Author: LBodnarchuk

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which serves as an important reminder to schedule regular wellness visits with your healthcare practitioner. According to the National Cancer Institute, one in eight women will develop breast cancer during their lifetimes¹. When we take a closer look and consider the demographic data surrounding breast cancer outcomes, worrying disparities emerge between rates of diagnosis and mortality between different groups.  

For example, while white women are more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer, black women are more likely to die from the disease. Race and discrimination are an example of a social determinant of health (SDOH), which are the non-medical factors which influence health outcomes². We will further address race and other SDOH factors which contribute to disparities in health outcomes and assess ways these disparities can be addressed.  

Establishing the SDOH-Driven Disparities in Breast Cancer Outcomes  

When assessing causes of cancer, generally more attention is paid to genetics and individual health behaviors than SDOH influences. However, there is strong evidence that breast cancer outcomes are influenced by SDOH factors, which emphasizes the importance of at-risk groups obtaining regular breast cancer screenings from their doctor.  

Race has emerged as a main contributing SDOH factor to breast cancer health outcomes. White women are more likely than black women to be diagnosed with breast cancer, but black women are 40% more likely to die from the disease³. A research study conducted by the University of Illinois-Chicago concluded that social determinants of health are the roots of these racial disparities in breast cancer outcomes⁴. Specifically, the study cited neighborhood disadvantage and insurance status as contributors of 19% of this outcome disparity⁵. Addressing these barriers on a large scale will require wider public policy changes, but the key is to identify short-term interventions to fix such disparities.  

Lack of insurance is correlated with poorer health outcomes. There is evidence that state expansion of Medicaid enrollment contributes to improved breast cancer health outcomes. Women from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, who might normally avoid the doctor due to cost or burden of access, are able to obtain breast cancer screenings (mammography) through Medicaid. Prior to the Affordable Care Act, this is evidenced by overall higher rates of mammogram screenings in states which have expanded Medicaid⁶. For example, incidence rates of black women being diagnosed with breast cancer decreased from 24.6% to 21.6% in states which expanded access to Medicaid compared to states that did not expand access, which sit at about 27%⁷.   

Closing the Gap 

Consistently throughout this analysis, lack of health insurance access, for both the uninsured and underinsured, has emerged as a driving factor for disparities in breast cancer health outcomes. This is especially the case when a lack of insurance is coupled with socioeconomic disadvantage. Whether you are a health plan, accountable care organization or breast cancer awareness organization- what can be done to close this gap?  

Specialized health interventions are often the most effective short-term method to address SDOH-driven health disparities. For breast cancer, findings by the Community Preventative Services Task Force (CPSTF) recommend engaging community health workers (CHWs) to increase mammography screenings⁸. Often, there is a wedge driven between healthcare workers and the public which can be attributed to factors such as community mistrust or lack of health literacy. CHWs serve to bridge this gap, working in tandem with healthcare professionals or on their own. CHWs can assist in making screening services more accessible than a typical doctor’s visit, by assisting with interventions such as group education, 1-to-1 education, client reminders or newsletters⁹.  

How ProspHire Can Help 

ProspHire can assist in breast cancer screening adherence improvement strategies and community-based partnership development to support health plans engage members in preventive care. Our practitioners support the strategy and execution to drive improved outcomes for plan members with a focus on health equity. 

Welcome to Season 1, the Bonus Episode of the Soaring to New Health Podcast.  

This episode is Who the Health is ProspHire. Our hosts, Chris Miladinovich and Dan Crogan are talking with Lauren Miladinovich, CEO, Managing Principal and Co-founder of ProspHire about the history of the Firm, why the focus is 100% on healthcare and why relationships are the number one core value. 

Lauren and Chris started the Firm in 2015. Within a year they opened the first office space on the North Shore of the city of Pittsburgh. By year three they determined the focus to be 100% on healthcare, earned a woman in business certification and expanded the headquarters to a new location in the Pittsburgh Power Building in downtown Pittsburgh. As ProspHire was about to hit a milestone five-year anniversary in 2020, COVID cases spiked and we all found ourselves in the midst of a global pandemic. Small but mighty, ProspHire took an agile approach and adapted, pivoted and succeeded in a rapidly changing, ambiguous, turbulent environment. The leadership team is already looking forward to its 10-year anniversary in 2025. 

