Modern Healthcare’s Healthcare Insider Podcast

The payment process in healthcare is often slow, fragmented and paper-based, creating frustration for providers and patients, inefficiencies for payers and rising costs across the system. In this episode of Healthcare Insider, Yusuf Qasim, president of payments optimization at Zelis, shares how digital innovation can meaningfully change the healthcare payment ecosystem. From reducing friction to improving cash flow, Qasim outlines what it takes to transform outdated systems into streamlined, digital-first operations.

Managing specialty drug inventory is exceedingly complex as pharmacy leaders contend with rising costs, unpredictable demand and labor shortages. In this episode of Healthcare Insider, Cardinal Health's James Roof, director of strategic distribution services, and Diana Castillo, national consignment executive, share how modern consignment models, combined with innovative RFID technology, can dramatically reduce waste, improve medication accessibility and relieve workflow burdens on pharmacy staff. The episode also breaks down best practices for evaluating inventory carrying costs, reducing human error and scaling innovative solutions in facilities with space constraints. Listen now to discover how your organization can adopt a flexible, tech-enabled consignment strategy.

No one is better equipped to support patients than providers. But do health systems have the power required to improve the healthcare system?  In this episode of Healthcare Insider, Premier Inc. President and CEO Mike Alkire explains why a provider-led model—not one led by payers or legacy tech vendors—is the only viable path forward. He outlines how hospitals can take back control and lead transformation by focusing on high-value partnerships, smarter use of data and AI-driven solutions. Listen to learn how health systems can: Shift power from payers to providers through strategic partnerships Leverage data and AI to reduce costs and improve outcomes Incentivize innovation to build a more sustainable system

Hospitals today face rising drug costs, workforce shortages, supply chain disruptions and tightening reimbursement, making financial sustainability increasingly difficult to achieve. In this episode of Healthcare Insider, Cardinal Health's Mike Brown, R.Ph, vice president of managed services, and Michelle Dalton, PharmD, regional director of account management and operations, discuss how a strategic approach to pharmacy management can help hospitals of all sizes reduce costs, optimize operations and unlock new revenue streams. They also share how one Southeastern health system kept $3 million in clinical savings in one year by transforming pharmacy operations. Listen to learn how your organization can tap into the pharmacy's full potential to drive financial resilience and growth across your system.

Health plans are under mounting pressure to comply with federal price transparency regulations. But compliance isn't easy due to vast and complex data sets. In this episode of Healthcare Insider, Heather Cox, president of Insights and Empowerment at Zelis, breaks down the top challenges health plans are facing and offers insightful strategies for achieving compliance. Cox also explores how transparency requirements can be more than a regulatory requirement, but a catalyst to improve member engagement and experience.

As hospitals prepare for CMS's upcoming Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM), embracing data and analytics will be crucial for success under the mandatory bundled payment program.  In this episode of Healthcare Insider, we sat down with Scott Driskell, Clinical Director of Medical Device Management, and Kim Wright, Assistant Vice President of Clinical Services—both of HealthTrust Performance Group—to explore how health systems are using data analytics to: Prepare for TEAM and future value-based care models Drive physician engagement through transparency Reduce variation and cost in surgical procedures Identify and implement strategies that boost care value Looking for more insights on navigating value-based care? Register now for the upcoming webinar: Controlling Medical Device Spend in a TEAM, Tariffs and Value-Based Care Environment.

Specialty medication spending is projected to rise sharply through 2026, intensifying pressure on health systems to control costs while improving patient outcomes. In this episode of Healthcare Insider, Cardinal Health's Mike Brown, vice president of managed services, and Naveen Mansukhani, director of specialty and ambulatory pharmacy solutions, break down the critical role specialty pharmacies play in managing spend, capturing revenue and retaining patients within the care continuum. They share real-world examples of how hospitals large and small are benefiting from tailored pharmacy models and discuss how to overcome common challenges such as labor shortages, compliance and ongoing accreditation requirements. Listen to learn how your organization can build a scalable, compliant specialty pharmacy strategy that supports value-based care and long-term success.

