Be Health Connected

In this episode, we're shedding light on a topic that impacts countless women's lives and the workforce at large – menopause in the workplace.

Join us as we sit down with Katie Schubert, the President and CEO at the Society for Women's Health Research (SWHR), discussing the significance of menopause, its impact in the workplace, and what can be done to create more supportive workplace environments for midlife and menopausal women.

In this episode, we're pleased to be joined by Neil Goldfarb who is the President and CEO of one of our sister coalitions, the Greater Philadelphia Business Coalition on Health. While GPBCH is widely known for its initiatives on obesity and diabetes prevention, in this episode, we'll discover their recent expansion into addressing another pressing concern – hypertension. Join us as we uncover the innovative strategies that employers can adopt to improve the quality of care for their employees with cardiac conditions. 

In this episode, you have the chance to listen to an exclusive excerpt from our latest Member Meeting on the topic of empowering individuals with chronic conditions. We are joined by Dr. Heidi Miller, the first Chief Medical Officer with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, as she delivers a crucial call-to-action for employers aiming to enhance employee health. Tune in as we explore Dr. Miller's insights on the vital role employers can play in fostering a healthier workforce. 

In the United States, chronic diseases take a heavy toll on individuals and businesses. The statistics are staggering. Six in ten adults have a chronic disease and four in ten adults have two or more. Conditions such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. They also account for a whopping 90% of the nation's $4.1 trillion annual healthcare expenditures, which poses an enormous economic burden on both employees and employers.
But what if we could address these conditions through preventative measures, early intervention, and lifestyle changes? In this episode, we are joined by Dr. David Houghton, the Medical Director of Digital Medicine with Ochsner Connected Health to share insights on how digital solutions can help employers provide personalized support and make well-being a strategic focus for their organization.

Since 2001, St. Louis nonprofit BioSTL has laid the foundation for the region's innovation economy with a comprehensive set of transformational programs that elevate St. Louis’ leadership in solving important world challenges in agriculture, medicine, health care, and other technology areas. BioSTL’s recruitment arm, GlobalSTL serves as a navigator to St. Louis’ world-class corporate and innovation ecosystem and introduces overseas innovators to major payers, providers, and employers in St. Louis.

In this episode, we are joined by Vijay Chauhan, an expert in global health innovation, to explore how employers can connect with digital solutions from around the globe at the 2023 Health Care Innovation Summit.

Alzheimer’s Disease is a type of dementia that affects memory, thinking, and behavior. It is a condition that not only touches more and more lives every day, but also impacts the workplace, especially as employees are postponing retirement and continuing to work into their 70s.

In this episode, we are joined by Rey Castuciano, who is the Diversity Equity & Inclusion Program Manager, with the Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Missouri Chapter, to discuss how employers can build strategies to navigate Alzheimer’s in the workplace.

In 2002, employers called upon the St. Louis Area Business Health Coalition to provide a pharmacy benefit group purchasing solution, to ensure transparency, accountability, and best-in-class pricing. Delivering health services in the St. Louis Area for over 30 years, Express Scripts has been a longstanding PBM partner of our Pharmacy Management Initiative since its inception.

The pharmacy benefit is the single most utilized benefit among employer plans and in this episode we are joined by Harold Carter, Chief Pharma Trade Relations Officer for Express Scripts, to discuss how the organization is unlocking new value for clients and customers through innovative solutions.

In 2021, the St. Louis Area Business Health Coalition welcomed CVS Health as a new PBM partner in our Pharmacy Management Initiative (PMI). A diversified health services company with more than 300,000 employees, CVS Health is addressing the country's most pressing health care needs through personalized, people-centered care. With prescription drug pricing and coverage continuing to be top of mind among patients and employers, Jim Fowler, Chief Sales Officer for CVS Caremark, joins us to discuss how the organization is transforming services to make health care more affordable and accessible.

In January, the Biden Administration announced its intent to end the national emergency and public health emergency declarations related to the pandemic on May 11, 2023. With this news has come many questions surrounding the future of COVID-19 testing, vaccination, and treatment. As we await further federal, state, and local guidance, we are joined by Dr. Hilary Babcock, an Infectious Disease Physician at Washington University and Chief Quality Officer for BJC HealthCare, to discuss possible implications and the future public health response to COVID-19.

