www.insightscare.com
Un-distance
2021
The Rise of AI in Healthcare Everything You Should Know
VOL- 07 ISSUE 06
Shields Up
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Importance of Cybersecurity for Healthcare Organizations
The Rounds was built to support digital transformation, so the pandemic has accelerated our position in the healthcare ecosystem.
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Tim Rice | CEO
A Revolutionary Platform Aiding Healthcare Experts for Improved Healthcare Outcomes
Healthcare at its best
T
states that all Canadians have access to a publicly funded healthcare system, has ensured that the citizens get timely treatment for free or at a low cost.
The global pandemic only emphasized the need to embrace, disrupt and exploit technology to the best of everyone’s benefit. Globally, healthcare solution providers are adapting to the latest technologies as and when they are introduced.
Besides, many private healthcare facilities are providing quality care. Canadians trust their healthcare system, which is a big boost for the medical fraternity and allied sectors. Evidently, the medical fraternity feels as secure as the people of Canada with such a robust and reliable healthcare system.
he progress that the healthcare industry has made in the last many decades is simply stupefying. Particularly, its adoption of technologies to provide positive patient outcomes in a short period is commendable.
Canada has always focussed on positive health outcomes and boasts of a vibrant healthcare system. Indisputably, the country's healthcare solution providers altered their operations with the demands of the time – particularly during the pandemic. When the turmoil triggered by the coronavirus left the world in confusion and all industries had to halt operations abruptly, the health space and allied sectors swung into action. It was in demand majorly, but the challenges to meet people’s healthcare needs were daunting. Canada switched over to healthcare platforms before the advent of the global pandemic. During the lockdowns, the country’s healthcare solution providers improved the online platforms quickly by adopting newer technologies. These platforms provide consultations and solutions to people and help healthcare professionals interact with peers and experts. Besides, hi-tech medical innovations have also helped medical professionals to heal complex problems. An added advantage is that Canada has a free and universal healthcare system. The Canada Health Act, 1984, which
We came across some exceptional healthcare service providers and featured them in our latest edition of Insights Care, titled Canada's 10 Most Valuable Healthcare Solution Providers. We are sure you will enjoy reading this edition as much as we did during its making. Have a great read!
Sumita Sarkar
Editor’s Note
A Revolutionary Platform Aiding Healthcare Experts for Improved Healthcare Outcomes
Cover Story
08
Articles 20 Un-distance The Rise of AI in Healthcare Everything You Should Know
30
Shields Up Importance of Cybersecurity for Healthcare Organizations
Contents 16 Cogniciti Inc. Providing Comprehensive Care for a Quality Life
26 eSSENTIAL Accessibility Administering Inclusive Digital Healthcare Platforms
36 Pacylex Pharmaceuticals Medicinal Innovation Empowering Healthcare Space
CxO 24 TechDriven The use of AI and Robotics in Fertility and Reproductive Medicine
34 Tech of the Future AI and Machine Learning: How tech driven healthcare is driving the industry
Editor-in-Chief Senior Editor
Sumita Sarkar Anish Miller
Managing Editor
Abhishaj Sajeev
Assisting Editors
Trishika, Vinayak
Visualiser Art & Design Head Co-designer Art & Picture Editor Business Development Manager Marketing Manager
David King Priyanka Rajage Paul Belin Rohil Shinganapurkar Amy Jones John Smith Sarah Wilson, John Smith, Alex Vincent
Business Development Executives Sales Executives
Kelli, Bill, Anna
Technical Head Assistant Technical Head Technical Consultants
Jacob Smile Pratiksha Patil David, Robert
Digital Marketing Manager Assistant Digital Marketing Manager SME-SMO Executives
Alina Sege Amol Wadekar Atul, Gemson
Research Analyst Circulation Manager
Eric Smith Tanaji
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Company Name
Featuring
Description
Accreditation Canada accreditation.ca
Leslee Thompson CEO
Accreditation Canada delivers a wide range of high-impact assessment programs for health and social service organizations, powered by HSO, and customized to local needs.
Canadian Plasma Resources giveplasma.ca
Dr. Barzin Bahardoust CEO
Canadian Plasma Resources (CPR) is a pharmaceutical manufacturer licensed by Health Canada and certified by the European Union (EU) and the International Quality Plasma Program (IQPP).
CloudMD cloudmd.ca
Essam Hamza CEO
CloudMD is digitizing the delivery of healthcare by providing a patient centric approach, with an emphasis on continuity of care.
Cogniciti cogniciti.com
William Reichman President & CEO
Cogniciti is a brain health company that is changing the way the world looks at brain health and aging.
eSSENTIAL Accessibility essentialaccessibility.com
Mark Steele Co-founder and CEO
eSSENTIAL Accessibility is the world’s #1 Accessibility-asa-Service platform that makes your digital assets conform with WCAG and compliant with ADA, AODA, Section 508 and other anti-discrimination laws.
eTreat Medical Diagnostics etreatmd.com
Shanil Gunasekara CEO
eTreat is a mobile health company building apps that turn smartphones into true medical devices.
Pacylex Pharmaceuticals pacylex.com
Michael Weickert CEO
Pacylex is a Canadian oncology company exploiting a new discovery in cancer biology which may explain how some cancers arise from normal cells.
Profound Medical Corp. profoundmedical.com
Arun Menawat CEO
Profound Medical is a Canadian medical device company that has developed a unique and minimally invasive procedure to ablate the prostate gland in prostate cancer patients.
The Rounds therounds.com
Tim Rice CEO
The Rounds is the secure collaboration network modern healthcare professionals trust to improve healthcare outcomes.
Worldcare International worldcare.com
Aaron Timm CEO
WorldCare has been providing the gold standard of medical second opinions (MSOs) for critical illnesses to covered members around the world.
Tim Rice | CEO
Cover
Story
A Revolutionary Platform Aiding Healthcare Experts for Improved Healthcare Outcomes
F
rom the invention of the first artificial pacemaker to 3D printed body parts, technology has aided a profound development of modern healthcare. Aligning technology with the human need of social interaction, healthcare platforms with the purpose of connecting medical professionals with each other and with patients have been garnering necessary attention. These platforms have evidently provided an easy access to authentic healthcare information and virtual consultation have proven vital, specifically during the ongoing pandemic. Pertaining to this, healthcare service providers and organizations across the world are pivoting their care delivery systems to such platforms. In similar context, The Rounds is one such platform which is on a mission to improve global healthcare outcomes by connecting the medical community. It provides a secure environment for physicians to connect with peers and experts across various therapeutic areas.
Canada's 10 Most Valuable Healthcare Solution Providers
Redefining Benchmarks There are two critical components that separate The Rounds from other platforms. Primarily, it is a specialty agnostic that removes the silos across medicine so that knowledge sharing can span a larger audience, but it also includes closed groups when connecting with physicians’ immediate peers is important. Secondly, The Rounds has worked diligently to ensure that it is compliant with regulators, associations, and privacy rules so that it can safely
deliver the right information to its members and provide comfort that they are getting accurate and relevant information for their practice.
adapt to the changing needs of our members and our customers.”
Needless to say, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted healthcare industry and the associated niche markets as much as it has impacted the people. Talking about how the pandemic impacted the company, the team at The Rounds says, “This pandemic is a landmark event that will permanently change many aspects of the healthcare system. The tools and resources for providing patient care have been turned upside down and a new gold standard of virtual capabilities are here to stay. That doesn’t mean personal interactions are gone however, it just means that the tools we use, need to take into consideration effective means for remote engagement. The Rounds was built to support digital transformation, so the pandemic has accelerated our position in the healthcare ecosystem, but we’ve also leveraged our agility to
At the helm of The Rounds’ ascension towards peaks of success is Tim Rice, the CEO.
Personifying Progress
Tim is a recognized leader in the Life Sciences sector and devotes his time to influencing how physicians consume and share crucial information. In 2001 Tim began his career ‘carrying the bag’ in a sales role for Novartis Pharmaceuticals (3rd largest pharmaceutical company globally). “I was always interested in healthcare and business; the pharma industry married the two of those very well and Novartis provided a lot of opportunities to advance within the company, so I jumped on them. I inadvertently got a call one day from a board member of The Rounds to have a coffee and I immediately saw a solution that could alleviate the
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We are modernizing how physicians connect to information, so they have the ability to improve healthcare outcomes.
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The Rounds is coherently modernizing how physicians connect to information, so they have the ability to improve healthcare outcomes. The platform has built a safe place for physicians to collaborate by reducing the external noise found on traditional social media channels yet provides them the ability to have a voice amongst their colleagues, regardless of geographic constraints.
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Access is the largest issue in healthcare – whether you are talking about access to physicians, access to treatments, and access to accurate and relevant information.
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In less than a year we’ve established a significant US pipeline for membership and customers and with a market 10x of Canada’s.
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challenges the pharma industry was experiencing in executing the current sales model. Interrupting a physician’s workflow in their clinic by sales reps wasn’t a sustainable model, especially with a significant drop in accessible physicians that had been building for years. So, I hung up the bag, joined The Rounds and we are now modernizing how physicians connect to improve healthcare outcomes,” Tim expresses. Tim leads a passionate team driven by the mantra that knowledge saves lives. Through his role, he is focused on establishing a sustainable and scalable business model for the organization, helping the company grow rapidly while positively impacting the community. With over 20 years’ experience in the healthcare industry, Tim has developed premium skills in sales, medical education, marketing, and leadership roles. Tim Rice is known to his colleagues and partners as a genuine, personable, and determined individual who is centered around building strong relationships. We asked Tim for his opinion on what could be the future of the healthcare services sector post the pandemic, to
which Tim said, “Access is the largest issue in healthcare. Whether you are talking about access to physicians, access to treatments (both physically and financially) and access to accurate and relevant information. In the short term we are seeing a negative impact of the pandemic on a lot of medical conditions because patients are not going to see their doctor for ailments not associated with Covid-19 symptoms, hence we will see a burden to the healthcare system as the pandemic eases. But as the healthcare system adjusts to new capabilities there will be a lot of efficiencies through digital access to resources for effective care. We will not fully replace physical contact in medicine but for diagnosis, treatment, and management of many conditions the patient journey will be significantly improved.” Excerpts from his own journey as an entrepreneur, in his advice to those aspiring to venture into the healthcare services niche, Tim says, “Learn about the healthcare ecosystem as much as you can. You need to consider all stakeholders involved as medicine quickly becomes a ‘team sport’. A second piece of advice I would add is that you need to be agile and adapt as medicine evolves to remain relevant in this space. What is considered as the gold standard today, will not be the case tomorrow so stay close to your stakeholders and help them navigate.” Voyaging towards New Horizons The Rounds had immediately recognized that the pandemic would be a catalyst for a market shift in its favor. The company’s focus shifted from sales growth to the growth of its team. “We needed the right people on the bus to succeed in the wave that we could see coming so we regrouped, mapped out our immediate and mid-term needs for the following 12 months and went on a hiring binge to find the best talent available,” says Tim. The Rounds also understood that this was not just a Canadian impact, but it needed to think globally with medical associations approaching the company to seek solutions and it needed to think bigger. “In less than a year we’ve established a significant US pipeline for membership and customers and with a market 10x of Canada’s. We are very excited about our ability to scale in North America and globally,” concludes Tim.
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Providing Comprehensive Care for a Quality Life
I
n recent years, the otherwise missing conversation on mental health has picked some attention. People have finally started addressing mental health issues more openly than before. Although this open conversation is now happening among the younger population, the older adult population still lags behind in this aspect. With increasing age, a number of physical and mental illnesses occur in individuals. Among these, one of the leading mental health ailments in older adults is dementia. Even though dementia is mainly found in older adults, it is not a direct cause of aging. The disease affects approximately ten million people every year and impacts not just the individuals suffering from it but also their carers and family members. To address this serious mental health issue and improve the quality of life of older adults, Cogniciti Inc. came into existence. Cogniciti, through its provision of innovative, evidence-based brain health solutions, is engaging older people in essential conversations about their brain health.
Over 115,000 cognitive assessments have been completed via the BHA. Cogniciti Inc. is a brain health company and a subsidiary of Baycrest Health Sciences. Cogniciti was originally formed to create a model for bringing brain health science from the research lab to the consumer market through the provision of innovative, evidence-based brain health solutions. Baycrest is a global leader in research, innovation, education, and care for older adults, with a special focus on brain health and aging. Baycrest is home to a robust research and innovation network, including: The Rotman Research Institute, one of the world’s top research institutes in cognitive neuroscience. Ÿ The Baycrest-powered Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation, a solution accelerator focused on driving innovation in the aging and brain health sector. Ÿ The scientific headquarters of the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging, Canada’s largest national dementia research initiative. Ÿ
The company is a subsidiary of Baycrest Health Sciences, which is a global leader in residential living, healthcare, research, innovation, and education for older adults, with a special focus on brain health and aging. In a conversation with Insights Care, Brian Mackie, the Vice President Finance and CFO at Baycrest Health Sciences and Chief Operations Officer at Cogniciti Inc, and Dr Larissa McKetton, Director of Scientific and Clinical Development at Cogniciti Inc., talk about the elaborate services that the company provides to prevent, treat, and cure dementia. Please brief our audience about Cogniciti, its values, and the key aspects of its stronghold within the healthcare services space.
Fully affiliated with the University of Toronto, Baycrest provides excellent care for older adults through our hospital, long-term care, retirement home, and independent living and combines this with an extensive clinical training program for the next generation of healthcare professionals. Baycrest and Cogniciti are at the forefront of the fight to defeat dementia, as we work to help individuals fear no age
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Canada's 10 Most Valuable Healthcare Solution Providers
ABOUT THE LEADERS Brian Mackie Vice President Finance & CFO at Baycrest Health Sciences and Chief Operations Officer at Cogniciti Inc.
Dr Larissa McKetton Director of Scientific and Clinical Development at Cogniciti Inc.
Brian is a healthcare executive with more than 25 years of experience in the Ontario health system. He has provided financial oversight in two world-leading academic health centers: Baycrest and the Hospital for Sick Children. Brian is a Chartered Accountant who trained and worked with Price Waterhouse in both the UK and Canada.
Dr McKetton has worked with industry partners, the healthcare sector, and academia. She has a wide range of experience conducting brain-related studies encompassing aging neuroscience, multi-sensory system processing, vascular brain health, big data analysis, and cognitive assessment research and development (R&D).
and create a world where every older adult enjoys a life of purpose, inspiration, and fulfilment. Tell us more about the products/services that make Cogniciti stand out from the competition? Cogniciti has developed a clinically validated and selfadministered brain health assessment (BHA) that provides independent adults aged 20 – 94 with the ability to evaluate whether their memory is normal or if they should contact their physician. The test provides an immediate report after a 20-minute online assessment. The BHA can be used for clinical and research purposes and is also an engaging tool
She brings an extensive background in neuroimaging analysis, cognitive neuroscience, patient recruitment, mentorship, statistical and business expertise. Dr McKetton did her MSc and Ph.D. at York University in neuroscience, looking at clinical and unique populations with a focus on neuroimaging. Her postdoctoral work at Toronto Western Hospital focussed on cerebrovascular reactivity using different types of neuroimaging techniques in the aging brain.
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to start the conversation about cognitive health with older adults. The Cogniciti BHA is as accurate as the widely used Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) at identifying problems with memory and attention. A new study shows that for those with near-normal performance, the Brain Health Assessment performs better than the MoCA at detecting subtle cognitive decline and impairment. In addition, the Brain Health Assessment is more accessible than current tools since it is self-administered and available online. Over 115,000 cognitive assessments have been completed via the BHA. Leveraging our growing audience, Cogniciti has developed and utilized its Brain Health Registry. Adults who complete the BHA are offered the opportunity to join the Registry, which provides them early access to brain health research studies in their area. In addition, we provide a monthly newsletter to over 55,000 subscribers. Cogniciti has recently developed a portal for onboarding organizations to use the BHA for clinical or research purposes. A clinical BHA report is automatically generated, and this system can be used with a license subscription for pre-screening participants in clinical, research, academic, and clinical trial settings. What is your opinion on the impact of the current pandemic on the global healthcare sector, and how has Cogniciti fared during the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns? During this time, the global healthcare sector migrated to virtual platforms, such as the self-administered Cogniciti Brain Health Assessment. The pandemic has sped up the transition to virtual tools. In 2020, The Sam and Ida Ross Memory Clinic at Baycrest was the first clinic to pilot the clinical use of the BHA, which provided clinicians with more evidence to directly refer patients to special programs. Based on the success of this pilot, the team created an automated clinical portal to support its adoption by other organizations. In your opinion, what could be the future of the healthcare services sector post the pandemic? There is a market for tools that can be used to support a more autonomous understanding of a person’s brain health.
