How We Think

An important announcement from one of our clients, Quest Diagnostics, offers a glance at how healthcare is becoming more and more personalized—and how the need to pool critical data to improve treatments can override competitive concerns. In this case, Quest and other organizations, including some of its major competitors, will work together to compile their proprietary data on thousands of gene mutations in certain types of breast cancers to help improve the search for new drugs and biological treatments for those cancers. The quest for cures can make strange bedfellows, but it’s a sign of the times that companies are realizing they can only get so far alone. The patients of the world should benefit.

For more details on the new BRCA Share project, read the full article on Reuters.com.

Hope everyone had a great weekend! We’re very excited to announce that we just launched a microsite last week for Abbott Molecular! The microsite will be used as a tool to educate laboratories on Six Sigma—which is a benchmark that assesses the analytical performance of assays—and why it matters. Do you know your sigma? knowyoursigma.com

In addition to being president of Lowell General Hospital, Jody White must be a magician. That’s the only way I can explain how he managed to pull together three of his busiest physicians to join him, and me, for a panel discussion at this week’s DeviceTalks Boston. Sponsored by MassDevice.com, DeviceTalks Boston is an annual premier gathering of medtech companies (and the vendors who love them). We at KHJ called our panel presentation, “Hot Topics in Medical Marketing: Myth or Truth?”

Our thanks to Mr. White as well as Lowell General’s Dr. Richard Birkhead, chief of cardiology; Dr. Allan Hoffman, chief of vascular and interventional radiology; and Dr. Scott Sigman, chief of orthopedics, for their many thoughtful, honest and at times provocative responses to our questions on innovation, the sales-hospital relationship, and the changing role of the patient. A few of my favorite moments:

You love to defy conventional wisdom. Myth or truth?

Innovation is the leading purchasing driver. Social media can’t work in a regulated industry. Patients are low on the decision chain. Myths or truths? Join KHJ as we challenge commonly accepted ideas with the help of a panel of experts at DeviceTalks Boston, the premier gathering of who’s who in medtech. Be part of the conversation, and get ready to question everything you think you know.

Each year the Diagnostic Marketing Association (DxMA) hosts its creative communication awards ceremony recognizing the best of the best in diagnostics advertising, marketing and promotional programming. This year, KHJ has once again won bragging rights by placing: