1
00:00:00,055 --> 00:00:02,045
- Hello everyone, this is Erica Spicer

2
00:00:02,045 --> 00:00:03,245
Mason with Becker's Healthcare.

3
00:00:03,535 --> 00:00:05,325
Thank you so much for
tuning into the podcast.

4
00:00:06,215 --> 00:00:08,965
We're thrilled to be joined
today by Dr. David Houghton,

5
00:00:09,105 --> 00:00:11,165
the medical director of digital medicine

6
00:00:11,465 --> 00:00:14,125
and the system chair of
telemedicine at Oxner Health,

7
00:00:14,585 --> 00:00:16,925
who will talk to us about
digital specialty care

8
00:00:17,105 --> 00:00:19,525
for the treatment of
cardiometabolic conditions.

9
00:00:20,545 --> 00:00:22,685
Dr. Houghton, thank you so
much for joining us today.

10
00:00:23,375 --> 00:00:25,495
- Thank you, Erica.
- Thank you.

11
00:00:25,795 --> 00:00:28,735
And before we dive into
our conversation, I wanted

12
00:00:28,735 --> 00:00:30,535
to know if you could just
share a little bit more about

13
00:00:30,855 --> 00:00:32,615
yourself, your role, your organization,

14
00:00:33,135 --> 00:00:34,335
whatever you'd like to
share with our listeners.

15
00:00:35,215 --> 00:00:37,315
- I'm happy to. Thanks so much to, to you

16
00:00:37,375 --> 00:00:39,395
and to Becker's for, for having me.

17
00:00:39,535 --> 00:00:42,875
Um, as part of this podcast
today, I'm a neurologist

18
00:00:42,875 --> 00:00:43,915
by training and by trade.

19
00:00:44,035 --> 00:00:47,515
I spend about half my time
clinically not only taking care

20
00:00:47,515 --> 00:00:51,435
of, uh, aging neurologic disorders
like Parkinson's disease,

21
00:00:51,615 --> 00:00:54,835
but also seeing the ramifications of poor,

22
00:00:54,835 --> 00:00:57,795
poor cardiometabolic health
and things like strokes

23
00:00:57,795 --> 00:00:59,075
and heart attacks in the hospital.

24
00:00:59,305 --> 00:01:01,115
I've been at Oxford now for 11 years,

25
00:01:01,735 --> 00:01:04,755
and with the other half
of my, my career, I've,

26
00:01:04,755 --> 00:01:07,275
I've enjoyed spending it
in the digital health space

27
00:01:07,665 --> 00:01:08,995
initially with telehealth

28
00:01:09,095 --> 00:01:11,715
and the traditional forward
facing episodic care models

29
00:01:11,715 --> 00:01:14,995
that we were building even
before the Covid to 19 pandemic.

30
00:01:15,415 --> 00:01:17,195
And now over the last three years,

31
00:01:17,705 --> 00:01:21,555
more activity in the chronic
disease management space,

32
00:01:21,555 --> 00:01:24,595
taking care of hypertension,
diabetes, hyperlipidemia,

33
00:01:25,055 --> 00:01:28,035
and others to try to make our
patients in the Gulf South

34
00:01:28,215 --> 00:01:30,635
and actually across the
country as healthy as possible.

35
00:01:32,395 --> 00:01:33,975
- Thanks so much, Dr. Den.

36
00:01:33,975 --> 00:01:36,055
It's really helpful to
know that background.

37
00:01:36,395 --> 00:01:38,495
Um, congrats on 11 years at oxner.

38
00:01:38,495 --> 00:01:41,815
That's, um, quite a
while to see how things,

39
00:01:41,955 --> 00:01:43,935
not just care delivery
has shifted in that time,

40
00:01:44,035 --> 00:01:46,575
but you mentioned this,
this focus on digital health

41
00:01:47,035 --> 00:01:48,375
and managing chronic conditions,

42
00:01:48,375 --> 00:01:50,095
so I'm sure you've seen a lot

43
00:01:50,095 --> 00:01:52,375
of change there more recently as well. Um,

44
00:01:52,395 --> 00:01:53,395
- Yes, indeed.

45
00:01:53,525 --> 00:01:57,735
- Yeah. So I wanted to start
kind of broad here, especially

46
00:01:57,735 --> 00:01:59,935
with your experience, um, in medicine.

47
00:02:00,435 --> 00:02:01,535
You know, we know in the US

48
00:02:01,535 --> 00:02:04,895
that optimal cardiometabolic
health rates are declining.

