April 2016                                                                                                                              Issue No. 2  

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The April issue is chock full!   From news about the 2016 WHCMAA strategic plan and a June Kinney scholarship winner to articles about the human factor, systems, and technology, there is something for everyone.

For those who were not able to attend this year's 22nd annual Wharton Healthcare Business Conference, " The Innovation Game: The Race Between Entrants + Incumbents," held in Philadelphia February 18 - 19, 2016. Check out  this consistently excellent event.

 
 
 
Great news!  We are running a discount to place an ad in the Wharton Healthcare Quarterly :
 
  • ¼ page ad in the July and October issues OR a full page ad in the October issue for $375 (a 25% discount). (The October issue includes an ad in the print version of the WHQ which will be handed out during the annual Alumni Healthcare Conference) The deadline for submitting your ad materials is June 5. 
Our open and click-throughs for the web version are above digital benchmarks, and the is currently distributed to more than 4000 readers, including the following distribution for the close to 1600 WHCM program alumni in the healthcare sector: 


If you have questions or would like to place an ad, please contact us at   customerservice@whartonhealthcare.org

Z. Colette Edwards, WG'84, MD'85
Managing Editor

To learn more about Colette, click here.


presidentThe President's Desk
Contributor:  John Harris, WG'88
 
The Wharton Health Care Alumni Association is the leading network for the business of healthcare . The Alumni Association achieves this status in two ways:
  • supporting the leading MBA program for the business of healthcare - the Wharton Health Care Management Program
  • connecting all Wharton alumni in the business of healthcare with each other and with students
The Alumni Association recently completed a strategic plan to set a clear direction for how we will support alumni to connect with each other and support current students. You can find a copy of the strategic plan under "About" on our website whartonhealthcare.org .   Read more.  
 
PhilosopherThe Philosopher's Corner
Contributor: Todd Hermann, WG'85

This eclectic standing column features insightful musings, words of wisdom, life lessons, and stepping stones to business success. This month's philosopher is  Todd Hermann, WG'85, President and founder of Cadensus, LLC, where he advises and leads non-profit boards and management teams in strategic planning, marketing, business development, financial analysis, and client relationship management.  Read more
 
We'd love to hear from you and invite you to  click here  to participate in future editions.  Column Editor:  Z. Colette Edwards, WG'84, MD'85.


AffidavitAffidavit: Healthcare and the Law  - Telemedicine and Antitrust/The Texas Case
Column Editor:   Lisa W. Clark, JD'89
 
Telemedicine provides enormous business opportunities, but regulatory due diligence is a must.  While there is no question that telemedicine is here to stay, the legal landscape is fluid.  Even though many payers are reimbursing for telemedicine services, a physician cannot practice telemedicine if governing State law prohibits it.  As States grapple with how to regulate telemedicine, all eyes are on Texas, where an interesting battle is in play between a telemedicine company,  Teladoc , and the State Board of Medicine involving practice of medicine requirements, unlawful agency action, and even antitrust law. Teladoc's antitrust claim has certainly raised the ante as the telemedicine market defines itself.   Read more .



In 2014, CFAR produced a report with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) called Lessons from the Field: Promising Interprofessional Collaboration Practices, which identifies ways to increase collaboration among healthcare professionals, in service of improved healthcare delivery. This is the final article in a series of four about actionable practices for effective interprofessional collaboration (IPC). Here, we explore a practice to accelerate this collaboration.   
In looking across the seven healthcare organizations participating in the project, one of the key practices we identified is training different disciplines together. We will explore the significance of this practice here, how it plays out, and ideas for implementation.  Read more .



In  Part 1  of this three-part series, we described our belief that empowering people is the key success factor in home health care. In this article we hope to better describe the current home health sector, before moving onto a third and final article that will explore innovations in home health care.  Read more .





RealityThe Promise of Gene Therapy Is Becoming a Reality for Patients
Contributors:  Keith A. Goldan, WG'02

Few fields of science have sparked more hope and promise than gene therapy. A powerfully simple concept, gene therapy targets the genetic source of disease. Using a vector such as a virus (including AAV, adenovirus and lentivirus) as a vehicle to transport a normal gene into the body, we're able to replace missing or defective genes that are causing disease. Gene therapy is particularly well-suited for treating genetic diseases and disorders with unmet medical needs, such as Leber congenital amaurosis, a rare form of blindness; lipoprotein lipase deficiency, a rare inherited disorder that can cause severe pancreatitis; and recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, or RDEB, a congenital orphan skin disease that often leads to death. 
 