Cogniciti has solutions from its BHA, the clinical portal, and complementary tools, such as the Smart Tracker that is used to monitor overall health. The future of the healthcare service sector includes more virtual-based solutions and products and tools that are accessible by all users. More people can avoid an in-person primary care visit by connecting virtually at home. Care needs to be digitally enabled and distributed widely. Innovation with these technologies, spanning all patients, will also advance health equity through increased accessibility. As an established leader, what would be your advice to the budding entrepreneurs and enthusiasts aspiring to venture into healthcare services? Budding entrepreneurs should ensure that their product/service addresses an identified problem. There are many different types of healthcare services and models, so it is also important for any aspiring entrepreneur to find and do work in the field that they care about. Taking satisfaction in your work, having a clear vision, and understanding your industry are all key aspects to consider. How do you envision scaling Cogniciti’s operations in 2021? We envision scaling our operations by licensing the use of the BHA as a clinical and research tool. As evidence of the efficacy of the BHA builds, interest from researchers and clinicians across different disciplines is growing significantly. As an unsupervised, validated test, the BHA has significant value as a pre-screening and monitoring mechanism in some different research and clinical scenarios. The July 2021 publication of a paper, which shows that the BHA performs better than the MoCA, a widely used and supervised cognitive test, is significant and has led to multiple unsolicited inquiries regarding the application of the BHA in different scenarios. The information within the BHA can be broken down for further analysis, providing different assessments for shortterm memory, delayed memory, and executive attention. In addition, our research team is currently validating a French version of the BHA and investigating the test’s translation into other languages.
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The
in Rise of HEALTHCARE Everything You Should Know
H
uman evolution has always rotated around intelligence. Intelligence led us to the progress we have today. We are the ever-learning creatures, aren’t we? In this learning process, human beings invented many things that made their lifestyle easier. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the latest example of this. AI has spread its legs in almost all the sectors and has become an inseparable part of healthcare industry. AI completely transformed the healthcare sector. Application of AI and machine learning (ML) is the new normal in the healthcare space. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when covid patients were admitted to hospitals, they were passed through CT-scan machine. With a series of X-ray images taken from different angles, the score was calculated and so was the risk of patient. Some people appeared fine externally, which in CT-scan images, were reached to emergency level. They were saved because of the use of AI in healthcare. We are living in the digital age where everything is advanced. Healthcare sector is not an exception to this advancement. From dental machines to radiology, and ultrasound sonographies to laser treatments, AI is advancing
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Un-distance
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healthcare sector like never before. It was mere 50 years since it is evolved. However, within such a short period, it has become crucial in healthcare sector.
heart ailments that too in their early phases. This allows doctors and medical experts to better diagnose the illness and provide them the appropriate treatment.
Evolution of AI in Healthcare
2) Radiology: Radiology is one of the prime examples, where AI provided upper hand over manual efficiency. For instance, whenever a patient is passed through the radiations, the doctor has limited reference images. But in case of AI, it carries millions of images in its reference bank. Advanced images and patterns provide a clearer view for the doctor that the human eye may never see.
The period of 1960s laid the foundation of AI where research for first problem-solving program was carried out. This program was called as Dendral. It was specifically designed for the applications in organic chemistry. Further in 1980s, the American Association for Artificial Intelligence (AAAI) was established comprising healthcare sector. Fuzzy expert systems, artificial neural networks, and hybrid intelligent systems were some of the early examples of new systems in healthcare. Carrying this juggernaut further, the rise of internet triggered the use of AI in healthcare system. A new concept of machine learning was developed turning the knowledgedriven approach to data-driven approach. This shift accelerated the automation process of medical sector and introduced new horizons. Many tech-solutions were invented, and the diagnosis of serious diseases became possible.
3) Telemedicine: Telemedicine and AI go hand in hand. AI can assist the doctors to monitor patients remotely by using sensors. Some wearable devices provide information about the health issues. Further, this information can be compared to previously stored data by means of AI. This comparison will alert the patient or medical expert about the alarming conditions. 4) Drug Selection: Creation of drug is a time-consuming and costly process. But application of AI can accelerate this process and resultantly can save the time and cost. By recording the results of past trials, there will not be any need of repetitive testing. Hence, AI speeds up the drug selection process.
Recent Trend in Healthcare Sector We have reached the age, where the whole world is swiftly adapting the digital approach. This digital transformation is changing healthcare sector too. The advancement is providing accessible and affordable treatments, which were considered impossible a few decades ago. The healthcare sector is transforming rapidly due to the adoption of AI technologies. Today, we are witnessing the decisive role of AI through its recent trends in the medical sector. AI is performing human tasks more sophisticatedly and efficiently. It has the following applications: 1) Diagnosis of diseases: AI plays a cognitive role in diagnosis of diseases. AI based software can tell whether a person is suffering from a disease or not. According to a study, AI has 87% accuracy in diagnosis which is slightly greater than what healthcare professionals can achieve. AI is being used for the detection of diseases such as cancer or
5) Automation of Documentation: Documentation of patients is a time consuming and complex task. Also, there are chances of manual errors due to the repetitiveness of task. These mechanical tasks can be automated by using artificial intelligence. AI can store huge amount of data which can be used anytime for reference. There were the days when artificial intelligence was considered as a science fiction and was only limited to Hollywood films. However, the evolution of internet boosted AI and now it is touching new heights every day. It is advancing with each passing day providing a variety of applications. It is changing the dynamics of healthcare sector. No longer a science fiction, AI is transforming lives.
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- Vinayak G.
