Joanne Armstrong, MD on Expanding Access and Personalizing Women's Healthcare
Becker’s Healthcare PodcastSummary
Health system executives are facing unprecedented challenges as they navigate the rapidly evolving technology landscape in healthcare. The 11th annual IT and Revenue Cycle Conference, "The Future of AI and Digital Health," aims to address these issues with over 2,500 attendees and 600 speakers participating in four days of discussions. Topics include scaling AI responsibly, protecting complex systems, improving revenue cycles, and making sustainable technology investments. The conference will take place from September 14-17 at the Hilton Chicago, with registration available on Becker's Hospital Review's website.
In a recent episode of the Women's Leadership Podcast, Dr. Joanne Armstrong, Chief Medical Officer and Vice President for Women's Health and Personalized Medicine at CVS Health, shared insights on the importance of addressing the unique healthcare needs of women. With a background as a practicing obstetrician gynecologist and a focus on policy implementation, Dr. Armstrong discussed CVS's significant role in expanding access to women's healthcare across its various services, including MinuteClinic and Aetna.
Dr. Armstrong emphasized that women's health encompasses a wide range of issues beyond traditional maternity care, including conditions like migraines, obesity, and behavioral health. With women influencing 80% of healthcare spending, CVS Health is committed to closing access gaps by leveraging telephonic and digital health services, designed to be both accessible and affordable for women.
Highlighting the workforce dynamics, she pointed out that around 70% of CVS's 300,000 employees are women, which informs their understanding of women's healthcare challenges. The need for personalized benefits is pressing, particularly around issues such as menopause, which has significant implications for workplace productivity—over $1.8 billion in lost productivity annually due to related issues.
With a focus on clinical data and real-world applications, CVS Health is addressing common chronic diseases that predominantly affect women, like obesity and autoimmune diseases, through programs that are tailored to their specific needs. Dr. Armstrong stressed the importance of personalized solutions that consider hormonal changes and their impacts on health.
In summary, as the healthcare landscape evolves, CVS Health is actively working to enhance women’s health access through strategic initiatives and personalized care solutions.
Show Notes
In this episode, Joanne Armstrong, MD, Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, Women's Health and Genomics, CVS Health, discusses how CVS Health is improving access, affordability, and personalized care for women through innovative care delivery models, data-driven strategies, and benefits designed to meet women's evolving health needs.
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