49
00:02:05,195 --> 00:02:08,215
So can you touch a little bit
on what are the key factors

50
00:02:09,015 --> 00:02:10,335
contributing to this trend and

51
00:02:10,335 --> 00:02:12,055
how is it affecting not just patients,

52
00:02:12,395 --> 00:02:14,815
but the industry, the healthcare
industry more broadly?

53
00:02:16,125 --> 00:02:18,735
- Sure. And in fact,
to, to the LI listeners,

54
00:02:18,735 --> 00:02:20,455
they may not be familiar with this term

55
00:02:21,295 --> 00:02:22,855
optimal cardiometabolic health rate

56
00:02:22,855 --> 00:02:24,775
or even what Cardiometabolic health is,

57
00:02:24,875 --> 00:02:27,535
and to level set that
it's, it's really a way

58
00:02:27,535 --> 00:02:30,055
of thinking about all of
the chronic disease factors

59
00:02:30,125 --> 00:02:32,575
that can impact the outcomes

60
00:02:32,605 --> 00:02:35,375
that more than anything else
Americans are trying to avoid,

61
00:02:35,525 --> 00:02:39,135
like heart attacks and strokes,
brain bleeds, et cetera.

62
00:02:39,355 --> 00:02:42,775
And most of those are based
on blood vessel health,

63
00:02:42,955 --> 00:02:45,055
so things like blood sugar

64
00:02:45,275 --> 00:02:46,455
and to avoid diabetes,

65
00:02:46,455 --> 00:02:48,935
getting your cholesterol
under control if you have

66
00:02:48,995 --> 00:02:52,335
hyperlipidemia, getting your
blood pressure under control so

67
00:02:52,335 --> 00:02:54,455
that you decrease the stress off the

68
00:02:54,455 --> 00:02:55,575
blood vessels in the body.

69
00:02:55,915 --> 00:02:56,935
And then ultimately,

70
00:02:56,935 --> 00:02:59,590
and what may end up being
the most important factor

71
00:02:59,945 --> 00:03:00,965
is weight control.

72
00:03:01,025 --> 00:03:02,965
We recognize that a high BMI

73
00:03:02,965 --> 00:03:06,165
or body mass index is very closely linked.

74
00:03:06,265 --> 00:03:09,205
So that weight, blood sugar,
cholesterol, blood pressure,

75
00:03:09,205 --> 00:03:13,005
and the efforts to avoid those
downstream late effects like

76
00:03:13,005 --> 00:03:14,325
heart attack and strokes, is really

77
00:03:14,325 --> 00:03:16,405
what we're talking about
when we're thinking about

78
00:03:16,405 --> 00:03:17,605
cardiometabolic health.

79
00:03:18,225 --> 00:03:19,805
And the rates are declining.

80
00:03:20,105 --> 00:03:22,725
In fact, some of the most recent
data we have was published

81
00:03:22,725 --> 00:03:25,485
last year, but that's a look back to 2018.

82
00:03:25,585 --> 00:03:29,525
And then as, as recently
as 2018, less than 7%

83
00:03:29,525 --> 00:03:31,485
of Americans were thought to be

84
00:03:31,485 --> 00:03:33,645
of an optimal cardiome metabolic health.

85
00:03:34,105 --> 00:03:36,885
And that is continued to decline
over the previous 20 years.

86
00:03:37,105 --> 00:03:38,565
And here we are five years later.

87
00:03:38,665 --> 00:03:41,645
So I think probably nobody
on this podcast would think

88
00:03:41,645 --> 00:03:45,125
that generally the health of
Americans with, with regards

89
00:03:45,125 --> 00:03:47,725
to cardiometabolic disease
has improved significantly

90
00:03:47,755 --> 00:03:48,845
over the last five years.

91
00:03:49,105 --> 00:03:50,845
And our worry is, is
that it's getting worse.

92
00:03:51,145 --> 00:03:54,685
And so we really had to step
in as a health system, um,

93
00:03:54,945 --> 00:03:57,605
as a country and think
differently about the ways

94
00:03:57,605 --> 00:04:00,725
that we can best tackle things
like high blood pressure,

95
00:04:00,725 --> 00:04:02,005
high cholesterol, and diabetes.

96
00:04:03,345 --> 00:04:04,395
- Yeah, absolutely.

97
00:04:04,575 --> 00:04:08,195
And just knowing that I believe
the number one killer in the

98
00:04:08,195 --> 00:04:10,635
United States is related to heart health.

99
00:04:11,015 --> 00:04:14,315
Um, so I can see how, you
know, just the connection

100
00:04:14,315 --> 00:04:16,995
between these, these risk
factors you've mentioned BMI,

101
00:04:16,995 --> 00:04:18,515
blood sugar levels, cholesterol levels,

102
00:04:19,145 --> 00:04:20,315
certainly concerning.