The use of
AI and Robotics in Fertility and
Reproductive Medicine - By Alexander Kotlyar, MD
W
e live in a world dominated by enhanced computing power and robotic systems. Given the potential of all this technology, it is essential for reproductive physicians and their patients to understand these technologies and determine how they could enhance the care of their patients. Two technological advances which are at this frontier are artificial intelligence and robot-assisted surgery. The technology and science behind treating infertility are becoming increasingly complex, and the volume of data used to make clinical decisions is expanding on an almost monthly basis. With so much information that we can gather about a couple that is experiencing infertility, their treatment cycle(s), and the embryos they make, it begs the question of how best to use this sea of information to maximize the chance of healthy pregnancy. This is where the new frontier of artificial intelligence (AI) and the subfield of machine learning (ML) comes into play. ML utilizes algorithms that incorporate demographic, clinical, pathological, and genetic information to find connections and predict clinical outcomes in ways that humans cannot easily achieve. It finds patterns in the data and is constantly refining them to produce ever better predictions; this technology is always learning how to learn better so as to predict outcomes even better.
Reproductive medicine has already started testing the potential of AI in the assessment of eggs and embryos, which can rival the accuracy of embryologists with years of experience. This automation can not only supplement determinations made by embryology staff but can help ensure optimal patient outcomes, minimizing the cost in time and money. AI has also been implanted in the assessment of sperm with its accuracy of correctly identifying well-developed sperm approaching 90%. AI remains one of the hottest topics in reproductive medicine. As additional data becomes available for the artificial intelligence algorithms, ever-increasing accuracy will be achieved with the promise of ever better clinical outcomes. In contrast to AI, robotic surgery has a much longer history in reproductive medicine. While the idea of robotic surgery seems relatively new, it has existed for over 50 years and developed as we know it from the department of defense research focused on doing battlefield surgery from miles away. Over the past several decades, robotic technology grew with improvements in computing power and imaging technology which led to the modern Da Vinci robotic system. Admittedly, this system isn’t an autonomous robot.
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TechDriven
About the Author Alexander Kotlyar completed medical school at Dartmouth in 2014. From there, he completed his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the world-renowned Cleveland Clinic, where he gained experience in the whole spectrum of reproductive surgery, including robotic surgery. In addition, he was involved with the team that performed the first uterine transplant in the United States. Afterward, he completed his fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Yale University. His research focused on finding novel treatments for endometriosis and has been published in leading journals in reproductive medicine. Currently, he is a reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist at Genesis Fertility/Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY.
Any movement by the surgical robot comes from commands made by a specially trained surgeon on a nearby console. The main advantage of the robot comes from the very fine movements possible with the numerous tools and arms at the surgeon’s disposal. In addition, the robot eliminates a natural tremor or shake in the surgeon’s hands. This makes exquisitely delicate surgeries such as tubal ligation reversals much easier and potentially quicker. Currently, robotic surgery is performed for a myriad of conditions that impact reproduction in addition to tubal
Alexander Kotlyar MD
ligation reversal. These include fibroid surgery, surgery to excise and remove endometriosis, and fertility preservation surgeries such as ovarian transposition/transplantation. In a study from The Cleveland Clinic, using the robot for fibroid surgery led to decreased blood loss and length of hospital stay. These clinical advantages combined with improved visualization and dexterity make robotic surgery a fixture of reproductive medicine. Both of these technologies are still evolving, with a myriad of studies currently underway to better refine and apply AI and robotic surgery. Each holds immense promise for a new age in reproductive medicine.
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eSSENTIAL Accessibility A
s the healthcare sector made a rapid shift to digital platforms during the pandemic to contain the virus for a variety of care services, it struggled with conforming all its platforms to comply with all the regulatory and statutory accessibility standards for people with disabilities. eSSENTIAL Accessibility is a comprehensive digital platform that lets organizations create an inclusive service experience for their clients through digital accessibility testing, evaluation, and remediation. eSSENTIAL Accessibility enables corporations to comply with the regulatory and statutory accessibility standards and display an inclusive and disability-friendly presence. In the following interview, Simon Dermer, the Co-founder and Executive Chairman, talks about the revolutionary services that the company delivers ceaselessly, and also his vision for the company’s future. Please brief our audience about eSSENTIAL Accessibility, its values, and the key aspects of its stronghold within the healthcare services space.
eSSENTIAL Accessibility (eA) is an Accessibility-as-aService platform dedicated to helping organizations create inclusive, disability-friendly experiences on their digital properties. We accomplish this through testing, evaluating, and remediating websites. We ensure that its three core values (unity, accountability, and resolve) are present in customer interactions while striving to make the digital landscape accessible for all.
As a social enterprise that spun out of a rehabilitative services provider to help patients with disabilities access technology, healthcare is the backdrop that informs our DNA. eA works with health care organizations to achieve and maintain compliance with accessibility standards, regulations, and guidelines, combining software, processes, and people to mitigate legal risk and achieve digital accessibility. Tell us more about the products/services that make eSSENTIAL Accessibility stand out from the competition? Other companies tend to focus on a specific area of accessibility rehabilitation without accounting for the rest.
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For instance, an overlay company or a consultant may provide automatic scanning of a website, but they won't provide human testing, legal support, accessibility program management, etc. — all things necessary to make a website accessible. In the consultant’s case, they may provide those services, but at an additional cost and on a fragmented basis. We provide all those services and more on our platform so customers can get the expertise and support they need on their journey to accessibility. What is your opinion on the impact of the current pandemic on the global healthcare sector, and how has eSSENTIAL Accessibility fared during the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns? As with all verticals, the pandemic has driven the global health care sector through significant change, including increasing drives to digital transformation and online engagement. Telehealth, in the form of doctor visits and patient monitoring, has taken off due to safety precautions around diminishing the spread of COVID-19. Websites have started to replace traditional phone calls for patients wanting to make appointments or access their medical information quickly. Health care organizations need to adapt their existing digital properties to handle this transition. As they update their digital assets, they must also comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), and other compliance guidelines for people with disabilities. The pandemic has caused not only individuals but businesses to reflect on what they could improve internally. Some businesses have homed in on DE&I initiatives to reach previously unengaged and unaccounted for audiences. As a result, more have started making their assets accessible for people with disabilities and have chosen our platform to assist in their journey to accessibility.
