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In this episode, I'm excited to chat with Andrew Schwab, CEO and founder of Platform Government Strategies. Andrew shares his journey from Oak Street Health to starting his own firm, offering deep insights into the world of government affairs and health policy. Tune in to learn about the importance of government strategy for healthcare companies, the impact of policy changes, and Andrew's entrepreneurial experiences.

Key Takeaways:

• The significance of government affairs in healthcare.
• How Medicare policy impacts smaller healthcare companies.
• The entrepreneurial challenges and rewards of starting a new business.
• Insights on Medicare Advantage and value-based care changes.
• Importance of being involved in national health policy discussion

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Welcome back to another fabulous episode of the Healthcare Trailblazers podcast! Today, we're joined by the wonderful Ariel Efergan, the Global Vice President of MDI Health. Ariel delves into the transformative work MDI Health is doing to tackle one of the leading causes of death in healthcare: problems from medication treatment. Discover how MDI Health uses AI for medication management at scale, reducing the total cost of care and driving clinical interventions. Ariel also shares insights on navigating healthcare sales, the importance of understanding healthcare's financial flow, and the future of AI in healthcare.

Key Takeaways:

1. MDI Health's Mission: Using AI to manage medication treatment, reducing costs, and improving patient outcomes.
2. AI's Role: Automates and enhances clinical recommendations, scaling pharmacist interventions.
3. Healthcare Sales Challenges: Importance of understanding organizational needs, relationships, and financial flows.
4. Future of AI in Healthcare: Emphasis on AI as a co-pilot, focusing on tangible outcomes rather than technology alone.
5. MDI Health's Success: Significant cost savings and improved patient outcomes through AI-driven pharmacy interventions.

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Welcome back to the Healthcare Trailblazers podcast! This episode features Dana Strauss, Senior Director of Government Affairs at CVS Health. Dana shares her incredible journey from a treating clinician to a policy expert in value-based care. Dive into the essentials of value-based care, its impact, and future predictions.

Key Takeaways:

1. Dana’s career transition from clinical practice to government affairs.
2. The definition and significance of value-based care.
3. Challenges and opportunities in value-based care implementation.
4. The role of government policies in shaping healthcare models.
5. The importance of provider and patient engagement in healthcare outcomes.
6. Insights on AI's potential in healthcare policy and safety improvements.

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Welcome back to the Healthcare Trailblazers podcast! In this episode, we're joined by Shanil Ebrahim, a partner at Deloitte Canada. Dive deep into the fascinating contrasts between the US and Canadian healthcare systems, exploring universal coverage, value-based care, and the challenges each system faces. Discover Shanil's insights on the future of healthcare and the necessary changes for improvement.

Key Takeaways:

1. Major differences between the US and Canadian healthcare systems.
2. The impact of universal publicly funded healthcare in Canada.
3. How government involvement shapes doctor salaries and healthcare quality.
4. Challenges and benefits of single-payer systems.
5. The role of bureaucracy and red tape in healthcare innovation.
6. The growing sentiment for change towards value-based care in Canada.
7. The importance of integrating private sector involvement in public healthcare.
8. Potential strategies for improving patient engagement and preventive care.

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Welcome back to another episode of the Healthcare Trailblazers podcast! Today, we're thrilled to have Dr. Cunningham, Chief of Virtual Care and Digital Health for Providence Health, and the visionary behind MedPearl. In this episode, Dr. Cunningham dives deep into the challenges of information overload in healthcare, the inefficiencies of the electronic health record (EHR) system, and how MedPearl is revolutionizing the referral process to improve patient care. Join us as we explore the practical applications of AI in healthcare, the journey of building a successful digital health tool, and the future of healthcare technology. Don't miss this insightful conversation!

Key Takeaways:

1. Information Overload in Healthcare: Medical knowledge is doubling every three months, creating an overwhelming amount of information for clinicians to manage.
2. Challenges with EHR Systems: The current EHR systems are not effectively organizing patient data, leading to missed opportunities and inefficiencies in patient care.
3. The Problem with Referrals: Up to 50% of referrals from primary care to specialists are suboptimal, often leading to unnecessary delays and improper care.
4. Introduction to MedPearl: MedPearl is a clinical intelligence engine designed to streamline the referral process by providing clinicians with actionable guidance and relevant patient data at the point of care.
5. Benefits of MedPearl: By integrating MedPearl into the EHR system, clinicians can access over 600 guides and algorithms, improving accuracy and efficiency in patient referrals and care management.
6. Success and Scalability: MedPearl is already being used by over 7,000 clinicians within Providence and has external customers, showcasing its effectiveness and scalability.
7. Future Directions: The roadmap for MedPearl includes further integration of AI to provide more personalized and proactive suggestions for patient care.
8. Clinician Involvement in Technology: Dr. Cunningham emphasizes the importance of clinicians being involved in the development and implementation of healthcare technologies to ensure their practical applicability.
9. The Role of AI in Healthcare: Discussion on how AI can augment clinical decision-making and the ethical considerations of using AI in patient care.
10. The Urgency of Healthcare Transformation: With the growing shortage of clinicians and increasing patient needs, technology like MedPearl is essential to improve healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.

