With artificial intelligence, mental health challenges and cost equity approaches all on the rise, 2024 is sure to bring big changes to the healthcare industry.
In this episode of Pain Points, our President, Jim Pursley, is joined by the President & CEO of Business Group on Health, Ellen Kelsay, to discuss trends and predictions in 2024.
They discuss:
-Employers’ relationships with partners and vendors
-Continued focus on rising mental health challenges
-Tackling health disparities

Advances in technologies are paving the way for a new era of patient-centered care.
In this episode of Pain Points, our President Jim Pursley is joined by our VP of Deep Tech Paul Kruszewski, PhD to chat about how computer vision is making care more personalized, effective and fun.
They discuss:
-Innovative technologies such as digital twins, ambient computing, and 3-D avatars
-How these new technologies can be applied in healthcare, including physical therapy
-The impact they can have in improving the clinician and patient experience

This episode was recorded in July 2023.

Women’s pelvic health disorders are often overlooked and underserved. 1 in 4 women in the US has a pelvic floor disorder. Yet, less than 50% of women start physical therapy after receiving a referral for pelvic health and they often wait 6.5 years after the onset of pain to seek care.
But, it’s not all bad news. Women’s pelvic health treatment is gaining visibility. In fact, 85% of larger employers plan to implement at least 2 tactics to address the inequalities in women’s health, according to Hinge Health’s State of MSK report. This is just the start.
In this episode of Pain Points, our President Jim Pursley is joined by Brittany Barreto, PhD, Chief Innovation Officer at FemHealth Insights to chat about the challenges and future of women’s pelvic health.
They discuss:
The importance of considering biological sex in research and how that impacts product design
Challenges of women’s pelvic health solutions
Investment and innovation for the future of women’s pelvic health

This episode was recorded in May 2023.

MSK is too big to ignore. In the US alone, 1 in 2 adults experience MSK pain and $980 billion in cost is accrued for MSK treatment and lost wages each year. Despite that cost, MSK pain is often undertreated – people need more professional help managing their pain, especially those from vulnerable populations.
But there are reasons to be optimistic about the future of MSK care. People in pain are open to digital or virtual care solutions, and employers are adopting them. In fact, 92% of employers who haven’t yet adopted a digital MSK solution indicate they are likely to adopt one within the next 12 months.
In this LinkedIn Live discussion, our President Jim Pursley is joined by Greg Lehman, a physiotherapist, chiropractor, educator and founder of Movement Optimism.
They discuss:
- The staggering impact of MSK conditions in the US
- The reasons that MSK pain is so often misunderstood and undertreated
- The barriers to physical therapy and the possibilities of digital solutions

This episode of Pain Points was recorded in March 2023.

HR and employee benefits leaders are facing a variety of challenges – rising healthcare costs, a potential economic downturn, and difficulty hiring and retaining top talent. In this episode of Pain Points, we discuss how employee benefits can address those challenges and provide a positive ROI.
Our President Jim Pursley is joined by Courtney Stubblefield, Insights & Solutions Leader, Health & Benefits North America, WTW.
They discuss:
- The difficulties of measuring the ROI of employee benefits
- Why independent validation is needed for ROI claims
- How benefits leaders can use benefits as a competitive advantage

This episode was recorded in March 2023.

In this episode of Pain Points, we’re looking back at some of the major developments in digital health of 2022, and ahead to some of the trends we expect to see in 2023.
Our President Jim Pursley is joined by Regina A. Ihrke, ASA MAAA, Senior Director, Health, Equity & Wellbeing Leader – North America at Willis Towers Watson.

They discuss:
- Bridging the care divide
- Greater focus on ROI and outcome effectiveness
- How the economic climate will impact managerial decisions
- Future of women’s health coverage

This episode was recorded in December 2022.

In this episode of Pain Points, we cover the role that employers can play in closing the care gap in women’s pelvic health. Our President Jim Pursley is joined by Katie Kirkland, FSA, Director of Benefits and Wellbeing at Southern Company.
They discuss:
- The widespread impact of pelvic-floor disorders
- Strategies employers can take to expand care benefits and increase access to care
- The connection between pelvic health and DE&I efforts

This episode was recorded in October 2022.

In this episode of Pain Points, our President Jim Pursley is joined by Dr. D.J. Kennedy, M.D., Professor and Chair of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
They discuss:

-The significant impact that musculoskeletal conditions have on the healthcare system
-How digital technologies can be used in clinical settings to improve pain management
-Solutions to improve low access to care, particularly in rural areas

This episode was recorded in September 2022.

In the first episode of Pain Points, our President Jim Pursley is joined by Dr. Ren Brown, M.D., Vice President of Medical Affairs and Clinical Strategy at Whole Foods Market.

They discuss:
-Modern approaches to employee benefits
-How to address employee wellness holistically
-Practical tactics to maximize employee potential

This episode was recorded in August 2022.