At TailorMed, our users are at the heart of everything we do. That’s why we proudly hosted our first-ever User Advisory Committee (UAC) Kickoff this fall. A group of 12 dedicated TailorMed users, representing healthcare organizations across the country, traveled to Denver for this milestone event.

TailorMed User Advisory Committee

TailorMed’s User Advisory Committee in Denver.

The committee now meets monthly to share their insights and help us advance our mission to remove every barrier, from cost to care. The inaugural meeting was a meaningful opportunity for the UAC to meet members of our leadership team, exchange ideas, and connect with one another.

The event began with a festive welcome dinner, followed by a full day of sessions at the historic Brown Palace Hotel & Spa. Participants had the chance to test a new product currently in development (stay tuned for more details!) and break out into small groups for a workshop led by our VP of Product Ya’ara Goldschmidt. Each group discussed common challenges patients and providers face when it comes to addressing affordability—and brainstormed potential solutions. The kickoff ended on a high note with a trip to Coors Field for a Rockies game.

Here were our top five takeaways:

  1. Connection is key. Our users are passionate about helping patients afford the medications they need. However, they often work independently or in small teams. For this reason, they do not have regular opportunities to troubleshoot and review best practices with others in the field. UAC members were most excited to connect with fellow navigators and start important conversations that we hope will continue far into the future.
  2. Financial navigation is an evolving field. Navigators need ongoing training and education. Healthcare organizations increasingly recognize the importance of financial navigation as a component of holistic, patient-centric care. This is heartening, yet the field is still in its infancy. Navigators need ongoing training to keep up with new technology, as well as healthcare trends and policy changes that impact affordability. During our kickoff, participants were eager to learn more about a variety of topics—such as the difference between “white-bagging” and “brown-bagging,” and the latest ruling on copay accumulators. We look forward to providing education on these topics and others.
  3. Few healthcare professionals truly understand a navigator’s role or workflow. While our users provide an essential service, there is often limited visibility into their work. One participant described a scenario in which a patient expressed concerns around medication costs, and the physician replied, “We have someone for that!” However, there was little awareness of the navigator’s responsibilities, or the processes involved in securing financial assistance. This lack of awareness remains a challenge, especially as navigators advocate to their leadership for additional resources, including technology. It is essential for our users to have tools to make the business case.
  4. As TailorMed evolves, our users will remain indispensable. They are part of our future. We were amazed by the energy, feedback, and creative ideas our UAC members shared. At this critical stage of our TailorMed’s growth, we are scaling our end-to-end platform to tackle all barriers to care—affordability, access, adherence, and beyond. As we execute this bold vision, our users will remain essential partners.
  5. This was just the beginning. The UAC Kickoff was an exciting start to our work with this committee, which will continue over the next year. We’re now meeting monthly to discuss a host of topics. Our October meeting focused on expediting assistance program enrollment with TailorMed’s Express Enroll, while our November session addressed critical changes to Medicare and patient assistance programs. These were insightful conversations, both for our users and our team. We look forward to sharing more updates from the UAC in the months ahead.

We left the inaugural UAC meeting feeling inspired and energized. We were thrilled to hear from participants who found the experience to be as meaningful as we did. Here’s just one of the moving testimonials we received:

“I loved everything about it! I was amazed and proud to be part of something so profound. I think in healthcare, we get burnt out or don’t feel like we’re putting such a dent in the need. But being [at the UAC Kickoff] was just what I needed to reset, and it reminded me of how important we are. I love what I do and being there with people from the same area of healthcare was amazing!” – Victoria Washington, Financial Aid Team Lead, Florida Cancer Specialists and Research Institute

We are grateful to the 12 users who made this event so worthwhile—and for the difference they make in patients’ lives every day. Together, we will continue to discover ways to reach more patients in need, ensuring they can access the care they deserve … without delay.