A Unique Relationship: Health Equity and Digital Health…A Summit For Action

A Unique Relationship:?Health Equity and Digital Health…A Summit For Action

Solving worldwide health equity remains an elusive goal with massive challenges .??I joined Real Chemistry as Global Chief Health Equity Officer to create real solutions for improving health equity. I’ve seen how important this is to our organization; as a global health innovation firm, Real Chemistry’s mission is to make the world a healthier place for all. Improving health equity requires an intersectional intervention, a willingness to utilize AI, tech, and digital, and unify them with a human touch.?

?That’s precisely why we’re hosting the Real: Health Equity 2022 Summit virtually during the J.P. Morgan Chase Health Conference on January 12-13th.?And it's why I have launched a series of LinkedIn Live sessions on the topic like the one pictured above.

?Despite growing acceptance that systemic health disparities exist, simply talking about it does not bring about necessary change. This crisis will not improve unless we meet this moment with actionable, behavioral changes, and investment.

?This summit is not a medical meeting. It's a solution-based symposium offering companies, academia, healthcare providers, communities, professional associations, the public sector, and venture capital the information they need to drive the collective effort toward long-term shifts across the health ecosystem.?

?We'll address the challenges and opportunities to steer action by facilitating candid conversations that start by asking the right questions. Over the last few weeks, I've had the pleasure to speak with industry experts to understand their perspectives and potential resolutions to end health disparities.?

One of them was the brilliant and talented Christopher N. Cross, Ph.D., the managing director and founder of Cross River Strategies, a health equity boutique consulting firm serving biotech, pharma, and academia clients. Dr. Cross sees three significant areas that can impact change, including reimagining the role of the retail pharmacist based on the number of touchpoints they have with the patient, community engagement and research, and developing strong community partners in biotech and pharma.

?Nearly ten years ago, Dr. Cross participated in a clinical trial that revealed system-wide barriers and why we must improve upon them. "America was built on a caste system, and we are still operating under an unconscious bias and understanding that is major—acknowledging this fact and how it's led to the mistrust in health and sciences amongst underserved communities is key to make transformational change."

?When explaining digital health's role in clinical trials, Dr. Cross emphasized the importance of real-world data and real-world evidence to re-engage underrepresented populations. "Patient-generated health data that directly engages with the patient through mobile applications that monitor health data can be validated and become evidence used to expand clinical trials and submit approvals to the FDA."

?I was really intrigued when Dr. Cross talked about a Unique Device Interface (UDI), a barcode on an implant that can be used for drug developers to collect data and improve their implants based on those findings.

?Before we ended the discussion, I asked Dr. Cross who he thought was doing the work or is instrumental in creating change?in the digital health arena. His answer? The "NESTcc, the National Evaluation System for Health Technology?coordinating center?and?future?partnerships with community hospitals to include their?patient?data to expand indications, is vital." I couldn't agree more.

?Access to information like this is critical to the success of every Chief Health Equity Officer trying to bring about radical change. I look forward to the inspiring takeaways we'll all learn during this upcoming summit.

?The time for decisive decisions related to improving health equity are upon us.

?I look forward to seeing you at the Real: Health Equity 2022 Summit.

?(Click here to watch the full video with my discussion with Dr. Cross, and for more information on health equity like this, don't miss the opportunity to join us for our Real: Health Equity 2022 Summit)

To learn more about the event and register now, click here.?