Cure for the Common Co.
52 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 year ago - ★★★★★ - 25 ratingsIn this podcast series, WTW interviews entrepreneurs who created technology companies that are changing the way healthcare and employee benefits are delivered.
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Episodes
Episode 33: AndHealth: Reversing migraine and autoimmune conditions with behavioral and clinical care
April 03, 2023 16:00 - 46 minutes - 107 MB40 million people in the US suffer from chronic migraine, yet there are only 2,000 headache specialists to care for those living with this condition. In this episode, WTW’s Steve Blumenfield and Andre Burkholder speak with Matt Scantland about how AndHealth provides a new kind of specialized care, becoming the patient’s main health provider and addressing the root cause of the issue through clinical discovery, coaching, and support.
Episode 32: KardiaComplete: Making heart health personal through proactive technology and clinical support
December 08, 2022 14:52 - 48 minutes - 112 MBKardiaComplete is putting the spotlight on heart disease, the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. WTW’s Steve Blumenfield and Siupo Becker speak with Archana Dubey about how AliveCor is transforming cardiovascular care via KardiaComplete, a comprehensive heart health enterprise solution, designed to drive improved health outcomes and reduce the cost of cardiac care by addressing established disease and reducing the risk of disease progression.
Episode 31: Joshin: Changing disability and neurodivergence support in the workplace
July 13, 2022 19:251 in 5 people worldwide have a neurodiverse diagnosis resulting in different ways of thinking, processing, and communicating, but 80% of product and customer experiences don’t work for people with these needs. WTW’s Steve Blumenfield and Rebecca Warnken sit down with Melissa Danielsen to discuss how Joshin is closing the gap for the neurodiverse and disabled communities through tech-enabled specialized care, support, and education.
Episode 31: Joshin: Changing disability and neurodivergence support in the workplace
July 13, 2022 19:251 in 5 people worldwide have a neurodiverse diagnosis resulting in different ways of thinking, processing, and communicating, but 80% of product and customer experiences don’t work for people with these needs. WTW’s Steve Blumenfield and Rebecca Warnken sit down with Melissa Danielsen to discuss how Joshin is closing the gap for the neurodiverse and disabled communities through tech-enabled specialized care, support, and education.
Episode 30: Spring Health: Reimagining mental health solutions through data-backed care
April 27, 2022 13:42 - 52 minutes - 120 MBWhat if the guesswork was taken out of the mental health care journey? With the continued rise of mental health conditions, there has never been a greater need for advancement in this space. WTW’s Steve Blumenfield and Erin Terkoski Young talk with April Koh about how Spring Health is delivering a new approach to personalized psychiatry using data potentially revolutionizing access to quality mental health care and the effectiveness of treatment.
Episode 29: Brightline: Bringing pediatric mental health into focus
March 21, 2022 14:23 - 53 minutes - 122 MBNearly one in five children in the U.S. have a mental, emotional or behavioral health problem in any given year, but only 20% are receiving care. Shortages in child and adolescent mental health care are severe, but Brightline is changing that. WTW’s Steve Blumenfield and Siupo Becker talk with co-founder and CEO Naomi Allen about how her company is helping employers support the children of parent-employees and, in turn, how that’s improving the wellbeing of employees.
Episode 28: Bind: A personalized health plan with clarity on price and quality (updated)
February 02, 2022 16:51 - 44 minutes - 102 MBIs it possible to uncomplicate health insurance while providing savings for both employees and plan sponsors? In this episode, Steve Blumenfield and Regina Ihrke speak with Dave Dickey to uncover how Bind is providing an innovative and personalized solution that focuses on bringing cost and coverage transparency. This gives members the information they need, upfront, so they can efficiently purchase the care that best meets their needs.
Episode 28: Bind: A personalized health plan with clarity on price and quality
February 02, 2022 16:51 - 53 minutes - 122 MBIs it possible to uncomplicate health insurance while providing savings for both employees and plan sponsors? In this episode, Steve Blumenfield and Regina Ihrke speak with Dave Dickey to uncover how Bind is providing an innovative and personalized solution that focuses on bringing cost and coverage transparency. This gives members the information they need, upfront, so they can efficiently purchase the care that best meets their needs.
