Keynote Address: Bright Ideas for Investing in the Health of Employees

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Presenter: Chris Ward, President, Ward Health Strategies

Session 1: Generating Plan Savings using the Proton Pump Inhibitor Category: A retrospective analysis of claims data, public vs. private plans.

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Proton Pump Inhibitors have been a restricted category in most provinces, reimbursing two of the medications preferentially. Significant savings have been realised when Private Insurance plans have adopted a similar design. This presentation will examine the savings not taken advantage of by Employers versus savings realised by public plans.

Presenter: Kevin O'Connor, Government Relations, Janssen-Ortho Inc.

Designated Responders: Christine A. Ball, Director of Employee Services, Human Resources, Regional Municipality of Durham and Bessie Wang, Director, Professional Services, Emergis Inc.

Session 2: Innovative Vaccines: What You Need to Know

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Studies have shown that the link between Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer is more direct than the connection between smoking and lung cancer.  Recently, Health Canada approved GARDASILTM, the first and only vaccine indicated in girls and women 9-26 years of age for the prevention of cervical, vulvar and vaginal cancer as well as genital warts caused by HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18.

Health Canada has also approved RotaTeqTM, the first and only vaccine available in Canada for use in preventing a potentially serious virus in infants, rotavirus gastroenteritis (serotypes G1, G2, G3, G4 and P1[8]).

Presenter James Mansi, Ph.D., Director of Scientific Affairs, Merck Frosst Vaccine Division, will discuss the burden of these illnesses and helps to prepare you to answer questions about the role these and other future vaccines will play in the private market.

Presenter: James A. Mansi, Ph.D., Director, Scientific Affairs, Merck Frosst Canada Ltd.

Designated Responder: Barbara Martinez, Senior Associate, Mercer Human Resource Consulting and Tim Clarke, Hewitt Associates

Session 3: Improved CVS Health

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Success in cardiovascular health promotion is dependent on identification of patients at risk, implementation of an effective, strategic approach and improved patient compliance.

The reliance to date of identifying cardiovascular at risk patients primarily through family physicians poses significant challenges. Many patients access the health care system only when a problem arises. The achievement of primary cardiovascular prevention can be enhanced by the development of screening outreach programs such as the one AstraZeneca and Husky partnered in.

Once identification has occurred, implementation of an effective therapy utilizing a multidisciplinary approach is usually not problematic. Patients initially are well motivated to improve their cardiovascular health.

The challenge arises with patient compliance over time as illustrated in the data from the Crestor Healthy Changes Program. This program provides multiple sources of cardiovascular health information for the patient. Moreover, contact with a dietician and an exercise consultant can have significant impact on improving compliance. 

Presenter: Dr. Joseph Niedoba, Occupational Health Physician, Husky

Designated Responders: Gordon Polk, President, Drug Benefit Consulting and Shawn O'Brien, Senior Consultant, Aon Consulting

Session 4: Modern Insulins:  Optimizing Glycemic Control in Diabetes

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Diabetes is a growing epidemic affecting over 2 millions Canadians.  By 2010, this number is expected to reach 3 millions.  With devastating complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness and amputation, diabetes is estimated to cost the Canadian healthcare system $13.2 billion.  A person with diabetes often incurs medical costs that are 2-3 times higher than that of a person without the condition.

Landmark diabetes studies have shown that tight glycemic control significantly reduces the risk of complications.  While insulin has been amongst the mainstay of diabetes therapy since its discovery in Toronto in 1921, it is often intiated too late, contrary to the recommendations of the Canadian Clinical Practice Guidelines on Diabetes to initiate early aggressive treatment to optimize outcomes.  As with other anti-hyperglycemic agents, the risk of hypoglycemia, weight impact and variable pharmacokinetic profile associated with human insulins have limited the potential to achieve tight control.  More recently, the advent of insulin analogues such as NovoRapid® and Levemir® helps overcome these treatment barriers.  This presentation will focus on the role of modern insulins in optimizing diabetes management.

Presenter: Dr. Jovana Kapor M.D., Associate Medical Director, Diabetes, Novo Nordisk Canada

Designated Responder: John C. Tompkins, Principal, Hewitt Associates