Managers can have a significant impact – either positive or negative – on workplace factors such as job satisfaction, turnover, organizational performance, and employee well-being. This is especially true when managers are faced with an employee mental health concern, where many may feel uncomfortable and ill-prepared to be attentive and responsive. That's why building and fostering an emotionally intelligent workforce often begins with its leaders. On this episode of the Be Health Connected podcast, Dr. Dustin Keller, Vice President of Clinical Strategy with Pathways at Work, discusses how employers can equip their leaders with skills to navigate rising mental health challenges among employees.

Many of us have experienced a headache in our lifetime. But for those suffering from migraines, headaches present themselves in a much more severe and debilitating form. Although a recognized medical condition among both patients and providers alike, there is still much more work to be done to increase awareness of migraines as a disease, their impact on those suffering, and the potential implications for employers.

On this episode of the Be Health Connected podcast, we learn more from Dr. Patricia Jacob, AbbVie’s Director of Medical Payer Strategy for Migraine, as well as someone that battles migraine disease herself, and Dr. Erin Hohman, a pharmacist and Medical Outcomes Science Liaison with AbbVie.

Depression affects more than 16 million Americans and is the leading cause of disability worldwide, costing the US economy over $210 billion per year in absenteeism, reduced productivity, and medical costs. In the wake of National Depression Screening Day in October, employers can consider opportunities to create a workplace culture that increases awareness, reduces stigma, and encourages help-seeking among employees. In this episode of the Be Health Connected podcast, Emma Jellen, Interim Director of the Center for Workplace Mental Health, provides practical guidance for organizations to address depression and other mental health conditions all year round.

The passage of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 ushered in a new era of health care transparency, while also reinforcing employers’ fiduciary responsibilities as plan sponsors to assess the fairness of the prices they pay. Hospital costs continue to be one of the fastest-growing expenditures in the US economy, with employers paying two to five times that of Medicare charges for the same services, according to recent RAND studies. However, as additional sources of cost and quality data become available, employers can act together to demand health care value through market and policy reform.

Joining us to discuss these opportunities and helpful guidance from a new Hospital Transparency Playbook is Michael Thompson, President & CEO of the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions.

Work-life balance is a popular buzzword describing the practice of maintaining symmetry between one’s personal life and professional life. But with these lines becoming more blurred due to COVID-19, employers face even greater challenges in designing benefits, policies, and programs to better integrate employees' roles at work and at home.

In this episode of the Be Health Connected podcast, we are joined by Alicia Brueggemann, an Occupational Therapy Doctoral Student at the Washington University School of Medicine, whose research in the field of “occupational balance” is challenging the traditional dichotomy and helping individuals achieve a more holistic sense of fulfillment and satisfaction in their lives.

The National Diabetes Prevention Program (also known as the National DPP) is an evidence-based lifestyle change program that has been proven to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes in adults. People with prediabetes who take part in this structured lifestyle change program can reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by up to 58%, and up to 71% for people over 60 years old.

In this episode of the Be Health Connected podcast, we are joined by Angie Kapp, Senior Manager of Benefits with Toyoda Gosei, to discuss the business case for the National DPP, tips for engaging employees, and positive outcomes achieved by participants in the program.

Filling open positions continues to be a top challenge among businesses in the pandemic-era. In the face of staffing shortages and high levels of workforce burnout, employers are having to evolve their recruitment and retention strategies to attract and keep talent. While flexibility, benefits, and perks can play a role, the most innovative organizations are looking inward for the answers.

To discuss a playbook of best practices, we are joined by Anyah Land, Manager, Human Resources, for Procter & Gamble. By integrating empathy and creativity into her role, she is helping business units to achieve results and employees to actualize their aspirations.

From the time that we are young, we are taught that washing our hands is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of germs. But this simple act is not always executed as frequently as desired…even in health care settings where patient safety may be at risk. In fact, studies show that on average, health care providers wash their hands less than half of the times that they should. And this lapse in hygiene is estimated to contribute to healthcare associated infections that impact one in every 31 patients on any given day.

On this episode of the Be Health Connected podcast, we highlight the efforts of Mercy health system to deploy a new technology to monitor and improve handwashing among health care providers. Here to share their journey and initial results are Kathryn Nelson, System Chief Quality Officer, and Dr. Keith Starke, Senior Vice President & Ex Officio Chief Clinical Officer.

