosopher, discusses his latest book, "Radical Curiosity," and his lifelong exploration of aging and purposeful living. Here's a summary of the key points covered:- Ken Dychtwald is a renowned thinker and author with a deep interest in aging and the quest for a purposeful life.- "Radical Curiosity," his latest book, delves into the concept of curiosity as a driver of innovation and personal growth.- Dychtwald believes that traditional success measures often miss the point, emphasizing the importance of curiosity for true innovation.- He highlights the need for a deeper kind of curiosity, one that explores profound questions about life, death, reinvention, and imagination intelligence.- Dychtwald suggests that curiosity should be emphasized in schools, companies, and families as a crucial value.- He shares his journey and insights, emphasizing that his books aren't just autobiographies but reflections on how to think differently.- Key lessons he imparts include not accepting the status quo, being open to creativity, and seeking out creative thinkers.- Dychtwald advocates for making an impact in unoccupied territories rather than competing in saturated fields.- He reflects on the shift from a youth-dominated culture to an aging one and the need for new perspectives on aging.- Dychtwald believes in the importance of balancing professional success with personal relationships and cherishing moments with family.- He mentions a mentor, Houston Smith, who emphasized the simple lesson of being kinder in life.- Looking forward, Dychtwald remains passionate about aging, geroscience, and advocating for equitable access to healthy longevity.Ken Dychtwald's interview provides valuable insights into the importance of curiosity, reinvention, and purpose throughout life, especially as we navigate the complexities of aging and personal fulfillment.

In this podcast interview with Dr. Fred Grossman, President and Chief Medical Officer of Coya, the following key points were discussed:- The podcast, "The Patients Speak," aims to bridge the gap between healthcare science and the patient perspective.- Dr. Grossman highlighted the significant unmet needs in conditions like ALS and Alzheimer's disease, emphasizing the personal impact on patients and their families.- ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) is a rapidly progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects muscle function, speech, and respiration, with a high fatality rate.- Alzheimer's disease is also a devastating condition, and patients and their families are eagerly seeking treatments.- The discussion touched on the importance of considering patients' perspectives on daily activities, which are greatly affected by these conditions.- Dr. Grossman emphasized the need for objective measures in clinical trials while acknowledging the importance of subjective input from patients and their families.- Patients' altruism and desire to contribute to research were highlighted as essential drivers in clinical trials.- Dr. Grossman discussed Coya's focus on regulatory T cells (Tregs) as a key cellular target in treating ALS due to their role in regulating inflammation.- Coya's treatment, Coya 302, aims to increase the number and function of Tregs to stabilize the immune system and halt ALS progression.- The potential impact of Coya 302 was discussed, with the aim of prolonging survival and improving patients' quality of life.- Dr. Grossman mentioned that Coya is planning a large-scale study for Koya 302 with a potential start in six months.- Collaboration with patient advocacy groups and the Healy Platform Trial was highlighted as a way to involve patients in research and speed up progress.- The importance of clear and honest communication between patients and healthcare providers was emphasized, with patients having the right to know what to expect in their condition.Fred's Website BSB Media

In this podcast interview with Dr. Jay Shah, Mark highlights these key points:- The shift from a healthcare-centric system to a patient-driven system over the last few decades.- The evolution of healthcare from a physician-centric model to patient-centered care, and finally, to a patient-driven approach.- The role of technology in empowering patients with control over their healthcare data and decisions.- The importance of transparent pricing models and the ability for patients to compare and choose their healthcare services.- The focus of Aktiia, Dr. Shah's current company, on hypertension monitoring using wearable technology.- The significance of continuous blood pressure monitoring in managing chronic diseases like hypertension.- The potential for direct-to-patient and enterprise adoption of devices like Aktiia's for better healthcare management.- The challenges and opportunities in the digital health device industry, emphasizing the importance of accuracy and trust in data.- How digital health tools can enhance the patient-physician relationship by providing continuous, reliable data.- Dr. Shah's advice to patients to be proactive, prepared, and empowered in managing their health in collaboration with their healthcare providers.Dr. Shah highlights the importance of patients taking an active role in their healthcare journey and using technology as a tool to optimize their health. He also emphasizes the need for trustworthy and validated digital health devices to build trust between patients and physicians.Dr. Jay's Website Jay is a seasoned physician leader with over 15 years of progressive and diverse experiences in the medical field and is currently helping Aktiia improve hypertension diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment as the Chief Medical Officer. BSB Media

Innovating Patient Care: A Conversation with Brittany Blair, Head of Patient Strategy and Solutions at UCBIntroduction:Welcome back to "The Patients Speak," where we blend the realms of healthcare innovation, science, and the invaluable patient perspective. In this episode, we're joined by Brittany Blair, Head of Patient Strategy and Solutions at UCB, a pharmaceutical company committed to understanding and serving patients better. Let's dive into the insights Brittany shares about the importance of listening to patients and translating their emotions into actionable insights.Understanding the Patient:Brittany emphasizes the significance of recognizing the hidden truths and emotions that drive patient behavior. It's not just about gathering data but understanding the underlying emotions. She advocates for disciplined research into the customer or patient, delving beneath surface-level responses.Leveraging Emotional Insights:Patients often express their need to be heard and understood. Brittany explains how her team translates these emotions into actionable insights. They gather and theme data, focusing on emotional drivers, and use these insights to develop solutions that genuinely cater to patient needs.Co-Creation with Patients:UCB takes a unique approach by involving patients in the creation of materials intended for them. Instead of relying solely on internal development, they collaborate directly with patients. This fosters authenticity and ensures that the final products truly resonate with the intended audience.The Power of Education:Education plays a vital role in patient empowerment. Brittany discusses the importance of educating patients about their conditions and treatment options. Patients are increasingly seeking information, and pharma companies can contribute by providing educational resources that are easily accessible and authentic.Access to Treatment:Ensuring patients can access and afford treatments is a critical challenge. UCB addresses this issue by providing nurse navigators who help patients overcome logistical barriers. These navigators guide patients through the complex process of obtaining specialty medicines.The Role of Digital Health:Brittany highlights the potential of digital health in bridging gaps in the patient journey. She discusses the importance of connecting different phases of the patient journey, from pre-prescription to post-prescription. Additionally, she sees opportunities for pharma companies to partner with digital therapeutics providers to enhance patient care.Innovations in Listening:Brittany encourages companies to not only gather data through social listening but also take swift action based on insights. She emphasizes the value of periodic interactions with patients to gain a deeper understanding of their needs. Listening and acting promptly can make a significant impact on patient support.Key Messages for UCB:When asked about the key messages she'd deliver to UCB executives, Brittany emphasizes the need for investment in generating awareness for immunology products. She stresses the importance of maintaining balance among various stakeholders and disciplines in strategic choices. Lastly, she highlights the emotional aspect, mentioning that eliciting goosebumps is the ultimate goal to motivate patient action.Closing Thoughts:Brittany's insights emphasize the importance of staying connected with patients, advocating for their needs, and continuously improving patient care. "The Patients Speak" will continue to explore healthcare innovation and patient perspectives in upcoming episodes.Thank you for joining us on another insightful episode of "The Patients Speak." We'll be back with more conversations with healthcare leaders, patient advocates, and medical researchers dedicated to making a difference.

In this episode of "The Patients Speak" podcast, host Mark Stinson interviews Rob Oliver, a speaker, podcaster, and patient advocate. Rob recently set a Guinness World Record for conducting a marathon interviewing session of 137 interviews in the field of healthcare. Rob's work focuses on capturing patient perspectives and insights to improve healthcare experiences. Here are key highlights from Rob's work:1. **Listening to Patients**: Rob's interviews with patients reveal a recurring theme – patients want their medical providers to truly listen to them. Patients often feel that their symptoms and experiences are overlooked due to time constraints and other pressures faced by medical professionals.2. **Individualized Care**: Rob emphasizes the importance of personalized care plans. Patients have diverse needs and circumstances, and medical professionals should tailor their approaches to account for these differences. A single diagnosis can affect individuals in unique ways.3. **Patient Empowerment**: Rob's own healthcare journey has taught him the importance of self-advocacy. Patients should not be afraid to express their concerns, ask questions, and propose solutions. Communication between patients and healthcare providers should be collaborative and respectful.4. **Holistic Approach**: Medical professionals often get fixated on a diagnosis, neglecting other aspects of a patient's life. Rob stresses the significance of viewing patients as whole individuals with lives that extend beyond their medical conditions. Considering social, emotional, and lifestyle factors is crucial for comprehensive care.5. **Healthcare Executives' Role**: Rob advises healthcare executives to remember that patients are people with multifaceted lives. The focus should be on helping patients regain their quality of life, rather than just addressing medical conditions. Executives should prioritize patient-centered care, involving patients in decision-making, and supporting healthcare providers to provide holistic care.Rob plans to compile the insights gathered from his interviews into a book that will provide valuable perspectives from patients to help medical professionals enhance the quality of healthcare services.For more insightful discussions on patient experiences and healthcare improvement, listeners are encouraged to tune into "Perspectives on Healthcare," Rob Oliver's podcast.Rob's Website Rob on YouTube @yourkeynoter on Instagram @yourkeynoter on Instagram Hosted by Mark Stinson, and produced by BSB Mediawww.BioscienceBridge.com

In this episode of "The Patients Speak" podcast, Mark Stinson engages in a conversation with Ben Stephen, the founder and CEO of Corventive, a company focused on addressing heart disease through innovative health technologies. Here are the key highlights of Ben's work discussed in the podcast:Personal Experience and Mission: Ben Stephen shares his personal experience with heart disease, which led him to develop Corventive. He emphasizes that heart disease is a significant problem, being the leading cause of death in the United States and globally. Ben's mission is to improve heart disease prevention and diagnosis.Heart Disease Identification: Corventive is building analytic software that can analyze existing medical tests routinely done for other reasons to identify patients at risk for heart disease. By examining unstructured data within radiology reports, the software can identify specific information that might signal a patient's risk.Leveraging Existing Data: The software leverages experience from various medical tests, such as mammograms and CT scans, that patients already receive. It aims to help physicians identify patients at risk for heart disease based on overlooked information within these reports.Early Screening Tool: Corventive's solution serves as an early screening tool that can identify patients at risk before they experience severe heart events. The software's findings can guide discussions between patients and healthcare providers about preventive measures and further testing.Implications for Clinical Trials: The software's capability to identify patients at risk for heart disease could also benefit clinical trials, helping identify potential candidates for testing new medications and medical devices for heart-related conditions.Throughout the conversation, Ben emphasizes the importance of prevention in healthcare and the need for innovative technology to help physicians identify patients at risk for various diseases, ultimately aiming to save lives and improve patient outcomes.Ben's Website Ben on YouTube