103
00:04:20,375 --> 00:04:22,715
So thank you for kind of
painting that picture for us.

104
00:04:23,815 --> 00:04:27,315
So how are you seeing healthcare
organizations currently

105
00:04:27,875 --> 00:04:28,755
approaching treatment and

106
00:04:28,755 --> 00:04:30,235
management of conditions like this?

107
00:04:30,815 --> 00:04:32,875
And in your view, are there opportunities

108
00:04:33,215 --> 00:04:34,755
for improvement or innovation?

109
00:04:35,495 --> 00:04:37,675
Um, interested to hear
your perspective there.

110
00:04:39,015 --> 00:04:41,235
- Yes, I think we need to
do something differently.

111
00:04:41,335 --> 00:04:43,715
And fortunately I'm
part of an organization

112
00:04:43,715 --> 00:04:46,915
that's been thinking about this
for, for decades in general

113
00:04:47,015 --> 00:04:48,915
as we take care of
patients in the Gulf South,

114
00:04:49,255 --> 00:04:52,595
but particularly over the
last 10 years, about ways

115
00:04:52,595 --> 00:04:54,115
that we can harness technology

116
00:04:54,575 --> 00:04:57,835
and put a new focus on these
cardiometabolic factors.

117
00:04:58,415 --> 00:05:00,275
And the way that we
have thought about, um,

118
00:05:00,345 --> 00:05:04,755
this new opportunity is to
harness technology in the forms

119
00:05:04,815 --> 00:05:07,595
of smartphones and simple
connected Bluetooth devices

120
00:05:08,175 --> 00:05:11,995
and healthcare teams that
are able to take care

121
00:05:11,995 --> 00:05:15,755
of two particular portions of
somebody's longitudinal care.

122
00:05:16,055 --> 00:05:20,315
One, coaching them on lifestyle
choices, diet, exercise,

123
00:05:20,375 --> 00:05:22,555
and really tackling social
determinants of health

124
00:05:22,895 --> 00:05:24,915
and the way that those
impact people's wellbeing.

125
00:05:25,215 --> 00:05:28,515
And then secondly, following
the guidelines that

126
00:05:28,615 --> 00:05:30,035
as primary care physicians

127
00:05:30,035 --> 00:05:33,515
and other specialists we
are aware of that take care

128
00:05:33,515 --> 00:05:36,235
of hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia,

129
00:05:36,485 --> 00:05:38,795
using the right drugs at the right time,

130
00:05:39,215 --> 00:05:40,915
and to meet the patients where they are.

131
00:05:41,655 --> 00:05:45,275
Our efforts here have now
enrolled more than 30,000 patients

132
00:05:45,455 --> 00:05:47,595
as part of our digital medicine program.

133
00:05:48,415 --> 00:05:52,675
And right now, the way that we
are able to change the story

134
00:05:52,695 --> 00:05:55,555
for them is to try to
get their blood pressure,

135
00:05:55,605 --> 00:05:58,365
their lipids, and their
cholesterol under better control.

136
00:06:00,495 --> 00:06:02,275
- Wow. And that, that
is an impressive number,

137
00:06:02,275 --> 00:06:03,635
30,000 patients.

138
00:06:04,255 --> 00:06:07,115
Um, and I just wanted to
comment too on something

139
00:06:07,115 --> 00:06:10,115
that you mentioned about
harnessing technology like

140
00:06:10,115 --> 00:06:12,475
smartphones and simple
Bluetooth connected devices.

141
00:06:13,035 --> 00:06:17,115
I think that simple factor
is probably so important, um,

142
00:06:17,655 --> 00:06:20,395
in terms of ensuring that you
can get widespread adoption

143
00:06:20,895 --> 00:06:22,235
of, of tools like this.

144
00:06:23,095 --> 00:06:26,475
- That's certainly true. And
if, if you're in the bricks

145
00:06:26,475 --> 00:06:28,395
and mortar healthcare business right now,

146
00:06:29,095 --> 00:06:31,035
the number one buzzword is access.

147
00:06:31,415 --> 00:06:34,875
How do we allow access of our patients

148
00:06:35,295 --> 00:06:39,235
to the healthcare system,
whether that be for appointments

149
00:06:39,235 --> 00:06:41,755
that they need for their
annual visits, whether that be

150
00:06:41,775 --> 00:06:43,435
to get a high level specialist

151
00:06:43,695 --> 00:06:45,235
and hopefully whether that is

152
00:06:45,235 --> 00:06:47,995
to avoid unnecessary ER
visits or urgent care visits.