Episode 27: Carrum Health: A center for health care Centers of Excellence
December 08, 2021 13:34 - 47 minutes - 108 MBBy looking at health care holistically as well as the practical side of price, Carrum Health has developed a Centers of Excellence solution that delivers value-based health care instead of the standard fee-for-service model. In this episode, Sach Jain talks with Steve Blumenfield and Drew Hodgson about Carrum’s mission to deliver a best-in-class network that employers can leverage to deliver better, more appropriate care at manageable prices.
Episode 26: Centering the health plan around primary care with Centivo
October 15, 2021 18:30 - 49 minutes - 112 MBEmpowering employees to select their own health plan fosters an enhanced member experience. In this episode, Steve Blumenfield and Drew Hodgson talk with Ashok Subramanian about how Centivo, a primary care centric health plan innovator, is helping to change the health care delivery landscape by bringing high-quality, personalized and affordable care to members and employers. This model promotes better member engagement, thus positioning employers to remain competitive in the war for talent.
Episode 25: Digestive Health Part 2: Oshi Health’s clinical, whole-person view
September 21, 2021 22:13 - 38 minutes - 87.9 MBWhat would you give up for one month of relief from a chronic condition? Digestive health sufferers’ top survey responses include cellphone, Internet … even sex! The discussion of digestive health and solutions continues in this podcast with Sam Holliday, Chantell Sell and Steve Blumenfield. The trio discuss Oshi Health, an end-to-end clinic-based care model that treats the whole person in a cost-effective way that serves employees, employers and boosts overall health and productivity.
Episode 24: Digestive Health Part 1: Vivante Health’s digital solution for gut health
August 23, 2021 16:28 - 38 minutes - 88.5 MBA stigmatized condition, 70 million people suffer in silence from digestive health issues, resulting in an average of 35 lost workdays per person, every year. Steve Blumenfield and Christina Prosser talk with Bill Snyder about the approach Vivante Health is taking — leveraging clinical pathways rooted in evidence-based medicine — to balance employers’ health care costs while at the same time addressing employees’ symptoms and improving their overall health outcomes.
Episode 23: Democratizing access to cancer care with AccessHope
June 02, 2021 16:49 - 51 minutes - 117 MBArguably, cancer is the scourge of our times. In this episode, Harlan Levine shares with Steve Blumenfield and Ron Fontanetta how AccessHope has democratized employee access to leading-edge cancer information and world-class care. By identifying the most complex patients and partnering with health plans, AccessHope’s program supports employers’ efforts for early intervention with high-risk employee patients who need the right care. Along with this podcast, you can learn more by listening to ...
Episode 22: How Dow Jones and US Foods deploy innovation
April 09, 2021 17:10 - 23 minutes - 54.6 MB“This is how we’ve always done it” doesn’t work anymore when it comes to offering employee benefits, and employers need to step up to increase employee engagement and get the most from their investment. In this episode, Steve Blumenfield talks with benefits leaders Kim Duck and Joe Toniolo about the ways they and their organizations are breaking away from traditional thinking around wellbeing and benefits to deliver programs that meet employees where they are.
Episode 21: Putting health care in employees’ hands (MediBid)
March 01, 2021 15:09 - 37 minutes - 85.3 MBIf you’ve ever wondered what would happen if you applied normal business principles to the purchase of health care, wonder no more. Ralph Weber shares with Steve Blumenfield and Courtney Stubblefield the power that comes from combining transparency with competition in health care. From dramatically reduced out-of-pocket expenses to mitigating potentially higher-cost future procedures, you’ll hear how health care in the United States doesn’t have to be as complicated as it is today.
