ChilCast: Healthcare Tech Talks

On this episode of ChilCast: Healthcare Tech Talks, the Chilmark team explores the headlines from May 2023 in the world of healthcare IT.
We've also released our latest report on Hospital at Home technologies, featuring a new format!
What impact will generative AI and its woeful lack of oversight have on healthcare? How can health systems respond to the glaring gaps in care for underserved populations? And was it too soon to end the Public Health Emergency for COVID-19?
We dive into these topics and more on this month's recap. Follow the link here referenced in the discussion as well as a transcript.

In the world of healthcare, where patient experience / quality of life and physician’s ability to feel fulfilled in their work are key drivers of success, defining ROI with a sole focus on finance just didn’t match what we were hearing from colleagues and seeing in the headlines.
Nearing the 15 year anniversary of HITECH, and 20th of the founding of the ONC, it seems like the industry is having a reckoning with the fact that it is still exceedingly difficult to quantify the impact of the billions of dollars of investment that have been made in IT.
After intentionally interrogating this observation with dozens of discussions validating that gut feeling, a few brilliant, deeply experienced, and like-minded folx came together to work on developing a path forward that better aligns with the actual goals of various technology investments across the sector. The team that has come together around this effort are:

• John Moore, Chilmark Research
• Curtis Peterson, Kingfisher Advising
• Marie Copoulos, Horta Health
• Susan Irby and Pam Arlotto, Maestro Strategies

After months of working on how to approach this, we’re thrilled to introduce our effort to the world, the Health Impact Project. We officially soft-launched the effort last week with the initial installment of our five-part manifesto, Assessing Health Tech Value in the Next Decade. In addition to the written word, we will be producing a series of podcasts under the Chilcast banner.
For our first podcast, get to know the team as we dive into what motivated each of us to come together for this work, the values we each bring to the table, why this has been hard for the industry to date, and what makes this work so mission-critical today.
Key Discussion Points:

• 1:24 - Our motivation to come together to work on this
• 4:54 - The values we each bring
• 9:46 - Why is this so dang hard in [US] healthcare?
• 17:35 - What makes this work so critical *now*?

On the latest episode of Chilcast: Healthcare Tech Talks, we are delighted to feature an interview with Dr. Tania Martin-Mercado, an expert in clinical research, biotech and public health. She joins Chilmark Senior Analyst Jody Ranck for a discussion on the issue of bias in AI: how it’s harmful to patients individually and our culture as a whole, how to add diversity to data teams in meaningful and authentic ways, and what organizations can do to tackle this issue as more algorithms are deployed for care delivery.

In this episode of the Chilcast, Managing Partner John Moore is joined by Carrie Kozlowski, COO and co-founder of Upfront Healthcare, and Ed Marx, CEO and Founder of Marx Advisory, to discuss the importance of engagement, trust, and technology as part of community outreach in the context of the ongoing post-PHE Medicaid redetermination process.

The episode opens with an introduction to the problem: the concerning number of individuals who have lost Medicaid coverage so far – approximately 38% of those evaluated, largely due to trivial administrative issues – and the significant impact to children when health access is denied during key developmental years. This is also a significant financial hit to already struggling disproportionate share hospitals (DSH means high Medicare / Medicaid populations), creating significant uncertainty around ongoing access to care in some of these communities if margins are eroded any further, possibly resulting in closures or reduction in services provided.

The three then get into a discussion about some of the social factors contributing to this issue, how technology can address aspects of the problem when applied appropriately, and the importance of recognizing that everyone is different so you really need to meet people where they are to have a meaningful impact. A lot of ground is covered, so it’s best to just go and listen.

Key Takeaways:

1. Focus on the patient: The guests emphasize the need for a patient-centric approach, understanding patients' unique needs and preferences, and delivering culturally sensitive content in multiple languages and literacy levels.

2. Utilize technology effectively: Technology plays a crucial role in patient engagement – but keep in mind that the right people and processes are critical to achieve the intended outcomes of any tool. Leveraging the right data and adopting an omnichannel care approach can improve both communication and outcomes.

3. Collaborative system redesign: Collaboration and system redesign are essential in driving change. Leaders should work together across departments and with community representatives to implement innovative outreach and activation campaigns. Education and buy-in from local leaders is a must to establish trust.

4. Experimentation and adaptation: Healthcare systems must be willing to adapt quickly and experiment with new approaches, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. Learning from companies outside of healthcare and incorporating community awareness can lead to more consumer-friendly care experiences.

5. Prioritize the patient and equity: The guests stress the importance of prioritizing what is best for the patient as a whole person and taking steps towards equity. Providing a hyper-personalized experience and focusing on the wellbeing of entire communities are some of the best ways to drive better outcomes.