Deerfield
About Deerfield

Launched in 1994, Deerfield Management Company is an investment firm dedicated to advancing healthcare through information, investment, and philanthropy—all toward the end goal of cures for disease, improved quality of life, and reduced cost of care.

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Supporting companies across the healthcare ecosystem with flexible funding models…

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Delivering market research to the Deerfield team, its portfolio companies and other partners.

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A New York City-based not-for-profit devoted to advancing innovative health care initiatives.

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Deerfield generally maintains a combined portfolio of more than 150 private and public investments across the life science, medical device, diagnostic, digital health and health service industries at all stages of evolution from start-up to mature company.

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Deerfield partners with leading academic research centers, providing critical funding and expertise to further sustain and accelerate the commercialization of discoveries toward meaningful societal impact by advancing cures for disease.

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As a strategic partner, Deerfield offers capital, scientific expertise, business operating support, and unique access to innovation.

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Deerfield Foundation

The Deerfield Foundation is a New York City-based not-for-profit organization whose mission is to improve health, accelerate innovation and promote human equity.

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Cure Campus

Cure is a 12-story innovation campus in New York City that intends to bring together innovators from academia, government, industry, and the not-for-profit sectors to advance human health and accelerate the fight against disease.

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Cure has a series of expert lectures intended to advance thought in healthcare, management, innovation, policy, and other relevant subjects. This fosters growth and education for those at Cure and its guests.

Events at the Cure

Self-reported physician practices in pulmonary arterial hypertension: diagnosis, assessment, and referral

Background

Numerous clinical trials have contributed to rapid advancements in thediagnosis and management of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), yet patientsoften do not undergo right heart catheterization (RHC) with vasoreactivitytesting and may receive a delayed or incorrect diagnosis. Efforts to improvestandards of care include the designation of Pulmonary Hypertension Association(PHA)-Accredited PH Care Centers (PHCCs). This study evaluated currentpractices in the diagnosis and assessment of PAH.

Methods

A survey of 167 physicians who had ≥1 claim for PAH in the past 3 months wasconducted.

Results

Of 167 respondents, 15% were affiliated with a PHCC, 40% had referred ≥1patient with diagnosed PAH, and 79% had ≥1 patient referred to them by anotherphysician who they then newly diagnosed with PAH. More than half (52%) reportedhaving ≥1 patient who was previously misdiagnosed with PAH referred to them byanother physician. RHC and vasoreactivity testing, respectively, were performedin 43% and 33% of patients with PAH who respondents referred to anotherphysician, 86% and 67% of patients newly diagnosed by respondents, and 84% and57% of patients who respondents considered accurately diagnosed prior to beingreferred to them. Respondents affiliated with a PHCC were more likely to try torefer to another physician affiliated with a PHCC, and to perform RHC andvasoreactivity testing.

Conclusions

Self-reported clinical practices often deviated from established guidelines.Future research should focus on both clinical efficacy and ways to encourageclinicians to bring their practices in line with well-supported, evidence-basedrecommendations.

Keywords
Pulmonary arterial hypertension; Clinical practice; Right heartcatheterization; Vasoreactivity testing; Pulmonary hypertension

Abbreviations
CCB, calcium channel blocker; FC, functional classification; PAH, pulmonaryarterial hypertension; PCPs, primary care physicians; PH, pulmonaryhypertension; PHA, Pulmonary Hypertension Association; PHCCs, PulmonaryHypertension Care Centers; RHC, right heart catheterization; SHS, SymphonyHealth Solutions