Welcome back, friends and colleagues, to the latest season and newest series of interviews on our podcast, "The Patients Speak." Today, I'm excited to have a conversation with RJ Kedziora, who is deeply involved in the digital health sector, specializing in data analytics and software development that impact the patient's journey.RJ's company, Estenda Solutions, has a focus on patient-centered innovation in the digital health space. Key highlights of RJ's work include:1. **Empowering Chronic Condition Management:** Estenda Solutions began by developing diabetes management solutions, recognizing that chronic conditions like diabetes can be significantly managed through patient behaviors. RJ emphasizes that proactive management can enhance well-being.2. **Technological Progress:** Over the years, advancements in technology have transformed health management. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) has evolved from 15-minute intervals to real-time data, enabling patients to understand their bodies' responses and make informed choices.3. **Comprehensive Patient Insights:** RJ discusses the importance of integrating biometric data with behavioral and clinical information. Creating a holistic view of each patient's journey enables better care, encouraging healthier behaviors, and personalized treatment plans.4. **Digital Therapeutics:** RJ introduces the concept of digital therapeutics, elevated digital health applications supported by clinical trials and regulatory approval. These applications can be prescribed by healthcare providers and even reimbursed by insurance, showcasing a shift toward more comprehensive digital interventions.5. **Promoting Patient Engagement:** Estenda Solutions fosters empathy within its team by educating members about patients' conditions and experiences. The focus on empathy encourages developers to create software that truly addresses patients' needs and enhances their engagement with their own healthcare.RJ also highlights the continuous evolution of technology, predicting that digital tools will seamlessly integrate into patients' lives, aiding them on their wellness journeys. The use of AI further expands the capabilities of these tools, providing exciting prospects for improving patient understanding and care.Join us next time as we continue to explore conversations with healthcare leaders, patient advocates, medical professionals, and researchers about the insights gained when "The Patients Speak."Hosted by Mark Stinson, and produced by BSB Mediawww.BioscienceBridge.comRJ 's Website RJ on YouTube @estendasolutions on Instagram BSB Media

Welcome back to a new season of "The Patients Speak," where we're committed to listening to patients' stories and journeys, beyond just the medical aspect. In this episode, we're joined by Jeanne-Mari Retief, CEO of Figgi Beauty and Healthcare, to discuss her experiences with panic disorders and anxiety, and how these challenges have intersected with her business journey. When Jeanne turned 35, she experienced great change, contemplation, confusion, frustration, and joy. She invested so much of her energy in becoming an expert in her field, but realized that the career she had built with a single-minded focus no longer fulfilled or inspired her. It was a confusing and frightening realization. Facing a health and soul crisis she decided to make a big change. She integrated her human rights background into FIGGI which allowed her to seek serenity and still experience the adrenaline rush of creating something new. This is what FIGGI is to her! It is her Best Life – It is her FIGGI Life. Jeanne shares how she was diagnosed with panic disorder after a frightening episode while traveling. She emphasizes the difficulty of conveying the complex nature of panic disorder to others, as it goes beyond mere stress or anxiety and impacts various aspects of daily life. She recalls a doctor's insensitive response that greatly affected her and highlights the need for medical professionals to approach patients with compassion and understanding, especially during vulnerable moments.Discussing her pivot to create Figgi Beauty, Jeanne explains how her personal struggles with skin sensitivity due to anxiety-related symptoms led her to develop a skincare line. The brand represents self-acceptance and offers a holistic approach to self-care for individuals in high-stress professions.Throughout the conversation, Jeanne emphasizes the importance of acknowledging the holistic nature of mental health issues. She encourages healthcare providers to approach patients with compassion, help them understand their condition, and explore treatment options with fewer side effects. She also touches on the idea of self-actualization by referring to her customers as "goddesses," aiming to inspire self-celebration and self-awareness.Jeanne 's Website @jeanne_figgilife on Instagram Jeanne 's Facebook page The episode ends with a reminder that patients are not defined solely by their medical conditions; they are individuals with dreams, aspirations, and lives beyond their illnesses. Stay tuned for more engaging conversations on "The Patients Speak."Hosted by Mark Stinson, produced by BSB Mediawww.BioscienceBridge.com

Welcome back to "The Patients Speak" podcast, where we blend the science and business of healthcare with the patient voice to accelerate the journey from diagnosis to wellness. In Episode 38, we kick off a new season by reviewing the book "Patient Activation: The Four Steps to Going from Awareness to Activation," co-authored by me and Bob Baurys. This resource aims to empower both healthcare professionals and patients, offering actionable steps to enhance patient engagement and activation. This podcast was actually inspired by the book, providing a platform for real-life examples of patient activation and insights into patients' minds. I'll provide a sneak peek of key points from the book, covering the foundation of patient activation, steps to activate patients, the ongoing process of activation, collaboration between providers and patients, and the transformative potential of patient-centered care. Join us as we explore these concepts through interviews and experiences from our guests in the previous season and those to come in Season 2.**Key Points from this Podcast Episode:**1. Patient Activation: The book emphasizes helping patients become active participants in their healthcare journey, enhancing patient engagement and empowerment.2. Steps of Patient Activation: The book outlines the patient activation process in stages, starting with locating and educating patients.3. Ongoing Process: Patient activation isn't a one-time event but a continuous journey that requires ongoing support and engagement.4. Collaborative Approach: Healthcare providers must shift from a paternalistic approach to a collaborative one, working with patients to develop personalized care plans.5. Transformative Potential: Patient activation has the power to transform healthcare by placing patients at the center of care, improving outcomes and enhancing the overall experience.*"Patient Activation" eBook Offer:*As a special offer, you can grab a copy of "Patient Activation" for just 99 cents on Kindle. This limited-time offer provides you with practical strategies, insights, and real-world examples to enhance patient engagement and empowerment. Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn how patient activation can revolutionize healthcare for the better.https://a.co/d/bRho4QbStay tuned for upcoming episodes in Season 2, featuring interviews with industry leaders, patient advocates, clinical researchers, and more. Thank you for joining us on this journey as we continue to amplify the patient voice and drive positive change in healthcare. Remember, when the patients speak, we all have a lot to learn. Hosted by Mark Stinson, and produced by BSB Mediawww.BioscienceBridge.com

Songs in Pharma Commercials with Guest: Patrick Smith, Creative Director (Connect with Patrick on Instagram @smithdidit)In this podcast episode of "The Patient Speak," host Mark Stinson interviews Patrick Smith, a creative director, about the intersection of healthcare marketing and pop culture. The podcast explores how healthcare innovations are accelerating the patient journey and features discussions with healthcare leaders, patient advocates, medical providers, and researchers.The episode begins with a playful reference to TV commercials interrupting tense moments in TV shows. It introduces the idea of cross-fertilization between healthcare brands and pop culture, particularly in the context of drug commercials using popular songs.The episode features discussions on:Music in Drug Commercials: Patrick Smith and Mark discuss the trend of using classic rock songs in pharmaceutical commercials. They highlight the use of popular songs to enhance brand recall and create synergies between the brand promise and the song's themes.Branding and Borrowed Interest: They explore the concept of "borrowed interest" in advertising, where creative elements like jingles, characters, or illustrations are used to make the product more appealing. This approach is seen as a way to simplify complex healthcare stories and increase audience engagement.Lessons in Leadership and Creativity: Patrick talks about his transition from focusing solely on creative work to honing his leadership skills and refining insights. He emphasizes the importance of being at the forefront of campaign ideas and developing core concepts.Future Insights: Patrick shares his aspirations for his career, including increasing his role in leading campaigns and refining core ideas for clients. He talks about the importance of staying on the front lines of creative strategy.Personal Touch: The podcast concludes with Patrick's personal choice of a rock song by Van Halen that would represent his career in a hypothetical commercial about himself.Playlist of Featured Commercials:Ozempic (Type 2 Diabetes)Anoro (COPD)Toujeo (Diabetes)Trelegy (COPD)Farxiga (Type 2 Diabetes)Celebrex (Osteoarthritis)Repatha (Cholesterol management)This podcast episode provides insights into the creative and strategic aspects of healthcare marketing, specifically focusing on the use of music and pop culture elements to enhance brand recognition and engagement.All music and commercials are copyrighted and used under fair use for critique.Hosted by Mark Stinson, and produced by BSB Mediawww.BioscienceBridge.com

Dr. James Doty is founder of the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education at Stanford University, and author of the New York Times bestseller, "Into the Magic Shop."He discussed:- The importance of compassion and altruism, not just for patients' well-being, but also for healthcare providers' positive physiological effects.- The challenge of teaching compassion in medical schools and the positive impact of compassionate leadership on productivity and creativity.- The power of self-compassion and mindfulness exercises to shift from fear mode to a state of calmness and openness.- Dr. Doty's personal journey from despair to success, highlighting the transformative effects of self-compassion and positive intention.Key Highlights:1. Dr. Doty's journey from despair to success after learning mindfulness and self-compassion.2. The positive impact of compassionate leadership on productivity and well-being.3. The physiological benefits of being kind and caring towards patients in healthcare settings.4. The role of self-compassion in shifting from a fear mode to a state of openness and connection.5. The potential for everyone to develop and improve their compassion through mindfulness practices.6. Resources and programs at the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education at Stanford University."When someone acts with kindness versus just treating them like a disease, it has a profound positive effect on their physiology. Compassion boosts the immune system and promotes healing.""The vast majority of people can improve their compassion. At Stanford, we've developed a compassion cultivation training program that fosters self-compassion and empathy for others.""Leaders who authentically believe in compassion foster psychological safety, unleashing creativity and productivity among their teams.""Each of us has the opportunity every day to make one person's life better. Let's create an environment that allows people to thrive."For more information on Dr. Doty's work, visit ccare.stanford.eduintothemagicshop.comjamesrdotymd.comTune in and change the world, one act of kindness at a time. Thanks for listening.

Episode 35 of The Patients Speak Podcast: Highlights from Interviews with Healthcare AuthorsGuest 1 -- Surbhi Sarna, who began as an engineer but ultimately founded a company as its CEO, later becoming a partner at Y Combinator to mentor startups in the healthcare domain.*Prioritizing Patients in Innovation: Surbhi emphasizes the importance of putting patients at the forefront, an approach ingrained in her journey, where patients waiting for solutions drive determination through challenges.*Remembering Patients in the Process: Surbhi recalls that amidst late-night work and challenges, the reminder that patients were waiting for solutions motivated the team to persevere.*Impact on Startup Culture: Surbhi addressed startups and founders at Y Combinator, highlighting that patients are the driving force behind innovation, and their needs should remain paramount.*Personal Patient Experience**: Surbhi shares her personal journey with a health scare, leading her to advocate for women's health and wellness.Surbhi-SarnaGuest 2 -- Sushma Subramanian, a science and healthcare journalist and professor, discusses the sensory shift in medicine, from tactile-focused care to distant technology-driven examinations.*Comfort and Communication: Sushma emphasizes the comforting role of touch in patient-doctor interactions and the potential to incorporate sensory experiences for more patient-centric care.*Consumer Advocacy and Touch: Sushma explores the role of consumers in advocating for touch-centric care, suggesting that providers and patients can collaborate to enhance the patient experience.Sushma's Website Guest 3 -- Urvashi Bhatnagar, combining her Doctor of Physical Therapy background with a Yale MBA, addresses sustainability and health inequities within the healthcare system, underscoring patients' empowerment to drive change.*Climate Change and Health: Urvashi highlights the interconnectedness of climate change and human health, emphasizing the need for health systems to address environmental factors affecting patients.*Patient's Voice: Urvashi discusses patients' influential role in advocating for a sustainable and healthier environment, underscoring the importance of communication between patients and providers.Urvashi's Website Guest 4 -- Dr. Ann Hester, author of "Patient Empowerment 101," explains her motivation to bridge the gap between doctors' perspectives and patients' understanding, leading to better outcomes.*Balancing Power Dynamics: Dr. Hester discusses the power dynamic between doctors and patients, emphasizing patients' ability to be better prepared for medical interactions and contribute to their care.*Patients as Equipped Participants: Dr. Hester emphasizes the need for patients to be better prepared, allowing for more efficient medical visits, fewer unnecessary tests, and improved communication.Ann's Website Conclusion: The Patients Speak podcast is dedicated to amplifying the patient's voice within the healthcare landscape, engaging with leaders across various healthcare domains to facilitate meaningful change. Stay tuned for more episodes where we listen to … the patients speak.Hosted by Mark Stinson, and Produced by BSB Mediawww.BioscienceBridge.com

