Sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) data is key for improving health outcomes among sexual
and gender minority (SGM) patients. How can healthcare organizations effectively navigate challenges --
like bias and discrimination -- to improve SOGI data collection?

Featuring: Carey Candrian, PhD, associate professor of medicine at the University of Colorado School of
Medicine and a 2024 Health and Aging Policy Fellow

In today's episode, we'll cover:

• The implications of missing SOGI data on care delivery and quality
• The challenges health systems face that prevent them from routinely collecting SOGI data
• Strategies to improve SOGI data collection and health equity for LGBTQIA+ patients

And more!

To learn more about AI in healthcare, check out our site, Healthtech Analytics.

To watch video clips from our podcast, subscribe to our YouTube channel, @Healthcare Strategies.

References

• https://www.techtarget.com/searchhealthit/news/366578124/SOGI-Data-Missing-in-Over-60-
  of-Adult-EHR-Records-Study-Finds
• https://news.cuanschutz.edu/medicine/cu-researcher-issues-a-call-for-more-data-to-improve-
  care-for-lgbtq-patients

2025 promises to be an interesting year in healthcare with many possibilities, challenges and unknowns. A few of our editorial staff members got together to discuss the trends we will be watching in the new year, from telehealth flexibilities to artificial intelligence guardrails, and from employers' cost-cutting efforts to the future of reproductive health.

Featuring: Shania Kennedy, assistant editor of Healthtech Analytics at Xtelligent

Veronica Salib, associate editor of Pharma Life Sciences at Xtelligent Healthcare

Anuja Vaidya, senior editor of Virtual Healthcare and special events lead at Xtelligent Healthcare

Kelsey Waddill, multimedia manager and managing editor of Healthcare Payers at Xtelligent Healthcare

In today’s episode, we’ll cover…

• The focal points of GLP-1 research in the coming year
• GLP-1 coverage expectations
• AI trends in 2025
• Telehealth market shifts
• Reproductive healthcare evolution since the overturn of Roe v. Wade

...and more!

To learn more about 2025 healthcare industry predictions, check out our Xtelligent sites: Healthtech Analytics, Healthcare Payers, Pharma Life Sciences, and Virtual Healthcare.
To watch video clips from our podcast, subscribe to our YouTube channel, @HealthcareStrategies.

Thank you to Dr. Sanjula Jain, Melissa Knuth, and Dr. Stephanie Page who spoke with us earlier in the season and whose insights we included in this episode.

References

GLP-1 general impact overview https://www.techtarget.com/pharmalifesciences/feature/Anticipating-the-healthcare-reach-of-GLP-1-receptor-agonists

CDC unintended pregnancy data https://www.cdc.gov/reproductive-health/hcp/unintended-pregnancy/index.html#:~:text=Overview,2010%20to%2041.6%25%20in%202019

Vasectomy data from the University of Florida Health https://ufhealth.org/stories/2022/what-to-know-before-getting-a-vasectomy

Planned Parenthood data on vasectomy reversals https://www.plannedparenthood.org/blog/are-vasectomies-reversible#

HR managers see value in GLP-1 coverage https://ir.accolade.com/news-releases/news-release-details/glp-1-coverage-employer-plans-could-nearly-double-2024

Employer coverage rates of GLP-1s for weight loss https://www.ifebp.org/resources---news/survey-reports/glp-1-drugs--2024-pulse-survey-report-(u.s.-corporate-data)

Exploring generative AI in healthcare https://www.techtarget.com/healthtechanalytics/feature/Exploring-generative-artificial-intelligence-in-healthcare

Introducing the role of Chief Analytics Officer https://www.techtarget.com/healthtechanalytics/answer/Exploring-the-Role-of-Cleveland-Clinics-First-Chief-Analytics-Officer

Telehealth volumes data from Trilliant Health https://www.techtarget.com/virtualhealthcare/answer/Examining-the-limitations-of-the-current-telehealth-market

Leveraging RPM at home for cancer care https://www.techtarget.com/virtualhealthcare/feature/Leveraging-RPM-to-Enable-At-Home-Care-for-High-Risk-Cancer-Patients

Vendor uses wearables to assess impact of GLP-1s on Parkinson's disease https://www.statnews.com/2024/12/10/glp-1-parkinsons-health-tech-startup-koneksa-digital-measures/ 

As the reproductive health landscape continues to evolve, access to contraception and prescriptions for contraception are increasingly critical tools for preventing unplanned pregnancies. In some states, pharmacists at retail pharmacies can play a critical role in contraceptive access by providing counseling and prescriptions for some birth control methods.

Featuring: Dr. Mollie Scott, a pharmacist, the regional associate dean of the University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy, and Chair of the Department of Pharmacotherapy at Mountain Area Health Education Center.

In today’s episode, we’ll cover

• The role pharmacists play in prescribing and medication management
• Policies and regulations for pharmacists’ prescribing
• The benefits and drawbacks of pharmacists prescribing contraception
• Advocacy tips for pharmacists hoping to change contraception prescribing laws in their state

And more!

To watch video clips from our podcast, subscribe to our YouTube channel, @HealthcareStrategies.

