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Halyard Health Provides Alternative To Opioid Pain Meds

opioid

Dr. Kevin Friedman of Halyard Health

Halyard Health Provides Alternative To Opioid Pain Meds

The current opioid abuse epidemic has been called the worst drug crisis in American history. Death rates now
rival those of AIDS during the 1990s, with overdoses from heroin and other opioids now killing more
than 27,000 people a year. People across the country are asking themselves: why? What are the forces
causing this issue, and what can lawmakers and the healthcare community do to curb it? At the heart of
the epidemic is the shift in opioid prescribing practices: in 1991, doctors wrote 76 million prescriptions
for painkillers.

In 2012, that number tripled, with healthcare providers writing 259 million prescriptions for opioid painkillers – enough for every American adult to have a bottle of pills.1 Most addicts aren’t introduced to opioids through the black market; they are far too often prescribed by their doctors as part of standard treatment protocols for treating postoperative and chronic pain.

On this episode we were joined in studio by Kevin Friedman, medical director at Alpharetta, Georgia-based Halyard Health.  The company manufactures two non-narcotic alternatives – COOLIEF Cooled Radiofrequency and the ON-Q* Pain Relief System – for chronic and post-operative pain, respectively.  Kevin shared actionable steps to address the opioid crisis and how patient/provider education, coupled with non-opioid therapies such as these for pain management, play a critical role in reducing the rate of occurrence of opioid addiction due to prescription use.

Halyard Health is a global medical technology company focused on preventing infection, eliminating pain and speeding
recovery.   Just as a halyard fuels forward movement, Halyard Health’s clinically-superior products and remarkable
service help to advance health and healthcare worldwide. Halyard sells its recognized brands and products in more
than 100 countries, and holds leading market positions in multiple categories across the portfolio. Formerly part of
Kimberly-Clark, Halyard became an independent company on November 1, 2014.

For more information, visit
www.halyardhealth.com.

Special Guest:

Dr. Kevin Friedman, DO, Medical Director, Halyard Health  twitter_logo_small  facebook_logo_small3  linkedin_small1

opioid

  • Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery, Nova Southeastern University
  • MBA, IU Kelley School of Business
  • Former Flight Surgeon, US Navy

Metro Atlanta Chamber Driving Bioscience Growth

metro atlanta chamber of commerce

Kornelius Bankston of MACC talks bioscience.

Metro Atlanta Chamber Driving Bioscience Growth

The Metro Atlanta Chamber exists for one reason – to help Atlanta thrive. From recruiting businesses to tackling policy issues, MAC’s efforts in metro Atlanta are designed to promote prosperity and growth for you and your business.  Georgia’s bioscience and health IT industries are responsible for almost $30 billion in annual reported revenue and 120,000 employees.

The Health IT industry in Georgia already leads the nation with more than 200 companies and more than $4 billion in annual reported revenue and 15,000 employees. The bioscience industry is also firmly rooted in the state, with more than 100,000 jobs and an annual economic impact of $23 billion.

As the national economy rebounds, Atlanta has the potential to create thousands more jobs per year in these two sectors. Whether you’re with a FORTUNE 500 business or putting in sweat equity in a startup, this is the city that can help you create a solid future.

Connect to these vibrant bioscience and health IT communities is through the Bioscience and Health IT Leadership Council. Join peers, including McKesson, Merial, Alcon, CDC, American Cancer Society, CyroLife, CardioMEMs and others who are leading the industry with cutting-edge innovation – tackling common goals. Council subcommittees focus on branding Atlanta as a center for global health and clinical trials as well as marketing the state as the “Nation’s Health IT Capital” to attract even more companies and high-quality jobs.

Special Guest:

Kornelius Bankston, Director of Bioscience, Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce

Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce

Mercer University Health Services

 Mercer University

Dr. Ashish Advani and Dr. Ted Matthews of Mercer University

Mercer University Health Services

We sat down with Dean and SVP of Health Services, Dr. Ted Matthews, and Dr. Ashish Advani, Clinical Associate Professor of Pharmacy from Mercer University.  Mercer University’s College of Pharmacy is ranked among the top five pharmacy programs at private institutions in the United States, according to U.S. News & World Report. The College offers doctoral degrees in pharmacy (Pharm.D.) and pharmaceutical sciences (Ph.D.). The College is one of four health sciences units within the Mercer Health Sciences Center, which also includes the School of Medicine,  College of Nursing, and College of Health Professions.

With an enrollment of more than 650 students and a distinguished faculty of basic scientists and clinicians, the College of Pharmacy houses seven centers focusing on research, teaching and learning. The College’s motto, “A Tradition of Excellence – A Legacy of Caring,” frames its philosophy of providing excellent academic programs in an environment where every student matters and every person counts.