As health care costs have risen, so has the financial responsibility of employees for many insurance plans and services. According to Kaiser Family Foundation, the average general annual deductible has increased 25% over the past five years, with out-of-pocket maximums topping out at over $8,000 for single coverage and over $16,000 for family coverage. Considering that medical bills are reported to be the number one cause of bankruptcies in the US, it begs the question: how can we help patients better manage health care spending?

On this episode of the Be Health Connected podcast, the BHC is joined by Dr. Jay Moore, Chief Clinical Officer with Paytient, to discuss current and future trends in health care financing, the impact of benefit design, and solutions to aid patients in affording care.

Nearly two years after the declaration of COVID-19 as a global pandemic, we continue to unpack its far-reaching effects. By examining regional commercial claims data, the Midwest Health Initiative is helping purchasers, providers, and the larger community understand and interpret the pandemic’s impact on health care delivery and utilization, as well as the potential for future changes.

On this episode, we are joined by Dr. Haley Becker, Director of Analytics and Information Services, to discuss a new report shedding light on trends in (1) Testing, Diagnosis, and Hospitalizations; (2) In-Office Care vs. Telehealth; (3) Acute Care; and (4) Preventive Screenings.

Many organizations are familiar with traditional occupational safety practices, implemented to protect employees from work-related hazards. But, as the pandemic has clearly demonstrated, these hazards extend far beyond the physical workplace environment and can include other job-related and sociodemographic factors that negatively impact an employee’s well-being. For this reason, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (also known as NIOSH) established the Total Worker Health® program over a decade ago to support employers, labor representatives, and other public health professionals in protecting employee physical and psychological safety while advancing holistic health and productivity.

For this episode, we are joined by Chia-Chia Chang, Partnership Coordinator in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s office of Total Worker Health® to obtain an update on this national program, emerging priorities, and resources to assist employers in implementing best practices.

With COVID-19 variants spurring an uptick in cases and hospitalizations across the country, communities and businesses continue to grapple with questions around how to minimize future spread. This is complicated further by the impending flu season, leaving many to wonder if we will be facing a difficult fall and winter with two circulating viruses.

To provide clarity around these concerns, we are pleased to be joined by Dr. Mary Fox, Chief Medical Officer and Advanced Illness Management Clinical Physician with the Visiting Nurse Association of Greater St. Louis. During this interview, we discuss the impact of the pandemic on this year's flu strategy, as well as recommendations around COVID-19 boosters and the flu vaccine.

As patients, we all hope that the hospitals and outpatient facilities that we choose will provide the best care for us and our loved ones. But the reality is that quality, safety, and outcomes can vary dramatically depending on the facility. That is why transparency is so critical in ensuring that patients and purchasers of health care have the information needed to make important decisions.

For this episode, we are joined by Leah Binder, President and CEO of The Leapfrog Group, a nonprofit watchdog organization that for the past two decades has collected, analyzed, and published safety and quality data in order to push the health care industry forward, encourage better care choices, and save lives.

COVID-19 has drastically altered the health care environment – including access, delivery, affordability, and patient needs. In the third and final episode of our three-part series on “Building Resilience in a Post-Pandemic World,” we are joined by Stephanie Vojicic, Regional Vice President of Sales, and Summer Groth, Account Executive, Beacon Health Partnerships, for Anthem, Inc. to dive further into the shifting landscape and the importance of focusing on a whole-health approach in the era of digital care.

As part of a special three-part podcast series on “Building Resilience in a Post-Pandemic World,” the BHC is exploring next steps for individuals, businesses, and our communities in recovering from the current crisis and preparing for the next. For the second episode in this series, we are joined by Dr. John Wigneswaran, or as many like to call him “Dr. Wig,” to talk about the current state of the pandemic, including new emerging variants and vaccine safety considerations. We will end with insights regarding the impact of COVID-19 on the health care delivery system and what trends can be expected in the future.

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared novel coronavirus disease 2019 (otherwise known as COVID-19) to be a global pandemic. As we reflect on the past year and the path forward to recovery, the BHC is pleased to launch a special three-part podcast series on “Building Resilience in a Post-Pandemic World.” For our first episode, we will be discussing the role social determinants in driving health outcomes, the impact of COVID-19 on health disparities, and opportunities for businesses to address these factors for greater organizational and individual well-being.

