Empowered Patient Podcast

Elaina McMillan, a director of product marketing at Edifecs, describes the challenges and opportunities around healthcare data interoperability with a focus on prior authorization. Standardizing prior authorization workflows and data submissions across payers is a major focus to reduce delays and errors. Ensuring data security and patient consent are critical concerns, especially for smaller payers with limited resources to comply with mandates.

Elaina explains, "Primarily, what I work on and what Edifecs is most known for is our healthcare data interoperability platform, which includes EDI standards and the new-ish since 2020 FHIR standards. So we're really focused on that. How I would explain it is the data engine that helps payers get things done with quality data through the standardization of that. In addition, we have a whole set of what we call workflow solutions or applications that you can actually build on top of the data platform. So it helps to do things like claims correction, enrollment management, value-based payments, risk adjustment, prior authorization, and consent management."

"So the one that actually comes to mind for me right now, and largely that's because of the recent interoperability and prior authorization mandate, is the prior authorization workflow. A lot of providers don't like the workflow itself and the prior authorizations. What happens today generally is that providers are contracted with a lot of different payers. All of these payers have their own systems and processes through which the provider needs to submit. So one problem is that the providers are managing multiple different workflows, processes, platforms, and technologies."

#HealthTech #Interoperability #HealthcareInnovation #PatientCare

#PatientAccess #WomenInTech #WhatIRun

edifecs.com

Listen to the podcast here

Elaina McMillan, a director of product marketing at Edifecs, describes the challenges and opportunities around healthcare data interoperability with a focus on prior authorization. Standardizing prior authorization workflows and data submissions across payers is a major focus to reduce delays and errors. Ensuring data security and patient consent are critical concerns, especially for smaller payers with limited resources to comply with mandates.

Elaina explains, "Primarily, what I work on and what Edifecs is most known for is our healthcare data interoperability platform, which includes EDI standards and the new-ish since 2020 FHIR standards. So we're really focused on that. How I would explain it is the data engine that helps payers get things done with quality data through the standardization of that. In addition, we have a whole set of what we call workflow solutions or applications that you can actually build on top of the data platform. So it helps to do things like claims correction, enrollment management, value-based payments, risk adjustment, prior authorization, and consent management."

"So the one that actually comes to mind for me right now, and largely that's because of the recent interoperability and prior authorization mandate, is the prior authorization workflow. A lot of providers don't like the workflow itself and the prior authorizations. What happens today generally is that providers are contracted with a lot of different payers. All of these payers have their own systems and processes through which the provider needs to submit. So one problem is that the providers are managing multiple different workflows, processes, platforms, and technologies."

#HealthTech #Interoperability #HealthcareInnovation #PatientCare

#PatientAccess #WomenInTech #WhatIRun

edifecs.com

Download the transcript here

Anmy Mayfield, Vice President and Dean for the Western Governors University College of Nursing in the Michael O. Leavitt School of Health, discusses the university's mission to provide accessible, online nursing education to address the nursing workforce shortage and encourage a more diverse population of nurses. The ReNEW Fund, a collaborative initiative with Social Finance, provides zero-interest, forgivable loans to nursing students. This model appeals to a diverse student population, including working adults and career-changers, by offering flexibility and employment opportunities for graduates.

Anmy explains, "The ReNEW Fund is a collaboration with Social Finance, another nonprofit organization. And we have a shared goal of tackling the nursing shortage that is estimated to be about 30,000 to 40,000 fewer RNs entering the field compared to what's open to RNs. And there are a lot of barriers that can keep someone from becoming a nurse. And one of those is the cost of nursing school."

"We want to make sure that we can help in one way to help mitigate that barrier to becoming a nurse. And so it's trying to fill these gaps by placing an equal investment in return on employers. Also students get zero-interest loans that are forgivable if a graduate completes their program and then works at one of these ReNEW employer partners for at least three years. So it's a pay-it-forward model."

