HITea With Grace

Today, I’m thrilled to welcome Abby Reynolds, Chief Experience Officer at Pleio (that’s Play-oh!), to dive deep into what it takes to create emotional bonds that inspire patients toward better health. Abby, thanks for joining us today! We'll explore Abby’s path to Pleio, insights into how pharma can best address emotional burdens impacting adherence, and the power of personalizing patient experiences. From peer-to-patient programs to resources like rebates and educational support, Abby will share what really makes a difference in helping patients stick with their treatments. Plus, we'll look ahead at how pharma can elevate direct-to-consumer engagement in 2025, and how the rise of GLP-1s might shape the human-first approach to patient care. So, grab your tea and get ready for some real talk on patient experience, empathy, and why pharma should care.

Today, I’m honored to welcome Dr. Acacia Parks, CEO of Liquid Amber Consulting and advisor to Lindus Health, as well as several pharma-focused digital health companies. Acacia’s wealth of experience in digital health and her work with the Digital Therapeutics Alliance (DTA) make her an invaluable resource for navigating the intersection of technology, regulation, and pharma innovation. In this episode, we explore the transformative work of the DTA, the challenges and strategies for digital health companies seeking FDA approval, and the importance of industry standards like the new ISO for digital therapeutics. Acacia also offers guidance for companies navigating regulatory complexities and shares insights from her work as a liaison with the FDA. As always, we’ll dive into Acacia’s personal journey, including the habits that keep her at her best, and advice for women leading in healthcare IT. So grab your tea and join us as we unpack the future of digital health and therapeutic innovation with Dr. Acacia Parks! Dr. Acacia Parks is a digital health executive whose experience revolves around scientific, product, and regulatory strategy for digital therapeutics/software as medical device (SAMD). As chief science officer of Twill (fka Happify) for 10 years, she built evidence generation strategies for direct-to-consumer, enterprise, health care, pharma, and FDA audiences. She then spent a year as chief behavioral health officer at Found, a telemedicine weight loss company, building their behavior change program, both digital product and coaching offerings. Now, she runs Liquid Amber, a consulting firm that delivers strategic advising to DTx companies and investors with a focus on products with high scientific and regulatory complexity, including novel mechanisms of action and delivery methods and combination drug/DTx products, across a variety of therapeutic areas (including cancer, obesity, treatment-resistant depression, Alzheimer's, social anxiety, ADHD, and chronic disease). She serves as an advisor to Lindus Health.

Joining me in person at HLTH in Las Vegas is Stephanie Lahr, MD, CHCIO, President of Artisight. Together, we explore groundbreaking innovations in healthcare like ambient listening and computer vision—technologies that are transforming clinical workflows, reducing provider burnout, and elevating patient care. Dr. Lahr offers her unique perspective on how AI-driven tools can tackle some of healthcare’s most critical challenges, enhancing experiences for both patients and clinicians. We also dive into essential topics like patient privacy, ethical considerations, and equity as these technologies advance. You won't want to miss this compelling conversation!

This week's episode is fresh from the high-energy HLTH Conference in sunny Las Vegas.  Today’s guest is Vijayashree Natarajan from Omega Healthcare. Vijayashree discusses the next big leap in AI—“agentic AI” or “AI for AI.” She dives into how this revolutionary approach empowers AI systems to act independently and adapt, leading to breakthroughs across the healthcare ecosystem. From transforming revenue cycle management to making care more accessible and personal, Vijayashree's ideas on agentic AI promise a new perspective on AI's possibilities.  So, grab your favorite tea and join us as we explore the future of healthcare with a tech trailblazer paving the way.

Welcome to the HITea With Grace podcast, where we spill the tea on all things health IT. In this episode, I’m honored to have Shara Cohen, CEO of Carallel, as our guest. We’ll explore a powerful concept: starting to consider caregiving as a diagnosis in itself. Traditionally, caregiving was viewed as a private duty, often handled quietly by women without a care for how it impacts them. Now, the dialogue and experience around caregiving is evolving, and we’re diving deep into those changes today. Shara will share her unique journey to leading Carallel and how caregiving has become more widely recognized as a critical health issue. We’ll also discuss how caregivers—especially those in the "sandwich generation" caring for both their children and aging parents—are managing the significant emotional and physical toll of this responsibility. How can digital technology offer solutions to help these individuals thrive? And what specific challenges do certain populations, like military families or minority communities, face?

