"The stone age didn't end because they ran out of stones." While comparing healthcare to the stone age might seem a little extreme, it's hard to argue the industry's seemingly static position and resistance to moving forward in an increasingly transparent digital world. Eventually, disruption comes to every industry - and in the case of healthcare, there's a growing army of digital revolutionaries founding companies poised to make healthcare more accessible. As a part of this tech-driven movement, Hippo Health is always seeking partners to unify and amplify efforts for change. Enter Orderly Health. Orderly is a personal healthcare assistant and Hippo Health partner. Founded by Kevin Krauth in 2013, the concierge service strives to find consumers discounts and health plans while removing the unnecessary layers - naturally, they're a great fit for Hippo Health.
Opioid abuse is a serious and widespread problem in the US. But how did we get to this place? Opioids are certainly not new; in fact, narcotics have been around for long time - their usage is referenced as far back as 460 BC. What else isn't new: the complexities surrounding their relieving properties coupled with euphoric side effects and the possibilities of addiction. What are opioids? Opioids is a term for a broad range of drugs; some you may know by name are oxycodone, hydrocodone, and morphine. Some are derived from opium, and some are synthetic. When opioid medications travel through your blood and attach to opioid receptors in your brain cells, the cells release signals that lessen your perception of pain and increase your feelings of pleasure. These drugs were further developed into the brands you know today (Vicodin, Percocet) as a response to the undertreatment of pain, and became widely prescribed through the 1990s and early 2000s. In fact. new standards in treatmentnt deemed pain the "fifth element of treatment", and care providers were rated on their management of a patient's pain needs. Increasing abuse of these drugs followed (view a fascinating timeline of opioids' history via The Atlantic here). Hippo Health's Dr. Ken Rooks dives further explains the epidemic's roots in this edition of Burning Questions.
It's February, and the flu is still very much a thing. Your children, your parents, your coworkers -maybe even you - have had it. But the tidal wave of illness is not over. For those of you wondering, "Should I get the flu vaccine? Why should I get it? Will it make me sick?" - we've got answers in the form of Hippo Health's very own Dr. Ken Rooks.
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