"One of the things that our program is focused on is ensuring that we're training a nurse workforce that is related or reflective of what the community looks like, because we've seen from research that patient outcomes are often improved when that happens. And so this means more men in nursing, different minority groups, etc., in nursing. We at WGU have seen a higher number of students who are first-generation, who are coming from the military, who are coming from underserved or underrepresented groups, and we're excited about that. And I think a lot of it has to do with our model. We offer our coursework online, and so a lot of times it's easier for our students to balance work and life."

#FutureOfNursing #ReNEWFund #UpskillingHealthcare #NursingWorkforce #PayItForwardEducation #WGUHealth

wgu.edu

Listen to the podcast here

Anmy Mayfield, Vice President and Dean for the Western Governors University College of Nursing in the Michael O. Leavitt School of Health, discusses the university's mission to provide accessible, online nursing education to address the nursing workforce shortage and encourage a more diverse population of nurses. The ReNEW Fund, a collaborative initiative with Social Finance, provides zero-interest, forgivable loans to nursing students. This model appeals to a diverse student population, including working adults and career-changers, by offering flexibility and employment opportunities for graduates.

Anmy explains, "The ReNEW Fund is a collaboration with Social Finance, another nonprofit organization. And we have a shared goal of tackling the nursing shortage that is estimated to be about 30,000 to 40,000 fewer RNs entering the field compared to what's open to RNs. And there are a lot of barriers that can keep someone from becoming a nurse. And one of those is the cost of nursing school."

"We want to make sure that we can help in one way to help mitigate that barrier to becoming a nurse. And so it's trying to fill these gaps by placing an equal investment in return on employers. Also students get zero-interest loans that are forgivable if a graduate completes their program and then works at one of these ReNEW employer partners for at least three years. So it's a pay-it-forward model."

"One of the things that our program is focused on is ensuring that we're training a nurse workforce that is related or reflective of what the community looks like, because we've seen from research that patient outcomes are often improved when that happens. And so this means more men in nursing, different minority groups, etc., in nursing. We at WGU have seen a higher number of students who are first-generation, who are coming from the military, who are coming from underserved or underrepresented groups, and we're excited about that. And I think a lot of it has to do with our model. We offer our coursework online, and so a lot of times it's easier for our students to balance work and life."

#FutureOfNursing #ReNEWFund #UpskillingHealthcare #NursingWorkforce #PayItForwardEducation #WGUHealth

wgu.edu

Download the transcript here

Dr. Frank Bedu-Addo, President and CEO of PDS Biotechnology, focuses on the challenge of cancer recurrence and the development of a targeted immunotherapy approach using nanoparticle technology. Their lead immunotherapy candidate is designed to train the immune system to detect and attack microscopic or undetectable cancer cells, prolonging survival by preventing recurrence. Early clinical results in cervical, head and neck, and other HPV 16-positive cancers have been promising, showing sustained immune response leading to long-lasting T cell memory.

Frank explains, "Recurrence of cancer after treatment is actually one of the bigger hurdles we face in successfully treating cancer. So, PDS Biotechnology, as you know, we have a sharp focus on advancing our targeted immunotherapy platforms to address significant unmet needs in treating cancer. And this is actually one of those key unmet needs in cancer today. The prevailing hypothesis on knowledge is that cancer treatment, whether it's done using radiation therapy or anti-cancer drugs such as chemotherapy, both methods actually work by destroying cancer cells or halting the growth."

"And so what may happen with time is that these remaining cancer cells may then grow until they can be detected or begin to cause symptoms. Now, even if the cancer has been removed by surgery, there is still a risk that some tiny microscopic cancer cells could still remain in the body. We would therefore expect the ideal immunotherapy to be able to detect these tiny microscopic cancer cells, even if they have spread to other parts of the body."

#PDSBiotech #Cancer #CancerVaccines #ImmunoOncology #CancerRecurrence

PDSbiotech.com

Listen to the podcast here

Dr. Frank Bedu-Addo, President and CEO of PDS Biotechnology, focuses on the challenge of cancer recurrence and the development of a targeted immunotherapy approach using nanoparticle technology. Their lead immunotherapy candidate is designed to train the immune system to detect and attack microscopic or undetectable cancer cells, prolonging survival by preventing recurrence. Early clinical results in cervical, head and neck, and other HPV 16-positive cancers have been promising, showing sustained immune response leading to long-lasting T cell memory.

