GLOBAL EDITION
OCTOBER 2023
INSIGHTS. IDEAS. INSPIRATIONS
FEATURING INSIDE Allison Heiliczer Founder, Rethink The Couch
Claimocity
Emma Wright
Tech, Data and Digital Partner, Harbottle & Lewis
Gregg Barrett
Chief Executive Officer, Cirrus
TWOMC Digital 1
Nicole Kyle
Managing Director & CoFounder, CMP Research
Gennaro Maida
Chief Executive Officer Denovo Innovations Group
ALL YSON STEWART-ALLEN
CEO, International Marketing Partners Ltd. Author, Speaker, Broadcaster, & Advisor
EMPOWERING BUSINESSES TO GROW INTERNATIONALLY
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October 2023
Vol - 4
Issue - 13
Managing Editor Sarath Shyam Creative Consultants Charlie Jameson Louis Bernard
Branding & Marketing Partnerships Jennifer Anderson Anna Elza Monica Davis Stephen Donnell Jessica Edword Susan Miller
Consultant Editors Dr. John Andrews Naomi Wilson Emma James Stanly Lui Andrew Scott Steve Hope Sabrina Samson Keith Alexander Editorial Enquiry admin@cxooutlook.com
Partnerships Enquiry admin@cxooutlook.com
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CXO Outlook is a digital magazine published by Connecta Innovation Private Limited. All rights reserved. The opinions expressed in the content and pictures provided are those of the authors. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Connecta Innovation Private Limited or any of its members and we do not assume any responsibility. The publisher does not assume any responsibility for the advertisements, its content, pictures, and all representation of warranties made in such advertisements are those of the advertisers and not of the publisher. CXO Outlook is a Free Subscription digital magazine strictly not for sale and has to be strictly for internal private use only. Publisher does not assume any responsibility arising out of anyone printing copy of this digital magazine in any format and in any country and all matters related to that. CXO OUTLOOK October 2023
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
When Innovation Meets Humanity
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n the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare and technology, we find ourselves at a crossroads where innovation meets necessity. Our latest issue of CXO Outlook Magazine delves deep into this dynamic interplay, shedding light on the transformative journeys of visionaries who are reshaping the global healthcare sector. The healthcare industry, as we all know, is in a constant state of flux. It's a domain that touches every one of us, no matter where we stand in this diverse audience – be it business leaders, academicians, working professionals, students, or technology experts. The blend of cutting-edge technologies and visionary leadership is redefining the way we think about health and well-being. It's no longer just about curing ailments; it's about prevention, personalization, and patient-centric care. In this issue, we take immense pride in presenting to you the "Most Innovative Healthcare Companies - 2023." These organizations have demonstrated exceptional
prowess in leveraging technology to enhance patient experiences, streamline healthcare delivery, and develop groundbreaking treatments. They serve as beacons of hope in an industry that is often besieged by challenges. But innovation alone isn't enough. Leadership is the compass that guides innovation towards meaningful change. That's why we also celebrate the "Most Influential Healthcare Leader - 2023." These leaders have not only embraced technological advancements but have also orchestrated transformation, driving their teams and organizations to new heights in the healthcare arena.
Our cover story features Allyson Stewart-Allen, a true luminary in the world of brand internationalization. Her multidisciplinary expertise, ranging from advisory roles to authorship, broadcasting, and education, is a testament to her extraordinary journey. As a Non-Executive Director, her insights have been5 instrumental in shaping international strategies for leading businesses worldwide. We're privileged to showcase her remarkable journey in this issue. As you turn the pages of this magazine, you'll discover stories of vision, resilience, and innovation in the global healthcare and technology sectors. Whether you're a student seeking inspiration, a business leader seeking insights, or a technology expert searching for the latest trends, there's something here for everyone. Enjoy Reading.
Sarath Shyam CXO OUTLOOK October 2023
S T N E T N O C 6
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COVER STORY
ALLYSON STEWART-ALLEN CEO, International Marketing Partners Ltd. Author, Speaker, Broadcaster, & Advisor
E M P O W ER I N G B U S I N E S S E S TO G R O W I N T ER N AT I O N AL LY CXO OUTLOOK October 2023
M O S T I N N OVAT I V E
HEALTHCARE COMPANY 2023
Claimocity Jim Sholeff CEO
26 MOST INFLUENTIAL
HEALTHCARE LEADER 2023
Revolutionizing Healthcare Economics and Excellence for Inpatient Practices
M O S T I N N O VAT I V E
COMPANY IN APAC 2023
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Gennaro Maida
TWOMC Digital
Chief Executive Officer at Denovo Innovations Group
Ryan McClure, Managing Director, TWOMC Digital
Leading Innovation at the Intersection of Medicine and Technology
Pushing the Boundaries of the “Digital” in Marketing
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IN MY VIEW
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Emma Wright, Tech, Data and Digital Partner, Harbottle & Lewis, Speaker, Author & Adviser
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Helping Supplier & Customer Clients Achieve their Commercial Goals Through Thought Leadership
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LEADER'S INSIGHTS Helping Individuals & Couples Successfully Navigate Through Workplace & Relationship Challenges
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Allison Heiliczer, Psychotherapist, Penguin Author, Coach & Founder of Rethink The Couch
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Driving Real Change in the Professional Services Industry
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Nicole Kyle, Managing Director & Co-Founder, CMP Research
EXPERT OPINION AI in Healthcare, the Revolution hasn’t Happened Yet Gregg Barrett, CEO, Cirrus
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Want to Sell or find Investor for your Business? 9
DigitalCXO FirstOUTLOOK Magazine August 2023 2021 October
COVER STORY
ALLYSON STEWART-ALLEN CEO, International Marketing Partners Ltd. Author, Speaker, Broadcaster, & Advisor
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E M P O W ER I N G B U S I N E S S E S TO G R O W I N T ER N AT I O N AL LY Allyson Stewart-Allen is a renowned advisor, author, speaker, broadcaster, educator and Non-Executive Director whose expertise in brand internationalisation is sought by leading businesses globally through her consultancy, publications, appearances and corporate education. A Californian based in Europe for over 30 years, Allyson applies her extensive international consulting experience, MBA education with Dr. Peter Drucker and languages (French, German) to the company she founded, International Marketing Partners. Having advised over 260 organisations across 27 countries, Allyson helps leaders successfully and profitably span international and functional boundaries. She is the creator of the LinkedIn learning programme Leading International Growth, as well as author of both editions of the best-selling book Working with Americans. Recently, in an exclusive interview with CXO Outlook Magazine, Allyson shared her insights on the influence of technology on the marketing landscape, her professional trajectory, the inspiration behind establishing International Marketing Partners Ltd, significant career milestones, future plans, and much more. The following excerpts are taken from the interview.
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How has technology changed the Marketing landscape? Where do you see it heading in the next 5 years? The Marketing landscape has changed significantly over the last 10 years due to not only web applications that make measuring the impact of marketing campaigns so much easier, but we now can learn a lot about those that could and do
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transact with our organisations. The next 5 years will be revolutionary since generative AI will make customer experiences more personalized but also potentially less human unless we’re careful. I think it’s really important that we not forget the importance of empathy, of talking or meeting with customers or clients in real life. There’s definitely a real risk that marketers and
organisations more generally view technology as the answer rather than the enabler. Allyson, please tell us about your professional and personal background. So I was raised in Los Angeles but for 4 years in Munich between ages 8-12. This was truly a life-changing experience for me, as my father’s
company transferred us there and I’m sure explains why I’m back in Europe again now as an adult since it was so wonderful to experience another culture, language and all that comes with it. On our return to LA, I decided to study French and of course the culture along the way since you can’t study one without the other, which sparked my curiosity about the world.
The next 5 years will be revolutionary since generative AI will make customer experiences more personalized but also potentially less human unless we’re careful
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At University, I decided getting an undergraduate degree in International Marketing would let me learn even more about how to arbitrage the cultural differences which inspired me to get an MBA as well in the same subject. After my first real job after that MBA degree with
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PwC in LA as a strategy consultant, I hoped they would send me to a European office but it would mean working at least 10 years there before they’d entertain the idea. So, instead I created my own marketing campaign to land me a role in Europe which I successfully did, arriving in
The best part about the work I do is learning – about the client’s industry, about their challenges and being able to solve their problems concretely and help them be successful and profitable
London for a similar strategy consulting role with PA Consulting Group in 1988. A couple of years after moving here, I met a wonderful man, Graham, and have never left! We married in 1995 and had our daughter Grace in 1997 who’s now an extremely accomplished
woman with a Master’s degree from Oxford University and is now an archivist for Burberry. In 1991, after the PA Consulting role and then another with Hay Management Consultants, I knew early on in my career that I don’t fit easily into rigid corporate cultures so set up my company, International Marketing Partners to help companies grow internationally. So far, I’ve worked with over 260 well-known businesses across 27 countries and am really proud of this achievement not least because it’s taught me so much about the world and challenged my assumptions. When I’m not advising clients, I’m contributing as a broadcaster for a range of international TV, radio and print media on the challenges of succeeding internationally and usually about the United States having written my book Working with Americans in 2002 and more recently the 2nd edition which was published in 2020. When not thinking about work, I relax by going to the cinema, cycling and adding to my perfume collection which is my favourite art form. If I could bring anyone to my fantasy dinner party, it’d be Jean-Claude Ellena who was the house nose for Hermes and is the most gifted fragrance creator there is. What inspired you to start International Marketing Partners? What sets it apart from other market competitors? I discovered while working for large marketing consulting firms that there were ways to do it better, where the type of advice companies need when growing across borders and cultures is beyond templates and spreadsheets. So what sets my company apart is transferring the knowledge from one industry to another since no one sector has a monopoly on international success.