In this episode, we have a heartfelt conversation with Lee Tomlinson, author of the book "Compassion Heals: From Self-Care to Healthcare." Lee shares his personal journey as a patient and the importance of compassion in healthcare. His story sheds light on the need for human connection and empathy between physicians and patients.Lee starts by expressing his gratitude for the opportunity to share his experiences and insights with the listeners. Having spent a significant amount of time in hospitals, Lee understands the dynamics between healthcare professionals and patients. His book aims to bring the patient's perspective and promote compassion in healthcare.Lee's journey began when he visited his ear, nose, and throat doctor for breathing problems before participating in a golf championship. Unexpectedly, he received a devastating diagnosis of stage three to stage four throat cancer. The subsequent intensive treatment and the additional challenges of a septic infection pushed Lee to the brink of despair.Feeling unsupported and lacking compassion during this difficult time, Lee contemplated ending his life. However, a pivotal moment came when his Doctor (and brother-in-law) visited him in the hospital. The doctor's heartfelt apology and encouragement to fight reignited Lee's will to live and inspired him to advocate for compassion in healthcare.Lee emphasizes that compassion is not just a heartfelt sentiment, but a scientifically proven force that can enhance healing outcomes. He cites studies and references the book "Compassion-omics," which explores the healing power of compassion and its positive impact on patients, healthcare providers, and the overall bottom line of healthcare organizations.Throughout his journey, Lee has shared his story and mission with various pharma companies, physician organizations, and hospitals, including Eli Lilly, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and UCLA Hospital. He finds therapeutic value in sharing his experiences and witnessing how his message resonates with others. His storytelling abilities, honed through his background in Hollywood studios and the film institute, allow him to convey his story in a compelling and impactful manner.Lee's ultimate goal is to ensure that patients receive the compassion they deserve while also advocating for the well-being of healthcare providers. He believes that compassion is a powerful tool for preventing burnout among healthcare professionals and urges them to prioritize self-care and kindness. Lee's mission has touched the hearts of many, prompting them to reflect on their own experiences and commit to being more compassionate in their roles.Highlight Quotes: "If you're lucky enough to live, how about you use your voice to communicate to healthcare professionals the absolute necessity of being treated with compassion and the power it has to heal you when it's present and the horrible impact when it's not." "When you are burned out, one of the greatest tools is just to go out and be kind... Being kind will heal you and your burnout." "It's nice to be nice. But it has immense, sometimes lifesaving and life-giving power that we ought to use for ourselves."If you're having an immediate suicidal crisis or emotional distress, I do want to remind you of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline in the US. It's 1-800-273-TALK, and if you're listening elsewhere, please find your local suicide prevention line.

Episode 33 -- Patient Perspectives: Smell & Taste, Genetic Diseases, Cancer, and Multiple MyelomaIn this episode of "The Patients Speak" podcast, host Mark Stinson engages in insightful interviews with four inspiring individuals who share their experiences as patients and advocates in different health conditions.· Katie Boateng, head of the Smell and Taste Association of North America, discussing the importance of understanding the impact of smell and taste conditions on patients' daily lives.· Seth Rotberg, an HD (Huntington's Disease) patient advocate, emphasizes the need for genetic counseling and collaboration between patients and clinicians in the treatment and research of genetic and rare diseases.· Howard Brown, a two-time cancer survivor and author, shares his journey of resilience and hope in his memoir "Shining Brightly." He highlights the importance of forming a collaborative team and maintaining optimism while dealing with cancer.· Yolanda Brunson Sarrabo, a multiple myeloma patient advocate, emphasizes the significance of patient empowerment and effective communication with healthcare providers. She encourages patients to ask questions, express emotions, and consider participating in clinical trials.Here are key quotes from each guest:1. Katie Boateng:"People want others to understand the enormous impact that smell and taste conditions have on their day-to-day lives. There seems to be a lack of empathy or understanding for how impactful these conditions can be."2. Seth Rotberg:"Genetic counseling is becoming more prevalent and important to know about the next steps. It's crucial to have the right resources and support when facing genetic and rare diseases."3. Howard Brown:"You gotta get up out of bed every day and push further and keep going. It's okay to sleep in bed one day; you gotta get back up the next day. Keep moving."4. Yolanda Brunson Sarrabo:"Everyone isn't a public speaker, but you can write down questions and use the nurses and healthcare team as resources. We need providers and researchers to find us, as there is a diverse range of patients with unique perspectives."Tune in to this enlightening episode as patients share their insights and advocate for better understanding and communication within the healthcare system.(c) 2023 BSB Media

In this episode, host Mark Stinson interviews 4 digital health innovators who are making significant advancements in healthcare. Cassandra Hui from HealMaryMatt Schwartz from VirgoOlga Sasonova from NutrisenseNavid Alipour from AI Med GlobalEach guest shares their unique insights and experiences in using technology to improve patient outcomes and transform the healthcare industry. Here's a summary of the key points discussed:Guest 1: Cassandra Hui from HealMaryCassandra Hui, the founder of HealMary, shares her personal motivation behind creating the company. Having experienced the challenges of navigating treatment options for her family members who had cancer, she recognized the need for an easier way for patients and caregivers to access information and support. HealMary utilizes technology to simplify the process of finding treatment options and connecting patients with clinical trials.Quote: "It's not a technology play. It's about using technology to make it easier for people like myself who don't have a science background." - Cassandra HuiGuest 2: Matt Schwartz from VirgoMatt Schwartz, co-founder of Virgo, discusses how their company aims to improve patient outcomes in endoscopy procedures. They provide a cloud-based video capture and analysis platform that enhances the documentation and management of endoscopic procedures. By automating the video capture process and utilizing AI analysis, Virgo enables doctors to effectively review and utilize endoscopy videos for various purposes.Quote: "We provide the leading cloud video capture management and AI analysis platform for endoscopy." - Matt SchwartzGuest 3: Olga Sasonova from NutrisenseOlga Sasonova, an expert in data science and analytics, emphasizes the importance of utilizing data to gain a comprehensive understanding of patient experiences and outcomes. She explains how data can help uncover patterns and insights that may not be apparent through anecdotal experience alone. Olga focuses on the potential of tracking glucose levels as a vital sign in clinical trials and treatment efficacy prediction.Quote: "Data, if gathered across the right dimensions, can help you understand why you may be seeing certain outcomes." - Olga SasonovaGuest 4: Navid Alipour from AI Med GlobalNavid Alipour, co-founder of AI Med Global, highlights the significant advancements in precision medicine and the role of technology in improving patient outcomes. He discusses the importance of early detection, treatment, and monitoring in enhancing patient care. AI Med Global specializes in developing detection technologies for breast cancer and heart disease, as well as providing personalized treatment recommendations based on a patient's specific molecular profile.Quote: "Early detection is so critical... knowledge is power, and that allows decades of life to that individual." - Navid AlipourThese digital health innovators are revolutionizing healthcare by leveraging technology and data to improve patient care, enhance treatment outcomes, and simplify access to medical information. Through their innovative solutions, they are addressing the needs and challenges faced by patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals in today's rapidly evolving healthcare landscape.(c) 2023 BSB Media

Episode: Physicians' Views on Overcoming Obstacles to Patient CommunicationsSummary:In this episode of Patient Speak Healthcare Innovations, host Mark Stinson interviews healthcare leaders and advocates on overcoming obstacles to patient communications -- and improving patient care. Host:Mark Stinson - Bestselling authorGuests:Dr. Alen Voskanian - Physician and Medical Executive, Author of "Reclaiming the Joy of Medicine"Viewpoint: Addressing physician burnout is crucial for improving the patient experience.Quote: "Burnout causes a lack of ability for physicians to extend compassion and empathy to their patients when their tank is empty."Dr. Maria DeLeon - Physician and Parkinson's Disease Patient, AdvocateViewpoint: Listening to patients and improving access to essential medications is crucial for better care.Quote: "If we can't even have the basic medications available, then we're in trouble."Dr. Peter Small - Chief Medical Officer at HyfeViewpoint: Real-time monitoring of symptoms, such as cough, can improve patient selection for clinical trials.Quote: "The ability to know passively and in real time how much people are coughing... I think this is something that contract research organizations will jump on."Dr. Mark Pimentel - Gastroenterologist, Researcher, and Founder of a new breath test for IBSViewpoint: Advancements in understanding the microbiome can lead to precision medicine for IBS patients.Quote: "We now know exactly who the bugs are... the treatment window for better and new things is wide open."Subscribe to the Patient Speak podcast on your favorite podcast app to listen to more episodes on healthcare innovations and the patient journey.

To learn more about 83bar please visit: http://83bar.com/

Surbhi Sarna is a partner at Y-Combinator and the author of Without A Doubt. Previously, she was the founder and former CEO of nVision Medical, which sold to Boston Scientific (NYSE: BSX) for $275M. nVision developed a first-in-kind microcatheter for the detection of ovarian cancer. After raising $17M in venture funding, completing three clinical trials, and obtaining two first-in-class FDA approvals, nVision was acquired by Boston Scientific for more than 15X money-in. Surbhi then stayed at Boston Scientific for two years, running the 150+ person commercial organization in preparation for launch. She is now Y-Combinator's only and first partner focused exclusively on healthtech, medical devices, and therapeutics and sits on both private and public company boards. An inspiring take on how to turn others' doubt —and your own —into rocket fuel to achieve your dreams from entrepreneur, CEO, and healthcare investor Surbhi Sarna. The very qualities that make you an outlier are, in fact, your strengths. Or so Surbhi Sarna discovered after a teenage cancer scare inspired her to reimagine healthcare, founding a medical start-up to detect early ovarian cancer. In WITHOUT A DOUBT, she shares her entrepreneurship story of proving the doubters wrong. As a young, brown woman without a medical degree, Ivy-league contacts, or any Silicon Valley street cred—and who had felt different throughout her life—she was often overlooked and underrated. Undeterred, Sarna used the naysayers as ammunition to help her surpass the expectations of others—and achieve her dreams. WITHOUT A DOUBT is her story of becoming a leader without an MBA, networking without a network, and raising funds when she didn't know a single venture capitalist, teaching you how to do the same. Sarna led an all-star team to develop a life-saving medical device, sold her business for $275 million, and became a partner at Y Combinator, one of the most successful venture firms in the world. Using her own experience, she shows you how to face setbacks, not let impossible standards (including your own) get in the way, lead empathetically, empower others to think differently, and how to convince the right people to help you accomplish your goals. WITHOUT A DOUBT is “a wise, practical, and compassionate guide to startup success from a determined woman.”— (Kirkus Reviews, *starred review)Surbhi Sarna lives in the San Francisco Bay area To learn more about 83bar please visit: http://83bar.com/BSB Media

