13 minute read
Health care innovators
Passion, progress, hope –
Innovators focus on overcoming major health care challenges
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Publisher’s Note: In line with our mission at Movers & Makers, we’re launching occasional features highlighting innovators – the “makers” – in a variety of industries. We start this feature introducing you to eight providers of innovative health care, including a practitioner who navigates around limitations presented by insurance, a physician whose chatbot identified thousands in need of genetic testing, a surgeon who condenses cancer diagnosis and removal into one efficient procedure plus multiple advocates employing creativity and collaboration to foster more equitable healthcare outcomes. Thanks to our colleague at Cincinnati Cares, Katie Fiorelli, for coordinating and editing the responses. – Thom Mariner
Anita Shah
Anita Shah
Pediatrician, Assistant Professor, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Joining Forces for Children
– Describe your job/role in 25 words or less:
I’m a child advocate first and foremost. I believe that through advocacy I can improve the health and well-being of children in our community.
– What most interests you about your work?
I am a physician, researcher and an advocate. As a researcher, I study how I can promote the health and well-being of children and their families. As a physician, I enjoy connecting with families and being their child’s doctor. Combining patient stories with my research helps direct and inform my work as a physician advocate.
– What’s the most exciting innovation or advancement you’ve been part of in the past year or two?
Recent events, both the pandemic and the current social justice movement, have propelled meaningful dialogue on how systemic racism plagues our communities. It is incredibly powerful to see some long-standing institutions attempt to authentically engage with the community to help mitigate disparities. There is definitely still much work to be done, but the conversation has grown deeper, and I hope that this will provoke change towards developing more equitable communities.
– What frustrates you most about the state of health care in the U.S.?
I firmly believe that health care, and access to it, is a human right. Many believe we have the best healthcare system in the world. Yet our results show we are far from the best. For example, we have the highest rates of infant and maternal mortality compared to other developed countries. But it is because of my belief that health care is a human right that I engage in the work that I do, and why I am passionate about changing and innovating within healthcare.
– If you could snap your fingers and change one thing about health or healthcare in Cincinnati, what would you change?
I wish our healthcare system would be proactive instead of reactive. This to me, means we need a stronger investment into our public health and prevention infrastructure. Obviously, this has great implications during a pandemic, but even when there is no pandemic – illnesses, such as obesity or addiction, can and should be addressed before they begin. We need to invest more in these preventive efforts.
– What new skill or passion did you develop during the pandemic?
I’d like to say I joined the breadmaking bandwagon, but I didn’t. Being more mindful and connecting with nature has been a respite for me. I did get a Peloton, so I guess I did join that bandwagon.
Burns C. Blaxall
Burns C. Blaxall
Director, Precision Medicine, The Christ Hospital Health Network
– Describe your job/role in 25 words or less:
Transforming health care delivery from “one size fits all” to an individually tailored approach that proactively develops prevention, detection and treatment plans.
– What most interests you about your work?
The ability to “move the needle” in the delivery of health care. Steve Jobs said that “the only way to do great work is to love what you do,” and I honestly love what we’re doing to advance the delivery of proactive health care to all populations through The Christ Hospital Health Network.
– What’s the most exciting innovation or advancement you’ve been part of in the past year or two?
Six months ago, we deployed an interactive “chatbot” which patients complete prior to their mammography visit to evaluate their hereditary cancer risk. In just six months, over 11,000 patients completed this evaluation and nearly 25 percent met national criteria to meet with our genetic counselors and/or advanced practice providers to evaluate their hereditary disease risk and develop more proactive prevention, detection and treatment plans for themselves and their families. Expanding this to our entire healthcare network will revolutionize our delivery of healthcare. Next up: genetic guidance for prescriptions.
– What frustrates you most about the state of health care in the U.S.?
Our healthcare system is generally designed to be reactive, so we often struggle to treat diseases that are detected in their later stages. We can improve that with more proactive approaches to develop early prevention, detection and treatment plans. The disparity of health care delivery to diverse and underserved populations is also something we must collectively address.
– If you could snap your fingers and change one thing about health or healthcare in Cincinnati, what would you change?
I’ll take the liberty of providing two: 1) Proactive evaluation of hereditary disease risk, particularly for cancer, cardiovascular disease and known genetic diseases. 2) Were you aware that adverse drug events are the fourth leading cause of death in the USA? A recent study found that one in five newly prescribed medicines would benefit from recommended genetic guidance; with that guidance nearly one in 10 would have resulted in an immediate change in dose or drug. We can do better on both of these points and are actively aiming to do so.