While there are not yet any FDA-approved genetic therapies available in the U.S., researchers and clinicians have experienced success with gene therapy. In fact, the University of Pennsylvania has made significant contributions to the evolution of gene therapy, including conducting many of the seminal studies.  Read more .



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With America facing an epidemic of chronic diseases - with about half of all adults living with more than one chronic condition as of 2012 according to the CDC - research has shown that the health of individuals relies in large part on the health of the communities they live in. 
 
Last year, we told you about the community of San Antonio, and the groups there who are bringing down barriers to health at the local level. Humana is trying to act as a facilitator in this community, connecting groups so they can do more together. It's still early, but we'd like to update you on the progress they have made.  Read more .
 

Contributor:  Laurie Myers, WG'99
 
Regardless of your role in healthcare today, health literacy matters.  If you attended Wharton, you have already proven your ability to understand extremely complex information about health and healthcare.  There is, however, a more important question:  how well can you communicate health information in a simple way to those looking to you for advice?  This matters whether you are a physician communicating directly with a newly diagnosed patient; a marketer talking about your medicine; or a son or daughter, caring for an elderly parent.  Read more .
CareStudent Healthcare Conference a Resounding Success! 
The Wharton Health Care Management MBA students held the 22nd Annual Wharton Health Care Business Conference on Friday, February 19, 2016 at the Union League Club of Philadelphia. With over 580 attendees and 120 Wharton MBA/WEMBA healthcare alumni in attendance, the event was a resounding success. Notably, Tom Spann WG'81, Founder & former CEO of Accolade, delivered welcoming remarks at the Thursday Alumni Welcome Reception, and Sally Poblete WG'00, Founder & CEO of Wellthie was honored with the inaugural 'Alumni Mentor of the Year Award.' Read more about this always excellent conference, which included a "Shark Tank" competition.   Read more .
SystemsCare Management Systems - the Next Major Healthcare Product - Part 1 
Contributor:  Sandeep Puri, WG'99
 
Some time back, I came across an article about Care Management Systems written by noted healthcare blogger John Lynn.  The article discussed that after the Practice Management Systems (PMS) and the Electronic Health Record (EHR), the next major healthcare product is the Care Management System (CMS).  While the PMS managed the practice (i.e., billing), and the EHR stored the records electronically, the CMS was going to be centered on the patient and the care that the patient receives.  Read more in Part 1 of this two-part series.   Read more .
PricingThe Healthcare Pricing Debate and Its Impact on Healthcare Investing 
Contributor:  David Friend, WG'84, MD 
 
With all due respect to Warren Buffett and Yogi Berra, "When it comes to healthcare ....pricing is what you pay....value is what you don't get." 
 
One of the most important factors in investing in healthcare going forward is truly understanding and accurately forecasting the potential earnings power of new products and services. The ability of investors to accurately determine the future prices of new products and services is absolutely critical to accurately modeling the EBITDA, ROI, EPS, CAPEX and NPV of the companies they are targeting. The rewards of correctly calculating these factors over time can create outstanding investment returns. The cost of miscalculating these factors over time can be equally as devastating to your portfolio.  Read more .
EngagementEngagement and Mobile Health. Are Solutions Measuring Up? 
Contributor:  Connie Mester, MPH 
 
Engagement is a top priority. Today, most people rely on mobile technology for day-to-day needs, including engaging with their health. mHealth tools provide an effective way to access quality health support, keeping people engaged with their own health outcomes. Are the mHealth programs you are recommending or using empowering people to thrive?  Read more .



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ScholarWHCMAA Scholarship Winner Announced!   
Contributor: John Barkett WG'09  
 
The Wharton Health Care Management Alumni Association (WHCMAA) is pleased to announce that Geoff Gusoff was selected as a 2016 winner of the June Kinney Alumni Scholarship.  Geoff was accepted in the first admissions round for the class of 2018.  He will receive a $10,000 scholarship.  A second Kinney scholarship winner will be selected in Round Two.  Read more .







Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within are those of the authors and editors of the articles and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, positions or strategies of the Wharton School and/or the University of Pennsylvania, and/or their respective organizations. Publication in this e-magazine should not be considered an endorsement. The Wharton Healthcare Quarterly e-magazine and WHCMAA make no representations as to accuracy, completeness, currentness, suitability, or validity of any information in this e-magazine and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use.