Yolanda Brunson-Sarrabo, "Another Face of Multiple Myeloma"https://www.madaboutmyeloma.com/Yolanda is the founder of Spitfir (pronounced spitfire) Productions specializing in Brand StrategyShe has penned "Another Face of Multiple Myeloma," reflection on her journey with multiple myeloma. She's hopeful for a cure to myeloma- but until then living life as an advocate for health. Yolanda is also the Executive Director of Mae's Breath Foundation 501c(3). Mae's Breath Foundation is a lung cancer awareness organization that promotes and provides information to the community about the disease. Yolanda is the Founder and President of Chronic Fitness LLC a fitness boutique service for clients with chronic conditions, who seek fitness direction. She's currently in remission.Yolanda's Facebook page @myelomachick on Instagram @madaboutmyeloma on Twitter Yolanda on YouTube To learn more about 83bar please visit: http://83bar.com/BSB Media

Katie Boateng, Smell and Taste Association of North AmericaOur guest today is Katie Boateng, President of the Smell and Taste Association of North America (STANA). STANA is the first patient advocacy group in the United States. Their mission is to provide a voice for people with smell and taste disorders through education and public awareness. We advocate for funding for research on smell and taste disorders. Katie is also host and producer of the Smell PodcastKatie's Facebook page @stanaorg on Instagram @STANAorg on Twitter Katie on YouTube Katie's Website To learn more about 83bar please visit: http://83bar.com/BSB Media

Urvashi Bhatnagar, Sustainability in Patient CareOur guest today is URVASHI BHATNAGAR, DPT, MBA , a healthcare executive whose career spans clinical care, research, advocacy, and strategy and operations consulting for leading healthcare organizations. Urvashi has experience working with clients to advance health outcomes in underserved communities leveraging advanced analytics and strategy — to address barriers to care, advance health equity, and improve access to life-altering high-quality care. Bhatnagar holds an MBA from Yale University and a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Boston University. She believes global wellness can be achieved through sustained and intentional investment in products and processes that are designed to be inherently sustainable and capture value from the triple bottom-line advantages that sustainability offers. Bhatnagar is co-author of the book The Sustainability Scorecard: How To Implement And Profit From Unexpected Solutions To learn more about 83bar please visit: http://83bar.com/BSB Media

This episode features a roundtable on improving diversity and inclusion in clinical trials. Roundtable guests include representatives from Latinos in Clinical Research, whose purpose is to increase Latino participation within the clinical research industry. Topics include:Introductions and rolesState of diversity in clinical researchDiversity and inclusion in recruitingImproving diversity in the industryEducating the younger generationsThe group is open to all ethnicitiesTrust and stereotypes (such as "machismo")Reaching underserved areasProgress and future visionsWhat is asked of the companies and sponsorsWhat is asked of patient advocacy groupsThe needs and challenges of decentralized trials (don't call the "siteless")Call to action and conclusionTo learn more about the Latinos in Clinical Research organization, visit:https://www.latinosinclinicalresearch.com/To learn more about 83bar please visit: http://83bar.com/

Touch as a listening tool: an interview with Sushma SubramanianIn a world where we're increasingly reliant on technology to communicate, it's easy to forget the importance of face-to-face interaction. But as Sushma Subramanian reminds us, touch is an essential part of communication that can often be overlooked.As a healthcare provider, medical marketer, or pharma executive, you know that building trust and rapport with patients is key to providing successful care. And as Subramanian explains, touch can be a powerful way to connect with others and create a bond of trust.Read on to learn more about the role of touch in communication, and how you can use it to build better relationships with your patients!Introducing Sushma Subramanian and her work as a science journalistSushma Subramanian is a trailblazing science journalist whose research and teaching credentials have made her a respected expert in the field. Her work has included investigative pieces for scientific journals, research articles related to public health, and writing for well-known publications. In addition to her research accomplishments, she has also authored several books on scientific topics and garnered numerous awards for her dedication to bringing credible research to the public's attention. As an inspiration to up-and-coming journalists, Sushma Subramanian is leading the way as a distinguished professional who has made valuable contributions to science journalism.Describe how touch can be used as a listening tool in medical settingsTouch has a history of being an essential diagnostic tool in the medical world—from feeling a pulse to discerning heat or coldness in a patient's skin, it is one of the first and most basic methods that have been used since ancient times. Today, modern doctors are recognizing touch as a critical way to listen to their patients, expressing and discovering issues beyond what mere words can convey. Listening through touch can help establish trust between practitioners and patients; no longer is medicine just a clinical practice focused on diagnosis without taking into consideration both the physical and emotional state of health of each individual. By paying attention not only to what the patient is saying, but also how they are saying it and how their body responds, doctors can gain invaluable insight into their overall well-being.Share some of the benefits to patients of using touch as a listening toolThrough the use of touch, both healthcare professionals and patients can gain confidence in their ability to interact with one another. A patient who feels comfortable and respected by the clinician is more likely to be compliant with treatment recommendations and adhere to follow-up protocols. Research has found that touch can promote feelings of safety, comfort, confidence, and connection between patients and clinicians, suggesting that this communication tool should be explored for its potential positive effects on patient health outcomes.Highlights from my interview with Sushma Subramanian about her research on haptics technologyRecently, I had the chance to interview Sushma Subramanian about her research on haptics technology and how it could profoundly benefit the veterans' community. In particular, she highlighted how haptics technology can concentrate primarily in restoring a sense of touch that has been lost due to physical injury or age. Subramanian noted that haptics have numerous applications and are found across a variety of fields, including healthcare, aviation, and automotive, but the most powerful aspect of haptics is how it can be uniquely tailored for different needs. Through haptics-enabled communication, this...

Dr. Ann Hester is a board-certified internal medicine physician with more than 25 years of direct patient care experience. Her passion for empowering patients started in medical school when she organized health fairs and wrote patient information literature. Her book Your Family Medical Record: An Interactive Guide to Getting the Best Care was published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. in 2000. In November of 2022, she published Patient Empowerment 101: More than a book, it's an adventure!Dr. Hester also delves into various types of graphics technology and enjoys creating videos. She made a sister website for her new book, patientempowerment101.com, which allows readers access to take online quizzes, watch engaging video clips, and download fillable forms about their symptoms and personal medical records.Dr. Hester is married with six children and a 100 lb German Shepherd named Rex. She enjoys organic gardening and taking long walks.Topics We Discuss:Patient empowermentCommunicating with your doctorHow to make the most out of every moment with your doctorWays technology can boost your healthHow to prepare in advance for a visit to the doctorQuestions I Asked Ann:How can people position themselves at the center of their healthcare teams?What are some ways to improve communication with a doctor?How can patients make the most out of every moment with their doctor?How can technology improve our health?How do we prepare in advance for a visit to the doctor?How can we mitigate the looming doctor shortage? Thanks for listening to our podcast.Subscribe now so you won't miss an upcoming episode.And please leave a review.If you'd like to read more about well-informed healthcare consumers – along with the 83bar patient activation platform – go to www.83bar.comBSB Media

Dr. Maria De Leon is a movement disorder specialist living with Parkinson's disease for 15 years. She is an activist for research, patient, and women issues -- all to overcome disparity, promote equity, and increase access to healthcare to improve patients' and caregivers' lives as we fight for a cure. In our conversation, we discuss:Patients with Parkinson's disease have important insights that doctors need to listen to.Physicians need to know about the practical and logistical issues that patients deal with when trying to access medical treatment.Patients find it difficult to get the care they need due to a lack of specialists, and telehealth is not widely available.Physicians ask them questions about symptoms that may not be relevant to their daily life, and it's up to patients to be asking doctors different questions.Sometimes it's hard for patients to understand the struggles of physicians because they don't know what it's like to be a doctor.Patients in pain become irritable and difficult to deal with, making it difficult for them to participate in clinical trials.There is a disparity between the cultures and economical backgrounds of people when it comes to research participation.Dr. Maria has found writing about her experiences with Parkinson's Disease valuable for both herself and other patients/caregivers in understanding the disease. She talks about how important it is to share stories and connect with others, and how she never expected her book to become a best seller.People in the industry need to hear about how medications impact people's lives and how accessible and affordable they are. Physicians are less likely to prescribe medications if the patient isn't committed to compliance.In closing, she says the future looks bright for advancements in science and medicine, with the potential to cure many neurological diseases.Maria is the author of the best-selling book “Parkinson's Diva” and an internationally renowned speaker.http://www.defeatparkinsons.comhttps://www.facebook.com/MariaDeLeonhttp://www.facebook.com/defeatparkinsons101IG: @DrmariaDeLinkedIn: http://www.linkedln.com/MariaDeLeonThanks for listening to our podcast.Subscribe now so you won't miss an upcoming episode.And please leave a review.If you'd like to read more about well-informed healthcare consumers – along with the 83bar patient activation platform – go to www.83bar.comBSB Media

Welcome back to our podcast, The Patients Speak. Our guest today is a physician, medical executive, and medical director in the Cedar Sinai Medical Group. Dr. Alen Voskanian. Dr. V oversees about 300 physicians in a multispecialty practice that includes primary care and medical specialties of all kinds, including pediatrics and OB/Gyn, and is the author of a terrific new book, Reclaiming the Joy of Medicine.(A note from Dr V: "I wear many different hats. So today, in this conversation, I'm representing myself as an author and the work I've done in terms of burnout, my own burnout, the experience of other physicians who have burned out. So, that's why I wrote this book. It's truly my own personal opinion and not my organization's.) In today's interview we discussed Dr. V's new book, Reclaiming the Joy of Medicine and physician burnout. We also talked about the role empathy plays in medicine and the power of the healing touch. “My focus has always been on the patient side and how can we make that experience great for our patients? But then as a physician and as an executive, I realized that if our physicians are feeling burned out, that has a direct impact on the patients.”Reclaiming the Joy of Medicine - BURNOUTIn Dr. Voskanian's book he writes about the topic of burnout. He says it causes a lack of ability for physicians to extend compassion and empathy to their patients when their tank is empty.What is one of their biggest root causes of burnout doctors complain about? The amount of time they spend in front of the computer instead of in front of their patients. They are not making eye contact because there are a lot of policies and mandates that require the use of electronic health records. Lots of clicks on a computer and less face to face. When physicians end up leaving the room, they spend a lot of time in front of their computers doing what we call “desktop medicine”. The time doctors are spending at home when they should be spending time with their families, they're spending it in front of their computer at home after work. On average, a primary care doctor spends about 90 minutes and some people argue it's much more than that. In Dr. Voskanian's book he interviewed a lot of doctors. Some of them were saying it's two to three hours after they get home, they spend in front of the computer. He explains it's not good for doctors, and it's not good for our patients either.EmpathyDr. V says that's been a point of debate over the years.Do you have empathy? Are you born with empathy? Can you learn empathy? He feels like a lot of people who go into healthcare have empathy. That is why he wrote the book about finding that purpose that drove people into this field. Empathy can be trained. There's minor behaviors that people have that they're not aware of that leads to a feeling of lack of empathy.listening to peoplemaking eye contact,repeating what you hearacknowledging what a patient just shared with you is difficult and painful.The Power of the Healing TouchWhen cure is not possible, Dr. V has learned that healing is always possible. It's that small touch. It's that small acknowledgement that you let someone else be seen. The joy in that you made a difference in someone's life. Dr. V explains it's unfortunate when physicians forget about that aspect of being a doctor. Being a doctor, being in healthcare in general is such a privilege when you are sitting in a room with a patient and you can just make a small difference to make their...