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In your current role, what kind of challenges do you face and how do you overcome them? What is the best part about the work you do? The challenges I face are usually getting people aligned within my client’s organization. It’s often the case that not everyone is behind the idea of adapting their products or services for international markets given there are many vested interests. So that takes some time and diplomacy! The best part about the work I do is learning – about the client’s industry, about their challenges and being able to solve their problems concretely and help them be successful and profitable. It’s very rewarding being able to see results, much like a doctor that gives their patient a remedy that reduces their pain.
To be successful in a Marketing role, you need to be lateral thinking, strategic, analytical and most importantly be able to engage a wide variety of stakeholders
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and TV production work which I did during my summers while at University, it means I’m able to create a live leadership learning event which is very much like a show with a story line and impact on the audience. When I’m not creating these programmes as a Programme Director, I’m often teaching on those run by others at the School on a range of subjects: negotiating across cultures, developing your leadership brand, managing dilemmas to name a few.
You are an Associate Fellow, Programme Director at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. Can you please tell us about the School and your role in it? Said Business School is a fairly new institution within the University of Oxford and offers leadership programmes for business leaders as well as degrees such as the EMBA and MBA. My role is to create a customized leadership programme that addresses the needs of the School’s client organization which could mean they want to focus on building their leadership capabilities, make their leaders more resilient, more effective communicators and negotiators, more globally minded. So having my consulting background
Can you name a person who has had a tremendous impact on you as a leader? Maybe someone who has been a mentor to you? Why and how did this person impact your life? Without question, I’d have to say it was my MBA Professor Dr. Peter Drucker, who wrote 39 books on leadership and management and was way ahead of his time. While at The Drucker School at Claremont Graduate University in the mid1980’s, he was my Business Strategy professor and predicted so many events and developments in the world of business that have since taken place. For example, I had to write a paper for his class and, as an International Marketing major, was pretty convinced there was little I could teach this world-famous savant. Having gone to see him to get his advice, he asked me in the meeting “so you know that in the future, companies will have to pay attention not just to how they do business, but where they do business too. They’ll need to integrate themselves in the communities where they operate so maybe you could cover this since this will impact their brands around the world.” This led to me writing about what we now label as “corporate social responsibility” but didn’t
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have a name at that point. He was truly gifted as a forecaster of where the world was heading, whether in business or society more broadly by at least 20 years!
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In your opinion, what are the most important skills you need to break into Marketing? To be successful in a Marketing role, you need to be lateral thinking, strategic, analytical and most importantly be able to engage a wide variety of stakeholders. It’s a function in companies that cuts across almost every other function and relies on Finance, Operations, IT, Sales, Manufacturing, HR and the others in order to be successful. And the reason for this is because you shape the corporate brand, the employer brand and those facing clients and customers. So it really does rely on a range of other internal teams if you are trying to create and sustain the intangible asset we know as “a brand.” Which one of your accomplishments makes you the proudest to date? I think I’m proudest of being the only person to still hold the record for winning the Excellence in Practice Award twice, given by the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD). One was for my leadership programme for Lufthansa on behalf of London Business School, and the other for BAE Systems while working as an Associate Fellow for Said Business School at Oxford University. What is the one lesson learnt that’s unique to being a woman leader? To strive to be the best in your industry and/or function regardless of being a woman, as you
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set an example for everyone else when you do so regardless of your gender. There are many very poor leaders of all persuasions around the world, so you being better than most is worthy in and of itself. Where do you see International Marketing Partners in the next 5 years? I see my company moving more into helping individual leaders and teams be even more effective in engaging others across their organisations – both functions and countries. One thing we know about good leaders is they build effective coalitions to get things done, and it’s often the case that they focus too much on the here-and-now and not enough at the 10,000-meter level. Thinking strategically and recognising that getting things done through others is really what leadership is about. Which Marketing certification courses, skill development paths, books, or channels do you recommend for upskilling aspiring professionals? I would recommend taking a look at what your professional body representing the Marketing discipline in your country has to offer. So here in the UK, there’s the Chartered Institute of Marketing (on whose Board I served as a Non-Executive Director) which offers courses, recommends books, has webinars, talks from experts and networking amongst other ways to learn more about our toolkit. There’s LinkedIn Learning which also has some great short-courses alongside TED talks. You could also go meet with your Chief Marketing Officer to ask them for advice or maybe even seek a placement in that team for 6-months to better understand the breadth of this discipline.
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IN MY VIEW
Helping Supplier & Customer Clients Achieve their Commercial Goals Through Thought Leadership Emma Wright, Tech, Data and Digital Partner, Harbottle & Lewis, Speaker, Author & Adviser
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How is AI reshaping the legal profession? The legal profession is just at the start of its digital transformation journey, and it looks like AI will be an extremely useful tool for lawyers for certain things. I think as a
profession we should always be looking how we can improve the service we provide to our clients - the use of AI being a case in point but we also need to be aware of the risks whether relating to client confidentiality or that the AI’s output may be incorrect.
Emma Wright is a senior commercial and regulatory lawyer focused on technology, cybersecurity, AI and telecoms. She leads the highly rated Technology, Data and Digital team at Harbottle & Lewis (which she established on her move from Deloitte), where she acts for all manner of small and large suppliers and customers from a variety of tech verticals on their commercial partnerships with the private and public sectors alike and wider business arrangements including the handling of data and regulatory compliance. Ms. Wright is also Director and Counsel of the Interparliamentary Forum on Emerging Technologies, a not for profico-founded with British MP Darren Jones which has built a global network of legislators focused on sharing and collaborating on the regulation of emerging technology. She sits on the Global Forum of Women 4 Ethical AI – a network of global experts focused on the adoption of ethical AI and is working with UNESCO and legislators in countries from across the world on the implementation of the UNESCO Recommendation on the ethics of artificial intelligence. She is recognised as a ‘Leading Individual’ by legal directories in her field of expertise. She’s listed by Computer Weekly as one of the most influential women in tech and she sits as a Non-Executive Director at tech scale up Playfinder. Recently, in an exclusive interview with CXO Outlook Magazine, Ms. Wright shared her insights on how AI is reshaping the legal profession, her career trajectory, personal role model, success habits, future plans, and much more. The following excerpts are taken from the interview.
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I believe diversity of thought will be one of the key ways businesses can solve the most complex problems and the evidence supports this however I believe authentic conversations based on business drivers and constructive challenge are some of the best tools to build this acceptance
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I love it when we are instructed on a new matter which is of strategic importance to the client – where the strategy as to how to achieve the client’s objectives is as important if not more so than the legal advice
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complex problems and the evidence supports this however I believe authentic conversations based on business drivers and constructive challenge are some of the best tools to build this acceptance. Emma, please tell us about your background path to your current role. I have always had an interest in technology – I was the only girl in the computing class at school – yet always felt I wanted to be a lawyer – even though I had no frame of reference as to what one was. It was a stint in the UK Government as a policy adviser that made me realize there was a way of combining both of these things and ever since then I have pursued a legal practice focused on technology in its broadest sense.
What are your thoughts on diversity and inclusion? How important is it to have authentic conversations with leaders, professionals, and changemakers to create more acceptance across the globe? I believe diversity of thought will be one of the key ways businesses can solve the most
What is the most exciting and most stressful aspect of your role as the tech, data and digital Partner at Harbottle & Lewis? I love it when we are instructed on a new matter which is of strategic importance to the client – where the strategy as to how to achieve the client’s objectives is as important if not more so than the legal advice. I equally love it when I am able to watch members of the team grow in confidence and experience. The most stressful aspect of the role for me is handling my working mum’s guilt. Tell us about your role and responsibilities as the Non-Executive Director at Playfinder. I bring my experience of the tech sector and commercial partnerships to this role. As Playfinder’s focus is on democratizing access
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mission is for legislators to be able to share best practice and better equip them in this area where the speed of technological advances means often it is a struggle for law and policy to keep up. We have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with UNESCO to increase awareness and knowledge of the UNESCO Recommendation on Ethical AI amongst legislators in 40 countries.
I still work off paper lists and this allows me to delegate to others – effective delegation is one of my success habits 24
Looking back, which women in your life have had the most influence on your career? My first boss was a woman and took me aside and encouraged me to change career paths giving me the benefit of her experience. She was incredibly generous with her time and support. What does the term "authentic leadership" mean to you? To me it means being open, transparent and consistent with the team about expectations set in order to achieve results yet also genuinely demonstrating empathy.
to sports facilities while also opening up a new revenue stream for schools, it is a mission close to my heart. I believe we have to equip everyone with the tools to stay fit and healthy and encourage them to do so.
Could you highlight some of your success habits that enable you to meet your goal? I still work off paper lists and this allows me to delegate to others – effective delegation is one of my success habits.
You are also the Director at the Interparliamentary Forum on Emerging Technologies. Tell us about this nonprofit platform and its mission. IFET has built and continues to build a global network of legislators focused on the regulation of emerging technology, in particular AI. Our
Where do you see yourself in 5 years from now? I hope to continue to lead a thriving and diverse team of tech law experts who continue to be advising an array of clients on both the leading edge and bleeding edge of technological developments.
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M O S T I N N OVAT I V E
HEALTHCARE COMPANY 2023
Claimocity 26
REVOLUTIONIZING HEALTHCARE ECONOMICS AND EXCELLENCE FOR INPATIENT PRACTICES
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ver the past few years, the healthcare industry has undergone significant changes thanks to technological advancements. In a time when paper-based systems were the norm, Claimocity emerged as a game-changer. The company was founded by a team that combined experienced medical billers with innovative product developers who recognized a crucial gap in the industry. Jim Sholeff, CEO and a founding member of Claimocity, explains, "By focusing solely on the needs of inpatient physicians, we were able to identify and address all the pain points, challenges, and requirements with a modern, sleek solution that incorporates AI
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enhancements to boost speed, efficiency, and productivity based on data." Claimocity stands out as the pioneer in healthcare software and billing, explicitly catering to hospital and facility-based physicians. This niche had long been overlooked in a market primarily concentrated on office-based medical practices. Jim Sholeff shares, "Hospitalists are modern physicians who are always on the move - on the go - as they round in a variety of hospital settings." To address this, Claimocity designed solutions tailored for mobility and cross-device usage. Hospitalists can seamlessly access essential tools on phones, iPads, tablets, or desktops. Integrating software and billing with hospital
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JIM SHOLEFF CEO
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Claimocity stands out as the pioneer in healthcare software and billing, explicitly catering to hospital and facility-based physicians
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systems ensures real-time data flow, enhancing every aspect of a hospitalist's day. In the realm of Physiatrists, who are akin to hospitalists in the SNF and IRF sector, Claimocity forged strategic partnerships with major EHR companies like PointClickCare and MatrixCare. This collaboration led to deep integration, allowing Claimocity's platform to retrieve and update real-time patient data, including admissions, census information, demographics, treatments, prescriptions, and care coordination. Notably, Claimocity introduced a SOAP Note Generator within its platform, enabling doctors to chart efficiently on the go and seamlessly save notes into the EHR system. Jim Sholeff says, "It’s combined with the billing workflow, so they get to complete everything they need simultaneously without any extra clerical work right from the app in a third of the overall workload."