As healthcare regulations continue to evolve, organizations must stay ahead of complex compliance requirements to remain competitive and protect patients. In this episode of Healthcare Insider, Ann Phillips, Senior Director of Regulatory and Standards at PurpleLab, unpacks the current landscape of price transparency rules –including updates to the No Surprises Act and the Transparency in Coverage rule – and what they mean for providers, payers and patients alike. She dives into the latest regulatory guidance, enforcement challenges and how technology and industry collaboration can bridge data gaps and support compliance. Listen to learn how your organization can navigate shifting regulations and leverage data to support compliance, inform strategy and improve decision-making.

As healthcare organizations face mounting financial and operational pressures, investing in the right technology is critical to staying competitive. In this episode of Healthcare Insider, Wes Cronkite, Chief Technology and Innovation Officer at TruBridge, breaks down the “triple threat” of automation in revenue cycle management—reducing costs, accelerating revenue velocity and improving employee satisfaction. He explores how AI and automation are transforming RCM, and how a strategic approach to innovation can drive faster claim payments and stronger financial health. Listen to learn how your health system can harness automation to optimize revenue cycle performance without adding complexity.

Robotics and navigation systems have the potential to drastically change how surgical procedures are conducted across the country, offering greater precision, faster recovery times and new possibilities for complex procedures. As this technology evolves, providers face critical decisions such as how to invest wisely, train staff and integrate robotics into existing surgical workflows. In this episode, Brent Ford, senior clinical director of medical device management at HealthTrust Performance Group, and Dr. Michael Gallizzi, a leading spine surgeon at the Steadman Clinic, discuss the impact of robotics and navigation systems on healthcare organizations and patient care. Our featured experts discuss the costs, benefits and challenges hospitals should consider, share success stories from the field, and look ahead to where surgical robotics may go in the future.

When identifying and prioritizing investment opportunities, today's healthcare leaders must balance immediate needs with long-term growth. In this episode of Healthcare Insider, Mary Jo Williamson, chief administrative officer of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, shares her approach to ensuring teams are equipped to meet future demands while managing risks associated with uncertainty.  She discusses the challenges of predicting investment outcomes amid an increasingly rapid pace of change in healthcare. Listen to learn how your health system can make more strategic investment decisions.  

There's plenty of buzz around AI's potential to reshape healthcare, but how are provider organizations actually integrating the technology into operations? In this episode, David Higginson, executive vice president and chief innovation officer at Phoenix Children's, breaks down the system's AI strategy. From the importance of gathering clinician feedback to embracing the build-versus-buy outlook when appropriate, Higginson offers a look inside how Phoenix Children's is using AI to enhance pediatric care and drive meaningful change.

Phoenix Children's is making a concerted effort to empower its clinical leaders to provide exceptional care by creating a culture that encourages collaboration, transparency and innovation. In this new podcast, Dr. Jared Muenzer, chief physician executive at Phoenix Children's, shares the strategy behind building strong clinical teams and the positive impact it's having on patients.

Environmental regulations and energy requirements in healthcare are continuously evolving. Trane's Christy Fetsch, Healthcare Vertical Market Strategy Leader in North America, joins the podcast to discuss how healthcare organizations can stay compliant and invest in future-ready technology while minimizing costs. 

Fifth Third Bank is addressing critical challenges in revenue cycle management following its acquisition of Big Data Healthcare, a technology solutions provider for healthcare payments and remittance. In this episode of Healthcare Insider, Dee Harding, Chief Product Officer of Fifth Third and Big Data Healthcare, and Connor Craven, Business Analyst, describe how automation is advancing healthcare finance visibility and accuracy.  Listen to the full episode below. 

Robert Meyer joined Phoenix Children's in 2003 and is credited for the rapid turnaround of the hospital's finances and its successful growth under his leadership. This year, Phoenix Children's opened a second hospital and plans to open a third next year. In this new podcast, Meyer shares the strategy for Phoenix Children's including: Unique aspects to expansion in the booming Phoenix area How the health system is leveraging partnerships Big risks that paid off during his career

Healthcare leaders often see utilities as a cost center. But what if they can be a source of savings? Trane's Christy Fetsch, Healthcare Vertical Market Strategy Leader in North America, joins the podcast to discuss how building upgrades such as automation can help hospitals reduce utility expenses while enhancing patient safety. Fetch explains that HVAC, which represents about 65% of the utility spend in a hospital, is one area with massive potential for cost savings. Additionally, she shares how one hospital network realized $4.7 million in energy savings by committing to vital infrastructure updates, ultimately freeing up resources to invest in patient care. 