Welcome back to our podcast, The Patients Speak. Today's interview we got to sit down and speak with the author of Shining Brightly: A Memoir of Resilience and Hope, Howard Brown. Howard is a Silicon Valley entrepreneur, speaker, podcaster, and two-time stage IV cancer patient, survivor and advocate. He shares the keys to leading a resilient life that drives successful community leaders, business innovators and healthcare advocates.Today we talked with Howard about his story. How he overcame stage IV cancer 2 times, patient advocacy and clinical trials, and his new book Shining Brightly. “Life is a team sport, fighting cancer is a team sport. Build your team”Overcoming CancerIn 1989, at the age of 23 Howard was diagnosed with stage four T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. He was a deer in headlights. His dad went to the library to get a book on cancer. After surviving, 26 years later he was diagnosed again with stage four metastatic colorectal cancer. This time he was married and had a child. He lived it 2 different times and in 2 different eras. One was really analog and the other one was digital. His first piece of advice was “Don't do this alone”. It's way too complex. Cancer diagnosis and treatment cuts you down emotionally, physically, financially, and in relationships. Take someone with you. And, if you can't take someone with you, someone can be a mentor, can be assigned, a nurse navigator, any type of patient navigator, there's resources for you.Patient AdvocateAs the patient, they need to be helped to be educated.Paperwork and billing Emotional support and balanceChemo Brain - Chemo brain is another name for PTSD, post-traumatic stress. The amounts of stress that you get in dealing with cancer and in dealing with all the medication and the side effects.Minimize negativity in your relationships and environmentMental toughness - Having a strong, positive attitudeRelease resistance to receiving helpClinical Trials Howard explains that clinical trials are important because that's the advancements in cures. He also explain in what ways they can improve:They need to make it easier to get into the trials. They're missing a whole population called disparities, (minorities, Indian, African American, Latino)Making sure that the patient is understanding of the trials, talking them through that trial is really important, you can't just rush through it. You need to make sure that the patient and their caregiving team, including their original oncology teamThey have to rely on your input.The patient has to be able to give a way to be able to express feedback, and they need to make that simple. It can't be very complex. They need to be able to either record you or give a patient portal where you can actually give your feedback. “It's a complex process, but it needs to be simplified, but it's an important process because we need to move forward and help save more lives.”Shining BrightlyShining Brightly is a book about resilience and living a life of hope and positive change in this world. Shining that beautiful light that we all have to lift ourselves up, lift others, and then lift our communities up. It's inspirational, and it tells you how to get back up again when you get knocked down. As cancer patients, families of patients, and care partners, you get knocked down...

Meet the Director of Data Science and Analytics at NutriSense, Olga Sazonova. Olga has also worked with GRAIL, Inc as a Senior and Staff Scientist and with 23andMe as a Product Scientist II and Computational Biologist.We explore a very unique side of listening to the patient with Olga through her expertise as a biological data scientist and her experience leading teams of exceptional analysts and engineers to deliver personalized data-driven products to improve cancer diagnostics and data nutrition for wellness and disease prevention. A few topics we discussed with Olga in this episode are:How Data Science and Analytics tell a patient's story The value in Glucose Monitoring The company NutriSense - “The value of data and what we call data science and analytics is to tell a story.”Telling a patient's story through Data Science and AnalyticsThe standard practice Olga uses when thinking about a particular question or problem is to look at it from a holistic picture, a pattern, a vignette, an individual person. So, “Data can be an amazingly objective and comprehensive tool for helping us understand what's going on.”She looks at their journey, their data over a period of time combining the entire data set and the rigorous statistical analyses to come up with a scientifically valid answer, then overlaying that with an individual's data to say, this is what it looks like for a single person, not just a sum of a bunch of data points.Keeping a record of your experience, your environment can be extremely helpful for figuring out which anecdotes to listen to and not.Olga mentions the value of a food diary. A lot of people with chronic disease struggle to understand what they eat may or may not contribute to their symptoms. She said you could anecdotally say, "Well, I have inflammatory bowel disease. It seems like when I eat food with emulsifiers, I have symptoms. I have flare ups." People think they would notice these patterns. Olga says the right thing to do is to start keeping that diary and note every time you eat food with emulsifiers, what are your symptoms like the next one or two days and so forth.Glucose MonitoringUsing glucose monitoring you can track morning, noon, and night metabolic characteristics in a person noticing how they change and evolve over time. As these continuous glucose monitors develop, researchers have started using them in academic settings on healthy individuals and research shows there's a lot going on under the surface for healthy people that they didn't really anticipate. One of the most surprising findings was that different people have different responses to the same food. This came out of a landmark study in 2015 out of a group in Israel. They had 800 people wear continuous glucose monitors for two weeks. They had them eat specific things and they saw that the same person can eat a banana and experience a high spike, but eat a cookie and have a much less dramatic increase in blood sugar. And then the reverse is true for someone else.“I think what we would hear when we start listening to our members is that maybe more traditional vital signs of your heart rate, your pulse, amount of oxygen, your blood, glucose is really a marker that's valuable for understanding where you're at today across many dimensions.”NutrisenseThe company is three years old and has three co-founders. The first is a very technical software engineer. The...

Welcome back to our podcast The Patients Speak. Today we're going to hear the story and the journey of a very special guest, Seth Rotberg. Seth has been diagnosed with Huntington's disease (carrying the gene for it) and has become a patient advocate for genetic testing, in general, for many rare conditions.Seth is more than just a patient advocate – he is the co-founder of a non-profit Our Odyssey, is an award-winning speaker, and helps make a difference in the community by immersing himself in the patient perspectiveIn our interview with we discuss with Seth:The role of a patient advocateThe role patients play in participating in Clinical Trials Seth's Call to ActionSeth's mission statement: "Live as if you were to die tomorrow, learn as if you were to live forever."Seth saw his mom go through Huntington's disease for 17 years of his life and it slowly deteriorated her, both physically and mentally. “It was like watching someone on an island, where the water continues to go up and up and up, and there's nothing for you to do besides just watch.” Role of a Patient AdvocateGenetic Testing: Planning and preparing for his life ahead. Whether it's a future family, career setting, understanding what may happen if there's not a treatment in time.Genetic Counseling: Offering resources and support Symptom hunting - “Is this a symptom of my disease?”Survivor's guilt - “If I tested negative, and having a sister who's at risk and what is that going to make me feel like?”First 3 Steps: Actively listeningLearning Implementing a planner strategyClinical Trials and Community Development and Participation:Community outreach to patient advocacy organizationsconnect you with other community members and gathering insighthaving multiple meetings with these different community members, patients, caregivers, and key opinion leadersunderstanding what are the different perspectives and honing in on what are the challenges of the community, and then how can we potentially help it?Work closer with patient advocacy organizationstrial awarenesstrial educationmaking sure the community knows that this is an option.Call to Action "Let's listen to them. Let's understand them better, and then we can try to find ways to work together with them."Treating us as partners and as patientsMake sure that you are truly working side by side with the community you're trying to serve. Build trust in those relationships and being transparentLearn from other community members, bring them in, whether it's through a lunch and learn, or speak engagement, or attending conferences It was truly engaging and insightful talking with Seth Rotberg today. We hope you enjoy this interview today and to learn more about Seth's journey and patient advocacy go to www.sethrotberg.com Also, be sure to check his Tedx talk and watch his FULL STORY. @srotberg15 on Instagram Thanks for listening to our podcast.Subscribe now so you won't miss an...

Hello friends and welcome back to our podcast, The Patients Speak, and happy New Year 2023. If you just started listening to our show over the first few episodes, you know we've heard many great stories and examples from leaders on how to listen better. Specifically, we've heard from patient advocates on the ways they promote the patient voice and how they share a commitment to helping us all elevate that voice to a whole new level.To start the new year, we wanted to share highlights of five patient advocacy guests to give you an idea of how they saw ways to accelerate the patient journey. We'll talk to Wendy Bjork, The Empress of MS. Michael Sapienza, the CEO of the Colorectal Cancer Alliance. Pam Cusick, Senior Vice President of Rare Patient Voice. Andrea Wilson Woods, founder and president of Blue Faery for Liver Cancer. Alicia Lawrence of NORD, the National Organization for Rare Diseases.We hope you enjoy this summary of interviews with patient advocates. Thanks to guests like these, we've enjoyed a solid start to our podcast. Already, we've had more than 5000 downloads and we've ranked in the top 0.5% of all podcasts. We've received over 700 five-star reviews on iTunes. Subscribe now, and if you'd like to leave us a comment or review or even a suggestion for a future guest, we'd certainly appreciate that.Thanks again to our sponsor, 83bar. If you'd like to know more about 83bar and the work they're doing in patient recruitment, patient education, and patient empowerment to create better patient outcomes, visit their website at 83bar.com.And certainly, come back again for our next episode. We'll continue our conversations with patient advocates like these, along with healthcare executives, clinical researchers, and medical providers -- all to give us insight into what we need to hear when the patients speak.

It's been a great start to the podcast.We've learned so much and have been inspired to accelerate the patient journey.We've heard motivating words from healthcare leaders on the importance of listening to the patients speak.When we reflect on just these four episodes, we get a sense of importance and the commitment of leaders to elevate patient listening to a new level.Listening to patients starts in clinical development phaseKeli Walbert said,"It really starts with us in development of our clinical trials. So we work very closely with advocacy organizations and we develop relationships with advocacy organizations in disease states well before we bring them to market. The reason that we do that is exactly as you exp just outlined. We want to get to know patients. We want to understand what their experience is, and we wanna give them the opportunity to actually inform our clinical trials so that we can develop trials and we can develop endpoints and we can develop data that is relevant and meaningful in the real world and relevant and meaningful to patients so that when we come to market, we're talking about their disease states and we're talking about our treatments in a way that is meaningful to."Why patient voice is so important – close gaps, improve accessMichael Biarnes emphasized,"It's our responsibility to help improve access for everyone, not just those who live next to you know, the big new shiny institution that has all of the great resources. And we need to engage those individuals in a way that will bring forth the right vo voices, that trusted advisors, the trusted community leaders to ensure that individuals know of the types of care that you know, can be achieved no matter where you are, no matter where you live, no matter what demographic you might have. And you're bringing up some of these health gaps, these disparities. And we, again, we we're focused a lot these days on diversity and equity and inclusion, especially in clinical trial recruitment. What, what are some of the things that you're seeing that are helping the recruiters of clinical trials improve their reach, you know, be more inclusive, improve that diversity? So a lot of it is this engagement with broader communities trying to, trying to understand the stakeholders who are truly, um, leaders to a, a given community, to a given population, right? People who are trusted advisors and building those relationships. And it takes time and it takes effort. It, it's not just a simple, you know, marketing campaign. It this means face to face interactions, dealing with key opinion leaders and, and making sure that, you know, you're not just talking about a product, you're talking about education, right? So disease, state awareness, understanding the patient journey and bringing, as you said, pain points, but making it, making it known that these issues are not just theirs. That these are shared experiences and that we're trying to listen and we're trying to make improvements. And, and so it goes to a lot of this patient education early and often and, and just trying to get as much engagement with the key stakeholders as possible."Other creative ways to incorporate patient voiceShefali Shah shared how her company MindMaze builds the patient's voice into the system "That is so critical. we really live the patient journey, um, in a number of different ways. So first and foremost, um, we have patients who have survived stroke, um, or other traumatic brain, uh, injuries. And our on the product team, they are in there developing the product. So right from the very base we have, um, you know, patients kind of bringing in their experience into the fabric of the product. Um, the other thing that we are very proud of is also bringing, uh, therapists into the product design process. And, uh, you know,...

