Trials App Becomes Therapeutic Option
IllumiCare has partnered with MultiCare Health System, a not-for-profit healthcare organization with 11 hospitals in the state of Washington that also provides access to clinical trials through the MultiCare Institute for Research & Innovation, to allow providers to recommend clinical trials as a therapeutic option at the point of care using its Trials App on the Smart Ribbon.
IllumiCare’s Smart Ribbon is a non-intrusive ribbon of information that floats above the electronic health record (EHR), encouraging providers to take different actions and providing information from more than 20 apps. Meanwhile, the Trials App nudges providers in real time if the patient they are seeing meets the referral criteria for an institutional clinical trial, as established by the local research team. It’s the only technology that directly connects patients to trial coordinators for follow-up and tracks a patient’s journey within the recruitment and trial process, enabled by one simple click.
The partnership with MultiCare represents the first time that the Trials App is being used in a clinical setting. MultiCare has already introduced the Trials App to its oncology and pediatric providers, with plans to roll it out across other specialties.
Introducing Calcium + Company
Calcium, a mid-sized healthcare communications agency, launched Calcium + Company to serve as an overarching structure that will house a collection of offerings, including the newly launched public relations division PRotein. According to Group President Greg Lewis, “Calcium + Company will serve as an anchor brand—expanding our model of delivering powerful, diverse, and integrated solutions that reflect the complex and rapidly evolving marketing needs of today’s—and tomorrow’s—clients.”
PRotein joins the existing Vitamin MD, a medical communications division that launched in 2021, as well as Calcium itself as the three current offerings that fall under Calcium + Company, which will be led by CEO Judy Capano and Group President Greg Lewis. The plan, according to Lewis, is to continue to add more diversified offerings in the future.
Managing Director Stacey Gandler will head PRotein, which serves as a full-service health and wellness PR division offering strategic consultative services, integrated storytelling, and audience engagements to nourish business-defining moments across molecules, brands, and companies.
“Never before has communications played such a vital role in how people connect and engage with their health, as well as the communities, providers, and systems that support them,” Gandler said in a statement. “PRotein adds public relations as a powerful new capability to our current agency and medical communications solutions.”
A New Collective and Communications Firm in Healthcare
The Next Practices Group and The Bliss Bio Group, top communications groups in their industry, have joined forces to create a life sciences marketing and communications collective, NPG Health. The collective is ignited by insights and informed by analysis to join clients in improving healthcare outcomes. It launched along with its first firm, Bliss Bio Health, a new life sciences marketing and communications company headquartered in Holmdel, NJ. Both NPG Health and Bliss Bio Health will be led by industry veteran Gloria Vanderham as its CEO.
“Our goal is to build a one-stop solution from ‘atom to access’ that services our clients at the global level to meet the market needs,” Bob Pearson, Chair of The Next Practices Group and CEO of The Bliss Group, said in a statement. “Gloria is an industry-recognized, values-driven leader who has more than two decades of global, regional, and local country experience in communications, digital, and social media marketing. She understands the challenges and opportunities from the agency and in-house perspectives and brings invaluable patient insights to drive business impact for our clients and strong leadership for our teams.”
The HBA Winners Are Here
The Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA) announced the 2023 Woman of the Year, the Honorable Mentor, and the STAR winner. Recognized for their outstanding contributions to healthcare and the advancement of women in the workplace, these honorees will be celebrated at HBA’s annual Woman of the Year event in New York City on May 16.
This year’s Woman of the Year is Christi Shaw, CEO, Kite, a Gilead Company. With over 30 years of leading roles in various therapeutic specialties throughout the industry, Shaw has led Kite to become the largest CAR T-cell therapy company in the world, with an extensive in-house manufacturing network devoted to creating this specialized treatment for patients. Jag Dosanjh, President, U.S. Neuroscience and Eye Care, AbbVie, was named Honorable Mentor as a pioneer in women’s leadership initiatives throughout the company and within the HBA community. And the Strategic Transformation Achievement Recognition (STAR) goes to Liz Paulson, Associate Vice President, Life Sciences for the Healthcare Business of LexisNexis Risk Solutions, for her outstanding efforts to grow and expand the HBA and advance its strategic goals.
A PSA for Counterfeit Meds
The Alliance of Safe Online Pharmacies Foundation is partnering with the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy to launch a patient and provider PSA starring award-winning actor Danny Trejo around counterfeit medication. Studies show that 47% of Americans are purchasing medications online, a number that has increased since the pandemic. The consumer phenomenon is supported by 35,000 online pharmacies worldwide, 95% of which operate illegally as confirmed by the World Health Organization (WHO). The PSA “Bad Drugs,” stars Trejo who is on a mission to raise consumer awareness about the dangers of counterfeit medicine.
“I’ve lost so many friends, and as someone who has seen it from both sides of the fence, it has gotten so much worse over the years,” Trejo said in a statement. “Since I’ve partnered with the LA County Sheriff’s Department in the past to help rehabilitate individuals, this PSA felt like a natural fit for me to participate in. I’m dedicated to making a difference, especially when it comes to illegal and counterfeit drugs, and I’m excited to see others are just as committed as I am to ending this horrible problem that only continues to get worse.”
Counterfeit sales online have skyrocketed as consumers look for affordability, convenience, and access to care. The PSA points consumers to Safe.Pharmacy, a website that provides an easy way to verify medical purchases online so consumers can continue to access care without the risk of consuming unsafe medications.
Running on TV, social media, radio, print, and out-of-home, the PSA showcases fake movie sets with Trejo at the forefront, and focuses on vulnerable patients, including minority and homeless communities who are more at-risk for receiving counterfeit drugs. The still image—a movie-like poster touting the subhead “The Story of a Fake”—will be featured in Times Square. Additionally, an ongoing social campaign will educate viewers on “how to spot a fake” with step-by-step instructions alongside an animated screen to make the process of visiting the website fool-proof for the audience, ultimately saving more people from Bad Meds.