AdventHealth is redesigning its systems to be more longitudinal, holistic and effective at cultivating patient engagement early in the care journey. This entails rethinking front-end primary care, as well as care delivered in the home. David Banks, group CEO of AdventHealth's primary health division and chief strategy officer, goes in-depth about this approach to advancing care delivery through a comprehensive, whole-person lens. Banks also explains how AdventHealth has engaged its primary care physicians in the transformation.

Limited resources shouldn't stop healthcare organizations from investing in facilities as care demands shift, infrastructure ages and environmental sustainability takes hold. In this episode of Healthcare Insider, we explore how to balance facility investments with other pressing demands facing healthcare leaders. Join industry experts Mark Kenneday, director of market strategy and development for healthcare at Gordian, and Charles Clay, director of support and ancillary services at Sutter Health, as they discuss: Why prioritizing facility investment is crucial, even with budget constraints Strategies to communicate the risk of inaction to financial stakeholders Practical advice for balancing ROI and mitigating risk

Many hospitals and health systems have aging infrastructure, which presents challenges as the industry invests in environmental sustainability initiatives. In order to effectively establish a sustainability program, it's essential for healthcare leaders to critically evaluate their facilities portfolio. Mark Kenneday, director of market strategy and development for healthcare at Gordian, lays out how to successfully build a sustainability program at healthcare organizations, including key considerations to make when considering facilities investments.

Many health systems are optimizing specialty pharmacy operations as a strategy to improve patient care and drive margin growth.  In this episode of Healthcare Insider, Cardinal Health's Laura McIntire-Hansel, director of revenue cycle development, and Michael D. Brown, vice president of managed services, explore strategies for navigating complexities in the specialty pharmacy arena, such as getting authorization from insurers or connecting patients with treatment affordability programs. They discuss a solution, remote claims adjudication, to free up pharmacists' time and improve patient care. Listen to learn how health systems can better support their specialty pharmacies. 

Workforce shortages remain a top concern for healthcare organizations. In order to meet patient demand, providers need to focus on new and innovative approaches. Leora Westbrook, president of workforce strategy and optimization at AMN Healthcare, explains the key tenets of a successful and effective workforce management strategy, including the important role of data and predictive modeling. Westbrook also shares examples from healthcare organizations seeing lower turnover and cost savings with their workforce optimization initiatives.

Amid growing pressure for healthcare organizations to embrace environmental sustainability, addressing emissions directly from facilities is key, with data showing it makes up about 17% of the industry's carbon footprint. In this new podcast episode, Mark Kenneday, director of market strategy and development for healthcare at Gordian, explains how healthcare organizations can begin their environmental sustainability journey today. Tune into the podcast where he shares: Common misconceptions and barriers to reducing your organization's carbon footprint How to assess the feasibility and determine the ROI of starting sustainability projects Real-word examples from hospitals and health systems practicing sustainability

Amid fierce competition, healthcare organizations must embrace new methods for sourcing and engaging top candidates. The latest episode of Healthcare Insider features David Ellis, head of healthcare sales, North America, at LinkedIn, joining us to discuss hiring in the face of clinical talent shortages and the ways in which LinkedIn supports healthcare professionals and talent leaders.  Ellis shares insights on job search and engagement activity among the nearly 8 million U.S. healthcare professionals using LinkedIn, closing out with a real-world success story from Christus Health. For more information, please visit LinkedIn.com/modernhealth.

Most technology innovation in healthcare has so far focused on clinical decision-making, overlooking operational functions. As a result, hospitals and health systems still face inefficiencies and waste, leading to financial constraints, poor patient health outcomes and high staff turnover. In this podcast, featuring Rom Eizenberg, the chief revenue officer of Kontakt.io, we discuss how healthcare providers can leverage technology to unlock the patient journey — and everything else — to achieve operational efficiency. Eizenberg will share why understanding how patients navigate the health system is fundamental to true transformation and the role of technology in realizing this goal. 