Our guest today is Navid Alipour of AI MED GLOBAL. Today we take a look at how AI and precision personalized medicine, even medical imaging, converge with this idea of personalizing treatments. Navid tells Mark about his business story and the technology behind his company, AI MED GLOBAL and CureMatch. Some of the main topics we talked about:How their AI technology creates faster results for early cancer detectionHow they level the playing field to CureMatch any patient. Making it easier for all patients no matter their background, economic or education gaps How AI Med Global works with Clinical Trials and what is KRR AI technologyMark asks, “If we had a chance to talk to a patient you're serving, what is their biggest need?”“Every day we get up and say, how can we do things one day faster? That's someone's life that we'll potentially impact. And so for me, my wife is a cancer survivor, she has heart disease in the family. That early detection, that knowledge is power and that is what will prolong lives and save lives. So our goal is, let's see how we can do this faster.”Early DetectionWith the help of artificial intelligence, precision medicine, genomics, and a higher computer capacity to process data this leads to the advancements in the convergence of technologies resulting in: progression-free survival or the overall survival of the patientbetter detection, treatment, and monitoring. CureMatch comes in on the detection side.No extra radiationNo extra discomfortLeveling the Playing FieldWorking with community hospitals like many labs do, the hospital can set up their own CLIA-certified labs so they can take care of their patients right there in their community. “We all know those horrible nasty cancers, community hospitals end up sending a lot of patients to these academic institutions. And so what we're trying to do is level the playing field. It doesn't matter about someone's background or wealth or education, we can CureMatch any patient, whether it's at Mayo or MD Anderson or a community hospital in Des Moines.”“Our AI can turn that general radiologist into a specialist.” Getting technology into the hands of the radiologists and the imaging centers to detect cancer faster and increasing the workflow of radiologistsIt's the same kind of technology behind GPS which gives them a five- to seven-year head start and a competitive advantage.Clinical Trials and KRR AI TechnologyA CureMatch report produced in their database is a proprietary database always being updated. Once a new drug is FDA-cleared, they will add it and have their clinical team work on that curation every day.The type of artificial intelligence is unique and many people haven't heard of it. It's called K R R AI. It's the same kind of technology behind GPS.One patient's cancer does not look like anyone else's at a molecular level. And so that's where KRR AI comes in. The database is curated so that it gets better and better the more it's used.Navid's Business JourneyAI MED GLOBAL is a technology company, not a medical practice.The business was...

Welcome back to our podcast The Patients Speak, our guests today are Cassandra Hui of Heal Mary and Alicia Lawrence of the National Organization of Rare Diseases, NORD.On this podcast, we combine business and scientific innovation with listening to the patient voice and how they can benefit, and how we can accelerate the patient journey. In our episode today we discuss rare diseases including cancer and the tools we can provide patients to find resources and clinical trials even faster and smoother to access new options that they might not know they had before. At the start, Mark asks Alicia, what's a theme you often hear patients say? “I just wish people would understand blank?”“Patients come with various psychosocial issues, socio economic issues. A lot of our patients that call us are looking for financial assistance, whether it be for regular household bills or medical bills or just as we are talking about today, clinical trials specialist.” I just wish that I could find a specialist I just wish there was a clinical trial to help meI just wish that there were more resources because I can't work due to my rare disease or I can't work because I am a caregiver for an individual with a rare disease.Alicia shows us that in order to listen to patients we have to listen to their issues outside the illness. How does Heal Mary work?Heal Mary is an application designed to connect patients, caregivers, and doctors with clinical trial data from all over the world for the best possible health outcome. The company's innovative technology is based on machine learning behind it. Here are some of the ways to use it:The technology helps take complicated medical jargon and put it into plain English languageCustomized to the patient - meeting personal healthcare needsMatches to all trials so a patient can make their own choices when it comes to what trials meet their needsFree to useSpeeds up the process with real-time access being updated daily through a global database. Examples of patients it has helped:Patients who want to be able to find out what options are available to them with their particular diagnosis.Patients who want to know what clinical trials are available.Patients who want to participate in the research are part of finding cures for their diagnosis.Partnering with 83bar Heal Mary is very excited to be partnering with 83Bar. 83Bar provides a call service in which a nurse walks a patient through the clinical trials they have chosen and double checking their acceptance criteria that would qualify them. This feature helps personalize the platform further, especially for patients that may be in a rural setting without access to computers. “We happily build technology to be the bridge, but we are not the experts in the disease like people who've worked in it and have that experience and people like 83bar who have a team of nurses readily available to help patients.” Cassandra explainsHow the platform accelerates a patient's diagnosis and illness to a better state of wellness:Taking out the overwhelm of trying to figure out the difficult things that you would have to do over and over again.The platform allows a patient to share certain clinical trials that they're interested in with their practitioner via email or text message. A patient is able to be informed the...

Hello everyone and welcome back to our podcast, The Patients Speak, where we're combining the business and science innovations of healthcare with the patient voice and how to help them navigate the system to get from diagnosis to wellness faster and more smoothly, and navigate the complicated healthcare system. Today our guest is Andrea Wilson Woods, president and founder of a non-profit called Blue Faery for liver cancer. She is also the CEO of Cancer U, a for-profit social impact healthcare startup in addition to being the author of a best-selling book, Better Off Bald: The Life of 140 Days. It's a medical memoir about raising her young sister.“I think you just need to not assume that you know what a patient wants, you need to listen and really listen and ask more questions,” says Andrea.As she gives us her greatest tip for us not to assume that we know what a patient automatically wants.“I started Blue Faery in memory of my sister Adrienne. I was 22 years old and living in Los Angeles,” she tells us.Blue Faery's mission is to prevent, treat and cure primary liver cancer, specifically hepatocellular carcinoma through research, education, and advocacy. She started Blue Faery in memory of her sister who was diagnosed with Stage 4 liver cancer about a month after her 15th birthday. and she only lived 147 days with that diagnosis. In our conversation, we talk about the 20th anniversary of the founding of the organization and the many wonderful things they have achieved in that time.They have a research award, they give out every year on her sister's birthday. Which they have been able to increase over the years. They also have a lot of patient education programs. All patient education materials they ship worldwide for free in multiple languages. They have a lot of different advocacy programs.A year ago they started their first liver disease and liver cancer prevention and awareness campaign, and that has expanded. It is called Love Your Liver.In summary, because of her sister's journey, her book has been instrumental in educating people who are either in sales or even medical affairs and helping them better understand the patient's journey.She and her team have been amazing at advocating for choice which boils down to empowering patients with information just in case they feel like they may be out of options.We also touched on her other outstanding venture Cancer U is an online platform for both cancer patients and caregivers to educate, empower and engage them to become advocates for their care, improve outcomes, lower stress, and reduce cost. As we conclude, we emphasize how important a caregiver's job is. Whether it's a spouse, an adult, a child or sibling, or even a parent of a pediatric patient, that caregiver is the secretary, the butler, the chauffeur, the maid, and the cook. That caregiver knows everything, so you need to get them in on the conversation from the get-go. With the goal to learn more.She also has a tip for anybody who is going into healthcare startup world that has a tech component “Make sure one of your co-founders is a tech co-founder. It's really important.”You can find her and her work at:Her website andreawilsonwoods.comHer Advocacy work Cancer U & Blue FaeryHer book, Better Off Bald: A Life in 147 Days

Welcome back to our podcast, The Patients Speak, where we're combining the business and science innovations of healthcare with the patient voice and how to help them navigate the complicated healthcare system to get from diagnosis to wellness faster and more smoothly. Today we have two great guests and some interesting and timely information about how to accelerate the enrollment and recruitment of patients in clinical trials. We have Bob Baurys, the CEO of 83bar, and Matt Schwartz, the CEO, and co-founder of Virgo.We are excited to talk to both Matt and Bob, about the announcement of their companies' collaboration called The CONSTELLATION Platform.Bob speaks on how important it is for his company to get the patient's voice heard.So 83bar found that they can help patients on the internet trying to find information about something they were researching for their healthcare. Engaging those patients who were doing self-education with the process would enable them to understand what's true, or not true. This would essentially enable them to walk through a decision process and then figure out where and when to engage the healthcare system so that they have maximum efficiencyMatt says that they started Virgo with a mission to improve patient outcomes and clinical workflows in healthcare by developing automation and AI tools for endoscopy. Today they provide the leading cloud video capture management and AI analysis platform for endoscopy.This is done by employing a small device very easy to install and they connect it to any existing endoscopy system that a physician may be using. And then the device uses machine learning to automatically start and stop video capture. So the doctors, the clinical team, don't have to change anything about what they do. The procedures just automatically get recorded and securely transferred to our HIPAA-compliant web portal.Matt says that they found different opportunities for what can be done with this endoscopy data. And a big part of that has led to the relationship with 83bar and being able to leverage this endoscopic data network to accelerate patient recruitment for clinical trials.Together, the companies have created a collaboration called The CONSTELLATION Platform that gives us the imagery of stars connecting and aligning. "We think it puts together the best of both worlds where we can surface incredibly high quality pre-screened patient candidates and work within the 83bar platform to get those patients properly navigated and enrolled into clinical trials," says Matt about their platform.In summary, the partnership between Virgo and 83bar has made this that much easier with the Constellation Platform to ease the patients' journey. The coming together of the two companies has helped answer two very important questions:How do we tie technology to humans?How do we make technology work with empathy? In conclusion, Bob left us with a call to action. His advice is that we try to listen to patients better by equipping them with the tools they need to self-educate better as we strive to continue to provide more resources for especially patients who are on

Welcome back to our podcast, The Patient Speak, where we're combining the business and science innovation of accelerating the patient journey with what we need to hear from the patients themselves and when we listen to their voices. And we have a great guest to help enlighten us in that area today, Pam Cusick, Senior Vice President of Rare Patient Voice, an organization that connects patients with opportunities to let their voices be heard.In our conversation with Pam, she thinks that we need to hear how patients feel. The whole patient's experience and their whole journey. Rare Patient Voice carries out interviews, studies, and focus groups that really help bring out the patient's voice on how they handle their day-to-day lives together with things overlooked like how they relate with their relatives and the impact the illness has on their everyday life. She says that most times people focus on the treatment and cure. More often than not we overlook the impacts that a disease has on a patient's relationships and daily life.Her primary focus is to connect patients and caregivers with all types of research opportunities which could be focus groups, interviews, surveys, clinical trials, and online communities in order to improve products or services that are being developed for them.When they have studies to carry out, they invite patients to join in (and they pay them because patients need to be compensated for their time) because they are the experts in what they're talking about.As we wrap up she shares that they have a wonderful patient advocacy team that:has connected with over 2800 referral partners around the world.They have over 100,000 patients and caregivers in over 750 conditions and we're in the US, Canada, the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Australia, and New Zealand.In conclusion, our conversation reveals that the patients that share their experiences often make such a huge impact especially just to help ease the journey of a newly diagnosed patient and make their experience much better. Pamela Cusick Pamela's Website Pamela on YouTube @rarepatientvoice on Instagram Pamela's Facebook page If you'd like to read more about patient empowerment – along with the 83bar patient recruitment platform – go to www.83bar.comBSB Media BSB Media