Claimocity's impact extended beyond hospitalists. They revolutionized solutions for inpatient specialties such as Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Hospital Psychiatry, Inpatient Pulmonology, Intensivist Critical Care, Emergency Medicine Practices, Hospital Neurology, and various physicians primarily serving acute care hospitals or sub-acute step-down facilities. Claimocity's pioneering efforts have reshaped the landscape, prompting other options to emerge and encouraging mainstream solution providers to adapt to the unique needs of this core group. Claimocity remains at the forefront, leading the way in healthcare innovation.
Unlocking Practice Excellence with Practice IQ Practice IQ is the cornerstone of the platform, offering a comprehensive suite of reporting, analytics, and benchmarking tools. Jim Sholeff states, "A big part of everything we do is efficiency and improvement. Machine learning enables continual refinement and improvement on the backend. On the front end, the platform's end-to-end nature improves the analytics' intelligence, allowing providers and practice owners to evaluate patterns, identify problems, and capitalize on opportunities." Practice IQ presents a wealth of information, catering to both busy providers seeking quick insights and those delving
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deeper into over 1000+ process analytics and variables. Clients can track their EM coding benchmarks over time, a vital aspect in assessing coding efficiency and potential revenue losses or audit risks stemming from deviations across peer rankings by state, specialty, code group, and other factors.
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In the realm of medical billing, Claimocity is on a mission to break down barriers and shed light on the often opaque world of insurance reimbursements
A standout feature is Code Assist, which enhances coding efficiency. It entrusts the coding aspect of billing to a concierge-level professional team that analyzes charting data and makes coding decisions for doctors. This saves time and elevates benchmarks, optimizing revenue from this billing facet. At the heart of the platform lies the Smart Census, a central hub for doctors to streamline their workflow. This multifunctional interface empowers physicians to manage various facilities, access patient lists, monitor new admissions, coordinate care, handle billing and coding, create SOAP notes, review patient data, make adjustments, resolve issues, and track progress - all from a single, highly organized screen. The Smart Census is seamlessly integrated into hospitals or facilities, ensuring real-time updates that reflect activities from both the provider and facility sides. It's the hub where practice excellence begins, revolutionizing how healthcare professionals navigate their daily tasks quickly and efficiently. Unveiling the Power of Claim Updates In the realm of medical billing, Claimocity is on a mission to break down barriers and shed light on the often opaque world of insurance reimbursements. At its core, Claimocity champions the cause of 100% financial transparency in a vital yet misunderstood segment of the billing process - claim updates. It's a part that many billing and insurance companies prefer to keep shrouded in secrecy. Jim Sholeff explains, "A big part of everything we do is efficiency and improvement. Machine learning enables continual refinement and improvement on the backend. On the front
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end, the platform's end-to-end nature improves the analytics' intelligence, allowing providers and practice owners to evaluate patterns, identify problems, and capitalize on opportunities." Why the secrecy, you ask? Insurance companies have a vested interest in keeping providers in the dark because any confusion
or errors in this stage can result in increased denials and diminished payouts. As Jim Sholeff points out, "Insurance companies don’t want providers to understand this part because any confusion or mistakes here leads to increased denials and lower payouts, shifting money from the doctors to the insurance companies." On the other hand, billing companies are equally reluctant to let providers delve into this realm because increased financial transparency means heightened accountability. Jim Sholeff elaborates, "Billing companies don’t want providers digging into this data because greater financial transparency creates higher levels of accountability, and they can’t sweep mistakes under the rug, and it opens the door to conversations about what has gone wrong. They should be earning, why they are
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Claimocity, with its commitment to transparency and accuracy, seeks to navigate these complexities, ultimately empowering providers to secure the financial clarity they rightfully deserve
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33 not, and what needs to change to make the necessary improvements." The linchpin of financial success in this intricate landscape is accurate coding. Jim Sholeff emphasizes, "Accurate coding is one of the low-hanging fruit in terms of revenue improvement and one of the best means of improving peer rankings and reducing audit risks." Astonishingly, about 85% of denials are preventable or avoidable. However, roughly one in four claims cannot be rectified once a claim faces rejection. Hence, the key to a doctor's bottom line lies in the concept of the "clean claim," where getting things right the first time is paramount. Achieving this level of billing excellence is a collaborative effort. It hinges on the synchronization between providers
responsible for collecting and entering data and the billing/coding teams tasked with transforming that data into reimbursements. However, a significant percentage of patient visits dwell in grey areas, making it challenging to decipher the correct billing approach. Jim Sholeff notes, "A large percentage of patient visits are not clear cut and fall into grey areas that can be difficult to decipher how they should be treated from a billing perspective." When doctors find themselves in such predicaments, they often resort to either downcoding/ undercoding or upcoding/overcoding. Downcoding is the cautious route while upcoding entails mistakenly billing for more than a visit is worth. Both practices carry substantial legal and financial risks, as patterns on either side can trigger audits with
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When Claimocity embarked on the journey of providing solutions to underprivileged hospital and facility-based practices, the compass guiding their path was crystal clear: prioritize the user experience potentially dire consequences, regardless of the outcome. Claimocity, with its commitment to transparency and accuracy, seeks to navigate these complexities, ultimately empowering providers to secure the financial clarity they rightfully deserve.
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Elevating the User Experience: Where Ease Meets Excellence When Claimocity embarked on the journey of providing solutions to underprivileged hospital and facility-based practices, the compass guiding their path was crystal clear: prioritize the user
experience. In a landscape where even the socalled "best-in-class" solutions often proved clunky, hard to navigate, and riddled with frustrations, a fundamental shift was imperative. Jim Sholeff says, "If these were the cream of the crop, what were the rest like? We decided then and there that a beautiful, elegant, easy-to-use and easy-to-learn experience would be at the core of everything we did." Claimocity was determined to ensure that whether you were a newcomer to rounding, transitioning from another platform, or seeking to resolve a problem, you'd immediately recognize the value. The platform's intuitiveness would provide instant relief, allowing for a seamless transition to higher productivity without downtime or daunting learning curves. But it didn't end there. Claimocity's commitment extended to delivering concierge-level support, along with tailored implementations and onboarding.
Providers would never find themselves alone when faced with challenges. Instead, they'd have access to round-the-clock assistance from live, high-level specialists, ensuring rapid problem-solving and clear, understandable explanations to navigate any issue. Jim Sholeff highlights, "Everything we do is to make doctors' lives easier, to free up high-value time from administrative and billing burdens, and to eliminate as much clerical work as possible." The goal is to empower physicians to focus on delivering quality care. Claimocity is on the cusp of introducing a groundbreaking innovation a fully automated process that promises to redefine the game. With this automation, doctors no longer need to concern themselves with billing and coding intricacies. Instead, they can focus solely on patient care. As they round with the app, using streamlined charting functions,
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a dedicated concierge team operates behind the scenes. These seasoned specialists handle everything necessary for coding at the highest levels and securing optimal reimbursements. "Doctors simply focus on patient care, confirm who they saw, and everything else is done for them by specialists with decades of experience and the highest ROI metrics," adds Jim Sholeff. The implications are profound. Revenue metrics are poised to soar, burnout rates are set to plummet, physician satisfaction scores will rise, patient satisfaction metrics will improve, and errors stemming from disorganization and rushed visits should
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In the everevolving landscape of healthcare technology, Claimocity stands as a pioneer, having embraced the potential of AI long before it became a trending buzzword
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become increasingly rare. Doctors can reallocate their time, seeing more patients to boost revenue or enjoying more quality time with family and friends. Claimocity's vision is to revolutionize the healthcare landscape, putting the spotlight where it truly belongs - on providing exceptional care while streamlining the complexities of administrative and billing tasks. Harmonizing AI and Human Expertise for Healthcare's Future In the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare technology, Claimocity stands as a pioneer, having embraced the potential of AI long before it became a trending buzzword. Jim Sholeff proudly affirms, "We were ahead of the AI curve as our entire platform is built on a collaboration between AI-driven technology and experienced teamwork." While AI has become a ubiquitous term, often used for marketing or to demystify complex aspects of non-AI technology, Claimocity's commitment to AI enhancements remains steadfast. Jim Sholeff explains, "The reality is
that AI enhancements are not going anywhere. The computing power, speed, efficiency gains, and machine learning's ability to continually improve results as data accumulates all contribute to a massive boon." Indeed, the current benefits of AI in healthcare are just the tip of the iceberg. Medicine is rapidly progressing toward custom, personalized, and individually adjustable solutions that can adapt to the dynamic landscape of care. In this vision, Claimocity finds its perfect fit. Rather than supplanting human efforts, AI serves as a catalyst, elevating high-quality human and team endeavors to unprecedented heights. The best-case scenario for tomorrow is not AI replacing human expertise but rather AI enhancing it. Claimocity's approach aligns seamlessly with this vision, ensuring that healthcare providers can harness the full potential of AI to deliver more effective, efficient, and personalized care. In a world where technology and human collaboration drive progress, Claimocity is at the forefront, pioneering the way forward in the healthcare industry.
