There are countless examples of when we were faced with a golden opportunity to progress and missed the moment. Just a few years into the COVID-19 pandemic, the rapid development of lifesaving vaccines has led to worsening health care provider shortages, a mental health epidemic, hospital closures, overflowing emergency departments, and more. , which was being done in parallel with some unresolved issues.
We are now at the same crossroads. President Biden signed an executive order last month aimed at advancing women's health research. This is an initiative that is believed to be long overdue. But given our questionable track record of driving consistent progress, it is important that we, as a nation and an industry, develop a roadmap to optimize our success for this exciting moment.
Inclusion is paramount
When studying issues that affect women, we need to comprehensively examine all demographics. Historically, certain groups have been excluded from research. This means there is not always enough data to know the exact situation. For example, when it comes to clinical trials, almost 75% of participants are white. With approximately 40% of the U.S. population belonging to racial or ethnic minorities, this statistic shows that participation in clinical trials is completely unrepresentative, which is just one part of a system-wide problem. Masu.
But it's not just the participants and patients. The people who provide care, run clinical trial facilities, and make decisions are also not representative. Research shows that a physician's race influences the race of clinical trial participants, particularly in industry-funded, FDA-regulated clinical trials, and that trial leadership by minority physicians is more likely than that seen by white physicians. has also been shown to be much lower. It is nearly impossible to ensure that all clinical research is diverse, equitable, and inclusive unless these characteristics are prioritized in the roles of the leaders conducting the research themselves.
Significant changes must be implemented and monitored to address racial disparities among clinical researchers. This is not limited to strategy, policy, incentives and reforms. We know that trust is essential to successful population health and that minority patients benefit from being cared for by minority physicians.
As we look to this exciting opportunity in front of us, we will certainly need to consider it in our future research. all This is so that needs can be determined according to the affected groups.
Purposeful design should be prioritized
Medicine is complex. Time and time again, we've seen the development of new and exciting tools aimed at solving one of the many problems facing large systems fail. The result is wasted time, money, resources, and productivity. That's why it's so important to build solutions based on clearly identified needs, audiences, and where the systems are in place to support them.
You don't have to start from scratch. There are already notable examples of how companies can question whose voices are missing from the design process and become more intentionally inclusive. For example, in 2021, a global medical technology company launched a first-of-its-kind project. To identify how the company can better support communities that lack access to appropriate care due to mistrust, social determinants of care, inconsistent access to health insurance, stigma, low income, and social reasons. The aim is to gain more insight into the experiences of people of color. other factors. They will use these insights to design tools that support Philips' goal of improving access to care for 400 million people a year in underserved communities by 2030.
A strong foundation to support strategic innovation needs to be in place now
The president's executive order promises billions of dollars in new funding for women's health research. The findings will help identify needs and gaps in women's health care, and solutions will inevitably emerge to address those gaps. But without a solid foundation to ensure that these solutions are adopted throughout the system, including by physicians, change cannot be driven. We are taking action now to ensure that inclusion and intentional design are a natural part of future development, and that there is a clear path to getting those developments into the hands of the women who need them. We have to start strengthening our foundation.
First, we need to ensure there are ways to support female innovators. It is well documented that much of the innovation in women's healthcare is led by female founders, but these entrepreneurs have struggled to navigate the transition from obtaining venture capital to operating a predominantly male-led business ecosystem. Until then, we are facing major hurdles.
Second, companies focused on designing solutions must prioritize the infrastructure needed to get those solutions into the hands of the people who need them. More than 30% of all drugs released in recent years have failed to meet market expectations. This surprising data point shows how important it is for companies and organizations looking to address healthcare issues to have a solid plan in place to get their solutions into the hands of those who need them.
For example, a focused and comprehensive approach to market research can significantly increase the effectiveness of marketing strategies and ensure the launch and long-term success of a drug, digital tool, or treatment in a competitive market. When companies focus only on their own networks to glean insights about perceived problems and neglect to gather feedback from the broader medical professional community, experts are unable to identify new treatments. By the time it is time to prescribe the law, it may be too late. Already have an effective solution. Building a strong foundation begins long before a solution is designed, but it is essential to future success.
Third, we need to redefine the patient experience and address the challenges of access and diversity in healthcare. Innovations such as medicines and digital health solutions can have different responses across ethnic groups, so it's important to have structures in place to ensure the right people are involved in the design and trial process. Without this data collection and input from everyone, the innovation may not even pass regulation.
As we look to the future, there are many reasons to be optimistic and hopeful about our ability to begin to eliminate health disparities. President Biden's executive order is one of them. The real proof lies in the ability to take appropriate action. all appropriate stakeholders in the process.
Photo: Marte Müller, Getty Images
Shelli Pavone is president and co-founder of Inlightened. She has over 20 years of commercial experience in the healthcare sector and is dedicated to partnering with clinicians and innovators alike to help shape the future of the industry. Sherry is listed on Forbes' Next 1000 and is a graduate of The Ohio State University where she received a Bachelor's degree in Psychology.
