Interviews

Lower-sodium oxybate (LXB) and sodium oxybate (SXB) were proven equally effective for cataplexy and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), despite LXB having 92% less sodium.

Sarah Wall, MD, talks about how it’s important to consider patient age when treating older patients with cancer because it will impact so many of them and blood cancers act differently and can be more aggressive in older adults.

A close, updated review of data used to determine how to improve lung cancer screening rates and see who is most at risk of pulmonary complications is necessary to make progress in this area, notes Ajay Sheshadri, MD, MSCI.

Jeffrey Velotta, MD, FACS, attendee and presenter of CHEST Annual Meeting 2023, talks about the phenomenon of an increase in female, Asian, nonsmokers developing lung cancer, and what is being done to address this rise.

Aparna Balasubramanian, MD, assistant professor of medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and attendee of the CHEST Annual Meeting 2023, talks about the necessity of challenging measurements like race-specific equations that can create harmful assumptions.

Rajini Katipamula-Malisetti, MD, executive vice president at Minnesota Oncology, discussed what her practice is doing to continue improving patient care.

Mike Koroscik, MBA, MHA, vice president of oncology, Allina Health and the Allina Health Cancer Institute, discusses the successes and challenges of a population health reimbursement model and gives advice for other health organizations considering a similar partnership within their practices.

Afreen Idris Shariff, MD, MBBS, director at Duke Endo-Oncology Program, Duke Endocrinology, Duke Cancer Institute, discusses how e-consults are addressing specific endocrine immune-related adverse events from immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), reducing time to appointment, and lowering the need for hospitalization.

Rajini Katipamula-Malisetti, MD, executive vice president of Minnesota Oncology, defined value-based cancer care and its importance.

Providers have to know how to manage patients who are hesitant to switch to a biosimilar and payers who have specific preferences about which biosimilar to use.

Margaret Liang, MD, MSHPM, gynecologic oncologist and program director for the gynecologic oncology fellowship program at Cedars-Sinai Cancer Center, discusses the Association of Community Cancer Centers' Financial Advocacy Services guidelines, which focus on providing financial support to patients with cancer.

Kathy Oubre, MS, CEO of Pontchartrain Cancer Center, speaks on the unique perspectives and challenges smaller health care practices may face when entering into alternative payment models and shares key insights for addressing these issues.

Sara Horst, MD, MPH, FACG, gave physicians tips on maintaining the personable aspects of in-person appointments during telehealth appointments and shared how digital health has helped her treat patients.

Ajay Sheshadri, MD, discusses the advantages of attending CHEST 2023 in person and how these benefits can inspire positive change even after the conference ends.

More ovarian cancer drug approvals and treatments have become available since 2014 than in the preceding 60 years combined, emphasized Rebecca Brooks, MD, UC Davis Health.

Madeleine McDowell, MD, hopes these data insights will help change providers' behavior in terms of adopting earlier and more regular screening for chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Rhonda Henschel, US Oncology Network's vice president of payer relations, summarized what she learned from the Minnesota Oncology IVBM and discussed new developments in the value-based cancer care space.

Jennifer Sturgill, DO, Central Ohio Primary Care, discusses how shortages of antibiotics and medications for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder have affected primary care, as well as addresses the impact on heart failure care of CMS’ recent announcement of the first 10 drugs up for price negotiation in 2026 under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

Fee-for-service care is not really in line with how primary care physicians think or how primary care should be delivered; the crux of value-based care is wanting patients to have the care they want and need, noted Kristin Oaks, DO, Agilon regional medical director at Central Ohio Primary Care.

In this interview from our recent Institute for Value-Based Medicine® event, Kristine Slam, MD, FACP, Central Ohio Surgical Associates, discusses the positive impact that Choosing Wisely and enhanced recovery after surgery, or EROS, protocols have had on patients receiving treatment for breast cancer.

Robin Shah, CEO of Thyme Care, which he founded in 2020 with Bobby Green, MD, president and chief medical officer, joins hosts Emeline Aviki, MD, MBA, and Stephen Schleicher, MD, MBA, to discuss his evolution as an entrepreneur in oncology care innovation and his goal of positively changing how patients experience the cancer system.

Adam Kittai, MD, discusses how value and waste in treatment are imperative to consider in value-based care for blood-based cancers.

Erin Gillaspie, MD, MPH, FACS, a faculty member of Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s Department of Thoracic Surgery, discusses new technologies making surgery on lung cancer tumors easier and expresses what currently excites her within the lung cancer space.

Shrilla Banerjee, MD, FRCP, consultant cardiologist, Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, shares what politicians and clinical trialists can do to help mitigate cardiovascular health disparities.

Family history is probably the biggest risk factor that patients need to know about, said Rebecca Brooks, MD, UC Davis Health.

The findings of DICTATE-AHF have several implications for cardiologists treating patients with type 2 diabetes, said Zachary Cox, PharmD, professor at Lipscomb University College of Pharmacy.

Seun Ross, PhD, describes the goals Independence Blue Cross has for improving maternal health, diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, and behavioral health.

As of November 2022, the Pittsburgh Financial Empowerment Center has helped 1227 clients, saved them over $2 million, and helped reduce their debt by almost $3.5 million. Counselor Alicia Donner discusses how the organization not only provides financial assistance but also helps patients cope with unexpected health care expenses.

Lisa Kottschade, RN, CNP, FAPO, a nurse practitioner at Mayo Clinic, discussed immune-related adverse events and biomarkers in relation to melanoma treatment.

The number one ingredient that an oncology-based alternative payment model needs to succeed is collaboration, explained Nicolas Ferreyros, managing director of policy, advocacy, and communications, Community Oncology Alliance (COA).