153
00:06:48,335 --> 00:06:49,715
But in the digital health space,

154
00:06:49,945 --> 00:06:53,915
that access is opened up wide by simple,

155
00:06:54,485 --> 00:06:57,035
digestible user-friendly apps.

156
00:06:57,455 --> 00:06:59,835
And then on top of that, the content

157
00:07:00,345 --> 00:07:02,395
that really does meet
patients where they are,

158
00:07:02,695 --> 00:07:05,275
and it does sound cliche,
this idea of meeting patients

159
00:07:05,275 --> 00:07:06,795
where they are, but it's true.

160
00:07:06,975 --> 00:07:08,635
In fact, we need to find patients

161
00:07:08,635 --> 00:07:10,555
where they are on their
healthcare journey.

162
00:07:11,015 --> 00:07:13,715
How can we align our health goals so

163
00:07:13,715 --> 00:07:16,035
that they are better stewards
of their own healthcare

164
00:07:16,185 --> 00:07:17,355
with their providers?

165
00:07:17,735 --> 00:07:19,915
How can we address those
social determinants?

166
00:07:19,975 --> 00:07:22,635
How can we make sure that
the health coaching is

167
00:07:22,635 --> 00:07:25,315
what is they need in
their lives at that time?

168
00:07:25,655 --> 00:07:28,715
And so as we have built these
focus factories to take care

169
00:07:28,735 --> 00:07:31,715
of hypertension, diabetes,
high cholesterol,

170
00:07:32,095 --> 00:07:34,915
we have recognized all
the potential overlap

171
00:07:35,135 --> 00:07:37,075
and the benefits that
those patients are able

172
00:07:37,075 --> 00:07:39,595
to enjoy quite literally in their pocket.

173
00:07:40,055 --> 00:07:42,235
- Mm-Hmm, <affirmative>.
Yeah. So well said.

174
00:07:42,295 --> 00:07:44,395
Thanks so much for kind
of building on that

175
00:07:45,255 --> 00:07:47,875
and just going down
this road of technology.

176
00:07:48,115 --> 00:07:50,395
I, I wanna get to some more specifics

177
00:07:50,455 --> 00:07:51,555
if you're able to share.

178
00:07:51,735 --> 00:07:54,315
So I know you've talked
about the smartphone

179
00:07:54,315 --> 00:07:55,635
and the Bluetooth connected devices,

180
00:07:56,135 --> 00:07:59,035
simple convenient devices
that patients can use at home.

181
00:07:59,575 --> 00:08:02,355
Can you share what kind
of the key elements are

182
00:08:02,415 --> 00:08:05,235
of a successful approach here digitally

183
00:08:05,495 --> 00:08:07,035
and maybe any case studies

184
00:08:07,215 --> 00:08:08,835
or success stories that come to mind?

185
00:08:09,625 --> 00:08:13,355
- Sure. I think first
things first, you need

186
00:08:13,355 --> 00:08:15,035
to lay all preconceived notions

187
00:08:15,135 --> 00:08:17,555
and potential biases at the front door

188
00:08:17,575 --> 00:08:19,675
before you build these programs.

189
00:08:20,135 --> 00:08:22,195
We can't presume, for instance,

190
00:08:22,195 --> 00:08:24,795
that vulnerable patient
populations like our seniors

191
00:08:25,415 --> 00:08:27,995
are not able to utilize technology.

192
00:08:28,175 --> 00:08:31,235
We learned during covid, uh, and

193
00:08:31,235 --> 00:08:35,155
before that, in fact, that
myth is, is easily debunked.

194
00:08:35,505 --> 00:08:38,555
Similarly, we need to be
creative if we have patients

195
00:08:38,555 --> 00:08:40,995
who are, uh, of lower socioeconomic status

196
00:08:41,055 --> 00:08:43,715
or struggling with other, um, ability to,

197
00:08:44,095 --> 00:08:48,155
to access the traditional
healthcare systems technology.

198
00:08:48,695 --> 00:08:50,315
We need to work hard to make sure

199
00:08:50,315 --> 00:08:51,795
that there is broadband access.

200
00:08:51,795 --> 00:08:54,315
We need to make sure that
we can put technology in

201
00:08:54,315 --> 00:08:55,365
the hands of patients.

202
00:08:55,365 --> 00:08:59,165
So that's number one is, is
to remove all your biases and,

203
00:08:59,465 --> 00:09:03,125
and, and think broadly on
how we can reach patients.

