Donovan Quill, President and CEO, Optime Care, interview featured on July 2, 2021.
Typically, an orphan drug is a treatment for a condition with less than 200,000 patients in the U.S., according to the FDA definition. It takes patients about 3-5 physicians to get a diagnosis, but with technological advances, testing and diagnosis is becoming easier. As a patient, it is important to question your physician, question the medical community and always ask, “What’s next?”
While technological advances are crucial, the key to effective care is to balance technology solutions with methods for addressing human needs and variability. It is crucial for physicians to know their rare disease patients and personalize treatment to optimize outcomes. Physicians should listen and understand what their patients need through effective communication, whether in person or through the phone. Patient-focused care is essential, and Optime Care works to make sure health providers have a patient driven focus to make a difference in people’s lives.
In this interview with I Don’t Care host Kevin Stevenson, Quill discusses the best pharma strategies to identify and treat rare conditions as well as the role of telehealth, dealing with mental healthcare, developing a team dedicated to each patient with rare diseases, and providing unlimited support for patients. In addition, Quill speaks on his personal experience with rare disease that has pushed him to become an ambassador for patients with rare and orphan diseases and work towards care focused solely on the patient’s needs.
