3Digital Health Care from page 24 behavioral nurse practitioners and behavioral master’s-level clinicians. Virtual behavioral health care professionals may be able to help members with various conditions – including depression, bipolar disease, neurodevelopment disorders, anxiety and substance use issues – and produce improved health outcomes, at the same cost, as in-person office visits.
important to remember that good oral health is a first line of defense to help the body protect itself from infections, systemic inflammation and various types of disease such as diabetes and heart disease. For primary care physicians, consider discussing the importance of dental care, and teledentisry, with your patients. Eye Health. Research shows eye health contributes to overall health, as comprehensive eye exams may help with the detection and management of certain chronic conditions, including diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure.
Dental Health. With dental care ranking among the most avoidable reasons for emergency room Dome physicians are starting to recommend “smart inhalers”. visits, teledentistry may help patients make more informed decisions about when and where to To help improve eye care, some vision plans go for care. Through teledentistry capabilities, are enabling access to virtual care for eye exams, patients may have access to at-home telephone and using the same clinical standards, eye care provider video consultations for advice regarding dental reimbursement and coverage policies as in-person concerns, as well as help with decisions on an appointments. Virtual care can enable remote eye care professionals to appropriate setting for in-person dental care, if needed. While dental practices complete eye exams in a traditional in-person setting staffed by a licensed continue to provide routine care with appropriate COVID-19 precautions, technician. This may be a useful option when eye care professionals are virtual care resources – along with at-home hygiene habits such as brushing not available in person, especially for people with certain chronic health twice a day and daily flossing – continue to take on added importance in conditions that may require frequent eye care. For added convenience for helping people maintain proper oral health and reduce the risk of exposure routine eye care needs, patients may also consider online resources that at in-person visits. When a potential dental emergency occurs, teledentistry enable them to order prescription eyewear and contact lenses, in some cases can help evaluate the severity of the situation and guide people to their for little or no out-of-pocket costs through vision plans. own dentist, a local dentist with availability or a primary care physician. Hearing Health. Hearing health is also connected to overall well-being, And while some people often focus primarily on their physical health, it is as people with hearing loss who obtain treatment experience lower risk of depression, dementia and diminished risk of falls. Health care professionals can play a role in detecting hearing loss, including by in-person testing or by suggesting the use of publicly available online screening resources. If additional hearing care is needed, consumers can then obtain an in-person hearing test from a local, licensed hearing health professional to generate an audiogram, which may be used to purchase customprogrammed hearing aids delivered directly to the person’s home. While home-delivered hearing aids have been previously available, new resources are offering a “direct delivery with virtual care” model. Through these initiatives, people may be able to have hearing aids customized and adjusted (as necessary) through a virtual experience. This new model can reduce the need for in-person appointments for hearing aid adjustments and support, offering greater convenience and affordability compared to traditional models.
Helping physicians communicate with physicians for over 30 years. MINNESOTA
AUGUST 2018
PHYSICIAN
THE INDEPENDENT MEDICAL BUSINESS JOURNAL
Volume XXXII, No. 05
CAR T-cell therapy Modifying cells to fight cancer BY VERONIKA BACHANOVA, MD, PHD
U
niversity of Minnesota Health is now among the few selected centers in the nation to offer two new immunotherapy drugs for the treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Both drugs—Yescarta and Kymriah—are part of an emerging class of treatments, called CAR T-cell therapies, that harness the power of a patient’s own immune system to eliminate cancer cells. CAR T-cell therapy involves drawing blood from patients and separating out the T cells. Using a disarmed virus, the patient’s own T cells are genetically engineered to produce chimeric antigen receptors, or CARs, that allow them to recognize and attach to a specific protein, or antigen, on tumor cells. This process takes place in a laboratory and takes about 14 days. After receiving the modification, the engineered CAR-T cells are infused into the patient, where they recognize and attack cancer cells. Kymriah received initial FDA approval in 2017 for the treatment of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Advertising in Minnesota Physician is, by far, the most cost-effective method of getting your message in front of the over 17,000 doctors licensed to practice in Minnesota. Among the many ways we can help your practice: Share new diagnostic and therapeutic advances Develop and enhance referral networks Recruit a new physician associate
Robert Kantor, MD, is Chief Medical Officer, UnitedHealthcare of Minnesota.
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Kristi Henderson, is Senior Vice President, Center for Digital Health and
Physician/employer direct contracting
CAR T-cell therapy to page 144
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Exploring new potential BY MICK HANNAFIN
W
ith the continuing escalation of health care costs, large and midsized selfinsured employers are once again looking for an edge to manage their medical plan costs and their bottom line. They understand that they are ultimately funding health care as they pay for their population’s claims.
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Many of these employers have employed the same overarching set of strategies: shop for a new carrier that is willing to lower the administrative costs or underprice the risk, Physician/employer direct contracting to page 124
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www.mppub.com
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Considering these emerging technologies – and discussing them with your patients and your health plans – may help encourage improved health outcomes, curb costs and help your practices grow. Moving forward, we anticipate people to increasingly embrace a digital-first mindset, likely opting for care professionals who incorporate technology into their clinical practices and workflows. By leveraging virtual care, wearables, and other forms of connected medical services, health care professionals can make their practices more competitive and responsive to the needs of patients.
FEBRUARY 2021 MINNESOTA PHYSICIAN
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