204
00:09:03,675 --> 00:09:07,645
Then after you determine
what you're going to tackle,

205
00:09:08,185 --> 00:09:12,485
you have to recognize that
everybody with a certain disease,

206
00:09:12,755 --> 00:09:16,245
everybody with a certain
condition may benefit

207
00:09:16,955 --> 00:09:20,125
from the halo effect of
a program such as this.

208
00:09:20,425 --> 00:09:22,405
You may have a patient
who comes into the program

209
00:09:22,505 --> 00:09:24,125
and their blood pressure's under control,

210
00:09:24,465 --> 00:09:26,285
but they may not be on the optimal regimen

211
00:09:26,585 --> 00:09:28,565
and they may not have
addressed the lifestyle factors

212
00:09:28,565 --> 00:09:30,845
that would make it more easy
to control in the future.

213
00:09:31,505 --> 00:09:33,965
Or similarly, you may have
somebody come into a program

214
00:09:34,335 --> 00:09:36,205
whose diabetes is out of control,

215
00:09:36,585 --> 00:09:39,485
but they really haven't
recognized the value of some

216
00:09:39,485 --> 00:09:40,925
of the newer medications yet.

217
00:09:41,265 --> 00:09:43,085
And so the halo effect,

218
00:09:43,625 --> 00:09:46,005
or what they call down in
New Orleans, the lanap,

219
00:09:46,015 --> 00:09:48,845
which means a little
bit extra, is absolutely

220
00:09:49,765 --> 00:09:50,885
valuable in this program

221
00:09:50,885 --> 00:09:54,405
because it allows the
patients now for them

222
00:09:54,505 --> 00:09:56,765
to feel like they are part of a community

223
00:09:56,765 --> 00:09:58,085
that cares about them.

224
00:09:58,595 --> 00:10:00,605
It's important that we don't just educate,

225
00:10:00,605 --> 00:10:03,165
which feels very one-sided
in many circumstances,

226
00:10:03,625 --> 00:10:06,725
but we engage and then ultimately
we activate the patient so

227
00:10:06,725 --> 00:10:09,165
that they develop their own self-efficacy

228
00:10:09,585 --> 00:10:11,165
and they're the ones who will continue

229
00:10:11,185 --> 00:10:12,925
to drive the improvement.

230
00:10:13,485 --> 00:10:16,165
I think one of the better
examples of the ways that we have,

231
00:10:16,165 --> 00:10:18,925
that we have reached our
patient populations is

232
00:10:18,925 --> 00:10:21,725
with a Medicaid pilot that
we undertook in our state.

233
00:10:22,315 --> 00:10:25,965
Initially, Louisiana has not
had the traditional payer

234
00:10:26,015 --> 00:10:28,845
mechanisms for patients with Medicaid

235
00:10:28,865 --> 00:10:31,285
as their insurance product
to be able to benefit

236
00:10:31,875 --> 00:10:34,765
from remote patient management
products at home remote

237
00:10:34,765 --> 00:10:36,925
patient management programs like our own.

238
00:10:37,425 --> 00:10:41,325
And so with the assistance
of some funding from the FCC

239
00:10:41,325 --> 00:10:45,205
that was secured during covid
to help d uh, to help, uh,

240
00:10:45,205 --> 00:10:47,445
cover the cost of the connected devices

241
00:10:48,025 --> 00:10:51,805
and with our hospital system,
um, fronting the, the,

242
00:10:51,805 --> 00:10:54,565
the cost to take care of,
of some of the patients

243
00:10:54,565 --> 00:10:57,365
that are right here in our
community, we were able

244
00:10:57,365 --> 00:10:59,245
to enroll not the thousand patients

245
00:10:59,245 --> 00:11:00,765
that we anticipated on the front end,

246
00:11:00,765 --> 00:11:04,485
but now more than 7,500
patients who have Medicaid

247
00:11:04,485 --> 00:11:05,645
as their insurance provider.

248
00:11:06,105 --> 00:11:08,725
And the results that we've
seen in that patient population

249
00:11:09,265 --> 00:11:11,645
mimics what we've seen in a
commercial payment patient

250
00:11:11,655 --> 00:11:14,165
population, what we've
seen through other payers

251
00:11:14,165 --> 00:11:16,045
or employers, what we've
seen through Medicare.

252
00:11:16,505 --> 00:11:18,725
So again, we leave our
biases at the front door

253
00:11:18,725 --> 00:11:23,565
and we recognize that any
patient can benefit from good,

254
00:11:23,825 --> 00:11:27,245
simple, digestible
user-friendly technology.