Digital transformation, although perhaps driven by the pandemic, is a boon for healthcare companies’ clients, giving them greater access than ever before. But that means that we owe it to them to ensure accessibility, transparency, and ease of use for all users, especially now that digital may be the first, or only, point of contact. For example, navigating websites to find vaccines or testing sites was inefficient, to say the least, during the pandemic, which is exclusionary for users with disabilities. Users need information in a timely, uncomplicated manner. Companies should oblige them by making their websites more userfriendly and adhering to accessibility standards. As an established leader, what would be your advice to the budding entrepreneurs and enthusiasts aspiring to venture into healthcare services? Be on the lookout for a problem and provide a solution. The healthcare sector is an industry where the population expects thorough answers to their questions because their health (i.e., quality of life) is directly impacted. Be prepared to provide them with that. Getting ahead of the curve and seeing where there's a need helps shape aspiring ventures into full-fledged companies in the healthcare sector. How do you envision scaling eSSENTIAL Accessibility’s operations in 2021? We’ve experienced very strong growth during 2020 and 2021 and expect the trend to continue in years to come. The market understands the need and urgency for accessible digital experiences — created by a massive shift to digital due to the pandemic, litigation under the ADA, and changing expectations in the marketplace — and we’re well-positioned as leaders in this space to help companies solve this challenge. We’re scaling by continuing to invest in technology and development and adding even more accessibility experts to ensure we can help every company that needs it.
In your opinion, what could be the future of the healthcare services sector post the pandemic?
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Importance
of
C ybersecurity for
Healthcare
Organizations
T
housands of years ago, when homo sapiens started to live in caves, they invented new ways of security. From spined fencing to live fire, they used everything to protect their lives. After stabilization, they built houses comprised of doors, and for security, locks were invented. In the process of evolution, the security measures got updated with time. Today, in this digital age, traditional locks are replaced with smart locks. During the journey of fire to smart locks, the ultimate focus is unchanged – security. Every era comes with its own challenges. Today, we are living in a digital age where everything is computerized. The widespread adoption of the internet augmented advancement in every sector. Everything stands upon a single click, and hence, new ways of security attacks were evolved accordingly.
People with the purpose of threatening security started cyber-attacks on companies, organizations, or even entire countries. These attacks were carried out to steal sensitive data. They can be conducted by an individual, a group of terrorists, or from the secret agencies of rival countries. So, how to secure healthcare space from these attacks? Modern problems require modern solutions, and cybersecurity is the perfect answer to this question. Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting networks, systems, and programs from digital attacks. These attacks are conducted to access and destroy sensitive information. Sometimes these can be shepherded to extort money from hospitals or medical professionals or to interrupt the workflow. Hence, taking effective cybersecurity measures is crucial for the healthcare sector.
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Shields Up
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Why is Healthcare Space on the RADAR? Healthcare organizations possess a considerable amount of data. It can include personal information of patients as well as sensitive information about medicines. This information possesses high intelligence value for cyber attackers. This highly sensitive information includes patients’ financial credentials such as banking details, credit or debit cards, or protected health data. Also, it may include intellectual information about ongoing research and medical records. Attackers sell these stolen records to the darknet, where they get immense profit. In extreme cases, terrorists can plan a cyber-attack to access the information for developing chemical weapons. Hence, foolproof security is crucial for the healthcare sector. Perils for Healthcare Industry • Phishing Scams Healthcare professionals are always in danger of phishing attacks. Hackers send false links to deceive the person and access sensitive information. These links can be sent through messages, emails, or through the browser. By clicking these malicious links, hackers access all the required information. A simple click might seem innocuous, but it can install the phishing software on the server, obtaining the recipient’s credentials. • Malware Attack Malware is one of the prime examples of cyberattacks. It can be used to block or destroy any system. It is the contraction of ‘malicious software’ that is designed to damage computers. Vulnerable networks are the easier targets of malware software. This software is inserted into a system by installing a program from the internet, employing false links or even through physical devices such as USB. • Denial of Service (DoS) Attack DoS attacks lead to the unavailability of the server. DoS attacks are carried out by creating traffic to overload the bandwidth. Distributed denial of service (DDoS) is
another example, where the attack is launched from several infected host machines to make server downs. Ways to Improve the Cybersecurity • Implementation of Multifactor authentication Multifactor authentication protects the accounts by verifying the recipient’s credentials. Login ID and passwords are the go-to factors for hackers. Hence, the implementation of multifactor authentication can reduce this risk and avoid the impacts of security lapses. • Filtration of dubious content Healthcare professionals running their communication systems should be aware of the dubious content. Attackers use phishing emails to divert the recipient and enter the system. Installing harmful software can lead to the loss of information. Hence, filtration of such content is crucial. • Regular System Update Old system can be less efficient and vulnerable towards cyberattack. Hackers can easily access the system if it is outdated. An updated system improves the security and workflow of the process. • Training of Employees for Cyber Attacks A well-trained team can minimize the risk of attacks on the domain. They will be aware of not clicking the fake links with poor quality logos or images. System can be more efficient in safer hands of trained employees. The Bottom line Healthcare system is advancing towards the technological revolution, where everything is getting automated. With the addition of AI and ML, it is only going to be advanced. On the flip side of the coin, cyber-attacks are getting denser with the time. Attackers are looking different ways to hack the system. Hence, the cybersecurity fences need to be tightened. In the end, what matters is the safety and security.