Mercer University is applying an approach to their health sciences programs called, “interprofessional education or IPE”.  This approach brings students from the various health science programs together with those of the others to talk about their respective considerations when approaching certain care scenarios.  This leads to a greater understanding of the other team members of the multidisciplinary team and ultimately, better patient outcomes.

The College of Pharmacy has also developed a technology platform aimed at putting pharmacologic study data and medicine information in the hands of clinicians to facilitate evidence-based decision making.  Developed with support from Mercer University’s College of Pharmacy, InpharmD is a web-based drug information center. With an estimated 20 million pharmaceutical studies available, InpharmD offers access to the health information that healthcare providers and patients need to make informed and improved decisions.

InpharmD provides customized, evidence-based responses within a user-requested time period. By significantly increasing the credibility of the information and substantially decreasing the turnaround time, InpharmD has created a fundamental change in drug information delivery.

Special Guests:

Dr. Ted Matthews, Dean and SVP of Health Services, Mercer University  facebook_logo_small3  linkedin_small1  twitter_logo_small  youtube-logo1  feed-logo  instagram-logo-transparent-png-i11-16x16

mercer university

Dr. Ashish Advani, Associate Clinical Professor, College of Pharmacy, Mercer University  linkedin_small1

Mercer University

Moving Analytics

Moving Analytics

This week I spoke with the co-founder, Harsh Vathsangam, of a technology company, Moving Analytics, that is working to significantly increase participation rates in cardiac rehabilitation. Over 900,000 Americans experience heart attacks each year.  Still more will experience heart failure, valvular disease, and other cardiovascular problems that create a diminished tolerance of activity.

We know very well that regular activity and selective behavior choices around such things as diet, alcohol consumption, and smoking, among others, play a large role in stopping or even reversing effects of these conditions.  Currently, roughly a third or less of these patients are engaging in a supervised cardiac rehab program.  Clearly, there is much room for improvement in this regard.

As a computer scientist, Harsh has long-known the power of computing and analytics data for creating efficiencies and making well-educated strategic decisions.  He and some colleagues began to look for opportunities to leverage this power in the healthcare arena, one which we know is actively seeking to reduce cost while at the same time improve patient outcomes.

The Moving Analytics app allows patients to receive frequent feedback regarding their prescribed activities and behavioral choices.  Additionally, it provides data regarding the patient’s compliance with their regimen along with some basic health data to the health professional overseeing their cardiac rehab progress.  In this way, the patient is able to engage in healthful activities that will improve their condition in the convenience of their home.  Additionally it will allow the cardiac rehab professionals to scale their services to a wider patient population, reducing cost of providing care (based on a per-provider cost).

Moving Analytics is looking to partner with hospitals and health systems who are working to improve patient engagement with these important cardiac rehab programs for the post-cardiovascular event patients.

Special Guest:

Harsh Vathsangam, Co-founder, Moving Analytics  linkedin_small1

cardiac rehab

  • PhD, Computer Science, University of Southern California
  • MS, Computer Science, University of Southern California
  • Recipient, PhD Award, University of Southern California
  • Awarded USC Annenberg Fellowship 2008-2012

Radix Health

Radix

CW Hall and Arun Mohan of Radix

 

Radix Health

Dr. Arun Mohan talks Radix Healths physician scheduling optimization solution.

Radix Health

Jay Shaffer and I sat down with co-founder of Radix Health, Dr. Arun Mohan.  Radix Health uses technology to improve patient access.  Radix’s flagship product, DASH, is a patent-pending, cloud-based software platform that optimizes ambulatory capacity utilization and reduces scheduling cost. DASH automates and optimizes much of the work currently done by schedulers.

DASH intelligently balances patient characteristics, patient and provider preferences, and appointment availability to match patients with the right provider at the right location for the right duration. The system supports all forms of scheduling including through an agent, provider-provider scheduling and patient self-scheduling.  DASH easily integrates with existing practice management systems.

By leveraging predictive analytics, rules-based scheduling, automation, and user experience, DASH improves access, reduces scheduling costs, eliminates scheduling errors and ensures happier patients and providers.

Arun shared how his experience as a physician, coupled with many conversations over time with colleagues, revealed there is an opportunity to improve patient satisfaction and engagement, while at the same time optimizing the physicians’ utilization of their schedule time.

The Radix Health solution integrates and enhances the basic scheduling feature of existing EMR’s, bringing valuable analytics and algorithms designed to insure a patient is scheduled with the correct specialist, avoiding the need for rescheduling and loss of productivity.