255
00:11:27,825 --> 00:11:30,365
And in fact, it's those
patients that have been left

256
00:11:30,365 --> 00:11:32,805
behind in traditional
healthcare institutions in some

257
00:11:32,805 --> 00:11:35,245
circumstances that appreciate it the most.

258
00:11:35,625 --> 00:11:40,285
We check our, uh, our, our
patient satisfaction rates, um,

259
00:11:40,545 --> 00:11:42,725
on an, on an a regular basis,

260
00:11:43,185 --> 00:11:44,445
and we recognize that

261
00:11:44,445 --> 00:11:46,765
through our net promoter
score, which is that simple.

262
00:11:46,905 --> 00:11:49,405
One question of whether you
would recommend a service to

263
00:11:49,965 --> 00:11:51,005
a friend or family member.

264
00:11:51,305 --> 00:11:55,845
Our net promoter score
rate is 91 really a top

265
00:11:56,245 --> 00:11:58,565
industry number for our
patients that were part

266
00:11:58,565 --> 00:12:01,645
of our Medicaid pilot
and the fact that we know

267
00:12:01,645 --> 00:12:04,365
that we are benefiting our
community in south Louisiana,

268
00:12:04,745 --> 00:12:07,445
but similarly, those patients
are appreciating the work

269
00:12:07,635 --> 00:12:08,885
that we're doing with them

270
00:12:09,185 --> 00:12:11,925
and that they then are taking
control of their healthcare.

271
00:12:12,115 --> 00:12:13,445
There's no better feeling than that.

272
00:12:15,535 --> 00:12:18,815
- Absolutely. That patient
satisfaction score is definitely

273
00:12:18,825 --> 00:12:22,175
impressive, and I know that
patient satisfaction is top

274
00:12:22,175 --> 00:12:24,335
of mind for so many healthcare
organizations right now

275
00:12:24,335 --> 00:12:27,215
as they're trying to keep
patients on board and,

276
00:12:27,355 --> 00:12:28,855
and also recruit new ones.

277
00:12:28,955 --> 00:12:32,135
So, um, congrats on that
metric. That's exciting.

278
00:12:32,945 --> 00:12:34,215
- Thank you.
- Yeah.

279
00:12:34,515 --> 00:12:37,335
So considering everything
we've discussed, you know,

280
00:12:37,335 --> 00:12:39,135
as you look to the near future,

281
00:12:39,515 --> 00:12:42,295
how do you really see digital
care for the treatment

282
00:12:42,295 --> 00:12:45,135
of conditions like cardiometabolic
conditions evolving,

283
00:12:45,595 --> 00:12:47,215
and also how do you see them down the line

284
00:12:47,745 --> 00:12:49,575
benefiting payer organizations?

285
00:12:49,855 --> 00:12:51,335
I know you mentioned the Medicaid pilot

286
00:12:51,715 --> 00:12:54,375
and then also just, you know,
other healthcare organizations

287
00:12:54,375 --> 00:12:55,495
as well, hospitals and health

288
00:12:55,495 --> 00:12:57,535
systems. What excites you? Yeah,

289
00:12:57,535 --> 00:12:59,495
- That's a, that's a terrific question.

290
00:12:59,625 --> 00:13:01,975
We're, you know, always
have our eye on the future,

291
00:13:01,975 --> 00:13:05,975
particularly being able to
work, um, across this landscape

292
00:13:05,995 --> 00:13:07,095
of, of digital care.

293
00:13:07,875 --> 00:13:12,345
At Oxford, we've
reorganized underneath our,

294
00:13:12,445 --> 00:13:14,345
our chief digital officer, Dr.

295
00:13:14,365 --> 00:13:19,145
Denise Bazo, um, who really
is a visionary as it relates

296
00:13:19,205 --> 00:13:20,385
to connected health.

297
00:13:20,485 --> 00:13:24,705
And so telehealth products,
digital products as it relates

298
00:13:24,765 --> 00:13:27,985
to chronic disease management,
other management products

299
00:13:27,985 --> 00:13:30,545
that you can imagine for
long-term cancer care

300
00:13:30,725 --> 00:13:32,265
or long-term neurologic care.

301
00:13:32,445 --> 00:13:36,425
All of these are on our roadmap
as a healthcare organization

302
00:13:36,525 --> 00:13:37,705
and, and, um,

303
00:13:37,975 --> 00:13:40,465
selfishly we feel like it's
healthcare organizations

304
00:13:40,465 --> 00:13:43,865
that ought to be at the tip
of the, of, of the spear for,

305
00:13:44,085 --> 00:13:45,505
for this hard work.

