Health Policy COE

Drug Shortages: Why Are They a Recurrent Issue and What Can Regulatory Do to Prevent Them? - Chana Weinstock

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Ruchika Talwar speaks with Chana Weinstock about the recent chemotherapy shortage affecting genitourinary cancers, notably muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Dr. Weinstock explains the complexity behind drug shortages, highlighting the manufacturing challenges of older, off-patent drugs like cisplatin and carboplatin. She discusses the FDA's limitations in mandating production increases and its strat...

Utilization of Neoadjuvant Chemo Before Cystectomy - Hiten Patel

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Hiten Patel discusses his team’s study on the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy before radical cystectomy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer. The research, motivated by low utilization rates observed in practice, aimed to understand elective and eligibility factors affecting the treatment's application. Analyzing data from Loyola University Medical Center, the study found that while 40% of patients...

Opioid Minimization Protocol for Urologic Robotic Surgery Patients - Aaron Laviana

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Aaron Laviana discusses a study on reducing opioid use after robotic urologic surgery in a safety-net hospital. The study introduces a simplified opioid minimization protocol, combining non-opioid medications and a Transversus Abdominis Plane (TAP) Block, and evaluates its effectiveness in pain management and patient satisfaction. The protocol includes acetaminophen, ibuprofen, cyclobenzaprine, an...

Access and Utilization of Healthcare by Adults with Spina Bifida - Lindsay Hampson & Alejandro Lopez

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Lindsay Hampson and Alex Lopez discuss their research on healthcare access and utilization by adults with spina bifida. The study, conducted via a Facebook-distributed survey, reveals significant barriers to care, including distance, provider inexperience, and trust issues. Notably, 39% of the 270 respondents hadn't seen a urologist in the past year. Many reported traveling over 30 miles for urolo...

Comparing Cost-Effectiveness of Surgery, Radiation, and Chemo for Seminoma - Daniel Joyce

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Ruchika Talwar interviews Daniel Joyce about his journey into cost-effectiveness studies, particularly in testicular cancer. Initially skeptical, Dr. Joyce now sees these studies as crucial for interpreting clinical trial data in real-world contexts. He discusses his analysis of the SEMS trial, focusing on small-volume stage two seminoma, where RPLND emerged as the most cost-effective option compa...

Evaluation of Cost Differences Across BPH Surgical Options - Kevin Wymer

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Kevin Wymer presents a study on the out-of-pocket costs for BPH surgical management. Using private payer claims data, the study compares costs across various BPH procedures, including TURP, PVP, HoLEP, Rezūm, UroLift, and Simple Prostatectomy. It reveals significant cost variations between these treatments, both for the initial procedure and follow-up over five years. The findings highlight the ne...

Evaluating Medicare Coverage and Costs of Overactive Bladder Medications - Katherine Shapiro

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Katherine Shapiro discusses her research on the cost and access to overactive bladder medications. She highlights the prevalence of overactive bladder and its significant cost to the healthcare system. Dr. Shapiro focuses on second-line pharmacologic therapies, comparing anticholinergics and beta-3 agonists, noting the side effects and emerging concerns about cognitive decline with long-term use o...

Bladder Cancer Patients Experience High Burden From Current Intravesical Therapy Model - Amanda Myers

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Ruchika Talwar interviews Amanda Myers about her study on at-home intravesical therapy for bladder cancer patients. Dr. Myers' was inspired by patients' desire for a more convenient treatment method. The study, conducted through a cross-sectional survey of the BCAN Patient Survey Network, involved 233 respondents who had undergone at least one dose of intravesical therapy. Key findings include sig...

External Factors, Unmet Expectations, and Declining Health Key in Delaying Urethroplasty for Recurrent Strictures - Niels Johnsen

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Ruchika Talwar interviews Niels Johnsen about his qualitative analysis published in the Journal of Urology. The study focuses on patient experiences in recurrent urethral stricture disease. Dr. Johnsen explains that the study aims to understand patient experiences in the context of the 2016 AUA Urethral Stricture Guidelines, which recommend urethroplasty over repeat endoscopic management for recur...

Analysis Finds Policy Barriers Drive Pediatric Patient Transfers - Emily Clennon

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Emily Clennon discusses her research on the transfer of pediatric torsion patients to pediatric hospitals. Published with Dr. Duty and Dr. Seideman, the study addresses the increasing trend of transferring pediatric patients, especially adolescents, from rural areas to tertiary pediatric centers for testicular torsion treatment. The research, to be detailed in an upcoming article, identifies healt...