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LEADER’S INSIGHTS
Helping Individuals & Couples Successfully Navigate Through Workplace & Relationship Challenges Allison Heiliczer, Psychotherapist, Penguin Author, Coach & Founder of Rethink The Couch
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Allison, why did you become a therapist, and why Asia? At 16, I moved from New York City to San Diego, California and stumbled on an article in The New Yorker magazine about a Japanese family, the Chinos, growing produce in San Diego. I was totally captivated and ended up working with them. Working with the Chinos was a deep dive immersion into many new things: rituals,
family unity, food, language, culture, and how many practices we think of as “conventional” can be done differently. It’s also where I began my fascination with speaking to people, hearing their stories, and appreciating human diversity and uniqueness. I would chat to customers every day about themselves and their lives. I honed my ability to listen to others, drown out the world around us momentarily, and drop into a shared reality. I had this endless patience to hear it all:
Many Asian cultures tend to prioritize the collective good over the individual and logic over emotion – unlike in the West, where it's often the other way around
CXO OUTLOOK October 2023
Allison Heiliczer is an American psychotherapist who has been living in Asia for over a decade. She specializes in working with individuals and couples navigating relationship or work issues. Heiliczer is the first therapist in Asia to be certified in Relational Life Therapy (RLT), a transformative form of couple’s therapy pioneered by The New York Times bestselling author Terry Real. In addition, she is an ICFcertified coach. She graduated summa cum laude from New York University (NYU) with a Bachelor of Science, a Master’s from NYU, and a second Master’s in Counselling from Monash University (Australia). Recently, in an exclusive interview with CXO Outlook Magazine, Allison shared her insights on her professional journey as a psychotherapist in Asia, what makes her latest book, ‘Rethink The Couch’ unique and its key takeaways, some misconceptions about therapy and therapists, words of wisdom, and much more. The following excerpts are taken from the interview.
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CXO OUTLOOK October 2023
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CXO OUTLOOK October 2023
the stories, unique experiences, hopes, dreams, and challenges, what meaning they applied to all of this, and ultimately, what transformation they sought in their lives. It was the spark for what would years later become my career and calling. I was drawn to Asia, partly because of the Chinos and partly because of living in Hong Kong for over a decade, I felt compelled to stay. Now, based in Singapore, I have an even deeper appreciation for Asia. I can’t imagine being anywhere else. What makes your book, ‘Rethink the Couch: Into the Bedrooms and Boardrooms of Asia with an Expat Therapist’ unique? Few therapists have written about the cultural nuances of working in Asia, and I am an outsider
Many Asian cultures tend to prioritize the collective good over the individual and logic over emotion – unlike in the West, where it's often the other way around
looking to write about them. Many Asian cultures tend to prioritize the collective good over the individual and logic over emotion – unlike in the West, where it's often the other way around. The issues and big questions for my clients about work, marriage, love, and betrayal can be found in most parts of the developed world. Still, this region often has multiple layers of complexity and context that shape how these unfold and therefore how they’re supported therapeutically. This book explores these themes and more from a wholly unique perspective, the one I have been privileged to have as an expat working in Asia for over ten years, but also because I call Asia home. Are relationship and work challenges connected in ways that may not be obvious? For many people, there is a direct impact that relationship challenges have on work and vice versa. We are, first and foremost, relational beings. That means we have an innate need to connect with others. This doesn't mean we are a world of extroverts - there is a spectrum in how much and the type of connection each of us needs. However, without connection, we die. Years ago, people may have interpreted this as a kind of soul death, yet we now know that not only does loneliness literally kill but also "bad" relationships. Therefore, the quality of our relationships both at work and at home is influential on health. Many people focus on their food and how much exercise they are getting. While both influence health, connection is largely overlooked as a mental and physical well-being determinant. Some people are blessed with both strong relationships at work and at home. Many others
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have challenges in one or both domains. Work challenges can translate into stress and shift the emotional climate at home. I work with many couples whose work stress also impacts their parenting -- it's hard to put the key in the door and compartmentalize a toxic office, a challenging co-worker, and the threat of being terminated or made redundant; therefore, the whole family tends to feel the effects of work. Conversely, when people thrive at work, this tends to translate into better mental states. There is sometimes a danger to thriving insofar as it sometimes translates into grandiosity or entitlement in relationships. Yet, for many, a strong sense of work satisfaction positively impacts outside relationships. Lastly, challenges at work can often lead to self-medication with substances or other addictive behaviors - these impact relationships. On the flip side, people with solid support systems outside of work also tend to navigate work challenges healthier. Some people may only be able to improve relationships in one domain - personal or professional - and I work with people to understand what kind of growth and connection is possible. My upcoming book, Rethink the Couch: Into the Bedrooms and Boardrooms of Asia with an Expat Therapist, also discusses the unshakable connection between our personal and professional lives overlaid with lots of cultural factors.
What are some misconceptions about therapy and therapists that you wish to dispel and educate people about? A definite caricature comes to mind: this "allknowing and all-powerful" Freudian therapist sitting behind a couch with a patient who is just this blank slate, for the therapist to endlessly analyze every word. People often imagine they'll end up on that couch endlessly, and maybe they'll walk away with a few epiphanies but ultimately be clueless about what to do with that. The reality is that this setup does exist. However, many therapists also work with a collaborative model - one that has the therapist and client empowered to work together, as a team and be clear about the goals and how to get there. Having said that, most therapy is not linear, it often does takes twists and turns to reach goals and transform. So, on the one hand, therapy can be collaborative, empowering, and goal-oriented. Still, people have particular challenges that require a very specific kind of therapy. For example, if someone came to me with a fear of flying, I would send them to a therapist who works specifically on that kind of fear. In many cases, though, rapport with the therapist is the number one determinant of outcome.
My upcoming book, Rethink the Couch: Into the Bedrooms and Boardrooms of Asia with an Expat Therapist, discusses the unshakable connection between our personal and professional lives overlaid with lots of cultural factors
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What are some of the tools we already have at our disposal that could help us get through life, and through relationship and work challenges? Those that have been there all along, that we somehow forget or don't realize are quite useful? How do we tap into them? Some of the tools that people may already have at their disposal that might support relationship and work challenges outside of therapy include:
Broadening or tapping into a more comprehensive social network and community - for some, this means friendships, family, and community in the form of religious, spiritual, and/or cultural groups or hobbies. Losing yourself in nature can be a powerful anti-depressant or anti-anxiety tool. Protecting sleep may mean turning your phone off 30 minutes earlier, coming up with a soothing bedtime routine, or reducing caffeine throughout the day.
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Counting chemicals, not calories - there's a strong relationship between food and mood. We eat too many ultra-processed foods, which can be very damaging to our health. Instead, focus on a plant-based diet, and remember to "eat the rainbow" to include as many different naturally colored foods as possible. If you don't understand an ingredient on a food package, then your body and mind will likely not either. Writing - this may mean pulling out a journal, emptying your mind onto a notepad or on your phone, or jotting down ideas on a ripped piece of paper. What's vital with writing is not to reinforce thinking but rather to have a space to dump it out; for some, that alone is therapeutic. For others, they want to see their thoughts and feelings on paper and then ask how they might frame things differently or seek support. Exercising may mean five minutes of dancing or wriggling your toes; lower the bar if needed. Many people are black and white with exercise - I either run 20 km or sit on the couch and eat ice cream - yet even small amounts can dramatically impact well-being, so forget the excuses and focus on any effort you can make today. Remember that motivation often follows action, not the other way around. The motivation will likely show up after the five minutes of dancing you do in your living room, the ten-minute walk you take, and the flight of stairs you hike, don't wait for the motivation. Helping others - I have a personal deal with myself. Whenever I feel down or anxious, I reach out to support someone. This adds a different perspective that is often therapeutic and a way to connect, so both are helpful. Sometimes therapy is not the needed instrument or one deep enough to truly support
CXO OUTLOOK October 2023
people. Therefore, I recommend that people seek additional support, including some ideas above; sometimes, therapy is not indicated with a particular challenge someone is facing. If there are any facts about you, your upcoming book, your other projects, and anything else that you wish to include, you can tell me here. My upcoming book, Rethink the Couch: Into the Bedrooms and Boardrooms of Asia with an Expat Therapist, has been endorsed by two New York Times bestselling authors, a few other bestselling authors, and two multinationals. I'm so grateful to hear it being described as "ground-breaking" and a "pageturner" as it's the first of its kind. My book discusses many taboo subjects and is a call to action to preserve cultural values while evolving the support people have in Asia. It's vital that there is more Asian representation when speaking about mental health, as it’s one step in helping to end stigma in Asia. What is something that may surprise readers while reading the book? The stigma individuals feel about mental health and how their culture and family background can influence this and create more complications or challenges; and at the same time, there is much to learn from Asia in terms of how to support people with challenges. The stories are also a blend of common issues and extraordinary ones. It may surprise readers to learn what others go through, but also maybe that they aren’t alone in going through what they might be facing in their own lives. There’s a compelling balance—one I see as a
The stigma individuals feel about mental health and how their culture and family background can influence this and create more complications or challenges; and at the same time, there is much to learn from Asia in terms of how to support people with challenges
therapist, too—of how alike we can be in many ways and how unique we all are. What does literary success look like to you? Engagement and connection. If readers are able to connect with this book or develop a richer appreciation for the themes I explore in it, that’s when I know I have done what I set out to do. Therapy can be transformative, and the opportunity for me to take readers into the therapy room and reveal how that is possible and that there is always a way through a problem or a crisis continues to motivate me in my work advocating for mental health in Asia. Please brief us about the main takeaways from your book, ‘Rethink the Couch’. That Asia is a fascinating, complex, and remarkable place—but it has much to answer
for regarding mental health and wellbeing. Also, many of us have insecurities, issues, challenges, struggles, and complicated histories – and there is always the potential to transform, grow, and navigate through these. One piece of advice you would like to share with aspiring authors. I would have to share some advice I received myself from prolific author and inspirational activist Matthew Friedman. He said, “Every day I write, and I remind myself that writing a book is 10% writing, 90% re-writing.” I also followed this humbling advice: Wake before the roosters, get words down on paper, and – most importantly – get over yourself and any silly excuses your mind cooks up. Writing is a process, not a performance. Think like a sculptor, chipping away at a block of stone. Your final creative vision will be revealed if you tackle it a little at a time.