– How do you wind down or blow off steam following a workday?
Slalom water skiing, cycling, downhill skiing, running … followed by discovering a new recipe for an amazing meal.
Ciara Staunton
Ciara Staunton
Family Nurse Practitioner and Founder, Staunton Primary Care in Walnut Hills
– Describe your job/role in 25 words or less:
My job as a nurse practitioner involves evaluating patients, performing in-office procedures, ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests, creating treatment plans and prescribing medications.
– What most interests you about your work?
The variety of conditions that I get to treat. There’s always something interesting happening in my office or during my home visits with patients. I love that I get to treat patients from one-week-old to 100-years-old. Having the time to truly listen and make an impact is most rewarding.
– What’s the most exciting innovation or advancement you’ve been part of in the past year or two?
Opening my direct primary care practice. Direct primary care is an innovative healthcare model that eliminates the red tape of insurance. My practice has become a viable option for combating rising healthcare costs while maintaining a high-quality level of care. Our model is centered around the patient, insurance doesn’t dictate the care my patients receive and my patients are given the undivided attention they deserve.
– What frustrates you most about the state of health care in the U.S.?
The U.S. healthcare system is one that’s incredibly overburdened and unnecessarily expensive. I am frustrated that the cost of health care trickles down and leads to patients not receiving the care they need, rationing their medications or not taking their medications at all. All of this affects health care outcomes in a disastrous way.
– If you could snap your fingers and change one thing about health or healthcare in Cincinnati, what would you change?
That’s really tough. There’s so much room for improvement. I want health care to be affordable, accessible and transparent. I don’t think that’s asking for too much.
– How do you wind down or blow off steam following a workday?
I’m currently working on a home garden. Research has shown that gardening can provide benefits for your body, mind and overall health. I’m looking forward to my first harvest.
Kevin Hartman
Kevin Hartman
Chief Medical Officer, Bon Secours Mercy Health Medical Group
– Describe your job/role in 25 words or less:
I provide clinical oversight and expertise for the BSMH Medical Group with a primary focus on quality, patient experience, provider well-being and reducing costs.
– What most interests you about your work?
The opportunity to promote change in health care that will bring about a more accessible, streamlined and patient-centric care delivery model, and to help providers reconnect with the reason they entered into healthcare – to improve the lives of patients.
– What’s the most exciting innovation or advancement you’ve been part of in the past year or two?
The ability to deliver care through virtual platforms on a larger scale and broader scope.
– What frustrates you most about the state of health care in the U.S.?
Inequities in access to healthcare.
– If you could snap your fingers and change one thing about health or healthcare in Cincinnati, what would you change?
I would like to see a healthcare system that makes it easier for patients to get affordable and convenient access to necessary diagnostic testing, procedures and medications.
– What new skill or passion did you develop during the pandemic?
I learned how to effectively collaborate with others, develop relationships and run meetings by remote presence.
Meredith Shockley-Smith
Meredith Shockley-Smith
Director, Equity and Community Strategies, Cradle Cincinnati – Queens Village
– Describe your job/role in 25 words or less:
I focus on infant mortality and maternal health and the collective impact model that has made huge strides in reducing rates of infant mortality in Hamilton County, particularly for Black babies.
– What’s the most exciting innovation or advancement you’ve been part of in the past year or two?
The growth of Black leadership and the increased visibility of Black women’s expertise in interventions that impact us and society at large.
– What frustrates you most about the state of health care in the U.S.?
The speed that large systems move. The need for urgency in systems change is frustrating, but fuels “the movement” to swell and demand swift and equitable action. People power is a powerful thing.
– If you could snap your fingers and change one thing about health or healthcare in Cincinnati, what would you change?
Outcomes. More people looking into systems change and the disparity in outcomes based on race and then changing how care is given to impact those outcomes. If we change things for Black women, who have the worst health outcomes, we change the system for all people.
– What new skill or passion did you develop during the pandemic?
Creating sacred space by building relationships and trust for community members online. And my, my, my – was it a learning curve, but a skill that will benefit me moving forward.
– How do you wind down or blow off steam following a workday?
I went back to running everyday. I love it no matter the weather. And shout out to my friends and family who check in and surround me with love and support.
