Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Follow on Biologics

Earlier today, I moderated an all day meeting at the National Press Club in Washington DC on a key topic---the policy questions surrounding follow on biologics or FOBs. Biologic drugs, the so called big molecules, include some of the greatest scientific breakthroughs of the last decade. These drugs are giving hope to thousands of patients. They are expensive to create and they do cost more than small molecules or non biologic products. There is an industry out there interested in trying to create a type of "generic product", a FOB. The challenge here is that a FOB is not biologically equivalent to an original innovative product. In addition, the FDA does not have a pathway that makes sense to approve these FOBs. Our program today, with experts from around the nation, demonstrated the need for an urgent policy solution to these issues. We will create a special edition of our journal, Biotechnology Healthcare, that will highlight these findings. For now, pay attention to what happens on Capitol Hill as we struggle with the FOB question. Much more news to follow. Does your institution support the FOBs?? DAVID NASH

Sunday, April 19, 2009

The Non Stop Conversation

I feel as though we are in a non stop conversation about reforming our broken health care system and frankly, I think we might be generating more heat than light in the process!! Right now, the process has me perplexed. What is the best way to reach out to the broadest possible audience in order to reach our key stakeholders?? As we plan for and launch the Jefferson School of Population Health, I want our message to come through the cacaphony loud and clear. As a result, of course, I have my BLOG, but this is certainly not enough. You can now view my brand new video on YOU TUBE, you can send me a tweet on twitter (nashpophealth) and you can face book me too. A google search on "School of Population Health" will bring us up immediately and if you put in David B. Nash MD, Google does a good job tracking my publications. In short, we are doing everything we can to get out the message---the message that our system needs a new kind of leader and we are determined to create the educational programs to deliver on that promise. I look forward to hearing from you, DAVID NASH

Sunday, April 12, 2009

The Benevolent Perfect Storm

David Ellwood, the Dean of the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard has it right!! We are facing a potential benevolent perfect storm, which is steering students back to public service and to health care specifically. With billions of dollars in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Stimulus Bill, headed to health care, smart students are headed in the same direction. I am hopeful that the Jefferson School of Population Health will benefit from this newly developing social trend and that this storm will deposit interested and motivated students at our doorstep. We are ready!! We are working hard to organize our faculty and our considerable resources to prepare for this storm and we will be there on Nine Nine Zero Nine----the first day of class. I hope you will join me soon as we begin the journey of preparing a new generation of leaders for the health care industry. Happy Easter and Happy Passover too. I am interested in your views about the Benevolent Perfect Storm, DAVID NASH

Sunday, April 5, 2009

CHIME and HIMSS

Each year, the top information technology officers from hospitals around the nation gather for their annual meeting to learn about the latest trends in technology,and the role that technology plays in improving the quality and safety of medical care. The Saturday before the HIMSS meeting, the key leaders gather for their own meeting, the CHIMES conference. I just spoke at the April 4 CHIMES meeting at the giant McCormick Center in Chicago. I told the CIOS that they play a central role in reforming our ailing system. In a nutshell, I view the future of payment as follows---No Outcome--No Income!! That is, we will be paid if we produce the outcomes that are desired, based on the best available medical evidence. This is surely a tall order and I get it. The CIOS get it too, and they know that information about daily practice, readily available at the bedside and in the examining room, will be vital to seeing this vision of NO OUTCOME, NO INCOME come alive. I hope you'll share your views of this vision with me as we work together to reform our broken system. DAVID NASH