#24: The path ahead for SDoH, and how startups and health plans will get it right (with R.J. Briscione, Principal at The Focus Group)

What you’ll get out of this episodeListen in as host Tim Fitzpatrick chats with RJ Briscione from The Focus Group about his work in the social determinants of health (SDoH) areas of food, housing and transportation having worked in leadership at several large payers. RJ talks about the importance of getting it right in the last mile of care and services, why having data isn’t always enough, and how startups and large organizations are partnering to improve the quality of life in communities across the United States.In this episode you’ll discover:The importance of creating a closed-loop system for providers to refer people to resources in need of social support such as food banks, housing opportunities, heat sources, etc.Why the outreach to patients is equally as important as the behind-the-scenes work of getting a program designed and implemented.How companies like Unite Us, Season and WellTheory are thinking about designing services that truly make a difference, and why they are differentiated from the way health plans traditionally operate.What RJ has learned in his journey from working in health plan leadership to supporting early stage startups and now as an advisor at Next Ventures working alongside Lance Armstrong, Melanie Strong and Julian Eison to optimize health and human performance.Quotables“We did so much work on what we call the backend in designing these programs, that all sound amazing and sound great, but the outreach misses at the last mile, like right in front of the member. It falls flat in front of the member's face. So, when we think of new and innovative and interesting ways to get to those members and make them aware of this.” @rj_bris #TheFocusGroup on Ep 24 @T-Minus10 w/ @trfitzpatrick“ I can give a good example, WellTheory, who you probably know, Tim. They said well what’s the difference in that and that the health plan already does; and the difference is that, like get up every day and make life better for those with autoimmune disease, in that example right, to have a specific set of health nutrition and wrap-around services built around that specific condition.” @rj_bris #TheFocusGroup on Ep 24 @T-Minus10 w/ @trfitzpatrickRecommended ResourcesNext Ventures Q&A with R.J (Next Ventures on Substack)On a Mission to Break Down SDoH Barriers (Icario Webinar) Should Social Determinants Come From Payers and Providers? (Out-Of-Pocket)Food-as-medicine startup Season Health nabs $34M backed by Andreessen Horowitz, Cityblock's Toyin Ajayi (Fierce Healthcare)2023 may bring progress in SDOH tech, telehealth and interoperability (Healthcare IT News)Join the Conversation Are you a healthcare innovator? Tell us what topics and people you’d like us to cover in future episodes:RJ Briscione on LinkedInRJ Briscione on TwitterHuge step forward for access to #cancertreatment #clinicaltrials . Provider friends, this is built for you and to keep community practices whole. Jump on this/happy to connect! //@ RJ Bricione on LinkedInI generally list Mental Health Access as one of the bigger problems in Healthcare... check out what Sero Health is doing to provide EMDR therapy at home! // @ RJ Bricione on LinkedInAbout Your HostTim Fitzpatrick is the CEO of IKONA Health, a company using neurobiology and immersive technology to improve how patients learn about their care and treatment options. Tim co-founded IKONA based on his own patient experiences while serving in the US Navy and now in the VA health system. He has served as Principal Investigator on multiple federal research grants, has co-authored papers on learning science, VR, and mental health in the age of COVID-19, and has partnered with top healthcare investors and institutions including the National Science Foundation, Department of Defense, National Artificial Intelligence Institute, StartUp Health, On Deck, FundRx, MATTER and NVIDIA.T-Minus 10 is a part of the Slice of Healthcare podcast network.