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Securing the best care is a customer’s singular goal while sifting through healthcare options. With every turn, there are choices to be made—providers to consider, treatments to weigh and plans to compare. Cigna Healthcare (NYSE: CI) makes each step simpler and more empowering through expert guidance and support. A steadfast advocate of better health, Cigna Healthcare offers a comprehensive suite of services that span medical, dental, life and accident insurance alongside specialized services in behavioral health and pharmacy management. As the health benefits provider of The Cigna Group, it is in charge of the parent company’s U.S. employer, U.S. government and international health operating segments to provide solutions tailored to clients’ distinct needs. Whether an employee benefiting from a robust employer-sponsored plan, an individual looking for quality self-sponsored coverage or a member of government programs, the company has something valuable in store for everyone. Cigna Healthcare’s U.S. employer business serves the healthcare needs of more than 15 million medical and 16 million dental customers from over 37,000 public and private employer relationships. 2.5 million clients benefit from the company’s Medicare, individual and family health and group prescription drug plans. Enterprises of all sizes are offered employer plans for employees sent abroad or employers located across borders who want to insure their employees back home. “We are committed to implementing tangible actions across our company to help drive better health outcomes and healthcare experiences,” says David M. Cordani, chairman and CEO. For many, the journey to better health is fraught with uncertainty and complex choices. Cigna Healthcare transforms this challenge into an opportunity by empowering customers with personalized guidance and innovative tools. Flexible coverage options extended to customers demonstrate Cigna Healthcare’s approach to personalization—from supplemental policies that offer additional cash benefits during health crises to digital tools that make finding in-network doctors and managing prescriptions easier than ever. From the moment a client reaches out for help, its team provides comprehensive assistance that builds long-term trust and confidence.
CommuniD, a specialised marketing agency catering to the medical device industry, was established by Elvio Gramignano, a seasoned leader with over three decades of experience in the intricate fields of in vitro diagnostics (IVD), orthopaedics, robotics and neuromodulation. The company emerged in response to escalating commercial costs, heightened pricing pressures, and the demand for a modernized approach to market engagement in the medical device sector. CommuniD redefines the communication and the sales process for medical devices and solutions by crafting sustainable, digitally-augmented commercial strategies, aiming to help start-ups and small to medium-sized companies thrive in this evolving market. “We are more than a digital marketing agency; we are a specialised partner committed to navigating the complexities of the medtech sector and driving success for our clients,” says Elvio Gramignano, founder of CommuniD. The years 2020 to 2023 were a period of global upheaval, emphasising the need for a digital overhaul within the medtech sector. During this time, physician behavior and expectations transformed, leading to a more favorable view of multichannel engagement. Accelerated by regulatory modifications, this period shed light on a new direction for the industry, advocating for a digital approach in healthcare professional (HCP) engagement. CommuniD is leading the charge by transforming the sales process of medical devices and solutions through a ‘hybrid model’. The model combines traditional and digital engagement methods, aligning with healthcare professionals’ (HCPs) evolving preferences for a multichannel communication strategy and significantly driving efficiency.
Medical transportation is not just about moving patients—it’s about ensuring every aspect of their transfer is handled with care and precision. Aeropartner embodies this approach through its bed-to-bed air service, where every step of the journey is carefully designed to prioritize the patient’s comfort and quality of life. From the initial bedside pickup to the final safe arrival at the receiving hospital, Aeropartner’s team of experienced professionals manages every aspect of the journey. They coordinate ground transportation, oversee in-flight medical care and ensure seamless communication between medical teams. This holistic approach significantly enhances the quality of life for patients by reducing stress and promoting a continuum of care during critical transfers. Prior to transportation, Aeropartner conducts a thorough review of the patient’s medical condition to determine stability for air travel. If a patient is critically unstable and requires immediate transport, the team swiftly obtains consent from relatives to proceed. Following confirmation, a dedicated medical team, customized to meet the specific needs of the patient, is promptly deployed, providing constant, expert care throughout the flight. “Within merely three hours of a request, we can dispatch an ambulance aircraft to most destinations. With our operations and sales departments available 24/7, 365 days a year, we ensure that no call for help goes unanswered,” says Richard Santus, founder and CEO. “Having a fleet of 11 fast and comfortable multi-engined business jets, seven to eight of which can be converted into air ambulances at any given time, we are perpetually prepared to address any emergency situation.” Aeropartner plays a pivotal role in saving the lives of infants born with critical heart conditions. Specializing in the transport of newborns diagnosed prenatally with such ailments, it acts swiftly to ensure these vulnerable patients receive the care they need without delay. Immediately after birth, once it is confirmed that both the newborn and the mother are stable, Aeropartner arranges for the infant’s transfer to specialized hospitals that are equipped with advanced pediatric cardiology facilities. Using specially designed incubators, Aeropartner ensures safe passage for these newborns across Europe. The urgency of these missions reflects the critical nature of the medical interventions required—often within just hours or days of birth. Once the surgeries are successfully completed and the newborns have sufficiently recovered, Aeropartner ensures their safe return to their families.