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MOST INFLUENTIAL
HEALTHCARE LEADER 2023
Gennaro Maida CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AT DENOVO INNOVATIONS GROUP
LEADING INNOVATION AT THE INTERSECTION OF MEDICINE AND TECHNOLOGY
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n today’s digital era where the realms of medicine and technology intertwine, Gennaro Maida, the visionary Chief Executive Officer of Denovo Innovations Group, stands out as an example of innovation, exemplary leadership, and an unwavering dedication to lifelong learning. Reflecting upon his professional journey, Gennaro eloquently expresses, "The fusion of medicine and technology is reflected in my recent accomplishments. It showcases the interplay of groundbreaking innovation, astute leadership, and an unyielding commitment to constant growth, resulting in novel Digital Health Technologies." From a young age, Gennaro's passion for medicine was ignited by his family's long
CXO OUTLOOK October 2023
line of physicians. "At the age of two, I was entrusted with the Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, which served as the catalyst for my love of medicine," he fondly recalls. Fueled by an innate aptitude for engineering, Gennaro pursued a degree in Biomedical Engineering from the renowned Pratt School of Engineering at Duke University. "This formative academic foundation not only provided me with invaluable exposure to digital design, medical informatics, and biotechnology but also nurtured many of my future interests. My insatiable appetite for knowledge has always been a part of my character." This search for knowledge flowed into the realms of clinical medicine and research as Gennaro continued his studies.
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Gennaro Maida
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AT DENOVO INNOVATIONS GROUP
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Gennaro's focus extended beyond the boundaries of traditional medicine, as his forward-thinking mindset gravitated towards constructing the clinics of the future, with a particular emphasis on their role within smart cities with integrated in-home medical services. Over a span of 15 years, Gennaro embarked on a transformative journey encompassing network design, unified communication solutions, control systems, and IoT. "Through my collaborations with multinational corporations and enterprise-class clientele, I gained invaluable insights into managing expectations and striking a balance between the needs of diverse stakeholders," he shares. "I discovered that the essence of effective leadership often lies in educating and empowering those you serve," he emphasizes. "Recognizing this, I harnessed my expertise in medicine and technology to craft innovative solutions." In the past half-decade, Gennaro dedicated himself to mastering data science and its applications in medicine, perceiving its immense potential to revolutionize patient care. "With the advent of cutting-edge technologies such as cloud computing, IoT, edge computing, and machine learning, I envisioned the remarkable capacity of these innovations to augment the capabilities of clinicians, enhancing patient care," he explains. The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic propelled Gennaro's visionary endeavors into reality. Denovo Innovations Group was created to solve problems inherent in remote medicine. The aim is to support early-stage startups or
CXO OUTLOOK October 2023
Gennaro's focus extended beyond the boundaries of traditional medicine, as his forward-thinking mindset gravitated towards constructing the clinics of the future, with a particular emphasis on their role within smart cities with integrated in-home medical services
agile technology carve-outs in larger companies to solve these issues. The Denovo Innovations Group model is to build and lead Clinical and Scientific Research teams to solve medical challenges with Digital Health Technologies. Drawing upon a wide network and broad experience, Denovo has had the opportunity to work in a variety of areas. In an early project, Gennaro acted as virtual CTO and cofounder of Vital Intelligence, a data science driven Digital Health Technology company. Denovo collaborated closely with computer vison experts and spearheaded the development and commercialization of a state-of-the-art system to assess potential respiratory infections. "This venture evolved into the groundbreaking initiative known as
Vital Intelligence, which thoroughly tested my leadership abilities,” Gennaro recounts. His unwavering dedication and innovation earned him accolades as a Top 100 Visionary in Healthcare through the International Federation for the Advancement of Healthcare. Success at Vital Intelligence led to a variety of follow up roles. These include being a member of advisory boards for cutting edge health tech companies, new executive leadership roles, and overtaking operations for an independent company. Assuming a role as virtual Chief Medical Technology Officer, Gennaro found himself working to build distributed health tools of the future. Gennaro’s breadth of knowledge expands outside of the traditional roles of CMO and CTO leading to the creation of a new position. "We are in the early stages of building Healthcare 4.0, where medicine is propelled by cutting-edge digital technology," he exclaims.
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"I aim to leverage my leadership skills and expertise as a leading authority in medicine, technology, and data science, paving the way towards a more patient-centric and distributed medical system."
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Revolutionizing Healthcare: Denovo Innovations Group’s Vision for a Connected Future With Vital Intelligence, Gennaro focused on remote acquisition of vital signs from video (live or recorded) to better assess health status. The applications were many, ranging from remote COVID assessment to Zoom integration for more thorough remote visits, to in-hospital non-contact patient monitoring. The commercialized technology worked from UAV platforms and had applications in search and rescue operations. Being able to remotely assess vital signs from practically any camera platform on the planet was incredibly exciting. Vital Intelligence had a quick exit one year after opening. Moving on to a second entrepreneurial role as Chief Medical Technology Officer, further exploration into distributed medicine was on
the horizon. Gennaro’s new focus was on other forms of real time remote patient and remote therapeutic monitoring through wearables and edge computing. Denovo aimed to support the creation of novel digital therapeutics for both prescription and nonprescription use, adding new tools to a physicians toolbelt. “Overcoming old barriers of short discrete visits in both time and space, we aim to bring the patient and physician closer together. " The innovative approach of Denovo Innovations Group, which aims to transform healthcare by analyzing real-time, longitudinal patient data, fascinated Gennaro. He was particularly intrigued by the shift from reactive to proactive healthcare using real-time data, machine learning, wearable technologies, and smartphones/edge computing. Denovo Innovations Groups’ scientific and technical focus is on preventative, interventional medicine in both the somatic and mental fields. The synergy between real-time data, machine learning, and clinical medicine captivated Gennaro and is now a large part of the digital health care transition. The goal is to optimize patient outcomes and improve the
Denovo Innovations Group was created to solve problems inherent in remote medicine. The principal goal of Denovo Innovations Group is to build and lead Clinical and Scientific Research teams to solve medical challenges with Digital Health Technologies
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quality of life by monitoring and mitigating risks through technology. Gennaro recognized the potential for significant impact in optimizing the healthcare system and enhancing patient outcomes. He sees Denovo Innovations Group as a catalyst for transforming the healthcare landscape, creating a connected future where technology and medicine converge seamlessly through prescription and non-prescription digital therapeutics.
Bridging the Gap: Leading the Fusion of Healthcare and Technology at Denovo Gennaro's collaborative approach to partnerships has been crucial to Denovo Innovations Group’s success. He has formed alliances with industryleading partners, preparing companies to navigate critical milestones such as FDA class II 510(k) submissions, SBIR/STTR Grant pursuits, and patent submissions. His early work on an FDA submission, with support from
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well-known academic centers, demonstrates his expertise and commitment, pushing the boundaries of healthcare technology. To bridge this gap, Denovo Innovations Groups’ primarfy focus is to build and lead world class medical and scientific R&D teams supporting startups and entrepreneurial ventures within larger companies. Leaning on existing network connections that encompass many fields such as data science, software engineering, clinical medicine, scientific research, billing, and legal, creation of new teams for each endeavor is a must; each project offers unique needs and challenges. This allows Denovo to expand its network and support with each project allowing for continual improvement and deeper dives into
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Gennaro sees Denovo Innovations Group as a catalyst for transforming the healthcare landscape, creating a connected future where technology and medicine converge seamlessly through prescription digital therapeutics
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the challenges of distributed medicine and the fusion of technology. As a primary inventor, Gennaro has made significant contributions by driving innovation and developing algorithms for real-time detection and interventions of various health issues. As an inventor he focused on reducing sleep disturbances due to PTSD. His role in forming partnerships within the medical military complex in San Antonio strengthens Denovo’s commitment to the military community. In the fast-paced startup environment, Gennaro's leadership style is dynamic. "I've established and nurtured strategic partnerships, harnessing the power of collective expertise," he states. Gennaro's leadership has earned him recognition in the healthcare community. "Being honored as a Top Leader in Healthcare at the Health 2.0 Conference in 2022 was a significant moment," he shares. Integrating Medicine and Technology for Effective Healthcare Solutions "We strive to build bridges between physicians and patients, leveraging advanced technology to facilitate a more direct and personal approach to healthcare," Gennaro adds. We aim to help guide patients and physicians in selecting and utilizing therapeutic technologies and non-prescriptions technologies to improve a patient’s health and wellness. Denovo stands out as a solutions provider. Whether the question is “Can you detect infection from a drone?” or “Can you scientifically improve upon a current product and clinically validate it?” Denovo works to find technology solutions to clinical challenges. Relying on medical science, problems are first
scientifically theorized and then prototyped based on peer reviewed research and expert direction. Teams are built during this time to prepare for commercialization, clinical validation, and marketing, tailored for specific clinical fields. By combining medical science and research to build next generation software and devices, many challenges can be overcome! Pioneering Remote Patient Monitoring and Transformative Healthcare Solutions "At Vital Intelligence, I had the privilege of spearheading an innovative data analytics platform that advanced remote patient assessment and improved COVID screening,” Gennaro explained. The platform was based on image photoplethysmography (PPG) extracting vital signs from practically any camera and platform on the planet. It enabled remote/non-contact monitoring of patients' vital signs including heart rate, respiration rate, temperature, and oxygen saturation. The acquisition of real-time data improved the efficiency and accuracy of COVID assessments prior to testing. Under Gennaro's leadership, a pivotal partnership was formed with a renowned academic center and their technology commercialization division. Collaborating closely with a team of PhD researchers, they optimized the platform and expanded its capabilities. This experience highlighted Gennaro's ability to foster cross-disciplinary collaboration, and work with remote multinational teams. The versatile nature of the screening kiosk designed and built by Gennaro allowed for deployments across diverse sectors, from Historically Black Colleges and Universities,