Note: The Healthcare Strategies team will be on break for 12/30/24, but make sure to tune in for our first episode of the new year (publishing 1/6/25) where we cover major trends for 2025!

Resources:

Clinical Pharmacists Are a Major Contributor to Quality Patient Care https://www.techtarget.com/pharmalifesciences/feature/Clinical-Pharmacists-Are-a-Major-Contributor-to-Quality-Patient-Care

Understanding the widespread impacts of pharmacy deserts https://www.techtarget.com/pharmalifesciences/answer/Understanding-the-widespread-impacts-of-pharmacy-deserts

Limited Access to Female Contraceptives: A Public Health Crisis https://www.techtarget.com/pharmalifesciences/feature/Limited-Access-to-Female-Contraceptives-A-Public-Health-Crisis

Assessing the Expected Impacts of OTC Hormonal Birth Control Pills https://www.techtarget.com/pharmalifesciences/feature/Assessing-the-Expected-Impacts-of-OTC-Hormonal-Birth-Control-Pills 

The future of telehealth policy remains uncertain, with pandemic-era regulatory flexibilities set to expire by the end of the year, barring Congressional action. What is holding Congress back from extending or solidifying these flexibilities, and will those concerns influence telehealth legislation in 2025?

Featuring: Darryl Roberts, Vice President of Health Informatics at RELI Group

In today's episode, we'll cover…

• The impact of telehealth flexibilities on healthcare delivery and patient outcomes  
• Possible reasons why Congress has yet to act despite bipartisan support for telehealth access
• Key pieces of legislation to watch for in 2025

References:

Spending Bill to Extend Telehealth, Hospital-at-Home Waivers for 2 Years (https://www.techtarget.com/virtualhealthcare/news/366596488/Spending-Bill-to-Extend-Telehealth-Hospital-at-Home-Waivers-for-2-Years)

HHS: How the End of the PHE Will Impact Telehealth Flexibilities (https://www.techtarget.com/virtualhealthcare/news/366596867/HHS-How-the-End-of-the-PHE-Will-Impact-Telehealth-Flexibilities)

What the NJ Lawsuit Adds to Out-of-State Telehealth, Licensure Debates (https://www.techtarget.com/virtualhealthcare/answer/What-the-NJ-Lawsuit-Adds-to-Out-of-State-Telehealth-Licensure-Debates)

What the House subcommittee hearing tells us about telehealth’s future (https://www.techtarget.com/virtualhealthcare/feature/What-the-House-subcommittee-hearing-tells-us-about-telehealths-future)

To learn more about telehealth policy, check out our site, Xtelligent Virtual Healthcare.

To watch video clips from our podcast, subscribe to our YouTube channel, @HealthcareStrategies.

GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide 1) medications are revolutionizing weight loss and diabetes care, but behind the hype lies a growing web of regulatory gaps, telehealth expansion and online pharmacy risks. This episode unpacks the opportunities -- and dangers -- shaping the future of these life-changing drugs.

Featuring: Scott Roth, Chief Executive Officer, LegitScript

Gerard Olsen, Director of Research, LegitScript

In today’s episode, we'll cover…

• The skyrocketing demand for GLP-1 medications and their influence on weight loss trends, including a 26% drop in bariatric surgeries
• How telehealth and online pharmacies are reshaping access to GLP-1 drugs -- and the risks posed by rogue sellers and counterfeit products
• The critical need for stronger regulatory enforcement and LegitScript's role in ensuring safety and transparency in the online healthcare market

To learn more about GLP-1 medications from all angles, check out our Pharma Life Sciences, Patient Engagement and Healthcare Payers sites.

To watch video clips from the conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel, @HealthcareStrategies.

References:

Metabolic bariatric surgery in the GLP-1 era (https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2825349)

Risks of online semaglutide without prescription (https://www.techtarget.com/pharmalifesciences/news/366609735/Study-uncovers-risks-of-buying-semaglutide-online)

FDA updates on GLP-1 compounding policies (https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-clarifies-policies-compounders-national-glp-1-supply-begins-stabilize)

Staffing shortages and rising operational costs are daunting challenges for community health centers, which are vital for serving underserved populations. How can the right technology investments help community health centers overcome these obstacles?

Featuring: Abby Sears, president and CEO of OCHIN

Jeff Lowrance, CEO of OSIS

In today’s episode, we’ll cover…

• The top operational challenges community health centers face
• How health IT innovation can transform healthcare delivery in underserved communities
• The value of collaboration for tackling workforce shortages

and more!

To learn more about health IT, check out Health IT and EHR site.

To watch video clips from our podcast, subscribe to our YouTube channel, @HealthcareStrategies.