Coming up with a company name was not a priority at the time but ended up being a big deal.  

Chris had a few requirements: it had to be less than 2-syllables, the domain name had to be available and it had to be easy to say. ProspHire was derived from the first mission statement that ‘clients hire us to help them prosper’. Everyone in Chris’s inner circle said it was great but it didn’t do well when it hit the market. No one could pronounce it, understand what it was or what it meant. The few years that followed included a lot of marketing dollars to create over 1,000 alternative names… all rejected. To this day, they still have fun with mispronunciations. 

Before 2015, Lauren was leading large, complex project management engagements and Chris had experience in health and human services and the consulting industry. Together, they had a passion to do something that helped businesses that helped others. Focusing 100% on the healthcare industry was a natural fit. 

One of their favorite activities is the annual Prosper Together Day. The Firm’s charity of choice is the Boys and Girls Clubs and every year in Pittsburgh and now in Philadelphia the employees spend an entire day in interactive STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) activities that teach leadership and life skills, as well as played games with the children of the Clubs. Lauren and Chris’s pet pig Nola sparked the relationship with the Clubs. Nola had her own Facebook page and the Clubs had been following her story when they reached out to propose making her the celebrity for a new Kiss-a-Pig Fundraising Gala.  

For more on the history of ProspHire and why client relationships are so important, download the Soaring to New Health podcast, Who the Health is ProspHire, where you find your podcasts. 

Welcome to Season 1, Episode 5 of the Soaring to New Health Podcast.

This episode is The Glass is Half Healthy. We’re talking with Dan LaVallee, Senior Director of Social Impact from the Insurance Services Division at UPMC Health Plan along with Julie Evans, leader of ProspHire’s Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) service offering.

Social Determinants of Health are coming to the forefront of the healthcare industry for a lot of reasons – and one of those is health equity. Health equity is understanding that different individuals across the country have different health outcomes and a lot of that is determined by the zip code they live in. Part of SDOH is thinking about how we can focus our efforts on healthcare to address those specific needs and therefore address health equity as well. An example is if a child with asthma is growing up in a home with overcrowding and poor air circulation. The child will not be able to address their asthma needs without appropriate social determinants of healthcare in housing.

LaVallee says the Center for Social Impact wants to get ahead of scenarios where the population cannot access healthcare with prevention, support and listening to solutions from within those communities. Data shows that if you can find these members supportive housing for 10 months, it can change the trajectory of their healthcare. It takes a coordinated effort of community organizations that provide jobs, housing, benefits access and food programs to create a circle of member trust. The Center’s Cultivating Health for Success Program aims to get homeless Medicaid recipients in Allegheny County (and now Blair and Lawrence Counties) off the streets and into structured, long-term care by combining the resources of UPMC Health Plan and the housing-focused Community Human Services (CHS). Across the State of Pennsylvania, the Regional Accountable Health Council (RAHC) created forums for strategic health planning that provide a community-led approach to implement the planning and coordination of activities that address social determinants of health needs, reduce health disparities and promote health equity and value in health care.

At UPMC Health Plan, the Center for High Value Healthcare evaluates the impact of the programs supported by the Center for Social Impact, like the new Food is Medicine Program. They will help determine what works that is social impact related and then expand on that, all while seeking continual member feedback.

Evans talks about these types of programs helping Stars, HEDIS and CAHPS measures that tie back to the quality health incentives that are so important to health plans for their members. The investment into SDOH programs can show immediate return on investment. The impact of the pandemic is what really highlighted the needs of vulnerable individuals. Today we are seeing an influx of funding to support community-based organizations and health plans to address those needs but the concern is that as the public health emergency lifted the funds will dwindle and programs will not be sustained. That’s a huge barrier to housing and transportation challenges, which are being spotlighted right now. The future will include how to address these needs without funding.