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- Vinayak G.
AI and Machine Learning How tech driven healthcare is driving the industry
I
n 1989 Praxis embarked upon the development of a unique type of AI-based Electronic Medical Record technology that has been progressively fine-tuned over the over all these years. Today, AI-based Praxis is rated number one both in usability and physician user satisfaction. This is not because Praxis is a better built software, but rather because the Praxis “concept processor” resolves time consuming process of medical charting using artificial intelligence that learns from its user. To most people, AI in medicine envisions an expert-type program knowledge that arrives from outside of the provider delivering information at the point of care. Technologies such as IBM’s Watson come to mind. The Praxis AI technology, however, is internal to the mind of the provider; it works with the mind of the provider and empowering the provider to practice efficiently. Praxis is currently the fastest and highest quality way to chart medicine today, hands down. The concept behind the AI in Praxis EMR is that medicine is an art and not just a science. The idea that medicine is an art-form rather than an exact science may feel initially strange to non-physicians. People may assume that medicine is a science that makes use of precise logical rules similar to those found in mathematics, engineering and accounting. The practice of medicine is not like that at all. Our medical art deals with uncertainty, probabilities and unknowns, it works with with gray areas of knowledge. Even after two hundred years of remarkable technologic and scientific achievements, medicine today continues to be based primarily on personal experience and human skill. No two-doctors practice the same way; no doctors think the same way. Indeed, with the advent of computers, if medicine were not an art form, then doctors would probably not be needed.
Algorithms could be set up so computers could practice all by themselves. A patient would access a program. explain his or her clinical issues, answer a few questions, be subject to a physical exam performed by expert robots which exist today in other areas, input ordered laboratory and other studies into the system, and...presto...the computer would generate a perfect diagnosis and advise on appropriate treatment every time. In fact, a computer could handle surgical procedures with perfection and speed if programed correctly if medicine were an exact science. It is not. This vision seems obvious, but it is not likely to happen in the foreseeable future. The human creative perspective, which is impossible for a computer to mimic successfully, is very much a part of the medical practice every day. Yes, a computer can follow a logical process perfectly, but it cannot follow reason, to say nothing of intuition, and therefore it fails where logic defies the clinical condition. It is in this circumstance where humans prevail over the computer. Medicine deals with a different type of knowledge. Often, we are called upon to make clinical decisions based on inadequate information, sometimes without even knowing the cause and mechanism of the disease process involved. Thus, personal experience makes a huge difference to the practice of this unique art. No matter how many books one reads, without having been exposed to patients for a significant time period—years perhaps—it is not possible to practice based on book learning or intelligence alone. Yesterday, this personal training was performed by a mentor, an older physician who would share experience and wisdom with his young protegee. More recently, formal medical residency programs have been set up to perform this training over years of training. Developing intuition and experience takes much time and effort.
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Tech of the Future
So even the simple migration from the paper record to its electronic equivalent by using macros and picklists to speed things up actually bogged down physicians even further. Today, the average provider in primary care spends twice as much time with their computer, and they do with their patients. On average, they waste about two hours a day playing dataentry clerk into a computer. This has become a major source of clinical error, physician stress and burn-out. Ironically, the computer is turning our physicians into robots. Understanding this subtle difference in how medicine works in real life allowed us to create a very different solution. If medicine is learned from personal experience, why not set up the charting in the same manner, by learning from the provider’s own previous writings to help him/her not only chart dramatically faster but also think clearer? This is the basis of the Praxis Concept Processor, a neural network type of software that instantly finds and retrieves the text of the closest possible encounter that the individual provider has handled in the past in relation to the case being encountered. This approach makes use of the fact that that some clinical cases are very rare indeed—they may have never been encountered by this provider—whereas others present daily and even hourly, which does not mean they are not complex and do not demand precision and care. Here is exactly where the computer becomes extremely helpful, as it never forgets anything it is taught. In essence, the doctor is charting backwards. Instead of writing what was done, one does what is written. The use of previous personal writing as a checklist to assist in the approach to a clinical event flies against what the hard sciences teach us. However, this approach is highly effective. Let’s face it, one may disagree with someone else, but it is very hard to argue with oneself. Therefore, if a new case presents that is identical to one seen in past, the use of the previous chart on an identical case not only speeds up data entry dramatically, but more importantly, ensures that nothing is forgotten, that all the t’s are crossed, and the i’s are dotted. Not only is the charting done instantly, but all the orders are carried out at once, the prescriptions written precisely and electronically sent to the pharmacy, the laboratory orders are generated, the instructions and handouts to the patient are handled, the referrals, the reschedule and the bill are all generated at the same time as the note, all done in a single instant step. And if the provider disagrees with anything in the past for a similar patient, the reason can only be that either the doctor
Richard Low, MD Founder and CEO, Praxis EMR made a mistake handling the previous case—medical knowledge may have improved in between, an actual error from before may be found— the current case should be handled slightly differently. In the first case, the correction ensures that random errors will never recure, whereas in the second case, the system will learn for the future. In other words, the more Praxis is used, the faster and smarter it becomes for its user for all cases, and the less time is wasted charting, and the less clinical errors are made. Here the basis of the AI is the doctor’s own knowledge and approach. Based on this unique approach, a huge set of clinical possibilities arises. Clearly, this is a different approach than the old “dead-paper-record paradigm” and one that progressively improves the quality of medicine and decreases clinical errors, physician stress and burn-out, saving thousands of hours of wasted paperwork charting a year. Indeed, AI in medicine can be thought of in ways different ways: Empowering an art-form is certainly one of them, and that is what Praxis EMR is all about.
