BLOG: Live from the Healthcare Conference at the Rubber Expo

CLEVELAND—We have all heard about or experienced a medical miracle that saved someone's life. Whether this experience personally affected us or was just an interesting story, it is an incredible topic to speak and/or hear about.

I personally have a few stories about myself and my loved ones, but those are for a different day. Today I had the opportunity to listen and observe what is coming in the health care profession. And, more importantly, how much of what is to come is directly related to our industry.

Francis Papay of the Cleveland Clinic, Dermatology & Plastic Surgery Institute served as a speaker at the Third Advanced Materials in Healthcare Conference at the International Elastomer Conference on Oct. 12 at the Cleveland Convention Center .

Papay spoke about polymers in health care, and while I will be writing a formal story about many of the topics he discussed, I wanted to hit three points that really got me thinking.

I should first say that to get me thinking on a Monday morning before drinking my Starbucks is a feat in itself. These are the topics still rattling around in my brain today:

The key is the end user.

Papay and Tom Graham, chief innovation officer, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, who introduced Papay, suggested to audience members to go speak to surgeons and the other end users of the products they are making. While a company may think end users don't need or want to know the process, it could be a great benefit to both sides to have that contact and networking opportunity.

“People were surprised when we reached out to, say Parker Hannifin or Lubrizol,” Graham said. “Frankly, they're natural partners. They have perspectives and resources and relationships and capabilities that we simply wouldn't have.”

Having these conversations can open dialogue for different sides of a process to understand the other parts.

When talking to folks from Parker, Graham said they thought people at the Cleveland Clinic probably would not be interested in what they do because they flow fluid through tubes with valves in it.

“Well what do our cardiologists and urologists think about all day?” Graham questioned.

This was also a topic Papay touched on during his speech. Forming those relationships can be key in moving forward.

I found this fascinating because the more I learn about the health care industry, the more I can see how these pieces and parts fit together. The flexibility of the elastomers that can be created for these end products create many more options not formerly available. Working together can create the best product.

The diagnosis is half the cure.

Giving a patient a diagnosis is great. They are one step closer to getting better. However, for the medical professional, it is only half the cure. Papay explained that there is still the part of fixing the problem.

This was possibly the biggest takeaway for me as a person (not as a reporter in the industry). I go to the doctor, and I want them to be miracle workers. I want them to fix what ails me. I do not always think about the time it takes for the doctor not only to diagnose the issue, but also the steps needed for the treatment. And with that, sometimes comes the rubber and plastics industries to save the day and increase efficiency, safety and more for patients and doctors alike. 

Bone glue

Papay discussed many forward-thinking “what ifs” in his presentation, but this one got me thinking. He stated that say an 82-year-old man falls and gets a hip fracture, his mortality rate increases to 20 percent.

What if there was a bone glue created that could be inserted to fix the broken hip bone instead of putting in a replacement?

When I think of glue, it is the Elmer's Glue for the crafts I did as a kid. I knew that there was glue that could be used in some instances instead of stitches and thought that was beneficial in many ways. To think that there could be a glue that could reset bones is an entirely different ballgame. And one that I am interested to watch.

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