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NASCAR racetracks, prisons, and even robots. Gennaro's leadership played a crucial role in managing these distinct deployments, ensuring the platform met the unique challenges and requirements of each setting. Denovo’s support expanded into acquisition, supply chain management, manufacturing, and deployment during this period of growth. Building on this track record of innovation, Gennaro has brought his expertise in remote PPG technologies and experience in team and project management to other companies. He was able to transfer his scientific knowledge of remote acquisition and analysis of PPG signals to those acquired by wearables continuing on in the innovative spirit. “Adaptability and collaboration are ingrained in our DNA," Gennaro emphasizes. Recognizing the essential role collaboration plays in the medical technology sector, the company actively fosters partnerships with healthcare professionals, technology experts, and other stakeholders to develop effective solutions. To ensure their solutions are clinically sound and technologically advanced, Denovo actively involves subject matter experts from the clinical and research fields. This collaborative approach allows for the integration of medical knowledge and technological advancements, resulting in solutions that are both effective and innovative. Their valuable insights and perspectives are sought through regular discussions, enriching the ideas and solutions generated by Denovo. Staying Ahead of the Curve "My strategies for staying updated with the latest advancements and trends in medical technology are centered around collaboration,
CXO OUTLOOK October 2023
Rather than viewing projects as standalone accomplishments, Gennaro sees each as an opportunity to build deeper and more cohesive teams. Each project, challenge, and success serve as an opportunity to gain new insights and expand their understanding of the technologies applied to medicine
continuous learning, and seeking guidance from mentors and colleagues," Gennaro explains. Recognizing the value of mentorship and shared learning, Gennaro emphasizes the creation of a collaborative environment fostered at Denovo. Working closely with a nationwide network of experts, the team leverages their collective knowledge and experiences to shape their trajectory and stay informed about the latest developments in the field. Rather than viewing projects as standalone accomplishments, Gennaro sees each as an opportunity to build deeper and more cohesive teams. Each project, challenge, and success serve as an opportunity to gain new insights and expand their understanding of the technologies applied to medicine. This mindset of continuous learning and improvement allows them to stay agile, anticipate trends, and drive innovation. The continually expanding network provides new opportunities and technologies to apply
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to medicine including, generative AI, Data analytics, computer vision, signal processing, and more. Safeguarding Sensitive Healthcare Data and Ensuring Customer Satisfaction "At Denovo Innovations Group, we prioritize data privacy and security to safeguard the sensitive healthcare information entrusted to us," Gennaro affirms. Recognizing the importance of compliance with regulations in healthcare, Denovo works with experts who have a deep understanding of medical, cybersecurity, and military requirements that has been cultivated through collaborations with large nationwide IT groups and
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cybersecurity experts. Being centered in San Antonio, surrounded by the largest medicalmilitary complex in the world provides incredible opportunity for creating and bringing new ideas to life. “We also prioritize user experience to ensure physician satisfaction," Gennaro emphasizes. The commitment to user experience extends to patients as well. Denovo recognizes the significance of userfriendly, accessible, and intuitive solutions that empower patients in their healthcare journey and the physicians guiding them. Customer feedback is actively sought and utilized to continuously refine their products and enhance the user experience.
Denovo is actively exploring innovative strategies to enhance Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM) for musculoskeletal conditions through the application of cuttingedge technologies and smartphone apps
Implementing medical technology solutions within the healthcare system comes with its fair share of challenges. One of Denovo’s initial challenges is gaining acceptance from physicians and healthcare professionals. By involving experts in the development and FDA submission processes, Gennaro aims to build trust and credibility among healthcare professionals. Overcoming Challenges in Healthcare Adoption Understanding the business aspect of civilian and military healthcare is another challenge that Denovo actively addresses. This includes navigating billing procedures and forming
strategic partnerships in the military acquisition space. By leveraging Gennaro’s knowledge and network in the areas Coding, Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM), and Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM), Gennaro ensures that their solutions align with the requirements for reimbursement to improve adoption by physicians. Denovo works closely with experts in defense acquisition to create ideas that are easily utilized by the military, its physicians, and DME suppliers. Establishing trust in medical technology and algorithms is crucial for successful adoption. Denovo is dedicated to conducting rigorous, IRB-approved clinical research on their solutions to validate their efficacy. Furthermore, pursuing FDA approvals is an essential part of Denovo’s strategy to ensure the reliability and safety of its future prescription therapeutic products. The company relies on the knowledge and expertise of clinical research experts and FDA focused legal advisors to navigate the regulatory process effectively. By addressing these challenges through collaboration, research, regulatory compliance, and strategic partnerships, Denovo aims to overcome barriers and drive successful adoption of their medical technology solutions within the healthcare system. Continued application of novel technologies in medicine and adjacent fields Denovo Innovations recently worked on initiatives that focus on addressing high-impact conditions such as PTSD, sleep disturbances, and mental health within the military, veterans,
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and first responder populations. The company hopes to continue impacting the lives of patients by providing innovative solutions and improving access to mental healthcare in the future. Denovo is actively exploring innovative strategies to enhance Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM) for musculoskeletal
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Denovo Innovations recently worked on initiatives that focus on addressing highimpact conditions such as PTSD, sleep disturbances, and mental health within the military, veterans, and first responder populations
conditions through the application of cuttingedge technologies and smartphone apps. Additionally, the domain of RTM in mental health and Cognitive Behavioral Therapies is experiencing swift expansion, thanks in part to Medicare and third-party insurers now offering reimbursement for wellness and preventative medicine; much thought is being applied to innovation these areas.
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Exploring innovative methods for gathering health and wellness data from current technologies is also a focal point. By leveraging diverse data acquisition channels, such as cameras, radio waves, audio interfaces, and wearables, the future promises unprecedented ease in health management. In the fast-evolving healthcare landscape, the emphasis on enhancing the well-being and effectiveness of medical professionals has never been more critical. Denovo plans to focus on the administrative burden that frequently constrains frontline physicians, enabling them to pivot their focus from paperwork back to patient-centric care. Recent advancements, including generative AI, have the capacity to produce concise and accurate insights across various medical subspecialties. By leveraging these advanced algorithms, physicians can access real-time, actionable intelligence, thereby fostering a more informed and efficient approach to patient care. Denovo is exploring applications of medical technologies such as imagePhotoplethysmography in the commercial space. The technique's video-based vital sign capture capabilities offer intriguing possibilities, ranging from detecting deepfake videos to monitoring the health of herd animals and livestock. It is truly exciting to be at the cutting edge of today’s developing healthcare systems. As technology and healthcare merge, the lives of many, many people will be improved. The ability to penetrate underserved areas and underserved populations is of such incredible value it simply cannot be overstated.
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slimyoo.com
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CXO OUTLOOK istockphoto.com/DanielBendjy October 2023
LEADER’S INSIGHTS
Driving Real Change in the Professional Services Industry Nicole Kyle, Managing Director & Co-Founder, CMP Research
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In today’s rapidly evolving business environment, what are the biggest challenges faced by business executives? Redesigning work and employer value proposition around remote and hybrid work, cost containment and reduction given current economic pressure, building equitable and inclusive workplaces and contending with rapid progression in technology, like generative AI, are among the top challenges executives face today.
These are all magnified in customer contact and customer experience organizations because of the nature of customer contact work and the uniqueness of its workforce. What makes a business more customer centric? What are the key elements of customer centricity? Customer centric businesses design both products and services for customers individual
Customer centric businesses design both products and services for customers individual needs, ideally before the customer can even articulate what they want
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Nicole Kyle is Managing Director and cofounder of CMP Research. Nicole joined CMP in November 2021 from Gartner, where she spent eight years leading research and advisory. Nicole is known for her exceptional work in customer contact, workplace strategy, and employee engagement, delivering frame-breaking insights that have supported critical decision-making across hundreds of enterprise-level leadership teams. Prior to Gartner, Nicole was a journalist and still maintains the natural curiosity of journalism in her research. Recently, in an exclusive interview with CXO Outlook Magazine, Nicole shared her insights on the biggest challenges faced by business executives in today’s business environment, her career trajectory, the inspiration behind establishing CMP Research, significant career milestones, words of wisdom, and much more. The following excerpts are taken from the interview.
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needs, ideally before the customer can even articulate what they want. From a service perspective, customer centricity is about personalization, flexibility, ease, efficiency, and support.
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We explore all the different ways women and other systemically marginalized people can invest their money – the third leg of the earning-andconsuming personal economic stool
CXO OUTLOOK October 2023
Nicole, please tell us about your professional and personal background. I’ve been a future of work researcher for ten years. I started my career at Corporate Executive Board on the customer contact research team with a stint in procurement & operations research before finding my long-term area of specialization: future of workplace and work. CEB was acquired by Gartner in 2017 and I enjoyed my work as a Gartner analyst immensely. I joined Customer Management Practice to start our research division to scratch my entrepreneurial itch and see how I could marry my future of work expertise with customer contact and CX research. What inspired you to establish CMP Research? Tell us about its mission and vision. I saw a white space in the information and professional services market for research, advice and executive networking support for customer contact executives navigating the future of work. There’s a lot written about the future of work’s impact on business at-large but rarely specific to customer executives. We know the customer contact function and workforce are incredibly unique, given the nature of the work. Customer contact work is emotionally taxing, extremely tools reliant, and the workforce can be highly transient. The nature of customer contact requires a fit-for-purpose strategy for the future of work, differentiated from that of other corporate functions.