At UPMC Health Plan’s Center for Social Impact, LaVallee says they are doing a good job of staying ahead of these challenges through investment and community partnerships and leveraging a model that can scale in one community and be replicated in others. There is no intention of slowing down.

For more on Social Determinants of Health, why they are important to measure and how they can play a role in more efficient care with better patient outcomes, download the Soaring to New Health podcast, The Glass is Half Healthy, where you find your podcasts.

Healthy Aging Month is observed during the month of September. This observance raises awareness on the physical, mental, social and financial wellness of older adults and serves as a reminder that as we age, our minds and bodies change. It is essential to maintain a healthy and positive lifestyle to help deal with those changes and to help prevent common age-related health problems. Even if you have not thought of these changes, it is never too late to consider ways to re-invent yourself.  

No Age Limit to Adopting Healthy Habits

The United States boasts an increasingly aging population; according to the 2020 census, 1 in 6 people are now over the age of 65[1]. This trend is largely driven by the size of the Baby Boomer generation, born 1946-1964. By the 2030’s, it is estimated that older adults (over the age of 65) will outnumber the number of children (under the age of 18)[2]. Figure 1 illustrates this trend over the past century, which further emphasizes the importance of adopting healthy aging habits[3].

What Are Healthy Habits and Behaviors for a Healthy Life?

Embrace a well-rounded approach to your well-being during Healthy Awareness Month and beyond, with a collection of empowering habits and behaviors that build lifelong health and vitality. Try some of these healthy habits and behaviors:

• Take a proactive health approach by maintaining healthy habits throughout your life
• Adopt a healthy diet and incorporate moderate physical exercise into your daily routine
• Monitor your health by receiving regular health screenings from your doctor
• Volunteer and get involved with local groups to maintain a sense of community
• Take advantage of rewards & incentives tied to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Talk to your insurance plan today.

How Can ProspHire Help? 

ProspHire has subject matter experts working closely with Health Plans, Provider Practices and Community Specialists to enhance healthy lifestyle opportunities while optimizing current benefit offerings. The healthcare community can attain an excellent level of insight into outcomes via Quality Measures. It provides a deeper understanding of how various internal and external contributing factors play a critical role in one’s outcome.

ProspHire is continuously working with key stakeholders to leverage data indicated by these contributing factors such as Social Determinants, Health Equity and Geographical Indicators to improve Quality Measures and provide the right resources needed to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Connect with ProspHire today.

[1] https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2023/05/2020-census-united-states-older-population-grew.html

[2] https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2018/03/graying-america.html

[3] https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2023/05/2020-census-united-states-older-population-grew.html

In the rapidly evolving landscape of modern dentistry, staying ahead of the curve requires a comprehensive approach that integrates technological advancements, innovative services and streamlined clinical operations. The key to success lies in embracing these changes and leveraging them to not only enhance patient care but also boost the efficiency and profitability of your practice. Clinical operations support plays a pivotal role in achieving these goals by encompassing various elements such as technology and equipment upgrades, expanded service offerings and continuous education for both clinicians and staff.

Technological Evolution and Dental Equipment Upgrades

Technology has revolutionized nearly every industry and dentistry is no exception. The integration of advanced dental equipment has not only transformed the way procedures are conducted but has also significantly improved patient outcomes and experiences. From digital radiography and intraoral scanners to computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) systems, technology has expedited diagnosis and treatment planning while reducing patient discomfort.

Dentists now have access to state-of-the-art equipment that enhances precision and accuracy. For instance, cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) provides 3D images that aid in the placement of dental implants and complex procedures, minimizing complications and increasing success rates. Similarly, CAD/CAM systems enable same-day restorations, saving time for both patients and practitioners.

Furthermore, vendor offerings and supplies have adapted to these technological changes. Companies are now providing more customizable solutions, offering dental professionals the flexibility to tailor equipment to their specific needs. This not only improves patient care but also enables practices to optimize their workflows.

Continuous Clinical Education and Staff Training

Staying current in the ever-evolving field of dentistry requires a commitment to continuous learning. Clinical education not only ensures that practitioners are delivering the highest standard of care but also empowers them to integrate new technologies and techniques effectively.

