More than 100 million Americans suffer from allergies, and when left untreated, what may seem like minor symptoms can lead to serious health issues such as asthma, chronic sinus infections, fatigue, and even emergency room visits. Unfortunately, access to effective allergy care is limited by a shortage of specialists, long wait times, and treatments that can be expensive and time-consuming. To address this, healthcare leaders are reimagining how allergy care is delivered, focusing on making diagnosis and treatment more accessible, convenient, and affordable. They are bringing services into primary care settings, supporting at-home treatment options, and expanding reach through telehealth.
Steve Oliveras, CEO of Pinnacle Allergy, is leading the charge in revolutionizing allergy care. Under his leadership, the company collaborates with medical practices to offer in-office allergy testing and treatment, alongside a convenient at-home testing kit with sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) drops. This dual approach allows patients to access care in clinical and home settings, making treatment more accessible. By reducing reliance on costly emergency visits, Pinnacle Allergy helps lower healthcare expenses and improve long-term patient outcomes. Through strategic partnerships and innovative solutions, Steve Oliveras is driving the company’s response to the growing demand for allergy care, particularly in the face of a shortage of specialists.
A Decade of Experience
Steve Oliveras began his journey in pharmaceutical sales in 1998, driven by a deep passion for improving the lives of others. Over the next ten years, he gained hands-on experience promoting 16 different medications across various therapeutic areas. This extensive exposure helped him build a strong foundation in patient care, medical education, and clinical problem-solving.
His tenure at LipoScience proved especially influential, introducing him to the critical role diagnostics play in healthcare. There, Steve Oliveras discovered that nearly 70% of clinical decisions are shaped by diagnostic testing—a realization that sparked a deeper interest in the connection between accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.
Beyond the professional, the issue of allergies hit close to home. Steve’s mother and wife suffered from seasonal and perennial allergies, which gave him a personal understanding of how disruptive and exhausting untreated allergies can be.
Motivated by this blend of personal experience and professional insight, Steve Oliveras set out to make a bigger impact. Today, as the leader of Pinnacle Allergy, he channels his expertise into improving lives—delivering accessible, evidence-based allergy testing and immunotherapy at the point of care to help others breathe easier and live healthier.
Making Allergy Care More Accessible
Pinnacle Allergy is revolutionizing the allergy care industry with its physician-owned model and commitment to improving patient outcomes. The company is dedicated to enhancing the practice of medicine through innovative solutions, particularly as allergic conditions continue to rise. With 1 in 3 adults and 1 in 4 children affected by allergies, the need for accessible and effective care has never been greater.
To address this, Pinnacle Allergy partners with medical practices to offer in-office allergy testing and treatment. In addition, the company has introduced an at-home allergy testing kit, paired with sublingual immunotherapy drops, enabling patients to begin their treatment from the comfort of their homes. Recognizing the desire for more flexible care options, especially post-pandemic, Pinnacle Allergy ensures patients have access to care wherever they are—whether in a physician’s office or at home—breaking down barriers to treatment and empowering individuals to live allergy-free.
Patient-Centered Approach to Modern Allergy Management
One of the most pressing challenges in allergy diagnostics today is the widening gap between rising patient demand and the shrinking number of allergy specialists. From 2007 to 2019, the number of practicing allergists dropped by 7%, while the need for their services increased by 35%. As allergic conditions continue to rise, many patients are left facing long wait times and limited access to specialized care. This issue is further compounded by a national shortage of primary care physicians—an essential frontline for identifying and managing allergy-related symptoms. Forecasts suggest the U.S. could face a shortfall of up to 86,000 physicians by 2036, significantly straining the system.
How Pinnacle Allergy Is Solving These Challenges:
- Expanding Access Through Strategic Partnerships: Pinnacle Allergy collaborates with providers to streamline allergy diagnostics and treatment.
- Empowering Patients with At-Home Solutions: At-home testing and SLIT drops allow convenient allergy management.
- Extending Reach Via Telehealth: Telehealth ensures continuous care, especially in rural areas.
Through these patient-centric innovations, Pinnacle Allergy is effectively closing the gap between limited specialist availability and the growing need for allergy care—making diagnostics and treatment more timely, accessible, and convenient.
Reducing the Cost Burden of Allergic Diseases
Pinnacle Allergy is enhancing care through strategic partnerships with hospital systems and independent medical practices, including pediatricians, family medicine providers, internists, ENTs, and pulmonologists. By integrating allergy testing and immunotherapy into these care settings, the company eliminates costly referrals and reduces delays in diagnosis and treatment. Additionally, Pinnacle Allergy offers an at-home allergy testing kit with SLIT, providing patients with convenient, long-term relief without the need for injections or frequent office visits.
These efforts relieve allergy symptoms and help reduce healthcare costs. A study in The American Journal of Managed Care found that immunotherapy for allergic rhinitis reduced healthcare costs by 38% over three years due to fewer doctor visits, emergency room trips, and prescriptions. Another study showed a 26% decrease in asthma-related costs for immunotherapy patients. By making allergy diagnostics more accessible and offering treatments that target the root cause, Pinnacle Allergy is reducing the personal and financial burden of allergic diseases.
Improving Adherence and Support for Patients
Pinnacle Allergy is making allergy care simpler and easier to reach for more people. With help from a new partner, ALK, they now offer penicillin allergy testing. This is helpful because most people who think they’re allergic to penicillin actually aren’t. Pinnacle Allergy is also working with US BioTek Laboratories to bring allergy testing right to your home.
All it takes is a small blood sample to check for 140 common allergens. After the test, patients can meet with an allergy expert online to go over the results and get a personalized care plan. If treatment is needed, tiny liquid drops called SLIT—taken under the tongue—are delivered directly to your home. These drops are an easy, needle-free way to treat allergies, instead of getting shots.
Personalized Support Through AI-Driven Tools
Technology, including AI and automation, has significantly transformed how Pinnacle Allergy provides diagnostic solutions. These innovations address the ongoing challenge of patient engagement and education, with research indicating that only about 50% of patients adhere to their treatment plans due to lack of understanding or support. To overcome this, Pinnacle Allergy leverages AI-driven platforms to offer personalized education, reminders, and follow-up, ensuring patients stay informed and engaged throughout their allergy care. This strategy improves outcomes and delivers a more patient-centered experience.
Pinnacle Allergy’s integration of AI-driven solutions focuses on:
- Patient Engagement: Personalizing education, reminders, and follow-ups using AI.
- Improved Outcomes: Enhancing patient understanding and adherence through AI-powered tools.
Culture of Accountability and Inspiration
Steve Oliveras’s leadership style is centered on a “we” approach, emphasizing collective success over individual achievement. At Pinnacle Allergy, the company’s core values are discipline, results, accountability, inspiration, transparency, and alignment. The company operates with a growth mindset, prioritizing significant investments in the personal, professional, and financial development of its team. By providing the necessary tools and support for employees to excel, Pinnacle Allergy fosters a culture of empowerment, excellence, and a strong sense of purpose.
Putting People First
Steve Oliveras advises the next generation of leaders in healthcare and diagnostics to always lead with service. He emphasizes that healthcare is ultimately about people, and success comes from truly understanding the needs of patients and providers, then solving their problems. He reminds leaders never to forget that service should always come before sales, and by prioritizing meaningful impact, the results will naturally follow.