Special Guest:

Dr. Arun Mohan, Co-founder, Radix Health  linkedin_small1

radix health

Austin Clinical Research Professionals

Austin Clinical Research Professionals

Dana Austin talks clinical trials

Austin Clinical Research Professionals

On this week’s episode I sat down with the founder and CEO of Austin Clinical Research Professionals, Dana Austin.  This company provides clinical technologists and researchers to conduct or support clinical trials.  With a background in cardiology nursing, Dana and her team have particular expertise in studies around hypertension and diabetes, both of which are significant risk factors for heart disease.

Austin Clinical Research Professionals also offers certified CEU training to meet credentialing needs of existing research scientists and staff.  Additionally, Dana is certified to serve as a monitor for clinical trials to provide oversight and feedback to sponsors as well as being qualified to sit on ethics committees for studies.

Dana shared how individuals in the community can participate in available studies to get access to care that might not otherwise be available.  We talked about some studies she had been able to be a part of that ultimately resulted in helpful medications being made available to the public.

Special Guest:

Dana Austin, CEO/Founder of Austin Clinical Research Professionals  linkedin_small1  facebook_logo_small3

Austin Clinical Research Professionals

  • MSA, International Development, Andrews University
  • BSN, Emory School of Nursing
  • Certified Clinical Research Professional, Society of Clinical Research Associates
  • Previous Senior Clinical Team Leader, PPD

KSU BrainLab

KSU BrainLab

Steve Krontz talks KSU BrainLab

KSU BrainLab

On this week’s episode we sat down with Steve Krontz, Director of Innovation at the KSU BrainLab, located in the Coles College of Business.  They’re doing some remarkable work, using brain activity studies to analyze how individuals react to a logo, or a flavor, or a host of business-related stimuli.  Additionally, Steve and his team have been developing technology that will enable thought-to-text and thought-to-command capabilities.

This means they will be able to empower individuals who have neurologic problems that inhibit muscular control/activity such that they are rendered unable to speak or communicate.  With this soon-available technology, persons dealing with such problems will be able to interact with their environment and their caregivers.

Steve explained how the KSU BrainLab at Coles College of Business partners with businesses small and large to help them answer important questions that help them be more effective in their work.  The college is actively seeking companies who are looking to address important questions with their help.

The KSU BrainLab at Coles College of Business website describes their work this way, “Part science lab and part technology incubator, at the BrainLab we work to align computer technology with the human neurological system. Through our research we create meaningful applications for brain-computer interfaces by studying how users respond to and control brain-based devices.”

It is rewarding to help bring awareness to innovative initiatives like the KSU BrainLab at Coles College of Business.  I was surprised to learn that, as Steve explained, the ability to use thought to communicate as well as to interact with our environment is potentially less than 10 years away.  Such technology could clearly have an extensive impact on a wide range of healthcare patients as well as business.

Special Guest:

Steve Krontz, Director Innovation,  KSU BrainLab, Coles College of Business  twitter_logo_small  linkedin_small1  facebook_logo_small3  youtube-logo1

KSU BrainLab

  • BBA, Marketing, Kennesaw State University, Michael J. Coles College of Business
  • Founder, Krontz Media LLC
  • Executive Director/Solutions Architect, Big Eyed Fish Creative Consulting

 

Sharing Spaces Program

Cobb2020

Wende Parker talks Sharing Spaces

Cobb2020

Mark Anderson of Cobb County School District

Sharing Spaces Program

On this week’s episode we focused on how the Cobb-Douglas Department of Public Health is working to reduce rates of childhood obesity.  The Sharing Spaces program and Power Up for 30 program both aim to facilitate more physical activity among our student-aged populations.

Childhood obesity is rising among our young people at alarming rates.  The American Heart Association’s website explains: “Today, about one in three American kids and teens is overweight or obese, nearly triple the rate in 1963. Among children  today, obesity is causing a broad range of health problems that previously weren’t seen until adulthood. These include high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and elevated blood cholesterol levels. There are also psychological effects: Obese children are more prone to low self-esteem, negative body image and depression. And excess weight at young ages has been linked to higher and earlier death rates in adulthood.”