Episode 20: Leveraging data to drive your employee benefits (Springbuk)
February 03, 2021 21:29 - 43 minutes - 99.5 MBInstead of simply telling you your employee population’s health behaviors, what if your data went a step further and gave you targeted areas to focus your attention? Steve Blumenfield and Thi Montalvo talk with Rod Reasen about the possibilities for HR to leverage predictive analytics to drive data-driven decisions you make about your employee benefits and wellbeing programs. The trio discuss where data collection has been — and where it’s going.
Episode 19: Employer approaches to the burden of student loan repayment (Tuition.io)
January 04, 2021 13:11 - 50 minutes - 115 MBOn average, it takes 21 years to pay off student loan debt, and that has a direct effect on employees’ long-term financial goals. In this podcast, Steve Blumenfield talks with Scott Thompson, Lydia Jilek and David Amendola about the innovative steps employers are taking to help bolster employees’ financial wellbeing. Hear the struggles that both employers and employees are facing in trying to build financial resiliency, and the benefits of finding the right solution.
Episode 18: Health care transformation in a pandemic
October 28, 2020 13:38 - 15 minutes - 35.2 MBGiven this year’s pandemic and economic uncertainty, it’s natural to expect a dip in venture capital investments in health care-related startups, but that hasn’t been the case. In fact, the first six months of 2020 revealed some of the highest investment levels. Venture capitalists Lynne Chou O’Keefe and Steve Kraus join Steve Blumenfield to discuss the future of health care and how they see it transforming to the benefit of both employees and employers.
Episode 17: The role of resilience in employee wellbeing
September 22, 2020 12:33 - 50 minutes - 117 MBAs organizations regain their footing from the COVID-19 pandemic, employees’ emotional wellbeing has become a focal point. meQuilibrium’s Jan Bruce talks with Willis Towers Watson’s Steve Blumenfield, Suzanne McAndrew and Julie Stone about the value of resilience in a time of uncertainty and the importance of helping employees cope with their stress and get control of their lives to be more successful — both at work and at home.
The role of resilience in employee wellbeing
September 22, 2020 12:33 - 50 minutes - 117 MBAs organizations regain their footing from the COVID-19 pandemic, employees’ emotional wellbeing has become a focal point. meQuilibrium’s Jan Bruce talks with Willis Towers Watson’s Steve Blumenfield, Suzanne McAndrew and Julie Stone about the value of resilience in a time of uncertainty and the importance of helping employees cope with their stress and get control of their lives to be more successful — both at work and at home.
Paid time off and paid leave during the crisis, COVID-19 edition
July 24, 2020 12:40 - 22 minutes - 52.5 MBCOVID-19 forced employers to think about and make changes to paid leave, paid time off and disability programs and policies — employee benefits that haven’t changed very much in the past decade. Willis Towers Watson experts Alex Henry and Rob McGee talk with Steve Blumenfield and Julie Stone to address the challenges and opportunities employers must consider regarding these programs both today as well as for the future.
Episode 16: Paid time off and paid leave during the crisis, COVID-19 edition
July 24, 2020 12:40 - 22 minutes - 52.5 MBCOVID-19 forced employers to think about and make changes to paid leave, paid time off and disability programs and policies — employee benefits that haven’t changed very much in the past decade. Willis Towers Watson experts Alex Henry and Rob McGee talk with Steve Blumenfield and Julie Stone to address the challenges and opportunities employers must consider regarding these programs both today as well as for the future.
Episode 15: Testing and contact tracing as part of your workplace strategy, COVID-19 edition
July 17, 2020 14:49 - 26 minutes - 60.3 MBAs employers move toward reopening the workplace, vendors in the testing and contact tracing space are emerging every day. Steve Blumenfield and Julie Stone talk with Paul Matthews about what employers should look for in testing options, which vendor offerings may be on the horizon, and the best way to manage the overall employee experience as workforces emerge from stay-at-home orders.
Testing and contact tracing as part of your workplace strategy, COVID-19 edition
July 17, 2020 14:49 - 26 minutes - 60.3 MBAs employers move toward reopening the workplace, vendors in the testing and contact tracing space are emerging every day. Steve Blumenfield and Julie Stone talk with Paul Matthews about what employers should look for in testing options, which vendor offerings may be on the horizon, and the best way to manage the overall employee experience as workforces emerge from stay-at-home orders.
Episode 14: The pandemic’s impact on behavioral health care and delivery, COVID-19 edition
June 25, 2020 19:52 - 23 minutes - 53.4 MBThe pandemic, sheltering in place, social distancing, feelings of isolation: All have had an impact on the emotional and mental health of employees at every level of the organization. Willis Towers Watson’s Mandie Conforti and Steve Blumenfield talk about how employers can address what employees are feeling while working within the limits of the current behavioral health marketplace. Hear real-world examples and get ideas for how you can support the mental wellbeing of your talent.
The pandemic’s impact on behavioral health care and delivery, COVID-19 edition
June 25, 2020 19:52 - 23 minutes - 53.4 MBThe pandemic, sheltering in place, social distancing, feelings of isolation: All have had an impact on the emotional and mental health of employees at every level of the organization. Willis Towers Watson’s Mandie Conforti and Steve Blumenfield talk about how employers can address what employees are feeling while working within the limits of the current behavioral health marketplace. Hear real-world examples and get ideas for how you can support the mental wellbeing of your talent.
Episode 13: Chronic condition management for vulnerable populations, COVID-19 edition
June 17, 2020 12:52 - 28 minutes - 65 MBCOVID-19 has added a new layer of vulnerability for employees and dependents who are managing chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, hypertension and other health issues. Willis Towers Watson thought leaders Jan Wuorenma, Kara Speer, Julie Stone and host Steve Blumenfield discuss the specialized issues these populations face and share ideas about the support systems and tools employers can provide to help these populations keep their health issues in check.
Chronic condition management for vulnerable populations, COVID-19 edition
June 17, 2020 12:52 - 28 minutes - 65 MBCOVID-19 has added a new layer of vulnerability for employees and dependents who are managing chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, hypertension and other health issues. Willis Towers Watson thought leaders Jan Wuorenma, Kara Speer, Julie Stone and host Steve Blumenfield discuss the specialized issues these populations face and share ideas about the support systems and tools employers can provide to help these populations keep their health issues in check.
Re-imagining employee communications, COVID-19 edition
June 08, 2020 19:04 - 20 minutes - 47.6 MBWhether your workforce is still primarily disbursed or you’re preparing to re-open your worksites, COVID-19 has created a new set of employee communications challenges that require a nuanced and targeted approach. Lindsay Stortz, Julie Stone and host Steve Blumenfield discuss innovative approaches you can take to ensure your messages reflect sensitivity and awareness of different employee populations’ needs. Also, hear how this crisis has created an opportunity to temporarily — or permanentl...
Episode 12: Re-imagining employee communications, COVID-19 edition
June 08, 2020 19:04 - 20 minutes - 47.6 MBWhether your workforce is still primarily disbursed or you’re preparing to re-open your worksites, COVID-19 has created a new set of employee communications challenges that require a nuanced and targeted approach. Lindsay Stortz, Julie Stone and host Steve Blumenfield discuss innovative approaches you can take to ensure your messages reflect sensitivity and awareness of different employee populations’ needs. Also, hear how this crisis has created an opportunity to temporarily — or permanentl...
Episode 11: Supporting employees in a work-from-home environment, COVID-19 edition
May 28, 2020 20:04 - 26 minutes - 18.2 MBThe forced work-from-home environment that employers and employees are living in because of COVID-19 has taken the challenge of caregiving to a new level. In this episode, Willis Towers Watson thought leaders share their insights about child-care support, elder-care support and overarching family-care support. Get a more comprehensive understanding of the issues, learn how leadership can make an enormous difference for your people, and pick up some tips and tools to help those caring for oth...
Supporting employees in a work-from-home environment, COVID-19 edition
May 28, 2020 20:04 - 26 minutes - 18.2 MBThe forced work-from-home environment that employers and employees are living in because of COVID-19 has taken the challenge of caregiving to a new level. In this episode, Willis Towers Watson thought leaders share their insights about child-care support, elder-care support and overarching family-care support. Get a more comprehensive understanding of the issues, learn how leadership can make an enormous difference for your people, and pick up some tips and tools to help those caring for oth...
