Wanted: Technologies that Empower Patients

Dr. Cafazzo talks about empowering patientsInspiring TEDxToronto talk provides examples of technologies that engage patients and help them live well.I ran across an inspiring presentation by Dr. Joseph Cafazzo on the intersection of patients, healthcare providers, hospitals, and technology to empower patients to live better lives. This presentation was part of the recent TEDxToronto meeting. Dr. Cafazzo is the Lead for the Centre for Global eHealth...

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Look to the Future: Physicians Recommend Mobile Apps

Apps for Health ManagementEarly-adopting physicians recommend mobile apps to enhance patient compliance and outcomesThere is evidence that adults in the US are using cell phones and smartphones to manage their health, and use is growing at a moderate pace. A recent blog post shared results from the Mobile Health 2012 survey, which was published by The Pew Internet and American Life Project. The findings from this survey offer significant insights...

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Smartphones: Fertile Ground for Health Information

Interesting stats on smartphone usage - more belowPew Internet and American Life Project finds half of smartphone owners use their devices to get health information.The Pew Internet and American Life Project recently published results from the Mobile Health 2012 survey. The findings from this survey offer significant insights into how US consumers use their smartphones to access health information and health apps. These findings are evidence that...

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Industry Insights: Sales Forces Shift to Customized Approaches to Smaller Audiences

PharmaVOICE Year in PreviewThe latest issue of PharmaVOICE magazine is available and it focuses on the key issues likely to challenge the industry in 2013. The issue provides insights from more than 150 executives with experiences that span the development continuum from clinical, research and development, regulatory, to sales, marketing, and global issues.I contributed to the section titled “Sales of the Future: New Tools, New Roles, and New Strategies”,...

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Look to the Future: Sharing Physician Visit Notes with Patients Improves Engagement and Adherence

More transparency and sharing of information is the way of the future in healthcare. A simple option is to allow patient’s access to their visit notes that physicians keep as a part of their medical record. Patients have a right to see their entire medical record including physician’s notes; however, this doesn’t regularly happen.Very little is known about the impact on physicians and patients when they are allowed to read physician’s notes from...

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Full-Speed Ahead: The Shift to Patient-Centric and Personalized Marketing Programs

Read a new article in PharmaVOICE magazine about segmentation advances and the value of personalizing marketing programsChanges in the industry are shifting the goals of marketing programs to focus on the patient, and to provide meaningful outcomes. To do this, the focus must be on getting the right patient on the right treatment. Advances in technology are fueling exciting changes in how effectively marketers segment and message to their audiences....

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Evolving Pharma Sales Models: The Customer is King

How pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device products are sold is changing and it will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. There are many factors driving this change, and two of the most significant are healthcare reform changes and that healthcare providers are demanding meaningful interactions with company representatives. Life science companies are developing new sales models that aren’t solely a “sales pitch”. Rather, the interaction is “customer-centric” and based on meeting the customer’s needs and providing value.Evolving...

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Hit the Target to Drive Action and Engagement

Lately, I've been thinking about how to drive customer action and engagement. Given recent advances in technology there are many tools available to connect the life sciences industry with their customers on an individual level. For me, the challenge is in how to maximize the impact of these tools to meet the needs of patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers.I have seen more about behavioral marketing lately, which at its core is focused...

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Budget Planning: Creating Impact with Less Investment

Declining Patient Adherence is a Key ConcernIt’s August and many of us are in the midst of budget planning season. We are all aware of the reality facing the life sciences industry—more drugs coming off patent leading to less revenue and increasing costs to develop new treatments. Now more than ever, life science companies are faced with the need to do more with less. For marketers this means maximizing the impact of each program.My advice to clients...

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Free Podcast: Improve Patient Adherence with Patient Support Programs

 In the latest podcast, I share my thoughts on improving patient adherence through patient support programs. Specifically, I discuss how patient support programs contribute to higher patient compliance rates, better patient health, lower healthcare expenses, and improved patient retention.If you would like to listen to this podcast, please click to download it now. After you listen to the podcast, let me know what you think of it—is it helpful?...