Excellence in patient care is achieved by building a workforce defined by reliability, specialized expertise, and adaptability. For America’s leading healthcare providers, hospitals and specialty care centers, collaborating with an industry leader in staffing is crucial to achieving these objectives. As the nation’s top provider of tech-powered staffing solutions, Aya Healthcare combines innovative workforce technology with an expansive network of highly qualified clinical and non-clinical professionals. Clients benefit from Aya’s comprehensive suite of solutions, including travel nursing, allied health, per diem, permanent placements, interim leadership, locum tenens, and nonclinical staffing. These tailored offerings empower healthcare organizations to rapidly fill critical roles and maintain operational efficiency, even during periods of peak demand. Specialized physician and advanced practice staffing further ensures clients have access to top-tier practitioners when and where they are needed most. The interim leadership division also connects healthcare facilities with experienced executives who can stabilize operations and drive performance improvements during transitional periods. Aya’s managed services program (MSP) elevates workforce management by offering a single-source staffing solution. It enables healthcare organizations to consolidate their workforce needs with a trusted partner, simplifying vendor coordination, minimizing administrative burden and driving cost efficiency. Seamlessly integrated with its comprehensive staffing services, the MSP empowers clients to centralize workforce planning and quickly adapt to changing demands. Supporting this comprehensive approach is Aya Connect, its all-in-one workforce platform that further streamlines staffing operations. Through vendor management, float pool tools, per diem scheduling, and predictive analytics, Aya Connect provides real-time data and workforce insights. This enables clients to monitor staffing needs, track candidate statuses, and make data-driven decisions that optimize costs, accelerate hiring, and enhance clinical outcomes.
Thomas Bjarnt, Operational Leader, Falck Ambu-lance DK MSc. EBA in Supply Chain Management, Falck
Alan Dubovsky, Vice President and Chief Patient Experience Officer, Hospital Administration, Cedars-Sinai
Dan Dodson, MBA, MSMI, System Director, ISD Digital Health and Innovation, Information Services Division, UNC Health
Katarina Zivojinovic, Marketing Director, Aqualab laboratorije
Matjaz Tavca, Project Manager, University Medical Centre Ljubljana
Suddhajit Sen, Associate Director of Medical Education, NHS Highland
Palita Lungchukiet, Director of Research and Education, Bumrungrad International Hospital
Gil Figueiredo, Corporate Matron, James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 21
Transforming Healthcare for a Better Future
Technological advancements are transforming the healthcare industry, especially in areas that demand high compliance and efficiency, such as pharmacy consulting services and medical waste disposal management. As regulations tighten and the need for sustainable, cost-effective solutions rises, incorporating innovative technologies into these two critical areas has become increasingly vital. Advanced pharmacy platforms powered by AI and analytics help streamline prior authorizations, enhance medication accuracy and ensure ongoing compliance. Smart waste management systems complement these efforts by automating sorting, tracking waste in real time and producing complianceready reports that support safety, efficiency and environmental responsibility. Together, these technologies strengthen operational performance, reduce risk and support long-term sustainability in a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape. This edition of Healthcare Business Review explores the transformative role of technology in streamlining pharmacy operations and enhancing medical waste disposal management. Featured thought leaders include Emma Spellman, associate director of oncology, diagnostics and outpatients at The London Clinic, who emphasizes the importance of agility, innovation, collaboration and leadership development in delivering high-quality oncology care in an ever-changing healthcare environment. Gil Figueiredo, deputy head of education at James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, calls for a blended learning model that combines self-paced e-learning for theory with high-fidelity simulation for practical skills, enhancing engagement while ensuring competency in a safe environment. We hope this edition provides you with valuable insights into how technology is shaping the future of healthcare operations.