In your current role, what kind of challenges do you face and how do you overcome them? Like many leaders, I often wonder if I’m doing leadership, right? I learn something every day about how to be a better manager, coach and leader and I will never stop learning. And I’ll keep making mistakes. But that consciousness and accountability to the team is important. To me, leadership is more about listening than talking. You are also a Co-creator and cohost of I Also Want Money. Can you tell us about your podcast show? Yes! That’s something I do outside of CMP Research – for my own learning and because of my passion for gender equity. The mission of the podcast is to democratize, demasculinize and demystify making money. The gender wealth gap is bigger than the pay gap, though the pay gap is of course a driver of it. A 2021 study shows women’s median household wealth in the US was 55 cents to every dollar of a man’s median household wealth. We explore all the different ways women and other systemically marginalized people can invest their money – the third leg of the earning-andconsuming personal economic stool. Can you please shed light on the gender wealth gap? What needs to be done to bridge this existing gap and prevent it from happening in the future? It’s less about prevention – we’re already in it - and more about action: learn about all the different ways you can use money to make
money and decide what amount of risk works best for you. One of the problems is that access to that education, vernacular, a network is far from equal – so the podcast is a small drop in the bucket toward closing that education and conversation gap. Women (and anyone trying to build generational wealth where it hasn’t existed before) need to talk about money! Which one of your accomplishments makes you the proudest to date? Being named a LinkedIn Top Voice in Gender Equity in North America in 2022. What is the one lesson learnt that’s unique to being a woman leader? Tough question. Speaking to my experience, imposter syndrome has been something I’ve had to deal with and I have to actively work at letting it not get the better of me. It’s tough but I have learned to make bets on myself and create an inner confidence that equips me to get through a would-be “imposter” moment. Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years? Thriving at the helm of CMP Research! And still advocating for gender equity in the workplace and in society, helping everyone reflect on their behaviors, the systems they are a part of, and how to change it. What’s your no 1 piece of advice for the aspiring female professionals? Ask for what you want and what you need at work. And if you can’t or it feels too scary, you might be in the wrong environment.
CXO OUTLOOK October 2023
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M O S T I N N O VAT I V E
COMPANY IN APAC 2023
TWOMC Digital PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES OF THE “DIGITAL” IN MARKETING 64
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yan McClure, the founder of TWOMC Digital, has spent 23 years working all over Asia. Originally from Canada, at one point in his journey he found himself director of a major PR agency in Jakarta, Indonesia. However, Ryan was frustrated with the traditional agency model, which separated communication, advertising, PR and video into different units or outsource to vendors where quality and speed were constant trade-offs. Ryan recalls, “Many times the client would say no to a video because they knew we were a PR firm and it would take too long and be done by an outside contractor. TWOMC Digital emerged as our answer to a growing market demand for a more integrated approach. We started with video and have grown to extended reality.”
CXO OUTLOOK October 2023
What sets TWOMC Digital apart is its unwavering commitment to its clients. In a world where agencies often chase new business, sometimes at the expense of existing partnerships, TWOMC Digital takes a different approach. Their focus is on delivering tangible, measurable results fostering relationships that stand the test of time. Ryan says, "We recognize that many organizations lack dedicated marketing professionals and may be in uncharted territory with new mediums like automated personalized video or virtual reality. That's where TWOMC Digital steps in. While our senior team devises a strategy that uses the “shock and awe” of the latest tech, we always insist on measuring the impact - back to our client’s bottom line. And with the old-fashioned know-how of our experienced
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RYAN MCCLURE, MANAGING DIRECTOR, TWOMC DIGITAL
CXO OUTLOOK October 2023
marketing professionals, we can use these tools to punch above our client’s weight and show real revenue growth. Our team has “un-learned” more types of digital tools than we would like to think about. But dropping what doesn’t work is part of learning what does. Getting really good with digital for business to business is a process, not an event. And it’s a never-ending process.” TWOMC Digital has a rich history of leveraging pioneering technologies for business clients. They were among the first in Indonesia to embrace social media, utilize drones for creative campaigns, and
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explore the exciting realm of live streaming. Their first foray into virtual reality back in 2016 helped launch a joint venture between Indonesia’s and Australia’s biggest telecoms. Today, they continue to lead the way with innovations such as a Virtual Reality Showroom, interactive video and AIassisted Automated Personalized Video (APV). In Pursuit of Digital Innovation Ryan McClure's passion lies in exploring the future of digital trends and, more importantly, how to harness them for commercial success. His
approach begins with a foundation of meticulous market research and in-depth analysis. Ryan emphasizes, "We start with market research, not just any research – we dive deep. Tools like GWI and Brand24 provide valuable data, but we complement them with an exhaustive analysis until we know our client’s customers as well or better than our clients. Once armed with a profound understanding of the client's industry, TWOMC Digital follows a well-defined process. This process unveils two critical elements: firstly, a comprehensive grasp
of the current customer journey, and secondly, a visionary blueprint of the ideal future customer journey. They also discern the precise content and channels necessary for success. And most critically - how they will measure success. From there, it's all about creating that content, closely monitoring its performance, and actively involving the client in the journey – encouraging input and fostering healthy debates. TWOMC Digital's expertise extends beyond relying solely on the client's industry knowledge. Ryan clarifies, "We consider ourselves digital
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The latest toolset unveiled by TWOMC Digital has been nothing short of a revelation in the industry. This cutting-edge technology stack operates entirely in the cloud, delivering unparalleled efficiency
CXO OUTLOOK October 2023
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experts, taking on the role of consultants to identify the optimal mix of digital tools that address our client's unique challenges while always measuring our positive impact on their bottom line. It’s like chess, if you play a lot you can kind of see how certain moves will work for certain situations and certain players. We bring this to bare for our B2B clients. We treat our clients like business partners." One remarkable example of this partnership approach emerged during the tumultuous COVID-19 pandemic. International schools worldwide faced daunting financial challenges and reputational crises. However, the Singapore International School Group, with its extensive network of 14 campuses across the region, chose to double down on a bold digital strategy in collaboration with TWOMC Digital from the outset of the pandemic. The result? A remarkable double-digit growth story amidst the crisis. The school weathered the storm and expanded into new markets.
In the ever-evolving digital marketing landscape, TWOMC Digital maintains a firm grip on innovation by proactively seeking the latest trends and technologies
CXO OUTLOOK October 2023
The latest toolset unveiled by TWOMC Digital has been nothing short of a revelation in the industry: Automated Personalised Video (APV). This cutting-edge technology stack operates entirely in the cloud, delivering unparalleled efficiency. It harnesses vast volumes of customer data, often numbering in the millions, to craft personalized videos. These videos dynamically incorporate the customer's name, loyalty status, and other pertinent details, creating an immersive and engaging experience. Ryan enthusiastically explains, "Our new toolkit represents a gamechanger in digital marketing. Even for cold lead databases we are getting mind-blowing open rates. It’s unheard of and we are just getting started." The outcomes speak volumes. Campaigns utilizing this groundbreaking technology consistently achieve open rates exceeding 50%, while click-through rates (CTR) in email and WhatsApp campaigns skyrocket to double digits, occasionally reaching an astonishing 70%. This starkly contrasts traditional email
campaigns, which often struggle to breach the 2% CTR threshold. Tailoring Digital Solutions to Every Client's Needs In an industry where one size rarely fits all, TWOMC Digital stands out for its commitment to tailoring digital solutions to match its client's business needs, the client’s own level of digital resources - and their individual budgets. They recognize that not every organization operates on the scale of giants like their client Shell Singapore, and this understanding underscores their dedication to delivering value, regardless of a client's size. Ryan emphasizes, "We often encounter clients who approach us cautiously, having experienced disappointment with previous digital agencies. These other agencies made them grand promises but failed to measure the impact of their efforts. We understand the imperative of building trust from the ground up. It’s not about what you say, it’s about what you do for business clients." To establish this trust, TWOMC employs a proven and highly effective strategy. They commence by delivering a tangible "quick win" for the client before suggesting more advanced and sometimes costlier strategies. Whether crafting a new website or generating creative assets for a Google Ad campaign, TWOMC handles every aspect in-house to control the quality and speed. This approach not only ensures clients get the most from their marketing budget, but just as important for stakeholder management, fosters confidence in the process. Ryan elaborates, "Our in-house capabilities shine when a client needs something quick like a new website or a landing page update. We know other agencies charge and arm and a leg for these
line items because that’s the only value they offer. We don’t charge for these incremental items if the need for them arises during a campaign - we are in it to win it, not to nickel-and-dime our clients. When it comes to trying new things we are never a “hammer looking for a nail”. We have many, many digital tools at our disposal but the value we provide is knowing which ones will work to increase client revenue, on budget our clients can afford. In many cases our clients discover we have programming and development talent so we can tackle the entire digital sales funnel and help them with their existing CRM - we’ve worked with them all. " TWOMC Digital's approach transcends technology; it's about effective communication and stakeholder management. It's about crafting solutions that fit the budget and the client's vision and goals. Staying Ahead of the Curve In the ever-evolving digital marketing landscape, TWOMC Digital maintains a firm grip on innovation by proactively seeking the latest trends and technologies. A shining example of this unwavering commitment is embodied by their Managing Director, Ryan McClure. Recently, he ventured to California to partake in AWE XR, a renowned event celebrated as the premier showcase for XR (AR/VR) applications. Ryan's active participation in such a cuttingedge event underscores TWOMC Digital's dedication to remaining at the vanguard of technological advancements. During his journey, he also had the privilege of visiting the headquarters of NVIDIA, a relationship that extends beyond the ordinary. As an official Inception Partner of NVIDIA, TWOMC Digital enjoys substantial support in various realms, ranging from 3D holograms to AR and VR.
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TWOMC Digital's horizons continue to expand with the recent inauguration of its new office in Singapore, where technology takes center stage
This partnership ensures that TWOMC Digital possesses an intricate understanding of emerging technologies and a clear vision of what lies on the technological horizon. Armed with this knowledge, they empower their clients to harness these innovations for their own customers, captivating and engaging them in fresh and exhilarating ways.