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Fact: Healthcare Is Changing

Efforts to reform healthcare are moving forward as it is clear that as a nation we must decrease healthcare costs. Right now there are more questions than answers about the impact of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that the US Supreme Court recently upheld. One thing is clear—the US healthcare system is changing. Below are my thoughts on three key areas the life science industry must prepare for.Articulate the value of your product.Conventional end...

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White Paper - Do More with Less—Invest in Patient and Caregiver Support Programs

A successful modelPatient adherence is a hot issue for all players (ie, payers, healthcare providers, life science companies, and patients) in the healthcare industry. Unfortunately all chronic conditions have low rates of patient compliance to therapy with the average being between 50% and 65%. Patient noncompliance is a significant problem, and for the life science industry it is particularly problematic as patients that start a therapy are not...

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ASCO Highlights: Two Innovative Trial Designs

 The annual scientific meeting for the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) recently concluded. As expected there was a constant flow of new data being released for products in various stages of development for all forms of cancer. The volume of new data is exciting, even though the decks are stacked against these approaches and their odds for commercial success are slim.As I scanned articles summarizing data presented at the meeting...

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ASCO: Celebrate Successes and Prepare to Support Patients in the Future

The annual scientific meeting for the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) starts this weekend in Chicago. This meeting is the premier scientific meeting for new clinical data in oncology. Reflecting on this important meeting I’m reminded of the significant advances that have been made in the last 15 years in treating cancer. Several trends fill me with hope for the future, including…1) Increasing use of oral therapies2) Molecularly targeted therapies offer decreased side effects versus traditional chemotherapy3) The possibility that cancer,...

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Keep it Simple: Focus on the Patient with Adherence Programs

Hi, I'm Moriah Weissman and I'm a Clinical Director at Tunstall AMAC. I work with Lou and our life science company clients to provide clinical insights for the development of patient, caregiver, and healthcare provider support and communication programs. Lou invited me to contribute to the blog, and I look forward to sharing insights and thoughts with you, as well as learning more about your challenges.In working with our clients there is a lot of interest in life science companies about maintaining patients on a treatment. A number of...

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The Double Dip - Deliver Impact and Flexibility with Tele-Sales Solutions

The sales function in life science companies continues to evolve and become more complex. The pressure to increase sales in a cost-effective manner grows by the day and sales executives are eagerly searching for innovative and impactful ways to grow sales.Tele-sales programs are flexible programs that efficiently and effectively augment sales and promotional activities in many ways including…1) Scheduling visits with a field-based representatives to provide 1-on-1 interaction when it’s needed2) Expanding territories and coverage to ensure all healthcare...

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Three Must-See Sessions at DTC Perspectives in April

The DTC Perspectives Conference starts next Tuesday, April 10 in Washington DC. The agenda looks great. I’m looking forward to hearing from executives at several life science companies on how they are changing their DTC programs to move away from brand promotion and awareness to focus on what patients need and want. When programs focus on what patients need and want we build engagement that can lead to commitment and loyalty. There are three sessions that I’m particularly looking forward to...  1) The New DTC: Using Technology to Build...

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White Paper - Seize the Moment: Tele-Sales Solutions Delivering Impact and Flexibility

This white paper illustrates how tele-sales solutions provide valuable interactions and develop relationships with healthcare providers and their offices in customized ways that meet their individual needs.Download WhitepaperDownload Companion Podcast - Insights from the Field: Tele-Sales Solutions Build Relationships between the Brand and HCPs  Download Podcast Transcript (PDF)All Podcasts and White PapersView Blog View website for Tunstall...

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Podcast - Insights from the Field: Tele-Sales Solutions Build Relationships between the Brand and HCPs

In this podcast, I talk about the challenges life science companies face when providing information on their products to physicians and healthcare providers. I hope you enjoy it. Download Podcast Download Podcast Transcript (PDF)Download Companion Whitepaper - Seize the Moment: Tele-Sales Solutions Delivering Impact and FlexibilityView Blog  View website for Tunstall AMAC Life Sciences...

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Engaging HCPs, Patients, and Caregivers to Shape Your Initiatives

Gaining Valuable Insights from Daily InteractionsDesigning and implementing effective marketing programs starts with understanding what your customers need most. This knowledge will help you develop impactful and desired programs that customers seek out. The idea of including the “voice of the customer” (or VOC) has been around for many years, and is becoming standard practice when developing new initiatives and programs. We live in exciting times...

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