306
00:13:45,605 --> 00:13:49,305
And so it's a really, uh, I
would suggest enviable position

307
00:13:49,725 --> 00:13:50,905
for, for us to be in.

308
00:13:51,365 --> 00:13:55,345
If you look in the near
term future, I think the

309
00:13:55,935 --> 00:14:00,385
realization by payers, by
large employers, um, by CMS,

310
00:14:00,885 --> 00:14:04,545
um, about the value of remote
patient management, um,

311
00:14:04,725 --> 00:14:05,905
is really on the rise.

312
00:14:06,165 --> 00:14:08,705
We have been successful, um, in

313
00:14:09,665 --> 00:14:12,385
building per member per
month payment models and,

314
00:14:12,445 --> 00:14:14,865
and being able to share
our quality metrics

315
00:14:15,045 --> 00:14:17,985
and our reduction in
high dollar utilization

316
00:14:18,045 --> 00:14:22,665
and the ability to really
demonstrate a return on investment

317
00:14:23,005 --> 00:14:27,785
for any of those groups that
may be on the hook for the cost

318
00:14:27,785 --> 00:14:30,585
of their employers or the
cost of their beneficiaries.

319
00:14:30,925 --> 00:14:33,865
And similarly, we've shown
the same return on health

320
00:14:33,865 --> 00:14:36,625
investment to individual
patients who now realize

321
00:14:36,655 --> 00:14:40,145
that their future is
brighter without the risks

322
00:14:40,405 --> 00:14:43,905
of cardiometabolic disasters
like strokes and attacks.

323
00:14:44,405 --> 00:14:46,865
If we a little further out, I think that's

324
00:14:46,865 --> 00:14:49,185
where advances in technology are gonna be

325
00:14:49,185 --> 00:14:50,425
quite exciting, right?

326
00:14:50,645 --> 00:14:53,405
We have fairly low price point,

327
00:14:54,235 --> 00:14:57,805
digitally connected Bluetooth enabled, um,

328
00:14:58,255 --> 00:15:00,565
blood pressure cuffs and weight scales

329
00:15:00,665 --> 00:15:02,325
and blood glucometers.

330
00:15:02,785 --> 00:15:06,085
But we are on the cusp of, uh, much of

331
00:15:06,085 --> 00:15:09,205
that technology really being
on the smartphone itself.

332
00:15:09,415 --> 00:15:11,285
There are technology companies out there

333
00:15:11,285 --> 00:15:13,325
that are on the cusp of being able

334
00:15:13,345 --> 00:15:15,805
to measure things like blood pressure just

335
00:15:15,805 --> 00:15:18,685
by looking into the, into
the screen of a cell phone.

336
00:15:19,025 --> 00:15:21,485
And the technologies for us to be able

337
00:15:21,485 --> 00:15:25,365
to do biometric measurements
on patients are only getting

338
00:15:25,365 --> 00:15:26,885
simpler and easier.

339
00:15:27,545 --> 00:15:31,605
And if in fact, that is a rate
limiting step for utilization

340
00:15:31,665 --> 00:15:35,925
for these, and now we know
how often we find smartphones,

341
00:15:36,185 --> 00:15:37,605
not even with just an individual,

342
00:15:37,665 --> 00:15:39,765
but in multi-generational households.

343
00:15:40,085 --> 00:15:43,525
I think that only opens up the
ease of use of this program.

344
00:15:44,085 --> 00:15:46,965
I mentioned that we have 30,000
people in the program today.

345
00:15:46,975 --> 00:15:49,325
We've taken care of 40,000
people over the life

346
00:15:49,325 --> 00:15:50,845
of it over the last decade.

347
00:15:51,485 --> 00:15:55,125
I feel like those numbers
skyrocket when the technology gets

348
00:15:55,155 --> 00:15:58,605
even simpler and cheaper
for patients to appreciate.

349
00:16:00,375 --> 00:16:03,015
- Absolutely. And just thinking
about the potential of some

350
00:16:03,015 --> 00:16:05,175
of those tools, like the
blood pressure monitoring

351
00:16:05,745 --> 00:16:07,295
being enabled on the smartphone,

352
00:16:07,325 --> 00:16:09,495
that would really skyrocket access.

353
00:16:09,595 --> 00:16:11,455
It seems like it's really exciting.

354
00:16:12,505 --> 00:16:15,655
Thank you so much for, for
sharing your future outlooks, Dr.