Welcome back to The Patients Speak, where we're combining the business and science innovation of healthcare with the patient voice on how we need to accelerate their journey from diagnosis to wellness. Our guest today is Michael Sapienza, the CEO of the Colorectal Cancer Alliance.We had a wonderful discussion on the CCA's most recent Colon cancer campaign that was beautifully executed by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. Brooks Bell partnered with the Colorectal Cancer Alliance to launch LEAD FROM BEHIND to bring awareness to colon cancer, which happens to be preventable cancer!Michael insists that patients should be more proactive and insist that they get screening, especially for this type of cancer.Having lost his mother at 56 years old when she was screened he says that she wasn't proactive in getting a screening. As his primary caregiver, he narrowed down what patients want into two things.They want to live and they want to live longer They don't wanna feel alone. In that respect they have multiple programs in their care pillar:They provide information about biomarkers, surgery, and innovations in clinical trials.They give psychosocial pieces if patients are suffering from depression or anxiety or even temporary feelings of loneliness.In order to bridge the research gap, they are holding a clinical trial summit on November 10 in Washington DC. where the head of the Moon Shot will be giving the keynote speech. In order to open a conversation with all parties involved so as to improve clinical trial access and, and uptake in general. From the CCA campaign, there are a few lessons that he learned that Michael shared:It's important to have the right partners.Always keep in mind why they do what they doYou have to believe in the mission In summary, they are really passionate about getting a solution on how to get people and oncologists in America to increase the uptake of sharing information about clinical trials. They are also involved in traversing all of America, especially rural America navigating patients to get the actual screening. Providing funding through their health equity fund to actually get people in underserved communities to actually get screened. Which has given them the huge task of raising awareness.Michael Sapienza Michael's Website Michael Sapienza is the CEO of the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, the largest colon cancer advocacy group in the country. He lost his mother to colorectal cancer in May 2009. He turned his profound grief into action, inspiring and challenging the colorectal cancer community, family, friends, and professional associates to follow his lead and dedicate themselves to ending colorectal cancer within our lifetime—the mission of the Colorectal Cancer Alliance. Michael founded The Chris4Life Colon Cancer Foundation and served as its President from 2010-2015. In 2016, he led the team that merged the Foundation and the Colon Cancer Alliance, creating the nation's largest colon cancer specific nonprofit, which changed its name to Colorectal Cancer Alliance in 2017 to embrace both the colon and rectal cancer communities. Over the last decade, Michael has become an expert and trusted voice on the topics of colorectal cancer prevention, patient care, and medical research. LinkedIn:

Welcome back, friends, to our podcast, The Patients Speak. We're the podcast where we try to capture both the business and scientific innovation that's going on in healthcare with the patient's voice and what we can learn when we really listen to the patient. My guest today is Dr. Peter Small. He's an acoustic epidemiologist by training and by trade, but he's also leading the efforts to understand and quantify what cough can mean in a patient's overall healthcare picture. His background includes global efforts in TB, he has also worked in international work with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, with the Global Healthcare Initiative, and with other foundations and organizations in the area of lung and cough. Not only does he come from a professional background as a physician and a scientist and working in the field of philanthropy, but he is actually a patient who had a refractory chronic cough for about three decades.He tells us that if you never cough, you'll probably die of aspiration pneumonia. On the other hand, it's a symptom of disease, if you're coughing a lot.Hyfe.AI is trying to do for cough what the thermometer did for fever. It made it real and quantifiable and actionable. By the use of acoustic artificial intelligence to be able to recognize the sound of a cough. The app can be downloaded for free. Not only does it detect and quantify a cough but it's got a list of other advantages:It's very helpful for chronic coughers in terms of empowering them in their conversations with their providersWomen who have stress incontinence, when they cough, it's super embarrassing, and so to be able to convey the magnitude of the problem to the provider Helps patients to take control of their own precipitators of their cough, change their lifestyle, and minimize their symptomsIt should help drug companies start using it to accelerate the development of better technologies and drugs. A patient selection tool for recruitment and clinical trialsIn summary, we see that technology has brought to the picture the central role that the patients themselves can play in selecting those innovations that make a difference. Those well-selected innovations have empowered patients to take whatever information they're acquiring, and bring it to their doctor, and insist that their doctor looks at it. Dr. Peter Small Dr Peter Small, M.D., built and ran the tuberculosis program for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and conducted pioneering molecular epidemiologic research at Stanford University. He has spoken at the G3 Summit and long focused on the use of innovation to improve health care around the world. Dr Small founded the Global Health Institute and worked on the use of technology to improve health care delivery in remote Madagascar and Nepal. He is currently chief medical officer of Hyfe, the global leader in AI-powered cough detection and classification. Dr. Peter's Website @hyfeapp on Instagram @hyfeapp on Twitter Dr. Peter's Facebook page LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petermsmall/If you'd like to read more about patient empowerment – along with the 83bar patient recruitment platform – go to www.83bar.comBSB Media BSB Media

Hello everyone and welcome back to our podcast, The Patients Speak, where we're combining the business and science innovations of healthcare with the patient voice and how to help them navigate the system to get from diagnosis to wellness faster and more smoothly. Our guest today is Kaitlin McGreyes who is the founder and CEO of a venture called Be Her Village, a gift registry app.“Be Her Village is my way of helping parents access the funds to pay for all of those support providers that insurance is largely not covering right now,” says Kaitlin.Be Her Village is a gift registry for moms. Instead of a baby gift registry, they help moms get the support that they need when they are welcoming a baby into their families. Some of the support services we are talked about are : Prenatal CareDuring Pregnancy SupportEducation On Pregnancy MattersDoulasAdvocacy HelpLactation ConsultantsPelvic Floor TherapistsMaternal And Mental Health Providers“There's something really beautiful about reinventing the village as a village of professionals that we can tap into and get the wisdom from, and get the care into the homes of mothers, and get them connected, in a really direct and efficient way,” says Kaitlin.They have a growing network of providers across the country, in all different categories whom they match with families or mothers for free, that need a particular service in their networks.They then help mothers get their registry set up so that they can get the funds they need to pay for those services. And if they don't have a provider in their area, they help find one. In our conversation, we found that this is not just a gifting idea. It is a women's health idea.“The midwives, the nurse practitioners, the lactation consultants, the pelvic floor providers. They are so excited that we exist.”The clinical community is excited about the existence of Be Her Village because in the areas where they can't offer the full spectrum of support, then the patient's voice is amplified by the fact that they know that they need support, and they need support from a multitude of different practitioners.“Parenthood Ventures, and we are part of a network of parenthood technology companies that are working to make life better for parents.”In our conversation, we realized that parents are struggling and that they have problems that need to be solved, and that those problems can be solved through tech. She's also part of a consortium, an ecosystem called Parenthood Ventures. They are also looking for mentorship as well. So as to have a competent team to be able to carry out their missionIn conclusion, she gives us a takeaway as we sum up our discussion, “We need to engage with the people we want to help. Put your ego and yourself to the side. At the end of the day, we need to build something that people will use and will tell each other about as they experience it,"Kaitlin 's Website I am the founder of BeHerVillage, a gift registry platform for parents to get support like doulas, lactation care, in-home postpartum support, and more! Kaitlin 's Facebook page @behervillage on Instagram LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaitlinmcgreyes/BSB Media BSB Media

Welcome back friends to our podcast, The Patients Speak. Where we learn about the voice of the patient and how the patients can contribute more to the science and business aspects of innovation in the world of medicine. Today our conversation is going to focus on new technologies and new platforms to improve our listening, how we really hear the patient voice and understand the emotions behind that experience? And, our guest is Amy Brown, CEO and founder of Authenticx.As a daughter of a surgeon with early education in social work, together with her experience in government affairs, in operations of a healthcare organization, inside a government organization to underserved patients. She attributes the birth of Authenticx to the combination of her upbringing and education.Authenticx acquires or ingests customer conversations into their software platform, and they use machine learning algorithms and other forms of AI to listen at scale to the customer conversations to surface the big themes, and then narrate the issues which healthcare leaders need to hear. It helps them prioritize what actions they will take to improve the healthcare system. She highlights one of their most profound experiences is trying to bridge the empathy gap creating a very efficient, effective, scalable way for leaders to get in touch with what's going on with their customers by leveraging a data source they already own, but it feels very inaccessible to executives because a large telephony platform or large company might take millions of calls or chats every year.We talk about The eddy effect which is when a customer gets stuck in their journey, and end up putting forth more effort than should be required to solve a single problem. And how leaders use Authentcx to make changes in their operations to try to smooth out that customer journey. It has helped health practitioners change the behavior of the company. She gives a tip on how healthcare executives, and providers, think more about the patient journey, rather than simply their little segment of it.In summary, we've been talking about the power of listening, and the criticality of listening to patient voices in a different and new way. This way is scalable and provides strategic value to the leaders who are empowered to set policy for healthcare consumers. And, the fact that more of those leaders can listen and get closer to the voice of their patients. The more informed, the more empathetic, and the more enlightened they'll be as they set forth policy.As we conclude, she encourages us to go back to our organizations and find out how we listen to the voice of our customer today. Is it primarily through surveys? Is it primarily through interviews or anecdotal conversations? And, is there a more systematic way, and a more ongoing cadence that the organization can take to listen to the voice of their customers?Amy Brown Amy's Website Amy Brown is the founder and CEO of Authenticx – the software platform analyzes and activates patients' voices at scale to reveal transformational opportunities in healthcare. Amy built her career as a rising executive in the healthcare industry, during which time she advocated for underserved populations, led and mobilized teams to expand healthcare coverage to thousands of Indiana residents, and learned the nuance of corporate operations. In 2018, Amy decided to leverage her decades of industry experience to tackle healthcare through technology. She founded Authenticx with the mission to bring the...

Welcome back friends to our podcast, the Patients Speak. Where we learn about the voice of the patient and how the patients can contribute more to the science and business aspects of innovation in the world of medicine . The goal is to underscore the patient's voice in drug development, new device creation, new diagnostic development, and even innovation of support programs or apps. Our guest today is Wendy Bjork who is self-titled as the Empress of MS. She has been living with multiple sclerosis for over 35 years, and has now turned to empowering other patients. She's a pioneer in advocacy and mentorship, and she's even authored a book called Fired Up! She is also a frequent contributor to the National MS Society's Momentum Magazine, and is regularly invited to expert discussions to share her story.Today, we talk about what a healing journey encompasses. It is not just about one thing or one quick fix. She breaks it down into two parts.It starts with our mindset, how we're treating ourselves, and how we talk to ourselves. She emphasizes how it makes a huge difference. Then the team that a patent needs around them. From a medical professional, to their neurologist, and the other people in their life to help fill in those other gaps to carry on with their journey.In some of the other parts of her program, she highlights some of those gaps that need filling.One big gap is nutrition.Another gap is the support part of it. A lot of patients feel unsupported. Some spouses even leave because they just can't deal with this diagnosisThe MS Society does a good job of facilitating a lot of good information. Their website has tons of information to seek out. That's a great place to start, especially if someone's newly diagnosed In her book Fired Up!, she let us know that MS isn't a death sentence, we're here to live our life even when life throws all kinds of challenges at us. So it's up to us to be our own advocates and stand up for ourselves.She tells us not to say we're suffering from a particular illness. She prefers using the word "Navigating" as opposed to living with a condition. Because we have to see the illness as a separate entity otherwise it just becomes part of us.On her website, she quotes "I'm not a product of my circumstances. I'm a product of my decisions." Mainly because each day is a reset and we have a whole day of 24 hours full of choices.In conclusion, she gives us a few things to take away from this conversion She is really encouraging people with MS to step into that development process more by having conversations with the pharma companies. And reminds us that it comes down to all these different components of living a healthy life. In addition to what medicine has developed for us.Everybody needs to give themselves grace. And to try new things. That change might not be felt until 90 days later. So be patient with ourselves and to give ourselves grace.Be kind to somebody. Do something random for a stranger, because you might be the only person that talks to them nicely that day.We can find Wendy and more on her patient advocacy and coaching work on her website: heartsofwellness.comWendy Bjork Wendy's Website Wendy Bjork, The Empress of MS, is the founder of Hearts of Wellness.com. An extreme pioneer in advocacy and mentorship, Wendy is leading a global revolution to change the face of Multiple Sclerosis.