Staff training is equally crucial, as the success of any practice depends on the collaborative efforts of the entire team. Dental assistants, hygienists and front-office staff all play pivotal roles in delivering exceptional patient experiences. Providing ongoing training not only boosts their confidence and skill set but also enhances the overall efficiency of the practice.

Vendor Management and Workflow Optimization

Managing relationships with vendors is a vital aspect of clinical operations support. Partnering with reputable suppliers ensures a steady supply of quality materials and equipment, ultimately contributing to the smooth functioning of the practice. Vendor management involves:

• Negotiating favorable terms
• Maintaining clear communication
• Staying updated on the latest offerings in the market.

Integrating new equipment and software into existing workflows can be a challenging process. However, with proper planning and training, the transition can lead to increased efficiency and reduced room for errors. Workflow optimization includes:

• Assessing the current processes
• Identifying bottlenecks and implementing strategies to streamline operations
• Reconfiguring operatory layouts
• Standardizing protocols
• Utilizing software solutions for appointment scheduling, treatment planning and patient communication.

These three areas of Technological Evolution and Dental Equipment Upgrades, Continuous Clinical Education and Staff Training and Vendor Management and Workflow Optimization are all a part of the process that leads to Expanding Service Offerings. Offering new or enhanced services not only attracts a broader patient base but also positions your practice as a comprehensive solution provider. Implant placement and restoration, orthodontic treatment, sleep apnea therapy, TMJ/TMD management, general muscular pain relief and enhancements to facial aesthetics are areas that have seen significant growth.

ProspHire Helps Dental Practices Through the Process of Expanding Service Offerings

In the dynamic landscape of modern dentistry, advancing your practice through clinical operations support is a multifaceted endeavor. ProspHire’s Dental Management team will collaborate with you and lead you through technological advancements, expansion of service offerings, clinical education, staff training, vendor management and workflow optimization. Our experts will identify potential new offerings or ways to enhance your current services via a detailed assessment process of your current state business and guide you through the implementation processes and activities using best- in-class program and vendor management techniques. For more information, connect with us today.

Welcome to Season 1, Episode 4 of the Soaring to New Health Podcast.

This episode is This is Like Pulling Teeth. We talk with Paul Reda, CEO, and Armanda Lester, VP of Operations, from North American Dental Group (NADG) – a dental services organization that provides nonclinical administrative services to more than 240 affiliated dental practices across 15 states and continues to expand access to care.

As NADG started to evolve the leaders looked at group dentistry practices and aimed to add best-in-class providers to the organization. Today, NADG is pioneering a new culture of dentistry… to be available to patients when it suits the patient and serve patients in the way they want to be served. It’s about providing the best patient care for every patient at every visit.

A technology that was born out of listening to their patients is a platform called Ask Nicely. The patient receives a text message after each visit that asks for a rating about the recent office visit experience. The question responses scale from one to ten and any response below a nine prompts a call to the patient within 24 hours to discuss. The goal is to ensure every patient is receiving the best care and to continue to improve the patient’s experience.

Innovation is a continuous path at NADG. In early 2023, the organization began rolling out an artificial intelligence (AI) platform for dental called Overjet. It is an intelligence support mechanism that involves an overlay of color coding that the dentist or hygienist uses to determine a treatment path and that visual makes it easier to communicate to the patient. Additionally, many of the top insurance companies are making claim decisions with this platform. Reda says, “AI is in its infancy and I think we need to use it responsibly. It’s not a replacement for human beings and it’s certainly not a replacement for a doctor. Patients want to talk to a real person and be treated like a real person rather than an object or a number.”

NADG encourages community service within its practices, participating in events such as Give Kids a Smile or local school training for teaching children how to brush their teeth. It’s a part of the culture and the core values. Every year, Paul Reda acknowledges team members who exemplify community involvement. A select group travels with him to Zurich, Switzerland for a global ceremony for the Chairman’s Award.

For more on innovative dentistry and what it takes to be a strategic partner with NADG, download the Soaring to New Health podcast, This is Like Pulling Teeth, where you find your podcasts.