Direct sourcing has emerged as an effective staffing solution for hospitals and health systems as they continue to face labor shortages, competition for talent, and financial pressures.  In this podcast, Richey Brownfield, vice president of enterprise solutions at AMN Healthcare, describes:  The key tenants to successful implementation of direct sourcing How to integrate direct sourcing into your organization's current workforce management strategy Common challenges providers face when building out their direct sourcing solution and how to overcome them. 

In the year ahead, the value-based care landscape is expected to be more challenging for healthcare providers as new regulations from the federal government take effect. A key strategy to manage and thrive in this increasingly complex environment is leveraging technology.   In this episode, Dr. Matt Lambert, chief medical officer of Curation Health, will detail best practices for healthcare leaders to implement technology that will help ease the transition to value-based care, describing how automation and other applications can significantly help with risk management, care coordination and data.  In addition, Lambert discusses the overall value-based care landscape and his predications for 2024.

Attracting and retaining quality clinical talent will remain a top focus for healthcare leaders in 2024. In this episode of Healthcare Insider, Robert Crowe, founder of Matchwell and executive vice president of per diem and local workforce strategies at Medical Solutions, outlines strategies to better utilize the existing workforce while appealing to new local professionals. He delves into considerations for leveraging AI in the hiring process, meeting candidates' needs and creating a positive workplace culture, starting with recruitment.  Listen to the full episode below. 

Value-based care programs are not immune to the challenges the healthcare industry experiences with data, as providers overwhelmingly struggle to leverage the right data, at the right time to realize better patient outcomes at a lower cost.   To solve this issue, healthcare providers should take a data minimalist approach, which focuses on seamlessly presenting frontline caregivers with only the relevant, actionable data they need at the point of care.  In this episode, Kevin Coloton, founder and chief executive officer of Curation Health, shares how providers can achieve data minimalism, describing the needed technology investments and collaboration with frontline workers. He also explains success stories from providers working towards data minimalism.

Today's healthcare consumers expect a seamless experience free of confusion, frustration and delays -- barriers that affect not only the patient, but payer and provider employees as well. In this episode of Healthcare Insider, Robert Connely III, healthcare market leader at Pegasystems, and Jennifer Zellinger, vice president of product development at enGen, share how they proactively engage patients and members across all channels of communication.  They also discuss the potential for adaptive AI to help create customer-centric experiences with fewer operational silos, better care outcomes and lower costs. 

Automation and artificial intelligence can help healthcare organizations navigate staffing shortages while maximizing financial outcomes – if personnel are trained and skilled appropriately. In this episode of Healthcare Insider, Susan Gurzynski-Wells, director of product management at HealthStream, discusses opportunities for AI to be leveraged in revenue cycle management, along with strategies for ensuring the workforce is prepared to use these technologies most effectively.  She also shares critical insights about operationalizing AI in revenue cycle management, ensuring the smooth integration of new tools, and helping the next generation of professionals achieve their career aspirations.

Innovations in technology have enabled the creation of point-of-care ultrasound, which allows clinicians to gather images at the first patient assessment, improving care quality by reducing wait times for diagnosis.   Despite the benefits of point-of-care ultrasound, wide-scale adoption hasn't been achieved, with many providers still using traditional standards of care — for example, the chest x-ray for lung assessment.  In this episode, Dr. Davinder Ramsingh, vice president of clinical research and product development at Butterfly Network, shares: The main barriers to widespread adoption of point-of-care ultrasound.  Clinical specialties that would benefit the most from point-of-care ultrasound including improvements to quality scores and patient experience.  Strategies to successfully adopt point-of-care ultrasound at your organization. This podcast includes forward-looking statements regarding Butterfly Network's standalone educational app, ScanLab, that is not yet available but will be coming soon to Butterfly users in the United States.

There is an ongoing war for talent in healthcare. Employees are reassessing how, where and how they work. In order to withstand the changing nature and uncertainty of today's workforce, healthcare leaders must be agile.  In this podcast episode, John Rothwell, senior vice president of enterprise and strategic solutions at AMN Healthcare, describes how healthcare organizations can create a workforce management strategy that responds to evolving demands.  He also shares the important role of technology and partners to establish a workforce strategy. 

The healthcare supply chain continues to face repercussions from the COVID-19 pandemic, with shortages of vital raw materials leading to disruptions in pharmaceuticals and other essential products.  In this episode, Jon Pruitt, senior vice president of CHC Supply Trust, joins the podcast to explain innovative practices community hospitals should implement to respond to supply chain concerns, emphasizing the importance of partnerships with distributors, group purchasing organizations and internal stakeholders.  Pruitt is responsible for overseeing a comprehensive supply chain management strategy for Community Hospital Corporation, which partners with hospitals to help them remain community-operated and governed. 

Nationwide, hospitals and health systems continue to face serious staffing shortages, severely impacting patient care and the bottom line. In this installment of Healthcare Insider, Dr. James Swift, chief executive officer of Pediatrix Medical Group, shares the key considerations for providers as they work to rebuild the physician workforce including how to leverage partnerships with medical groups and non-physician staff.  The episode also uncovers strategies to improve the continuum of care.

Despite the healthcare industry implementing value-based payment models for well over a decade, healthcare providers and payers still face challenges in the execution and expansion of pay-for-performance programs.  In this episode of Healthcare Insider, Kevin Coloton, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Curation Health, and Dr. Matt Lambert, Chief Medical Officer of Curation Health, share practical tips for providers and payers to be successful in value-based care wherever they are in their journey – whether that be starting a value-based care program from the ground up or how to expand current efforts. Coloton and Lambert also describe the common pitfalls to avoid as healthcare organizations continue on their value-based care path such as investing in a myriad of technology solutions in an effort to maximize insights from data. 

Over the last year, leading health systems are reporting negative financial results, largely due to rising expenses, shifting market dynamics and deteriorating payer mix. To respond, health systems must create opportunities for sustainable financial growth. In this episode, Richard Bajner, partner and payer and provider leader of Guidehouse, explains the framework healthcare leaders should be applying to improve financial resilience. He also shares how leaders can balance short-term budget constraints while at the same time addressing larger macro trends.

As community hospitals across the country face inflation, rising costs and labor shortages, now is the time to implement innovative delivery models for long-term sustainability.    Jim Kendrick, president and CEO of Community Hospital Corporation, shares how partnerships, enhanced staff training, and the Hospital at Home care model can improve the outlook for community hospitals.  Kendrick also explains how the Rural Emergency Hospital designation impacts community hospitals and the trade-offs to consider. 

Too often, hospital leaders view IT simply as a business function. But IT can meaningfully help organizations meet strategic business goals if leveraged appropriately, argues Brian Doerr, senior vice president of information technology and security and privacy officer at Community Hospital Corporation.  In this podcast episode, Doerr explains why community hospitals and other providers should take an enterprise approach to IT, laying out a proven roadmap hospitals can adopt to begin their journey.  Doerr also provides real-world examples from community hospitals that have transformed their IT and seen meaningful improvements. 

In this episode, Dr. Friedland discusses a recent surge of RSV, respiratory syncytial virus, how it affects the older population and what this means for healthcare providers across the U.S.

In this conversation, Leah Quartano Bowling, vice president for insurance and healthcare at Hitachi Solutions, offers strategies for harnessing the data necessary to deliver on value-based care contracts and shares how these insights can help shape provider incentives.

As medicine continues advancing and patient expectations evolve, the home is increasingly viewed as an optimal care setting. The many benefits of care in the home include that it increases convenience, minimizes access barriers, strengthens patient relationships, enables greater visibility into social determinants of health, and reduces the cost of care. In this episode, Dr. Andrew Agwunobi, President of Humana's Home Solutions Business, discusses strategies for integrating home care into more seamless care delivery for patients. Dr. Agwunobi covers how the nursing shortage has impacted staffing for these services as well as what he envisions for the future of home health.

Healthcare today is data driven with the proliferation of electronic medical records and digital tools. Leveraging the cloud is an effective approach for healthcare organizations to unlock the power of data.  In this podcast episode, Logan Song, enterprise cloud director and chief cloud architect of Dito, explains the key functions of the cloud and how it can aid healthcare providers with better data collection, analysis and security.  He also shares examples from a healthcare system currently benefiting from using the cloud. 

The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic reverberated across our nation's healthcare system, overwhelming providers and taking a toll on their financial sustainability. Add to that skyrocketing inflation, rising interest rates and the high cost of labor, it's no surprise healthcare leaders are burning the midnight oil to find ways to improve margins and rebuild their organizations' financial stability. In this episode, Roger Weems, vice president and national market leader for advisory services at Premier, Inc., discusses how the company is helping providers solve their complex challenges and drive business forward through a holistic approach to margin improvement. Utilizing PINC AI™ technology and PINC AI™ clinical, financial, operational and supply chain data, healthcare organizations can tackle expense reduction and tap new sources of revenue to improve margins while continuing to deliver high-quality care.

The healthcare sector is a major contributor to the climate crisis, with studies showing the industry accounts for about 8.5% of total U.S. carbon emissions. Efforts to address climate change fall into the ESG framework, which stands for environment, social and governance.  Over the last several months, Randy Oostra, CEO of ProMedica, a health and well-being company based in Toldeo, Ohio, has participated in the Healthcare Insider podcast to call for a new care delivery model.  In this episode, Oostra shares why addressing climate change is a critical component to creating a new healthcare delivery model, explaining the business case for healthcare leaders as well as the impacts extreme weather events are having on vulnerable communities. Oostra also dives into how ProMedica's ESG strategy is guiding their work in this area.  *Editor's note: This episode was recorded before Modern Healthcare Custom Media's ESG Summit: The New Imperative event. 

Most hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers spend a significant amount of time and resources on securing contracts with anesthesia providers to help them provide essential patient care. Shortages of anesthesia providers and higher healthcare costs overall make hiring internally, contracting, or re-contracting with an anesthesia group a costly endeavor. Despite these challenges, there is due diligence both facilities and anesthesia providers can conduct in advance of negotiations to save money and create long-lasting partnerships.   In this episode of Healthcare Insider, Dr. Josh Miller, physician managing director for Surgical Directions, shares thoughtful hiring tactics a hospital or ASC should deploy to make sure the anesthesiology group meets their unique needs and expectations. Miller also discusses the common challenges that come up when solidifying a contract and how to address them for long term success. 

The No Surprises Act is intended to protect patients from surprise medical bills. But North American Partners in Anesthesia (NAPA) is raising alarm bells, worried it will worsen the nation's critical clinician shortage and harm access to care. In this episode of Healthcare Insider, Dr. John Di Capua, NAPA CEO, and Victor Zamora, NAPA Senior Vice President of Revenue Cycle Management, explain how the Independent Dispute Resolution (IDR) process in the No Surprises Act slows down — or even reduces payments — for providers, incentivizing early retirements and adding excessive administrative burdens to already complex billing systems.  Di Capua and Zamora explain why healthcare facilities across the country should be concerned by this policy. They also share thoughts on how to address these challenges through training programs, greater efficiency and culture.

Randy Oostra, CEO of ProMedica, a health and well-being company based in Toldeo, Ohio, joined the Healthcare Insider podcast a few months ago calling for a new model of care delivery and what it will take to get there.  Now, we are continuing the conversation. In this latest episode, Randy Oostra highlights the first and most important pillar of this new delivery model: universal access to care.  Specifically, Oostra explains key policy changes that can be made to significantly increase access to primary and behavioral health services for rural and low-income populations. He also dives into the importance of addressing social determinants of health and how the work in this area needs to evolve.   Stay tuned for the third episode with Randy Oostra in a few months where he will share the importance of addressing the climate crisis and investing in ESG. 

There is a global shift to decentralize healthcare — meeting patients where they are to receive the care they need. In this new episode of Healthcare Insider, Ron Emerson, Global Healthcare Lead at Zoom, and Ron Strachan, the Principal of Optimize Health IT and CIO Advisor for Zoom, explain the benefits to decentralizing healthcare, diving into the most recent research showing its ability to lower costs and improve overall health outcomes. Emerson and Strachan also explore key considerations to keep in mind as the industry shifts to decentralized healthcare including how it will impact clinical teams and cybersecurity.