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Embracing Change At TWOMC Digital, change isn't merely accepted; it's warmly embraced as the one constant in life. Their attitude toward new technology is characterized by eagerness and a swift and comprehensive evaluation of its potential value for their clients. Trying out and adopting new software and technology is part of the company ethos. As is ruthlessly putting aside and “un-learning” tech that is not ready for the market yet or just doesn’t move at the speed of business. What sets them apart is their remarkable ability to perpetually learn and adapt, approaching new SaaS (Software as a Service) and PaaS (Platform as a Service) tools with the same childlike curiosity and enthusiasm they did when they first embarked on this journey. In fact, when ChatGPT made its official debut to the public in November 2022, TWOMC Digital was already ahead of the curve. They had taken
CXO OUTLOOK October 2023
an active role in testing the beta version, which speaks to their dedication to staying ahead of the curve when it comes to technological innovation. What’s the most exciting thing they’re working on now? According to Ryan, “Without a doubt it’s digital twins. Our digital twins are displayed holographically on a table or wall and we are hosting these in dedicated NVIDIA servers optimized for Omniverse. Omniverse is a game changer for digital twins.” TWOMC Digital's horizons continue to expand with the recent inauguration of its new office in Singapore, where technology takes center stage. Here, they venture beyond digital marketing, delving into the cutting-edge domain of industrial digital twin technology. Their interdisciplinary approach is a true differentiator, allowing the digital marketing team to benefit from the expertise of the DT XR (Digital Twin Extended Reality) team. TWOMC Digital also offers a downloadable DT XR demo app for Android and iPhone platforms. The app lets clients and tech enthusiasts experience their innovative solutions firsthand, bridging the gap between imagination and reality. This holistic approach to technology and their unwavering commitment to continuous learning firmly positions TWOMC Digital as trailblazers in the ever-evolving digital landscape.
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CXO OUTLOOK October 2023
EXPERT OPINION
AI in Healthcare, the Revolution hasn’t Happened Yet Gregg Barrett, CEO, Cirrus
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Healthcare model If the world of healthcare was to be reimagined and Artificial Intelligence introduced, what would be necessary and what would such a world look like? The key to an AI-enabled healthcare world is data. Healthcare data is unfortunately siloed across different institutions, devices, and systems, with no unified, high-dimensional health data available for individuals, samples, and populations. “High dimensional” data is to refer to all the relevant input variables (i.e. radiology, musculoskeletal imaging, digital pathology, environmental, genetic, clinical trials, wearables) needed for the implementation of a healthcare model to provide predictive, preventative, and personalised care. The existence of such a model would help to reduce demand, drive down costs, increase access, and radically improve outcomes.
CXO OUTLOOK October 2023
Book of Life Since large amounts of data generated at various points in the healthcare process are siloed it cannot readily be exchanged across time and institutions to create a single unified dataset for an individual. Data fragmentation is a long-standing challenge in healthcare impeding improvements in efficiency, delivery, and research. To move beyond data fragmentation is to move towards the creation of a “book of life” for an individual. This is to create an all-encompassing single unified dataset of all health information pertaining to an individual that spans the individual’s entire life history. Electronic Health Records The implementation of Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems has not solved the problem as the dimensionality of health
Gregg Barrett is the CEO of Cirrus, Africa’s AI initiative. Gregg is a technology executive who builds and scales innovative operations at large private and public sector organisations, non-profits, and start-ups globally. He co-founded an organisation that became the market leader in contract management systems in Africa and was selected to provide the E-commerce platform for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) common market. He also led the International Association for Contract and Commercial Management (IACCM) in Southern Africa to develop and advance contract and commercial management in the region. He is a seasoned executive with extensive and diverse experience in strategy, building 73 and managing relationships, dealmaking, communication, developing high-performance teams, organisational leadership, and problem-solving across a range of areas. Over the last decade, Gregg has led work in data science, machine learning, corporate research, and corporate venture capital.
Since large amounts of data generated at various points in the healthcare process are siloed it cannot readily be exchanged across time and institutions to create a single unified dataset for an individual
CXO OUTLOOK October 2023
74 Figure 1: Your book of life.
In the world of AI, data management platforms play a critical role in enabling the data foundation that supports the training of AI models and the deployment of those models (inference) data is too vast. Aside from EHR systems not capturing the full dimension of an individual’s health information, EHR systems have created their own set of problems for medical professionals. According to a study by the Mayo Clinic: “Physicians now spend
CXO OUTLOOK October 2023
one to two hours on EHRs and desk work for every hour spent in direct face-to-face contact with patients, as well as an additional one to two hours of personal time on EHR-related activities outside of office hours.” Further, the study reports: “The usability of current EHR
systems received a grade of F by physician users when evaluated using a standardized metric of technology usability. A strong doseresponse relationship between EHR usability and the odds of burnout was observed.” In response, The American Medical Association stated: “It is a national imperative to overhaul the design and use of EHRs and reframe the technology to focus primarily on its most critical function — helping physicians care for their patients.” Data management platform In the world of AI, data management platforms play a critical role in enabling the data foundation that supports the training of AI models and the deployment of those models (inference). At a high level, a data management platform provides the capability needed to store, manage, share, find, and use data for AI. A database is not a data management platform. Rather a data management platform is required for a single point of data ingestion. As the name implies this is to ingest data in all its forms (structured, unstructured, and semi-structured), and with all key data transfer approaches (batch, micro-batch, and streaming). To do this the data management platform provides a highly configurable set of data integration tools that extend far beyond typical extract-transform-load (ETL) or extractload-transform (ELT) solutions. Within a highly federated healthcare system with heterogenous databases and schemas, diverse sources, forms, and transfer approaches, a data management platform serves as a single interface supporting the many-to-one and one-to-one relationship that would constitute an individual’s personal book of life.
As much as 30% of the entire world’s stored data is generated in the healthcare industry. A single patient typically generates close to 80 megabytes each year of imaging and electronic medical record data. (Marco D. Huesch, Timothy J. Mosher, 2017) The data management platform provides the access control framework to restrict access to sensitive information at a granular level, ensuring that healthcare professionals see only the specific data points that are necessary to complete their work. The deployment of a data management platform at scale effectively serves as the data operating system upon which the deployment of healthcare-related AI services is then provided. Economics With the technology now in existence, efforts are underway in South Africa as a once-in-ageneration attempt to revolutionise healthcare to serve as a model for the rest of the world. The undertaking is to provide a state-of-the-art data management platform for healthcare as a public good. The intention is for the platform to be provided freely to all stakeholders to ensure rapid and widespread adoption under a public benefit organisation (PBO). While the implementation and maintenance of the platform constitute a substantial investment, the opportunity is significant. In 2019, Ernst & Young estimated that unlocking NHS health data could be worth up to £10 billion per annum through operational efficiencies, improved patient outcomes, and wider economic benefits. Using the EY numbers (conservatively) as a guide, a patient record valued at a quarter of that used in the report, and assuming a penetration of 50% of the patient records in South Africa
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results in a revenue generation figure of more than 600 million pounds annually. An amount sufficient to cover the implementation and maintenance of the platform ensuring its service can be provided at no charge. The economic and societal impact of the platform will be far more substantial in creating new
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opportunities for South Africa in collaborating with life sciences firms to access health data, where appropriate, which would generate funding for greater investment in public research and development. Importantly, a governance framework would need to be instituted to ensure that additional proceeds
Figure 2: Many to one, one to one.
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With the technology now in existence, efforts are underway in South Africa as a once-in-a-generation attempt to revolutionise healthcare to serve as a model for the rest of the world
be remitted to stakeholders for the provision of healthcare services to those in need – ensuring the PBO is always patient-centric. With the foundation of a data management platform in place, the application of AI to advance research and healthcare services to individuals can be implemented. The economics of the model ensure that AIenabled healthcare services to individuals can be provided at no cost. As with the data management platform, the technology exists
today to enable such services. Frameworks like the Generally Nuanced Deep Learning Framework (GaNDLF) have been developed as a general-purpose framework for AI in healthcare to define end-to-end clinical workflows for various healthcare use cases such as tumor segmentation and molecular classification. Frameworks like GaNDLF follow zero/low code principles and hence alleviate programming requirements for medical researchers to easily take advantage
CXO OUTLOOK October 2023
With the foundation of a data management platform in place, the application of AI to advance research and healthcare services to individuals can be implemented
of the latest AI developments and analyse healthcare data. Further, the framework handles multiple types of data and AI workloads, and it operates in a privacypreserving manner, without sharing any patient data.
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Summary For too long there have been discussions about democratizing healthcare and AI, with initiatives and efforts spanning the full gamut of the imagination. The key, the aggregation of data, must now be the focal point not only in the discourse but in the implementation. Individuals, medical professionals, and researchers must be empowered with the data needed to implement the healthcare model providing predictive, preventative, personalised care, and advanced research. The time is now to discard the approach of relying heavily on anecdotal accounts to implement a holistic view of the patient's wellness by providing a detailed and data-oriented book of life. The more connected medical professionals are with their patients, the more capable they will be in addressing underlying
CXO OUTLOOK October 2023
health issues rather than merely treating symptoms. In low-resource environments pervasive in the developing world trained healthcare professionals and physical clinics are a limited and expensive resource. Through the application of AI location can be removed from the equation, shifting care to the point of the patient, increasing access, and lowering the cost of delivery. The negligible incremental cost to provide AI services per person makes the approach infinitely scalable and accessible. Moving to electronic health records has not solved the problem. With data sources proliferating, only the aggregation of data onto a patient-centric privacy-preserving platform will enable everyone to their book of life. With the technology here and now, the delta between the world of today and the world that can be, is not one of technology, but of leadership. Persistent and knowledgeable leaders with the courage to think differently will have direct implications on our lives and the lives of loved ones. Leaders who will pilot a new course to institute the technology foundations to realise the world of tomorrow.
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