355
00:16:15,975 --> 00:16:19,375
Den. It's really exciting
to learn about, you know,

356
00:16:19,405 --> 00:16:21,575
what opportunities there are
on the business end of things,

357
00:16:21,575 --> 00:16:23,335
but then of course on the patient end

358
00:16:23,635 --> 00:16:27,455
and improving those risk
factors and improving outcomes.

359
00:16:27,675 --> 00:16:30,095
So before we hop off today,
is there anything else

360
00:16:30,095 --> 00:16:31,735
that you wanted listeners to take away

361
00:16:31,735 --> 00:16:33,175
that we might not have touched on yet?

362
00:16:34,755 --> 00:16:38,605
- Well, I think the primary
call to action for any work

363
00:16:38,605 --> 00:16:42,325
that's being done in the
digital medicine realm

364
00:16:42,705 --> 00:16:46,205
or in the remote patient
management space is

365
00:16:47,325 --> 00:16:51,385
for the patients, for the
providers, the physicians,

366
00:16:51,405 --> 00:16:53,265
and the other groups
across the country who are

367
00:16:53,265 --> 00:16:57,065
so interested in this is that it's never

368
00:16:57,725 --> 00:17:00,105
too late to take care of your health.

369
00:17:00,925 --> 00:17:04,865
And in fact, whether
you're 40 or 50 or 60 or

370
00:17:04,925 --> 00:17:08,425
or a hundred years old,
we see so much benefit

371
00:17:09,045 --> 00:17:10,945
in getting blood pressure under control,

372
00:17:11,095 --> 00:17:12,945
getting blood sugar under control,

373
00:17:12,945 --> 00:17:15,505
getting weight under control, exercising,

374
00:17:15,505 --> 00:17:16,585
eating the right foods.

375
00:17:17,285 --> 00:17:21,545
And while that drum beat has been heard

376
00:17:22,125 --> 00:17:25,685
for decades, I finally believe now

377
00:17:26,235 --> 00:17:29,805
that using technology the
same, the way that we use it

378
00:17:29,805 --> 00:17:31,845
for our streaming television

379
00:17:31,845 --> 00:17:34,325
and video services in the
same way that we've used it

380
00:17:34,345 --> 00:17:37,925
to deliver groceries or,
or, or grab a, a ride share.

381
00:17:38,645 --> 00:17:43,005
I truly believe that the
ability for patients,

382
00:17:43,505 --> 00:17:45,965
for people to be able to
take care of their health

383
00:17:46,075 --> 00:17:48,605
with the same degree of
convenience that we've all come

384
00:17:48,605 --> 00:17:51,645
to expect in other aspects of our life is,

385
00:17:51,825 --> 00:17:54,365
is now at a moment where we, hopefully,

386
00:17:55,155 --> 00:17:56,605
hopefully the next time they,

387
00:17:56,605 --> 00:17:59,925
they publish those cardiometabolic
health rates, we'll start

388
00:17:59,925 --> 00:18:01,525
to see a bottom out and a rise.

389
00:18:01,945 --> 00:18:05,685
And, and similarly we'll be
able to, to thank the ability

390
00:18:05,785 --> 00:18:08,685
of technology to really
help facilitate the work

391
00:18:08,685 --> 00:18:09,685
that our patients can do.

392
00:18:11,305 --> 00:18:12,485
- Thanks, Dr. Houghton.

393
00:18:12,605 --> 00:18:15,165
I really appreciate that
message that you've ended on.

394
00:18:15,235 --> 00:18:16,845
It's never too late to
take care of your health.

395
00:18:17,035 --> 00:18:19,925
It's so important and it's
certainly speaking to my roots

396
00:18:19,945 --> 00:18:21,165
as a health educator <laugh>.

397
00:18:21,545 --> 00:18:23,805
So thank you so much again for your time

398
00:18:23,945 --> 00:18:25,325
and for all the insights today.

399
00:18:26,595 --> 00:18:27,605
- Well, thank you very much.

400
00:18:27,715 --> 00:18:28,805
It's my pleasure to be here

401
00:18:28,865 --> 00:18:31,565
and, um, it's been an honor to be able to,

402
00:18:31,705 --> 00:18:33,165
to greet your audience

403
00:18:34,085 --> 00:18:35,085
- <laugh>.

404
00:18:35,085 --> 00:18:37,525
Wonderful. Now we'd also
like to thank our sponsor

405
00:18:37,585 --> 00:18:39,565
for today's episode, Oxner Health.

406
00:18:40,225 --> 00:18:41,605
You can tune into more podcasts

407
00:18:41,605 --> 00:18:43,365
and virtual events from
Becker's Healthcare

408
00:18:43,505 --> 00:18:46,085
by visiting Becker's hospital review.com.