Dr. Mark Pimentel, Cedars-Sinai + Matt Mitcho, Gemelli BiotechWelcome back to one of the first episodes of our new podcast, The Patients Speak. We're combining the business aspects of innovation and the science of innovation with the patient voice and what the opportunities are to incorporate more of the patient experience into our strategies and into our work.Today, we're joined by Dr. Mark Pimentel, executive director of the MAST( Medically Associated Science and Technology) program at Cedar Sinai. And, by Matt Mitcho, CEO of Gemelli Biotech. Dr. Pimentel is also a co-founder and a member of the scientific advisory board at Gemelli.They have been working together since 2018, as founders of Gemelli Biotech, bringing trio-smart, which is a SIBO breath test that identifies gasses that are associated with SIBO, hydrogen methane, and hydrogen sulfide to market. Also, IBS Smart, a blood test that measures two antibodies elevated in people that had a previous event of food poisoning or identifying post-infectious IBS, IBSD specifically.In addition to the clinical, research, and technology assessment, we talked about incorporating the patient voice in seeking proper treatment for IBS patients, which Dr. Pimentel highlights that as a clinician scientist, you are obligated to think around the patient and outside the box.He gives some tips to clinicians:Have the ability to compassionately listen to the patient population and then develop innovative tools that help them get to the resolution more quickly. This aids with patient motivation and resilience With the volumes increasing in treatment clinicians see patterns and upon seeing those patterns, there comes a need to have as many clinical trials as you need to up until the science stacks up, which most times is a long and dedicated processDr. Pimentel gave us tips for tackling systemic challenges like difficulty in getting an appointment with the doctor or not having enough time with the doctor.Have quality time for example an hour for the new patientsEducating their patients empowers them with the information out there and this gives them confidence when they visit the doctor.Matt insists on being patient-centric. In making sure that the culture that is created within the organization focuses on the patient, and getting the patient an answer,In conclusion, we spoke about what's on the horizon that we should be watching out for? In regards to technology and new science.Precision medicine: Having more knowledge about the microbiome in IBS,.They already have one product that looks very promising for the diarrhea side on the basis of exactly what this breath test shows. They plan to spend a lot of resources educating patients and providers to the three gas breath test Exploring telehealth platforms that will give patients that don't have a provider, greater access to tools that they may find benefit from and continuously exploring partnerships for scale.It really comes down to accessing more physicians and making them aware of what they are doing. Alongside making patients aware that they have access to these tools and can go ask their providers about them. And then making sure that they are prepared for the demand on the back end. Having better tools to give folks patients a positive diagnosis, which will allow them to find resolution more quickly. In summary, we narrow it down to the education and empowerment of both patients and clinicians.If you'd like to read more about patient empowerment – along with the 83bar patient recruitment platform – go to www.83bar.comBSB

Welcome friends, to our new podcast, The Patients Speak, where we combine the business and science innovations in healthcare with the patient voice, the patient experience, and activating patients to be more involved and more empowered in their own healthcare. Today's guest is Shefali Shah, she's global VP of market access and commercial effectiveness for a company called MindMaze, a brain technology and neurorecovery company. She is an expert in evidence-based strategies for digital healthcare. Her background includes market access for pharmas, including GSK, Novo Nordisk, and InVentiv Health (now Syneos)Shefali defines digital therapeutics as evidence-based therapeutic or an intervention that uses software to manage or prevent a disease. She emphasizes that MindMaze combines different modalities to create an immersive experience for the patient. So it is not just about the software, it is also about integrating the therapist, the care team, and the hardware.Shefali explains that as much as the games are a basis of their platform it does require a lot more than a game. They understand that patients are going to learn differently and are going to need a lot of different modalities to overcome some of the challengesWe discussed how MindMaze built a system incorporating the patient's voice and she gave a few examples of how they do it.Many members of the product team themselves have survived a stroke or other traumatic brain injuriesBeyond the team, they engage patient advisors to help in developing the productBringing therapists into the product-design processPatient research by listening to unfiltered recovery stories on social platforms She acknowledged that the treatments, therapies, and medicines patients need across each of these stages are very different. So they take very real-world experiences and then connect the inpatient and outpatient and home-care settings -- all of those in designing the trials.We dove deep into those unforeseen challenges in the patient journey for example:When a patient almost lost their houseOr their caregivers left them because they could not afford a nurse to come inThey were just tired of taking care of the patient themselvesOr their insurance just stopped covering because they went from one set of care to another.We also spoke about the challenges she is facing in bringing these products to the market.There are market access challenges around the different reimbursement pathways that have been designed for the different sites of care.In summary, she says part of the solution is to create Therapy Integration Managers that take the patient from one site of care to another. They would be considered as a medical concierge to help patients transition through different sets. In conclusion, we talk about collaboration with different organizations to bring this category of digital therapeutics to life. The APTA and the AAN clinical societies, and also patient advocacy groups, would go a long way to help focus on the entire patient journey.Shefali Shah Shefali BSB Media

Welcome to one of the first episodes of our new podcast, The Patients Speak, where we combine business and science innovation with how patients need to be represented in research and marketing. One of the topics we discuss today is how to make sure the patient's voice is heard all through that research process, on into the development and commercialization of new products, with our guest, Michael Biarnes.Michael is the Manager of New Products and Business Development at Janssen, one of the pharmaceutical companies of Johnson & Johnson. He is also the author of Redefining Success: Stories, Science, and Strategies.Today, he shares that he has been lucky to work in cancer research, clinical diagnostics, neuroscience, and cardiovascular disease. Michael really talks to us about how he has made sure that the patient's voice is heard throughout his almost 10-year career.According to Michael, it is our responsibility that the right medicine goes to the right patient by introducing diagnostics, new biomarkers, and new signals to make sure that doctors and patients can make informed decisions. He also highlights some tips to help in that lightHe stresses the importance of making sure that any decision that we make has the patient at the center.Michael's tip is to have all sorts of teams within your company incorporating patient insights and voices into decision-making to ensure that as a new product is developed and brought to market, it is done thoughtfully and it addresses the pain points for the patient's journey to have an improved outcome.He also has tips on decision-making for those responsible for clinical trials to better engage, not just with patients, but with communities. That they are responsible for diversity, equity, and inclusion while carrying out trials.He reminds them to engage the trusted advisors and or the trusted community leadersTell them to educate and give disease state awareness, as opposed to just talking about products.They have to understand the patient's journey.They have to listen in order to make the needed improvements in the journey of their patients.In summary, Michael is happy about the movement toward precision medicine and the amount of foundational work going into better understanding the neurodegenerative space. And also how major competitors have come together to collaborate on massive initiatives to share clinical trial data and do a deep dive into why our clinical trials failing and figure out what to do that will truly make a difference. And the continued growth in technology to aid in bringing more patients into clinical research.In conclusion, In order to develop our own emotional intelligence, especially as we listen to patients, to be better listeners he urges us to “Be like a scientist and run some experiments” as per the title of the 11th chapter in his book.Michael Biarnes Michael Biarnes is Manager, New Products & Business Development at Janssen, a pharmaceutical company of Johnson & Johnson. Michael has worked in oncology, neuroscience, and diagnostics with organizations including the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, MESO SCALE DIAGNOSTICS, and Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center at Georgetown University. Michael has dedicated his career to improving patient outcomes. His diverse skillset has allowed him to serve as an advisor and...

Welcome friends to our new podcast, The Patients Speak. As we have conversations with innovative healthcare executives about what they learn when they hear the patients speak. Today's topic is about listening while commercializing new therapies. There is market research, there is strategy, there are marketing programs, and there are opportunities to listen and learn all through that process. Today's guest is an expert in this field. Keli Walbert. She is Executive Vice President of Horizon Therapeutics she has also been selected as a Woman of Distinction by Medical Marketing + Media. Based on her career experience, she tells us what we can learn from the patients themselvesHer first lesson is to remind us not to think of patients first as patients. Think of them as people and consumers. Because it's important that we look across their lives to help understand their experience. This enables us to bring programs and offers to them that can help them more broadly than just their disease state.Secondly, to bring some awareness to the diseases and even to the ways, it affects their life. In a more significant disease state, Horizon Therapeutics does ethnographic research, where they go into people's homes. They go with them through their disease journey so as to understand more holistically how their life is affected by the disease that they have in order to then identify ways to bring solutions that help them beyond just the medicine.Thirdly, to recognize that patients have a life outside of whatever they're dealing with and doctor's appointments and pill bottles.We then talk about one of Horizon's products called Tepezza which is for thyroid eye disease. It is a first-in-class novel monoclonal antibody that is treating thyroid eye disease. And it's the first and only approved FDA therapy for thyroid eye disease. She recalls that when they brought it to market, they actually changed the point at which they believe treatment should occur because they learned that the physicians that the patients were seeing didn't necessarily fully appreciate the symptoms and the impact that this disease was having on patients' quality of life.So they looked at the patient journey and realized that it was absolutely essential that there was individualized, personalized care for every single patient to help them navigate the access barriers so that they could ultimately get access to therapy. Through Horizon Therapeutics' journey, she shares with us some golden tips and what they are willing to do for every single product at Horizon essentially because our healthcare system is complex and it's increasingly difficult for patients to navigateWhich is essentially providing support beyond medicine.Their intention is to give patients the tools and the support they need in order to advocate for themselves. If patients can advocate for themselves then, they are more likely to get access to therapy. They intend to provide support, education, and one-to-one attention to help patients understand their disease and understand what they need to support themselves and also understand how they can get access. Patients that suffer from rare diseases need to know that there are legitimate organizations that are behind the development of these products so that they feel safer in trying a novel...

Welcome to our new podcast, “The Patients Speak: Healthcare Innovations, Accelerating the Patient Journey.”We share interviews with healthcare executives and medical providers. What they hear from the patients they serve and how their innovations will improve the patient's journey.Produced by 83bar Inc., with best-selling author, Mark Stinson.Our podcast is unique because it combines Business innovation with the Patient angle. In each episode, we'll share:- Patient insights- The process/approach to solutions- How patients are involved in development- Product/service/device innovations- How to accelerate a patient's journey- What is needed to elevate or advance innovation- Future visionJoin us when we interview another innovative healthcare leader, who is working to accelerate the patient journey – and what they hear when they listen to the patients speak.You can listen wherever you get your podcast, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and iHeartRadio. Subscribe now so you won't miss an episode of “The Patients Speak.”If you would like to read more about patient empowerment, along with the 83bar patient recruitment platform, go to www.83bar.com.