We are pleased to be joined by Dr. Courtney Walker, pharmacist by training and Medical Account Director for Novo Nordisk, where he has supported employer, coalition, and trade accounts by sharing scientific data around diabetes, obesity, and associated chronic comorbid conditions for the last 18 years.

Evidence shows that having a primary care doctor can produce high-value results, including better patient outcomes, fewer inequities, and lower overall costs. But despite these benefits, primary care investment is lagging in the United States, leading to lower numbers of family medicine physicians and general internists, compared to other medical specialties. In light of this PCP shortage, employers are seeking out innovative strategies to improve primary care access for their workforces, including preventive care, disease management, and treatment of acute injuries and illnesses.

In this episode of the Be Health Connected podcast we discuss a new model of concierge, direct primary care in St. Louis with our guests, Dr. Jeffrey Davis, Board-Certified Emergency Medicine Physician, and Dr. Erica Yalavarthi, Board-Certified Family Medicine Physician, of Link Primary Care.

February is American Heart Month, a time to increase awareness about the impact of cardiovascular disease in the United States and consider opportunities to prevent and better manage this condition. Despite widespread public health efforts, heart disease remains the leading cause of death for men and women in the U.S., responsible for nearly 655,000 fatalities (or 1 in every 4 deaths) each year.

With high blood pressure being a major and preventable risk factor for heart disease, this episode of the BHC's Be Health Connected podcast focuses on the Surgeon General’s recent Call to Action to Control Hypertension, and specifically, opportunities for employers to take action through medical and pharmacy plan coverage, environmental supports, and well-being programs.

As the incidence of type 2 diabetes increases globally, the fight against this chronic disease continues. And while countless programs are on the market to help patients prevent or manage their condition, research now exists that suggests reversal is possible. Though it may not be achievable for everyone with type 2 diabetes, it is an exciting option for some.

In this episode of the Be Health Connected podcast, we are joined by Dr. Jeff Stanley, Medical Director and physician with Virta Health. Dr. Stanley will provide insight into the Virta Health program, including the importance of medication de-prescription and medication nutrition therapy in the reversal of type 2 diabetes. Later on in the conversation, we will also hear from Bonnie Parker, a patient currently using Virta Health, who will speak to her success with the program provided by her employer.

In June 2013, the American Medical Association voted to recognize obesity as a disease, a decision that was expected to improve research efforts, align insurance coverage and provider reimbursement, and remove the stigma commonly attributed to poor lifestyle behaviors. Years later, however, many of these goals remain to be unseen, with obesity prevalence continuing to rise across the U.S. population.

For this episode of the BHC's Be Health Connected podcast, we are joined by Jason Lurk, pharmacist by training and Medical Accounts Associate Director for Novo Nordisk, Inc. During the conversation, Jason highlights the complex web of factors contributing to obesity's development; the health and economic impact of the condition in the workplace; and opportunities for the business and medical communities to reconsider prevention and treatment of this common chronic disease.

When it comes to managing diabetes, physical health is only part of the equation. Those with diabetes have an increased risk of developing depression and poor mental health, and, like a revolving door, those suffering from depression may have a greater chance of developing type 2 diabetes.  In today’s world of isolation and uncertainty, addressing the connection between mental and physical well-being is more relevant than ever in building a resilient and healthy workforce. This includes the role of stress and anxiety in promoting poor behaviors that increase the risk for weight gain and the development of diabetes, prediabetes, and other chronic diseases.

In this episode of the Be Health Connected podcast, Naturally Slim’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Tim Church, and Clinical Psychologist, Dr. Dana Labat, discuss the association between diabetes and poor mental health; strategies that employers can use to manage the two conditions together; and why prevention is key.

Introduced by the American Diabetes Association in 2001, prediabetes remains an unfamiliar clinical term for many, despite its increasing prevalence in our country. In fact, prediabetes is now the second most common chronic disease (after overweight/obesity) in the United States, with nearly 84 million adults believed to be afflicted. But how is this condition impacting our local region, and what can organizations and individuals do to address it?  

In this episode of the Be Health Connected podcast, Joyce Hoth, with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, and Kim Thro, with the Gateway Region YMCA, discuss statewide prediabetes prevalence; the importance of early intervention in preventing type 2 diabetes and other complications; and opportunities for employers to deploy evidence-based strategies through the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) to reduce employee risk.