References:

Finances stymie patient data sharing, interoperability at FQHCs (https://www.techtarget.com/searchhealthit/news/366578868/Finances-Stymie-Patient-Data-Sharing-Interoperability-at-FQHCs)

Community health center access up by 1 million patients (https://www.techtarget.com/patientengagement/news/366599934/Community-health-center-access-up-by-1-million-patients)

Community Health Centers’ Progress and Challenges in Meeting Patients’ Essential Primary Care Needs (https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/issue-briefs/2024/aug/community-health-centers-meeting-primary-care-needs-2024-FQHC-survey)

As many patients decide whether to take glucagon-like peptide 1 agonists (or GLP-1s), providers face various new patient engagement challenges. What patient engagement strategies can providers pursue to achieve shared decision-making, even when their patients decide to take GLP-1 compounds? In this episode, we hear one local dietitian share her experience guiding patients through the decision to take GLP-1s and we'll also touch base with one of our senior staff members to get a more comprehensive perspective on patient engagement trends in this area.

Featuring: Kate, a local dietitian in the Boston area

Sara Heath, executive editor at Xtelligent Healthcare

In this episode, we'll cover

• One dietitian’s experience with patient engagement on the topic of GLP-1s and weight loss
• The need for robust care management in GLP-1 usage
• How to respond when patients want to take/are taking a GLP-1 compound

and more!

References

Patient education tips for GLP-1, weight loss drug treatment (https://techtarget.com/patientengagement/feature/Patient-education-tips-for-GLP-1-weight-loss-drug-treatment)

Is care management missing from the GLP-1 drug discourse? (https://www.techtarget.com/patientengagement/feature/Is-care-management-missing-from-the-GLP-1-drug-discourse)

To learn more about patient engagement, check out our Patient Engagement site.

To learn more about GLP-1s, visit our Pharma Life Sciences site.

And to watch video clips from the conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel, @HealthcareStrategies.

GLP-1 drugs, like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound, have gained attention for their significant health impacts and anti-obesity effects. However, there continues to be a lot of unknowns surrounding these medications, their long-term impacts, and access.

Featuring: Dr. Lydia Alexander, an obesity medicine specialist, lifestyle specialist, president of the Obesity Medicine Association (OMA), Chief Medical Officer at Enara, and a medical chef.

In today’s episode, we’ll cover

• The significant progress made in GLP-1 research, care delivery, and insurance coverage
• Filling research gaps in GLP-1 care through longitudinal studies examining long-term medication effects and potential adverse reactions
• Tips for providers managing patients on GLP-1 medications and patient-focused approaches to obesity management

And more!

To watch video clips from our podcast, subscribe to our YouTube channel, @Healthcare Strategies

Resources:

• Are compounded “DIY” peptides the answer to the GLP-1 shortage?
• Exploring FDA-approved GLP-1 receptor agonists
• Addressing muscle loss associated with GLP-1 medication use

General hospitals in New York State are subject to new cybersecurity regulations. What do these regulations entail, and what inspired them? How can hospitals in other states prepare for similar cybersecurity requirements?

Featuring: Jill McKeon, associate editor, Healthtech Security, Xtelligent Healthcare

Kelsey Waddill, managing editor & multimedia manager at Xtelligent Healthcare

In this episode, we’ll cover

• The provisions of New York State's hospital cybersecurity regulations
• Why these regulations could be a sign of what's to come for the sector
• Cybersecurity best practices to prepare for future state or federal requirements

and more!

References

• Understanding the nuances of the healthcare cybersecurity regulatory landscape
• Top free resources for improving healthcare cybersecurity
• Proposed bill calls for minimum healthcare cyber standards

To learn more about healthcare cybersecurity, check out our Healthtech Security site.

To watch video clips from the conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel, @HealthcareStrategies.

Note: we're taking a quick break next week (10/28) but will be back 11/4 with more conversations.

A good population health strategy requires a breadth of health data to make it work. Across social determinants of health data, patient data and data from non-traditional sources, healthcare organizations and professionals can design interventions tailored to better support chronic disease management and, ideally, prevention.

But how can healthcare providers and their insurer counterparts make effective use of that data to promote better outcomes? And at what point do patient engagement and an empathic human touch need to balance out SDOH data?

Featuring: Roy Beveridge, MD, senior strategic advisory at Avalere Health, and Sarah Ahmad, CEO of CAQH

In today's episode, we'll cover…

• The need for tailored healthcare approaches
• The role of health data analytics tools
• The marriage of information and human touch in a digitized population health space

And more!

To learn more about SDOH data and population health, check out our Patient Engagement site and our 2024 Payer + Provider Virtual Summit.

To watch video clips from our podcast, subscribe to our YouTube channel, @Healthcare Strategies.

Generative AI adoption is of increasing interest within the healthcare industry. How can healthcare leaders ensure that their workforce has the appropriate AI literacy needed to support successful AI integration in clinical settings?

Featuring: Melissa Knuth, vice president of planning at OSF HealthCare

In today's episode, we'll cover…

• How generative AI use can improve patient experience and empower the healthcare workforce
• Strategies to design and scale an enterprise-wide educational initiative to improve healthcare workers' AI literacy
• The role that industry partnerships play in bolstering healthcare AI efforts

And more!

To learn more about AI in healthcare, check out our site, Healthtech Analytics.

To watch video clips from our podcast, subscribe to our YouTube channel, @Healthcare Strategies.

References

• https://newsroom.osfhealthcare.org/building-an-ai-prepared-workforce/
• https://www.techtarget.com/healthtechanalytics/feature/Exploring-generative-artificial-intelligence-in-healthcare