Frank explains, "Recurrence of cancer after treatment is actually one of the bigger hurdles we face in successfully treating cancer. So, PDS Biotechnology, as you know, we have a sharp focus on advancing our targeted immunotherapy platforms to address significant unmet needs in treating cancer. And this is actually one of those key unmet needs in cancer today. The prevailing hypothesis on knowledge is that cancer treatment, whether it's done using radiation therapy or anti-cancer drugs such as chemotherapy, both methods actually work by destroying cancer cells or halting the growth."

"And so what may happen with time is that these remaining cancer cells may then grow until they can be detected or begin to cause symptoms. Now, even if the cancer has been removed by surgery, there is still a risk that some tiny microscopic cancer cells could still remain in the body. We would therefore expect the ideal immunotherapy to be able to detect these tiny microscopic cancer cells, even if they have spread to other parts of the body."

#PDSBiotech #Cancer #CancerVaccines #ImmunoOncology #CancerRecurrence

PDSbiotech.com

Download the transcript here

Paul Romness, Chairman, CEO, and President of OS Therapies, and Olivia Egge, a member of the Board of Directors of OS Therapies, discuss osteosarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of bone cancer that primarily affects teenagers. OS Therapies is developing an immunotherapy that utilizes a weakened form of the listeria bacteria to stimulate the immune system and prevent the spread of cancer cells to the lungs and brain. Olivia's experience as a patient has motivated her to advocate for better treatment options and join the board of OS Therapeutics.

Paul explains, "So osteosarcoma is quite literally bone cancer. It happens in teenagers like Olivia, after the growth comes together in the long bones, and there's some sort of miscalculation, and a very aggressive and very deadly cancer develops from that of the growth. And as a result, the cancer can usually spread to the lungs and then the brain. And that's where it gets very, very deadly. And our approach is to stimulate the immune system with a weakened or attenuated listeria that fires up the immune system and goes and finds these little culprits, little micro metastases that have survived the chemo and radiation that these kids go through. It tries to destroy those little micro metastases before they land in the lungs and the brain."

Olivia elaborates, "I talk to patients all the time. Actually, I was introduced to people who became close friends during my actual treatment, but today I still do physical therapy and I'm constantly meeting kids who are in the middle of treatment and some of them have relapse, some haven't, but so I'm constantly meeting new patients and it's just evident that we need better treatment options. I see how weak they are from chemo. They're all, especially with osteosarcoma, you usually have to have a joint replacement or amputation, and chemo just weakens you. So it makes it even harder to recover from that. And I mean, these treatments are just so old. And so for sure, seeing all of these patients going through active treatment just reinforces how badly we need new treatment options, especially treatment options like surgery and immunotherapy."

#OSTherapies #Osteosarcoma #SolidTumors #Immunotherapy #ListeriaCancerImmunotherapy #ComparativeOncology #CanineOsteosarcoma

ostherapies.com

Listen to the podcast here

Paul Romness, Chairman, CEO, and President of OS Therapies, and Olivia Egge, a member of the Board of Directors of OS Therapies, discuss osteosarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of bone cancer that primarily affects teenagers. OS Therapies is developing an immunotherapy that utilizes a weakened form of the listeria bacteria to stimulate the immune system and prevent the spread of cancer cells to the lungs and brain. Olivia's experience as a patient has motivated her to advocate for better treatment options and join the board of OS Therapeutics.

Paul explains, "So osteosarcoma is quite literally bone cancer. It happens in teenagers like Olivia, after the growth comes together in the long bones, and there's some sort of miscalculation, and a very aggressive and very deadly cancer develops from that of the growth. And as a result, the cancer can usually spread to the lungs and then the brain. And that's where it gets very, very deadly. And our approach is to stimulate the immune system with a weakened or attenuated listeria that fires up the immune system and goes and finds these little culprits, little micro metastases that have survived the chemo and radiation that these kids go through. It tries to destroy those little micro metastases before they land in the lungs and the brain."