On this week’s episode we focused on two more programs that are part of the Cobb 2020 initiative. Created and implemented by the Cobb Douglas Department of Public Health under the direction of Dr. Jack Kennedy, aims to address a number of public health concerns that erode level of health and quality of life for many of the over 850,000 resident who live there.
One key area of focus is childhood obesity among student aged  residents of Cobb and Douglas Counties.  Among the 29 public health programs that make up the Cobb2020 initiative are the Power Up for 30 and the Sharing Spaces programs.  These are programs focused on getting young students moving more throughout their school day and beyond.
I sat down with District Director for Chronic Disease and Injury, Wende Parker, and Mark Anderson, Supervisor for Health and Phys Ed for the Cobb Co School District to learn more about how these programs work and the resources they’re hoping to identify in the community.
The sharing spaces program seeks to partner with community organizations that have playgrounds, gyms, tracks, and trails, giving area residents access to these resources, particularly young people.
In this way, the community will see declines in rates of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and others, and students enjoy academic performance upticks to boot.
Special Guests:
Wende Parker, District Director of Chronic Disease & Injury Prevention, Cobb-Douglas Dept. of Public Health
Cobb2020
  • BS Exercise Science, Community Health, University of Southern Mississippi
  • Previous Program Manager, Child Fatality Review, Eastern GA, State of Georgia Office of the Child Advocate

Mark Anderson, Supervisor, Health & Physical Education, Cobb County School District

Cobb2020

 

 

AirWatch by VM Ware

AirWatch by VM Ware

AirWatch by VM Ware’s Aamir Siddiqi

AirWatch by VM Ware

On this week’s episode we sat down with Aamir Siddiqi, the Executive Director for Enterprise Sales, Healthcare, for AirWatch by VM Ware.  AirWatch is known as an industry leader and innovator in the mobile enterprise security and services space.

The rise and evolution of mobile devices as business tools has been both a boon and a bane for enterprises.  While on one hand, they serve as efficient tools that facilitate work flow, collaboration, and productivity, they also create significant security risks for the business.

When you add the additional layer of sensitivity and compliance requirements for handling patient health information, this risk is of high importance to address in the healthcare arena.

With their well-known expertise in mobile security coupled with their recent acquisition by VM Ware, AirWatch plays a large role in helping healthcare organizations, both acute and sub-acute, take advantage of mobile tech’s efficiencies while protecting data across all devices on the network.

Special Guest:

Aamir Siddiqi, Executive Director of Enterprise Sales, Healthcare at AirWatch by VM Ware  twitter_logo_small  linkedin_small1  facebook_logo_small3  youtube-logo1  google-plus-logo-red-265px

AirWatch by VM Ware

  • BA, Management and Economics, University of Toronto at Scarborough
  • Previous National Sales Manager, Ultrasound IT Americas, GE Healthcare
  • Former Senior Business Consultant, CDC Software
  • Previous Director, Sales Engineering, Raindance

Investment Capital, Hospice, and Legal Trends in Healthcare

Health Connect South

Jack Draughon and Matt Brohm join CW Hall on Health Connect South Radio

Investment Capital, Hospice, and Legal Trends in Healthcare

Over the course of the show we have often heard our guests expressing the fact that access to investment capital is one of their biggest needs. On our previous episode we talked with Tif Walker from Georgia Center for Medical Innovation about the fact that in spite of having a rapidly-growing technology ecosystem full of promising technology solutions led by excellent leadership, Atlanta lags behind the traditionally-recognized centers for investment resources.

On this week’s show we hosted Jack Draughon and Matt Brohm to talk about investment capital, hospice, and legal trends in healthcare. Jack’s early years in his career were spent in investment banking, private equity, and mergers/acquisitions in the healthcare arena. After spending several years in the investment world and overseeing a larger merger with a hospice company, he began to become interested in forming a hospice care company that would both provide a high level of care and compassion, as well as have sound leadership and marketing strategy and resources.

He co-founded the hospice company Halcyon, which he and his colleagues were able to see fulfill its potential, ultimately selling the company recently in a successful merger.  Jack shared his personal story of how he had experienced hospice care as the parent of his daughter who was found to have a congenital disorder incompatible with life upon birth.  This experience, coupled with working on the hospice merger in his work combined to inspire him to focus his career on this important healthcare specialty.

Matt Brohm, an attorney with Arnall, Golden, & Gregory, talked about trends in healthcare and explained how recent changes in the law have created a trend toward consolidation between hospitals and systems.  Many physician practices are also being purchased and becoming part of hospital groups.  Matt and his colleagues in the healthcare practice for AGG provide expertise and guidance to navigate these often complicated transactions.

Additionally, Matt shared how compliance with new laws and regulations mean that having access to legal experts who are fully versed in these matters can save their clients a great deal of risk and cost associated with making missteps in the process.

Special Guests:

Jack Draughon, Co-Founder of Halcyon Hospice  facebook_logo_small3  twitter_logo_small  feed-logo  linkedin_small1

Halcyon Hospice

  • BBA, Economics, University of Georgia Terry College of Business
  • Previous Director, Arcapita Inc

Matt Brohm, Attorney, Arnall, Golden, Gregory  twitter_logo_small  linkedin_small1  feed-logo

Arnall Golden Gregory

  • Doctor of Law, Syracuse University College of Law
  • BBA Business, University of Georgia