The Healthcare Confidential Podcast: Recent Episodes
Helium Radio Network
Healthcare is a business, but far too many in the field have neither the business training nor the financial expertise required for their business to thrive. Healthcare Confidential dives into the nuances of healthcare finance. From the historical evolution of the American healthcare system to innovative approaches to maximizing practice revenue, Healthcare Confidential bridges the past and the future to provide professionals with the information they need to be both savvy business people as well as clinicians. Healthcare Confidential is streamed live on Mondays on Channel 1 at 2:00 pm EST and on Channel 4 at 10:00 am est.
A high-ranking insurance company executive has a crisis of conscience when he visits a "health exposition" at a fairground in rural Tennessee, where he is shocked to see hundreds of people lined up in the rain to obtain free healthcare in animal stalls at the fairground. Wendell Potter left his job and wrote a book, “Deadly Spin: An Insurance Company Insider Speaks Out on How Corporate PR is Killing Health Care and Deceiving Americans,” which revealed the deceptive practices of major insurance companies to spread disinformation designed to increase their profits. This week, Wendell is launching a coalition of non-profits to advocate for meaningful healthcare finance reform designed to help Americans gain truly affordable coverage. Learn more at wendellpotter.com and centerforhealthanddemocracy.org.
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As a reaction to the less personal world of modern medicine, concierge medicine is an increasingly popular way that doctors are getting in touch with their patients. Michael Tetreault is an expert on this. He is also an author, speaker, and brand strategist, editor in chief of Concierge Medicine Today, co-authored the bestselling book The Doctors Guide to Concierge Medicine. His books are industry bestsellers and are referenced in college classrooms and journals. In this episode we discuss what concierge medicine is, how it can improve patient experience, and even how it improves a physician's enjoyment of their career.
The Take-Away: Making medicine more personal and intimate for a patient has so many benefits to everyone involved, and can improve everyone’s experience of the industry.
Learn more: The Concierge Medicine Forum is a pharmacy conference happening October 21-23 in Atlanta to host speakers discussing new ideas in concierge medicine. You can check out Concierge Medicine’s books and any information concerning Concierge Medicine at https://conciergemedicinetoday.org
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Do you know how to leverage LinkedIn as a professional tool at any stage of your career? Have you had a look at TikTok or dropped in on Clubhouse? This week, we chat with LinkedIn expert Beth Granger about social media, her upcoming LinkedIn Local virtual event, and fundraising for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, a cause that is personal for her and one that offers hope to many.
Reach Beth at Beth@bethgranger.com. Learn more about her fundraising event by visiting bit.ly/linkedinlocalisback.
August is vacation time...but crises don't take a holiday. Enjoy this re-air of an episode from our first season: Crisis Planning with Doug Levy, author of "The Communications Golden Hour."
The 10 largest healthcare systems control 25% of the market, and these hospital systems charge higher prices than markets with healthy competition. President Biden recently signed an Executive Order that impacts price transparency and consolidation in healthcare. Marni Jameson Carey, Executive Director of AID, the Association of Independent Doctors. breaks down what that […]
A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease is devastating, not only for patients but for the entire family. Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s is a tremendous challenge that can leave caregivers physically and emotionally depleted. Tori Cohen, Executive Director of the Long Island Alzheimer’s and Dementia Center, is a passionate advocate for Alzheimer’s […]
Healthcare confidential: Communication is one of the most effective tools to make any organization run smoothly and efficiently. This is especially important in the business of healthcare, where in many cases lives are on the line. Effective communication often gets sidelined by “Silo Thinking” where people in an organization withhold information or believe […]
Effective communication is not an add-on to good clinical skills for a provider; it is an essential part of high-quality care. Our guest this week, Richard Frankel, PhD, is professor of medicine and geriatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine. He is a researcher whose interests include face-to-face communication, the role of technology […]
We may not think about it but in a lot of ways the elderly, not the youth, are the future. This is why it is so important that we invest in the well-being of our older adults, who have in many ways been disregarded by society. This was underscored during the pandemic during […]
The summer is here and many are concerned about what they look like in a swimsuit, especially after a year and a half of rather unhealthy eating habits. Today’s guest is Tami Racaniello, a wellness consultant who helps businesses focus on their employees’ health and wellness to boost productivity in the workplace. She […]
NY ranks seventh in the US for the most pedestrian fatalities, and Long Island, a densely populated suburban area, is known as one of the deadliest in the state for pedestrians. Cynthia Brown is the executive director of the New York Coalition for Transportation Safety, where she works to spread awareness and develop […]
We’ve lived through a global pandemic. People are filled with stress and anxiety. Even under the best of circumstances, there’s nothing funny about mental health. Until you meet Dr. Brian King. Combining his training as a clinical psychologist with his love of stand-up comedy, Dr. Brian shares his timely tips for managing stress […]
The booming stock market, low interest rates and thawing business environment as the pandemic fades are major factors fueling mergers and acquisitions. Our guest this week, John Byrne, works for the NYBB Group, a full-service, boutique merger and acquisition firm dedicated to serving the lower middle market across multiple verticals. John works closely […]
In this episode, Ken and his guest, Theresa Jacobellis of Prescrxptive Communications, discuss their shared mission to help educate both providers and pharmacists about the promise of concierge pharmacy.