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Canada's 10 Most Valuable Healthcare Solution Providers
Medicinal Innovation Empowering Healthcare Space
M
odern medicine has helped find solutions to complex health problems, cancer being one of them. What was incurable once, today, under certain conditions can be successfully treated, cured, and controlled, giving patients and their families new hope. From radiation and chemotherapy, to immune and cell-based therapy, to the first-in-class development of small molecule therapy PCLX-001 by Pacylex Pharmaceuticals that exploits a new target in cancer for which drugs have never been previously developed, cancer therapy continues to evolve and improve
Cancer care with convenience Established in 2012, Pacylex has set itself apart by being the first to address a new cancer target with a new first-inclass therapy. There are many cancer therapies currently in practice or in development. However, developing a cancer therapy is about more than whether someone has another molecule against the same target. When talking about PCLX-001 therapy, it differentiates with the following characteristics:
“Through this development, we aspire to cure hematologic malignancies, leukemia, lymphomas, and myelomas, dramatically improving patient outcomes in serious cancers,” says Dr. Michael Weickert, the CEO. He further adds, “We value strong science, teamwork, and execution. What keeps us moving ahead through every challenge is knowing we have a rare privilege of potentially making a genuine difference in the lives of patients, their families, and their caregivers.”
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Convenience – PCLX-001 is a once-per-day pill. Ÿ Potency – PCLX-001 is approximately 10-times more potent in vitro than the lymphoma drug Imbruvica which had revenues of $8.1 billion in 2019. Ÿ Tumor killing – in all animal models of hematologic cancers, PCLX-001 regressed/killed tumors or cancer cells. Ÿ Synergy – PCLX-001 works through a new mechanism of action not targeted by other therapies. Thus, it can potentially work even Ÿ
better when combined with other treatments that work differently. This potential of the drug has already intrigued several large pharma companies with mature oncology franchises. Leadership dynamics Behind innovations and strategies taking place at Pacylex, is an expert Dr. Weickert who entered the healthcare industry in 1992 as a Senior Scientist straight from 3 years at the National Cancer Institute of NIH, after receiving a Doctorate in Genetics from the University of Wisconsin.
Michael Weickert | CEO
“
What keeps us moving ahead through every challenge is knowing we have a rare privilege of potentially making a genuine difference in the lives of patients, their families, and their caregivers.
“
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Within two years he was reassigned from laboratory management to project management. Over the next 13 years, Dr. Weickert worked in public companies, Somatogen, Ligand, and Nektar, where he guided preclinical and clinical-stage product development programs for biologics, small molecules, and drug-device combinations including for the Phase 3/NDA program for Targretin for Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma at Ligand. At Nektar, Dr. Weickert was entrusted with setting up an internal business unit for anti-infectives for pulmonary delivery which eventually led to 4 development programs. After being an intrapreneur at Nektar, Dr. Weickert decided in 2007 to work with startups before coming to Pacylex in 2017. He also served as interim CEO at illumisonics and COO or CBO at multiple startups including
Dr. Weickert talked about the impact of the ongoing pandemic on Pacylex Pharmaceuticals operations, “the impact on supply chains affected our company, Pacylex, because our drug substance is manufactured in India and the manufacturing plant was shut down for more than a month due to the pandemic.”
Therashock, Ohm Oncology, and currently Greenfire Bio. Dr. Weickert currently serves as Executive Chairman for Chelation Partners, another Canadian Pharmaceutical Company. He seeks life science diamonds in the rough, game-changing medical discoveries and innovations that are emerging from places outside the mainstream marquee ecosystems, and thus, are struggling for traction. From his home in the San Francisco Bay area, Dr. Weickert helps assemble development plans and teams and tells compelling stories to potential investors and corporate partners for the diamonds in the rough. Facing the pandemic of challenges The ongoing pandemic has impacted every sector more or less including medicinal research and development. The lack of preparation and unfortunate policy decisions have strained healthcare delivery and some supply chains to the breaking point in many countries.
This delayed the manufacturing of the company’s clinical supplies and therefore the filing of a regulatory application that requires the analysis and certification of the final drug product, which is the capsules the company plans to dose to patients. “Because we are largely virtual, other operations were relatively unaffected. Though the medical and investor conferences we ordinarily attend each year all were virtual, we still had about the same number of meetings, we just didn’t have to travel to have them,” says Dr. Weickert. Advice for the aspirants “Healthcare values experience,” said Dr. Weickert while advising aspirants, “if you have a great idea and some initial data, get some experience on your team to help execute. Execution is where most great ideas fail,” he says. He further suggests, “Value the capital and experience required for execution; many budding entrepreneurs think the idea is all the value. Ideas are a dime a dozen. What distinguishes an idea from a product is hard work, great execution, and the talent and capital necessary to pull that off.” Transition to a clinical-stage company Now that the vaccination drives have helped curb the COVID-19 situations in several countries it has brought new hope to the global market. “2021 is an important transition year for the
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company,” says Dr. Weickert, “in March, we received authorization from Health Canada to begin clinical studies in Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma and solid tumor cancer patients for our lead compound, PCLX-001.” The company expects these studies to begin in late June or July. Further, the company will go from a pre-clinical stage company to a clinical-stage company with three clinical sites conducting the initial clinical program – Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto, Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton, and BC Cancer Agency in Vancouver. The company also hopes to initiate a second program in a different cancer population, Acute Myeloid Leukemia, at MD Anderson Cancer Center in the US late this year. “Though we will transition to a clinical-stage company, we will remain a modest operation for now. Our expanded effort in drug production and clinical operations is largely an expansion of the work of our partners who we have been engaged to oversee those efforts,” says Dr. Weickert.