HITea With Grace is back from summer break, and we're kicking off the season with an exciting episode you won't want to miss! We’re thrilled to sit down with two powerhouse leaders in healthcare technology: Sarah Richardson and Rebecca Woods. Whether you’ve worked with them or simply heard their names, these dynamic former CIOs are now connectors in the industry, and their paths to leadership are as inspiring as they are unique. In this episode, we explore the latest innovations shaping the health IT landscape, the emerging tech models driving transformation, and the persistent challenges that still stand in the way of true digital evolution. We also dive into their work with This Week Health, Bluebird Leaders, and the upcoming SOAR Conference, happening September 18-20. To close things out, Rebecca and Sarah share invaluable insights for women in health IT, offering advice on navigating challenges and rising to leadership. So, grab your favorite mug, settle in, and join us for a conversation filled with wisdom and inspiration!

Welcome to HITea Tuesday!  In this episode, we're honored to welcome the inspiring Rhonda Collins, DN, RN, FAAN. As a prominent figure in healthcare, Rhonda currently serves as Chief Nursing Officer at Kontakt.io and is a leading voice in tackling the serious problem and challenges in workplace violence (WPV) in healthcare settings. Join us as Rhonda shares her journey and insights into why WPV is a critical issue for nursing professionals today. We discuss practical strategies for nurse leaders to foster a safe and supportive work environment, effective patient assessment for aggression prevention, and the integration of security personnel to mitigate WPV. Rhonda also highlights the essential components of WPV policies, the role of wearable duress technology, and the financial benefits of investing in WPV prevention. We explore the impact of WPV on nurse well-being and patient care, and the importance of federal legislation to protect healthcare workers. Tune in for an enlightening conversation that underscores the need for every woman to be the "CEO of You"—managing your career and personal life like a thriving business to grow and promote strength. Don't miss this episode packed with valuable insights and actionable advice!

In this episode of HITea, we're honored to have Mary Russell, MJ, BS, RN, a retired Navy Nurse Corps officer and the Senior Director for Clinical Implementation at CliniComp, join us for an insightful conversation.  Mary shares her incredible journey from starting as a registered nurse to becoming a leader in healthcare IT. She delves into her motivations for transitioning into this field and how her extensive experience in both inpatient and outpatient military environments has shaped her approach to healthcare and clinical implementation. We explore pressing topics such as veterans' mental health, current statistics, and concerns, and how technology is being leveraged to address these issues. Mary provides concrete examples of how technology is enhancing mental health services for veterans and other patient populations.  Mary also dove into the topic of disaster recovery and the critical role of EHR systems in maintaining healthcare operations during events like the recent devastating tornadoes in the Midwest. She shares real-life experiences from her career, illustrating the crucial role of disaster preparedness and EHR systems in ensuring patient care continuity. And of course, no HITea With Grace episode would be complete without our signature tea moment! Listen in to learn from and laugh with Mary!

In this latest episode of HITea, we shine a spotlight on price transparency for clinical lab tests. Pamela Stahl and Dr. Julie Shulz of Avalon Healthcare Solutions join us on the podcast to uncover hidden truths behind the varying costs of lab tests across different facilities.  Pamela, a seasoned industry insider, navigates us through the labyrinth of billing practices, shedding light on the complex factors driving these price differentials. From healthcare system consolidation to the intricate dance of provider negotiations, we peel back the layers to reveal the stark realities shaping the healthcare landscape. Armed with her medical, public health, and clinical lab expertise, Dr. Julie offers a compelling narrative of real-life scenarios where upfront knowledge of lab costs has proven to be a game-changer for patients and what barriers still need to come down to make this an industry norm.  Reflecting on the controversial conversation, one thing becomes abundantly clear: the need for transparency in lab pricing is not just a matter of financial prudence but a fundamental pillar of population health and patient empowerment. So, join us as we advocate for a future where transparency reigns supreme in the noble pursuit of affordable, accessible healthcare for all.

Welcome to the HITeaWithGrace podcast, where we spill the tea on HIT. In light of the recent news of Optum and Walmart shutting down their virtual care offerings, today, we're honored to host Dr. Carrie Nelson, Chief Medical Officer of KeyCare, as she shares her experience working as a primary care physician and in population health and shares her perspectives on the evolution of telehealth and its business model.  Dr. Nelson examines the broader impact of telehealth on healthcare disparities and population health and advocates for innovative solutions to bridge gaps in access to care, particularly for underserved populations. She envisions a future where data-driven insights and analytics play a pivotal role in optimizing telehealth services to meet rigorous standards of care and advance value-based objectives. She also delves into strategies for upholding quality care in virtual settings and examines the implications of recent accreditation programs, all while emphasizing the pivotal role of data analytics in shaping telehealth's future impact. Be sure to tune into this if you are concerned about or interested in the state of and future of virtual care!