Many healthcare businesses have continued their operations uninterrupted and unchanged throughout the pandemic. Others closed for a period of time but have since re-opened. Some have adapted to remote arrangements for a portion or all of their workforce, while others have only recently brought workers back onsite. Wherever your company or practice may […]
As we close in on one year of Healthcare Confidential episodes, we decided to take a look back at a topic that has dominated many of our interviews and conversations: the Covid-19 pandemic. How have the healthcare providers who have been guests on the podcast coped with the stress of caring for patients […]
Professor Mart Ustav is part of a team of researchers from the University of Tartu in Estonia who have developed SARS COV-2 neutralizing antibodies by immunizing the pregnant cows on the third trimester with the spike protein antigen. With a consortium of five partners: Icosagen AS, ChemiPharm AS, OÜ Teadus & Tegu, Tartu University […]
Phyl Perry is a master of reinvention…of herself. She has held numerous careers, beginning her professional life as an accountant, then pivoting to human resources roles at major corporations and healthcare entities, before making a major life shift and becoming a tour director. Along the way, she also became certified in neurolinguistic programming and […]
Gabriel Winant is Assistant Professor of History at the University of Chicago. His writing about work, inequality, and capitalism in modern America has appeared in The Nation, The New Republic, Dissent, and n+1. His new book, “The Next Shift: The Fall of Industry and the Rise of Health Care in Rust Belt America,” examines the link between deindustrialization and […]
Zack Caplan is Director of Provider Network & Strategy at Stellar Health, where he is focused on helping healthcare providers, technology, and service companies scale. He has experience developing value-based care strategies and advising growth through mergers and acquisitions. Before this, he worked in Deloitte Consulting’s Healthcare Strategy & Operations practice. He has also […]
Ken Sternfeld is on a mission to transform healthcare for providers and patients. He’s a retired pharmacist whose company, RXVIP Concierge, is focused on improving healthcare by elevating the role of the registered pharmacist to a full-fledged member of the healthcare team working at the point of care. RXVIP Concierge pharmacists are embedded in […]
Steven G. Taibbi had surgery for the first time on the day he drew his first breath. Since that day in April 1953, he has had many more operations including two heart transplants. A prolific writer, he published his memoir in 2019. After a career that included 25 years as a Producer/Director and Director […]
Wendy Darwell recently took the helm at the Suburban Hospital Alliance and its regional hospital associations – the Nassau Suffolk Hospital Council and the Northern Metropolitan Hospital Association, where she had previously served as chief operating officer. Prior to that, she worked on Capitol Hill for the late Congressman Maurice Hinchey. So she knows as […]
Gun violence is a leading cause of premature death in the United States, killing more than 38,000 people and causing 85,00 injuries each year. Our guest this week, Chethan Sathya, MD, is Director of Northwell Health’s Center for Gun Violence Prevention. He is also a pediatric trauma surgeon and National Institutes of Health-funded firearm […]
Countless studies have linked implicit bias impacted with not only negative patient outcomes but provider-patient interactions and treatment decisions. Our guest today, Robert O. Roswell, MD, FACP, FACC, is a leader in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in medicine and is focused on the impact of implicit bias on disparities in health care access, […]
In the United States, medication errors are responsible for more than 100,000 deaths (some people believe that number may be much higher) and hundreds of billions of dollars in healthcare costs each year. But there is a powerful tool that may help patients and healthcare providers avoid many of these mishaps. Pharmacogenomics allows individuals […]
While telehealth technology has been around for years, prior to the Covid-19 pandemic its use was primarily relegated to rural communities where access to care was an issue. Covid-19 made access a concern for everybody, and seemingly overnight, telehealth has been embraced by stakeholders around the country, including patients, providers, payers, and regulatory bodies. […]
Running an independent medical practice is becoming increasingly difficult. Doctors have to do more work for fewer rewards than ever before. The mounting costs of malpractice insurance, shrinking government and private payer reimbursements, and ever more hoops to jump through just to get paid are creating a crisis resulting in physician burnout and a […]
Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in the US, and in honor of Dr. King’s lifelong commitment to achieving racial justice and equality, our episode today is focused on health equity. Here are some statistics to set the stage: Black women are 40% more likely to die of breast cancer than white women. African […]
If you’ve ever considered hiring a marketer to help your business or medical practice increase market share, build volume or grow revenue, there’s one vitally important area you need to focus on before making that investment. Are you and your staff providing excellent customer service? If the answer is anything other than a resounding “yes,” […]
Each year in the United States, nearly 36,000 women and men are diagnosed with cancer caused by HPV infection. Cervical cancer, penile cancer, vulvar and vaginal cancer, anal cancer, and oral pharyngeal cancer can all be prevented with the HPV vaccine. This week, we talk about the vaccine with Debbie Saslow, Ph.D. Dr. Saslow is […]
HIPAA – the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act – was enacted in 1996 to protect Americans’ ability to retain their insurance coverage when between jobs and protect their health information and private data. Yet 24 years later, many healthcare providers may be uncertain about what they need to do to be in compliance with […]
Battling a pandemic requires more than just medical resources. It requires effective communication strategies, advocacy for marginalized communities, systemic change to address health disparities, and community engagement to help disseminate consistent messaging. Unfortunately, the Covid-19 crisis has been accompanied by an infodemic – an epidemic of misinformation. One of the side effects of that is […]
New York City just closed indoor dining as hospitalization rates across the state continue to climb. In Suffolk County on Long Island, Coronavirus deaths in the first ten days of December surpassed the total number of deaths in August, September and October combined. And four Suffolk County hospitals are already at more than 90 percent […]
Covid-19 has devastated the United States, in October eclipsing accidents as the third leading cause of death. But the pandemic is threatening lives indirectly as well as directly. Millions of people have delayed preventive and chronic care, fearful of contracting the virus in the healthcare setting. This week’s guest, Dr. Greg Alston, says that there […]
2020 has been a pivotal year for race relations in our country. Black Lives Matter has become the battle cry for millions of Americans who are speaking out against police brutality which disproportionately targets black Americans. While many have taken to the streets, many more are looking inward at the ways in which institutional racism […]
Healthcare interactions are often fraught with anxiety. It has never been more important to create an office environment that promotes calm, enhances convenience, and, in the Covid-19 era, also incorporates safety measures. On this episode of the Healthcare Confidential podcast, our guest is Elizabeth Sanchez Vaughn, an interior designer who helps healthcare providers create a […]
Running any business, especially during a pandemic, is challenging. Running a business in the highly regulated healthcare space is exponentially more difficult. This is where a business coach can make a significant difference. On this episode of Healthcare Confidential, we talk to Michael Breitman, CEO of ActionCoach of Metro New York and the Berkshires, who […]
On November 10, the United States Supreme Court is scheduled to begin hearing arguments on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act. On this episode of Healthcare Confidential, Kevin Dahill, president and CEO of the Suburban Hospital Alliance of New York State, joined us to discuss the ACA and the legal battle that lies ahead. […]
On January 1, 2021, significant changes to E/M coding will be rolled out. Pam D’Apuzzo, President of RR Health Strategies, our guest on this episode of Healthcare Confidential, calls them a “game-changer.” What lies ahead, she says, will affect every aspect of what providers do and the standards they have been held to. But while […]
If there is one word that could be used to sum up 2020 so far, I would pick the word “crisis.” Over the past ten months, we have endured a public health crisis like nothing seen in the last century; raging wildfires that are devastating the west coast, and an unusually active and damaging hurricane […]
If you were among the early adopters of social media and digital marketing techniques as they apply to healthcare, then you likely have heard of today’s guest. Chris Boyer has spent much of his career revolutionizing the way health systems use digital marketing strategies to grow market share and revenue. He has worked for major […]
Healthcare providers have been among the hardest hit by the Coronavirus pandemic. Many closed or significantly scaled back their practices in their early days of the pandemic. Throughout this period, CMS – the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services – has announced a number of regulatory changes and special programs designed to alleviate the pain […]
As a registered nurse and infection preventionist at Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip, New York, Melody Butler was intimately involved in the fight against Covid-19. When she and her husband both contracted the virus, the fight became personal as she marshaled her infection prevention skills to keep her four children from getting […]
Financial Forecasting and Planning to Get Through the Covid-19 Crisis with Joseph Tomaino, CEO of Grassi Healthcare Advisors Covid-19 has hit medical providers extremely hard, and many continue to struggle. According to a June 18 JAMA article, some doctors are experiencing such severe revenue losses that they have turned to GoFundMe campaigns to help meet […]
Six years ago, serial entrepreneur Dr. Soheil Saadat founded genieMD. Today, his company is a global telehealth platform that has recorded a whopping 340% increase in patient volume during the Coronavirus pandemic. GenieMD’s growth reflects the larger telemedicine trend. As patients shied away from busy waiting rooms, the federal government relaxed some of the more […]
NOTE: This podcast is intended to be informational and should not be construed as definitive legal advice. It is in no way inclusive of all issues that may be present. You should consult your own attorney for legal advice.*** Stephanie Rodin thought she was forging her own path by going to law school instead of becoming a […]
For decades, New York State’s malpractice insurance industry was completely regulated by New York State. Rates and discounts were controlled by the State, creating a system in which most physicians became accustomed to automatically paying their malpractice premiums each year upon renewal, as opposed to shopping around for better coverage or a better price. About […]
For patients and their caregivers, venturing into the healthcare system can be like visiting a foreign land with its own language and customs. Strange medical terminology, rules of engagement dictated by insurance companies, stress over-diagnoses, and care plans, and mounting bills can be overwhelming for even savvy healthcare consumers. As providers increasingly emphasize the importance […]
It has been more than four months since Covid-19 completely changed our American way of life, upending our health, finances, jobs, families, relationships, leisure time, habits, social lives, and more. These sudden and dramatic changes have taken a toll on our mental and emotional health. Those working on the frontlines of healthcare are among the […]
In order for a provider to be paid for services he or she renders to a patient, all documentation submitted to the payor – whether it is a private insurance carrier, Medicare or Medicaid – must be precise and perfect. If not, payment might not be made, or worse, it may be made and then […]
Unfortunately, many providers and others in the healthcare world are less prepared than they might be to run a business. In this episode, we dive into some of the legal issues that impact healthcare businesses with a focus on partnerships. What are some of the steps that providers should take before entering a partnership? What […]
Do you know the difference between an endemic, outbreak, and pandemic? Dr. Wayne W. LaMorte, Assistant Dean for Education and professor of epidemiology at Boston University’sSchool of Public Health, joined us to talk about the epidemiology and public health impact of Coronavirus. We can draw lessons about the current pandemic from observing the […]
Episode #6 – Monday, July 13 “What’s healthy for independent doctors is healthy for America,” says Marni Jameson Carey, MA, Executive Director of AID – the Association for Independent Doctors. AID is the voice of independent physicians across America. Founded by two accountants and an attorney, and led by Jameson Carey, a former […]
Episode #5 – Monday, July 6 This week’s episode features a national physician-leader who has been involved in all aspects of healthcare, from running his own gastroenterology practice to serving as chief medical officer of a community hospital, to serving on the board of New York State’s largest health system. Along the way, […]
Episode #4 – Monday, June 29 Our guest this week is healthcare policy expert Janine Logan. Janine is the senior director of communications and population health for the Nassau-Suffolk Hospital Council. She concurrently serves as senior director of communications at the Northern Metropolitan Hospital Association, or NorMet. The two entities are known as […]
Episode #3 – Monday, June 22 Our guest this week is Bert Lurch. Bert is Co-Founder and CEO of E Central Medical Management (ECM), a full-service medical billing and practice management firm in New Hyde Park, New York. After graduating from SUNY Old Westbury, Bert began his career at Long Island Jewish Medical […]
Our guest this week is Cinzia Lawrence, a seasoned healthcare executive who has served in C-suite roles in large medical practices in the New York City region. As an independent consultant to practices of all sizes, Cinzia discusses the multiple challenges facing independent medical providers, particularly in the wake of Covid-19. We also […]
This inaugural episode of Healthcare Confidential features a conversation with Ken Sternfeld, RPh, founder of RXVIP Concierge. RXVIP Concierge is an innovative company that guides pharmacists, PharmDs, and students of pharmacy on a pathway to becoming Concierge Pharmacists. Through this program, Concierge Pharmacists can be embedded within a physician’s private practice to deliver […]