Olivia elaborates, "I talk to patients all the time. Actually, I was introduced to people who became close friends during my actual treatment, but today I still do physical therapy and I'm constantly meeting kids who are in the middle of treatment and some of them have relapse, some haven't, but so I'm constantly meeting new patients and it's just evident that we need better treatment options. I see how weak they are from chemo. They're all, especially with osteosarcoma, you usually have to have a joint replacement or amputation, and chemo just weakens you. So it makes it even harder to recover from that. And I mean, these treatments are just so old. And so for sure, seeing all of these patients going through active treatment just reinforces how badly we need new treatment options, especially treatment options like surgery and immunotherapy."

#OSTherapies #Osteosarcoma #SolidTumors #Immunotherapy #ListeriaCancerImmunotherapy #ComparativeOncology #CanineOsteosarcoma

ostherapies.com

Download the transcript here

Dan Schmitt, President and CEO of Actuate Therapeutics, is developing a cancer therapy that inhibits GSK3β, a key enzyme that is hijacked in cancer cells to drive tumor growth. Inhibiting this enzyme can impact the cancer cells and stimulate an immune response against the tumor. Actuate selected metastatic pancreatic cancer as their first target due to unmet need and promising data for their lead drug candidate. This could represent a significant advancement in the treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer, offering a new standard-of-care option.

Dan explains, "So, GSK-3β is a known quantity across a number of inflammatory diseases. It was understood when we first started the company that, particularly in cancer cells, GSK is hijacked in its activity. Basically it's been shown that in normal cells, GSK-3β sits in the cytoplasmic domain and there it's involved in multiple paths, basically in glucose metabolism. But in cancer cells, it translocates into the nuclear compartment, and there it's accumulated at much higher levels and then sits upstream of a pro-oncogenic set of pathways, all mediated by NF-κB. NF-κB is notorious in cancer. It regulates gene expression involved in tumor growth and progression, chemoresistance, and protects tumor cells from death."

"So it's been very difficult to target NF-κB directly, but we can target GSK-3β directly, specifically and potently, and therefore downregulate those key oncogenic processes. And that's really where we started the company, that set of activities of this protein. What's been shown since we've been in the clinic is that there is also a resulting upregulation of immune response from the host towards the cancer itself based on this inhibition of GSK-3β as well."

#ActuateTherapeutics #Cancer #PancreaticCancer #MetastaticPancreaticCancer

actuatetherapeutics.com

Listen to the podcast here

Dan Schmitt, President and CEO of Actuate Therapeutics, is developing a cancer therapy that inhibits GSK3β, a key enzyme that is hijacked in cancer cells to drive tumor growth. Inhibiting this enzyme can impact the cancer cells and stimulate an immune response against the tumor. Actuate selected metastatic pancreatic cancer as their first target due to unmet need and promising data for their lead drug candidate. This could represent a significant advancement in the treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer, offering a new standard-of-care option.

Dan explains, "So, GSK-3β is a known quantity across a number of inflammatory diseases. It was understood when we first started the company that, particularly in cancer cells, GSK is hijacked in its activity. Basically it's been shown that in normal cells, GSK-3β sits in the cytoplasmic domain and there it's involved in multiple paths, basically in glucose metabolism. But in cancer cells, it translocates into the nuclear compartment, and there it's accumulated at much higher levels and then sits upstream of a pro-oncogenic set of pathways, all mediated by NF-κB. NF-κB is notorious in cancer. It regulates gene expression involved in tumor growth and progression, chemoresistance, and protects tumor cells from death."

"So it's been very difficult to target NF-κB directly, but we can target GSK-3β directly, specifically and potently, and therefore downregulate those key oncogenic processes. And that's really where we started the company, that set of activities of this protein. What's been shown since we've been in the clinic is that there is also a resulting upregulation of immune response from the host towards the cancer itself based on this inhibition of GSK-3β as well."

#ActuateTherapeutics #Cancer #PancreaticCancer #MetastaticPancreaticCancer

actuatetherapeutics.com

Download the transcript here