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Welcome to another exciting episode of the Healthcare Trailblazers podcast! Today, we are thrilled to have Eric Weaver, a prominent voice in healthcare transformation. Eric shares his inspiring journey from a clinical laboratory scientist to a leader in value-based care. We delve into his experiences, the challenges of the healthcare system, and his optimistic outlook on the future of healthcare, especially in the realm of AI and technology.

Key Takeaways:

1. Eric Weaver’s Background: Eric shares his journey from Central Texas to becoming a significant voice in healthcare, starting from the clinical side to value-based care management.
2. Transition to Value-Based Care: Eric discusses his initial disillusionment with the fee-for-service model and how his trip to Cuba inspired him to start an Accountable Care Organization (ACO) in West Texas.
3. The Role of ACOs: Insights into the creation and management of multiple ACOs in Texas, focusing on the importance of high-touch primary care and community-based interventions.
4. Impact of the Pandemic: Discussion on how the pandemic has highlighted the need for value-based care and how it has accelerated certain healthcare transformations.
5. Challenges and Opportunities: Eric shares his views on the challenges faced by large healthcare players like Walmart Health and the potential of telehealth and AI in transforming healthcare delivery.
6. Future of AI in Healthcare: An optimistic outlook on how AI can revolutionize healthcare by improving clinical decision-making, enhancing patient care, and reducing costs.
7. Importance of Storytelling: Eric emphasizes the power of storytelling in driving value-based care and shares his journey in starting his own podcast to amplify these stories.
8. Lumeris’ Role: Introduction to Lumeris, a value-based care enablement company, and how it supports healthcare organizations in their journey towards sustainable and effective care delivery.
9. AI’s Potential in Healthcare: Discussion on the current applications and future potential of AI in aggregating data, predicting medical conditions, and augmenting clinical intelligence.
10. Eric’s Vision for Healthcare: A hopeful perspective on the future of healthcare, the need for collective recognition of change, and the role of leaders in driving this transformation.

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Welcome back to another episode of the Healthcare Trailblazers podcast! Today, we're joined by the candid and knowledgeable Nate Kaufman, Managing Director of Kaufman Strategic Advisors and Matterhorn Strategic Advisors. Known for his critical yet realistic perspectives on LinkedIn, Nate shares his extensive experience in healthcare, particularly in value-based care.

Key Takeaways:

• Industry Realities: Nate's 47-year journey in healthcare and his pragmatic approach to addressing the industry's challenges.
• Walmart Health and Big Players: Discussion on why major companies like Walmart are exiting the retail health market and the underlying issues they face.
• Economic Challenges: Insight into the flawed economics of healthcare, including the impact of underfunding by Medicare and Medicaid.
• Primary Care Struggles: The difficulties in making primary care financially viable and the systemic issues driving physicians away from it.
• Value-Based Care Critique: Why Nate considers value-based care a scam and the fundamental problems with its implementation.
• Cost Drivers: The key factors driving healthcare costs, including administrative burdens and inefficiencies within health systems.
• Healthcare Regulations: The need for simplified and standardized insurance and regulatory processes to reduce costs and improve care delivery.

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Welcome back to another episode of the Healthcare Trailblazers podcast! Today, we sit down with the esteemed Christopher Kunney, recent recipient of the HIMSS 2024 Changemaker Award. Join us as Christopher shares his inspiring journey from technology to healthcare, his role as a transformational leader, and his passion for improving healthcare access through innovative technologies.

Key Takeaways:

• Career Journey: Christopher's transition from technology roles at Hewlett Packard to becoming a healthcare CIO and consultant.
• Health IT Insights: Discussion on the successes and challenges in adopting health IT from the 90s to today.
• Underserved Communities: How technology can address healthcare disparities and improve access to care.
• Future of Health Tech: The role of telemedicine, AI, and other emerging technologies in shaping the future of healthcare.