Episode 10: In the trenches with employee benefits, COVID-19 edition
May 19, 2020 19:43 - 32 minutes - 75.1 MBMarco Diaz, Senior Vice President, Global Head of Benefits at News Corp, talks with Mark Hope, Senior Director in Willis Towers Watson’s Health and Benefits Consulting business, and Cure for the Common Co. host Steve Blumenfield about how News Corp’s employee benefits team has been managing — and succeeding — through COVID-19. Hear how a strong foundation of employee benefits has led to rapid adoption of telemedicine options, the ways that communication has improved at every level, and how N...
In the trenches with employee benefits, COVID-19 edition
May 19, 2020 19:43 - 32 minutes - 75.1 MBMarco Diaz, Senior Vice President, Global Head of Benefits at News Corp, talks with Mark Hope, Senior Director in Willis Towers Watson’s Health and Benefits Consulting business, and Cure for the Common Co. host Steve Blumenfield about how News Corp’s employee benefits team has been managing — and succeeding — through COVID-19. Hear how a strong foundation of employee benefits has led to rapid adoption of telemedicine options, the ways that communication has improved at every level, and how N...
Episode 9: The world of work in a pandemic reality, COVID-19 edition
May 11, 2020 20:17 - 24 minutes - 55.1 MBDr. Jeff Levin-Scherz and Julie Stone give listeners a crash course in COVID-19, what it means to employers and workers, and what to expect as people begin returning to the physical workplace. From scenario planning to addressing a new host of emotional and behavioral health needs, these two experts offer a variety of topics employers need to think about and begin planning for today in order to prepare for both the near- and long-term future.
The world of work in a pandemic reality, COVID-19 edition
May 11, 2020 20:17 - 24 minutes - 55.1 MBDr. Jeff Levin-Scherz and Julie Stone give listeners a crash course in COVID-19, what it means to employers and workers, and what to expect as people begin returning to the physical workplace. From scenario planning to addressing a new host of emotional and behavioral health needs, these two experts offer a variety of topics employers need to think about and begin planning for today in order to prepare for both the near- and long-term future.
Noah Lang, Stride Health
February 24, 2020 17:10 - 44 minutes - 102 MBNoah Lang tells the story behind the company he founded and leads today, Stride. He describes how the online tool and app helps the growing number of people working in the gig economy purchase health insurance, get federal subsidies and tax credits, and obtain other benefits usually provided to full-time employees such as dental, vision and life insurance.
Episode 8: Noah Lang, Stride Health
February 24, 2020 17:10 - 44 minutes - 102 MBNoah Lang tells the story behind the company he founded and leads today, Stride. He describes how the online tool and app helps the growing number of people working in the gig economy purchase health insurance, get federal subsidies and tax credits, and obtain other benefits usually provided to full-time employees such as dental, vision and life insurance.
Episode 7: Daniel Perez, Hinge Health
February 10, 2020 16:50 - 39 minutes - 89.5 MBDan Perez talks about how suffering from major injuries inspired both him and his business partner to found Hinge when they were PhD students at Oxford. He also explains the philosophy underpinning the company: To be effective long term, musculoskeletal care must go beyond physical therapy to include coaching, patient education and behavioral health support. Otherwise initial results from physical therapy will evaporate over time, increasing the odds that surgery becomes necessary.
Daniel Perez, Hinge Health
February 10, 2020 16:50 - 39 minutes - 89.5 MBDan Perez talks about how suffering from major injuries inspired both him and his business partner to found Hinge when they were PhD students at Oxford. He also explains the philosophy underpinning the company: To be effective long term, musculoskeletal care must go beyond physical therapy to include coaching, patient education and behavioral health support. Otherwise initial results from physical therapy will evaporate over time, increasing the odds that surgery becomes necessary.
Sami Inkinen, MS, MBA, Virta
December 12, 2019 21:53 - 43 minutes - 99 MBSami Inkinen trained as a physicist and started his career in a nuclear power plant. Despite being a world-class triathlete, Sami learned he was becoming pre-diabetic, setting him on a journey that led him to found Virta Health, a technology-enabled virtual clinic that can treat diabetes without medication.
Episode 6: Sami Inkinen, MS, MBA, Virta
December 12, 2019 21:53 - 43 minutes - 99 MBSami Inkinen trained as a physicist and started his career in a nuclear power plant. Despite being a world-class triathlete, Sami learned he was becoming pre-diabetic, setting him on a journey that led him to found Virta Health, a technology-enabled virtual clinic that can treat diabetes without medication.
Episode 5: Sangeeta Agarawal, RN, MS, Helpsy
December 12, 2019 21:44 - 42 minutes - 97 MBSangeeta tells the story of how her own health challenges led her change careers, from engineering to health care, ultimately leading to her founding Helpsy, a whole health and artificial intelligence cancer nurse that anticipates and addresses patients' physical, emotional and social needs.
Sangeeta Agarawal, RN, MS, Helpsy
December 12, 2019 21:44 - 42 minutes - 97 MBSangeeta tells the story of how her own health challenges led her change careers, from engineering to health care, ultimately leading to her founding Helpsy, a whole health and artificial intelligence cancer nurse that anticipates and addresses patients' physical, emotional and social needs.
Episode 4: Andrew Le, MD, CEO and co-founder, Buoy
October 17, 2019 20:21 - 56 minutes - 129 MBAndrew Le trained as a surgeon, but decided not to practice medicine because he wanted to help more people than he realized he could within the parameters of the way medicine is practiced today. So he started Buoy, an app that uses artificial intelligence, probability, statistics and machine learning to help those who realize they are ill to take the first step in getting care. The app helps people understand what is going on clinically and matches services and benefits to the individual's s...
Andrew Le, MD, CEO and co-founder, Buoy
October 17, 2019 20:21 - 56 minutes - 129 MBAndrew Le trained as a surgeon, but decided not to practice medicine because he wanted to help more people than he realized he could within the parameters of the way medicine is practiced today. So he started Buoy, an app that uses artificial intelligence, probability, statistics and machine learning to help those who realize they are ill to take the first step in getting care. The app helps people understand what is going on clinically and matches services and benefits to the individual's s...
Mette Dyhrberg, Founder and CEO, MyMee
October 17, 2019 20:07 - 46 minutes - 105 MBMette Dyhrberg, tells the story of her personal journey that led her to found MyMee, a digital therapeutic that provides a platform for understanding the triggers that can set the immune systems of those suffering from chronic illnesses. She explains how MyMee can be used to treat autoimmune diseases without medication.
Episode 3: Mette Dyhrberg, Founder and CEO, MyMee
October 17, 2019 20:07 - 46 minutes - 105 MBMette Dyhrberg, tells the story of her personal journey that led her to found MyMee, a digital therapeutic that provides a platform for understanding the triggers that can set the immune systems of those suffering from chronic illnesses. She explains how MyMee can be used to treat autoimmune diseases without medication.
Episode 2: Lindsay Jurist-Rosner, Co-founder and CEO of Wellthy
October 17, 2019 19:50 - 38 minutes - 87.8 MBLindsay Jurist-Rosner discusses how Wellthy, a care-giving company that helps those assisting aging, chronically ill or disabled loved ones by providing an advisor and technology platform for coordinating and managing day-to-day care. Lindsay tells a touching personal story of how caring for her mother inspired her to start Wellthy and shares common challenges caregivers face daily.
Lindsay Jurist-Rosner, Co-founder and CEO of Wellthy
October 17, 2019 19:50 - 38 minutes - 87.8 MBLindsay Jurist-Rosner discusses how Wellthy, a care-giving company that helps those assisting aging, chronically ill or disabled loved ones by providing an advisor and technology platform for coordinating and managing day-to-day care. Lindsay tells a touching personal story of how caring for her mother inspired her to start Wellthy and shares common challenges caregivers face daily.