Kiana R. Trabue
Kiana R. Trabue
Vice President, Strategic Partnerships, Bethesda, Inc., bi3
– Describe your job/role in 25 words or less:
I am responsible for building partnerships both within TriHealth and with external partners to co-design innovative initiatives to solve our community’s deep-seated health issues.
– What most interests you about your work?
I’m excited about partnerships that lead to non-traditional, innovative ways to drive health improvement.
– What frustrates you most about the state of health care in the U.S.?
As a determinant of health, clinical care is insufficient for ensuring better health outcomes. Medical care only accounts for about 20 percent of an individual’s overall health status. The remaining 80 percent is a combination of genetics and social determinants of health. While we have seen new innovative payment models focused on social determinants at the federal, state, and local levels, there are still many unknowns regarding best practices for implementation, impact on cost and outcomes, and the ability to scale and spread across different contexts under current policies. We need more policy change, resources, and sustainable funding to scale these models in order to see true, long-term impact.
– If you could snap your fingers and change one thing about health or healthcare in Cincinnati, what would you change?
I would eliminate implicit bias and racism in healthcare. I would create a system where all people regardless of their demographics had access to quality, affordable, coordinated and comprehensive care.
– What new skill or passion did you develop during the pandemic?
I became an air-fryer chef, a homeschool teacher and I’m certain I became Amazon’s top buyer of the year with the number of items I purchased in 2020.
R. Douglas Adams
R. Douglas Adams
Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Surgical Director of Thoracic Oncology, TriHealth
– Describe your job/role in 25 words or less:
Most of my work is in the lung cancer arena. Surgically, this involves the use of surgical robotics for the cure and treatment of lung cancer. I also function as a part of the leadership team developing and administering the infrastructure necessary to identify, diagnose and treat this disease.
– What most interests you about your work?
The most interesting aspect of my work by far are the patients. Each is unique and working with them to personalize and optimize their treatment is very rewarding.
– What’s the most exciting innovation or advancement you’ve been part of in the past year or two?
Surgical robotics in the lung cancer space has been a game changer for patients. Offering surgical cure with dramatically less pain and disruption of lifestyle has been exciting. In the last two years, we have added robotic bronchoscopy, via the Ion technology. With this advancement, we have even been able to offer diagnosis and surgical therapy in the same setting, completely eliminating the delays between a cancer diagnosis and surgical removal.
– What frustrates you most about the state of health care in the U.S.?
The most frustrating aspect of healthcare in the United States are the barriers patients encounter in timely access for almost everything. The barriers in place for even the simplest tests and treatments are tiresome.
– If you could snap your fingers and change one thing about health or healthcare in Cincinnati, what would you change?
Low-dose CT scanning for smokers has saved thousands of lives by early detection of lung cancer before symptoms arise, but only a small percentage of patients know of or take advantage of this paid-for screening test. If a snap of the finger could result in all patients being scanned, I’m in.
– How do you wind down or blow off steam following a workday?
My wife and I have a 16-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter. Spending time with them and their activities relieves a lot of stress. Personally, I also enjoy archery, writing and reading.
Maria Espinola
Maria Espinola
Board Member, Health Policy Institute of Ohio; Psychologist, UC Physicians; Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, UC College of Medicine
– Describe your job/role in 25 words or less:
I provide psychological services, teach, and engage in community and policy work to improve the lives of people who have survived trauma and marginalization.
– What most interests you about your work?
Being able to change people’s lives and a little bit of the world in the process.
– What’s the most exciting innovation or advancement you’ve been part of in the past year or two?
In 2019, my team and I received the UC Cancer Institute Innovation Award. Our proposal focused on leveraging the microbiome for cancer cures. In addition, the fact that our team was 50 percent female and included people from six different fields and five different racial/ethnic backgrounds gave us another opportunity to prove that diversity drives innovation.
– What frustrates you most about the state of health care in the U.S.?
The policies and systems that perpetuate health inequities.
– If you could snap your fingers and change one thing about health or healthcare in Cincinnati, what would you change?
I would like for the healthcare system to focus on preventing and mitigating the impact of childhood trauma, including racial trauma.
– What new skill or passion did you develop during the pandemic?
I learned how to film and edit educational videos.
– How do you wind down or blow off steam following a workday?
I love practicing yoga, cooking, spending time with friends and family and playing with my cat.
