Letter from the editor

With the advancements we’re seeing in areas such as precision medicine, advanced analytics and artificial intelligence, the rapid pace of innovation is reshaping the healthcare landscape. And, as we continually seek to provide you with insightful content and perspectives, we’re innovating the way we deliver the content of FOCUS magazine as well.

We’ve moved FOCUS to a new online home–cardinalhealth.com/FOCUS–allowing you easier access to our content. And, in keeping with a constantly changing field, we’ll be consistently adding new content throughout the year, offering our latest thinking and updates on our publications and presentations at key clinical conferences. We hope you’ll visit frequently to explore the latest in health economics and outcomes research and evidence-based insights that help you meet the demands of a dynamic healthcare system. In our latest issue, we explore the capabilities of real-world evidence (RWE) and how its application is increasing the value of care in today’s healthcare marketplace. Key articles include:

Real-World Evidence: Why and How – Much has been written in recent years about the advantages and challenges of RWE studies, and how to best utilize the data generated. To help us better understand the process and shed some light on RWE studies, Dr. Chadi Nabhan, MBA, Vice President/Chief Medical Officer, Cardinal Health Specialty Solutions, sits down with Dr. Anthony Mato, Associate Attending and CLL Program Director at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York.

Use of RWE in Making Therapy Decisions in Oncology – Explore how real-world data (RWD) and RWE are understood by providers and their perceptions of its utility. Learn how ongoing education related to RWD/RWE and a consistent message from organizations and institutions such as the FDA and professional societies may help to advance healthcare, and the delivery of care to cancer patents.

Real-World Trends in Disease Management by Rheumatologists – Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that triggers inflammation in body tissues. Since SLE is a relatively rare condition, adversely affecting the younger population, with a scarcity of FDA-approved options for care, understanding real-world treatment patterns and care gaps is critical to guide the development of new treatment options for this debilitating disease.

We hope you find this issue educational and informative. We look forward to connecting with you and we encourage you to share your thoughts with us as we seek to improve healthcare by demonstrating the value of evidence-based insights.