Some of the Points Martyn and Craig Discussed

• What is medical technology and in what way does it impact the national economy?
• Does all medical technology have an impact on the economy? Can you address where there may be varying degrees of impact – and any exceptions?
• Can you share some specific examples of how medical technology impacts people on an individual basis in terms of their finances?
• What is InHealth and how is it related to the impact of medical technology on the economy?
• What are some medical technologies on the horizon that we can expect to make a significant impact on the economy?
• What role does medical technology play in the ongoing health reform initiative?
• Will changes resulting from health reform have an impact on the advances in medical technology we can expect to see in the future?

About Martyn Howgill

Appointed in 2004 as The Institute for Health Technology Studies’ first Executive Director, Howgill brought 25 years of experience in health care, including positions in business development and human resource management.

Prior to joining InHealth, Howgill served for eight years as Vice President of International Business Development and Chief Marketing Officer at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. While there, he launched a successful direct-to-consumer advertising program, “Making Cancer History®.” He also developed M. D. Anderson Cancer Center’s International Outreach program, specifically initiating its “Sister Institution” program that created links with leading academic and community cancer programs worldwide.

Prior to his post at M. D. Anderson, Howgill was Senior Vice President for Human Resources at Methodist Hospital of Indiana (now Clarian Health System) in Indianapolis.

About InHealth

The Institute for Health Technology Studies (InHealth) is a 501c(3) research and educational foundation created through unrestricted philanthropic donations from the Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed), the medical device and diagnostic industry association, whose vision was to establish an independent, non-profit organization to fund objective, peer-review quality research and analysis on the impact and value of medical technology.

• InHealth’s mission is to sponsor research and education that will contribute objective information and credible insights into the impact and value of medical technology innovation.

InHealth does not represent the medical devices and diagnostics industry or advocate for any particular device, therapy or diagnostic test, and does not take a position for or against government regulations or legislation.

Since its establishment five years ago, InHealth has funded more than a dozen studies by university-level researchers on topics ranging from the value of clinical laboratory diagnostics to the comparative benefits of drug-eluting stents over their bare-metal counterparts.

• Grants have been made to the following institutions: Duke University, Harvard University/Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, John Hopkins University, Medical College of Georgia, Northwestern University, Stanford University - Medical School, Stanford University - Program in Biodesign, Tufts University, University of Houston, and University of Pennsylvania.

To date, these studies have resulted in 13 articles in peer-reviewed journals.

InHealth’s current research agenda is focused on:

• the social and economic impact and value of medical technology;
• health care costs and economics with respect to the introduction and utilization of medical technology;
• the impact of public policy and regulations on medical technology innovation.

Research Pipeline

• In October 2008, InHealth has awarded $1.7 million in grants over the next two years to researchers at Johns Hopkins University, Northwestern University, Medical College of Georgia, Tufts University and the University of Houston. The funding allows scientists to examine the economic and social impact of diagnostic and therapeutic medical devices on treating diseases and chronic medical conditions.
  • Researchers will explore the cost-benefit effects of insulin pumps, hearing aids, in-vitro diagnostics, genomic diagnostics for personalized medicine and devices used to treat sleep apnea.

Funding

• As a nonprofit 501 (c) (3), InHealth is funded through grants and voluntary contributions from individuals. Donors may designate their philanthropic giving toward a variety of projects or program areas of interest, or provide unrestricted gifts to sustain the overall mission and vitality of the organization.
• While donors may designate their gifts to support a specific area, there are several mechanisms in place to preserve the objectivity and credibility of InHealth-funded research, including oversight from InHealth’s Research Council comprised of an independent panel of scholars and professionals, and adherence to the Uniform Requirements for Biomedical Journal Manuscripts issued by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors.