B-Time with Beth Bierbower

Brad Holmes, Managing Vice President of Gartner defines digital transformation and shares his views on what it means to create a new, sustainable business model and the role business and IT leaders play on this journey. Brad talks about Fusion teams, shifting from a project to a product culture and more.  Tune in to hear what Brad calls “the Secret Sauce”. 

Show notes: Book: The Great Bridge: The Epic Story of The Building Of The Brooklyn Bridge by David McCullough.  Podcasts: Anything on NPR on the weekends.

Over the last several decades a large part of the pharmacy shelf and floor space has been dedicated to non-healthcare items – makeup, food, toys, candy and more.  However, in the last few years, several pharmacy retail chains have been slowly been reclaiming some of that shelf and floor space for health-related items and services.  Your local Walgreen’s is one store that is seeking to do even more to bring health products, services and care back to the local neighborhood. In 2014, Walgreens took full ownership of Boots a UK and Switzerland based pharmacy chain.  Since that time, the company has been focused on expanding its reach in healthcare.  With us today to share more about their strategy is Giovanni Monti, SVP of Healthcare Services for Walgreens Boots Alliance. 

Show notes: Books:  The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History  by John Barry; Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing

Fierce Healthcare Innovation Awards:  https://pages.questexnetwork.com/rs/294-MQF-056/images/FIR-HC20.Final.pdf

Dr. Toyin Ajayi Co-founder and Chief Health Officer of Cityblock Health, has lived and spent time in several different countries which has afforded her the opportunity to see different health systems in action. These experiences helped her understand the need to view an individual’s needs holistically and address physical, emotional and social care  Leveraging these experiences, Dr. Ajayi  helped create a leading-edge integrated care delivery model that combines primary, behavioral and social care in a community setting to serve people with the highest’s needs.  Hear as Dr. Ajayi shares why Cityblock chose to develop a new model of care leveraging technology, data and predictive analytics built from the ground up.  Get a glimpse of the future of primary care delivery.

Show Notes:  Books:  Octavia Butler’s The Parable Series: The Power of the Sower & The Power of The Talents  Podcasts: The Daily, In the Bubble with Andy Slavitt, Unlocking Us with Brene Brown

Today’s healthcare silos cause a multitude of problems that range from information gaps to duplicative efforts. The patient is in the middle, often relying solely on her own capabilities to fill in the gaps or prevent redundant procedures.  At best, the healthcare system is inefficient.  At its worst, the healthcare system puts patients in danger.  Jay Desai, CEO & Co-founder of PatientPing shares his perspective on how interoperability can solve many of these issues.

Show Notes:  If air travel worked like healthcare:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5J67xJKpB6c; if restaurants behaved like healthcare: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4M0ooFlJmfk 

Book: How To Be An Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi;

Podcasts: Reframing Healthcare with Zeev Neuwirth; The ACO Show with Aledade's CEO Dr. Farzad Mostashari; This American Life; This Week In Startups with Jason Calacanis; Radiolab  with Jad Abumrad; a16z Podcast; WorkLife with Adam Grant; Where Should We Begin with Esther Perel

Pharmacy costs have risen over the years and have gained the attention of regulators as well as health plans, employers, and consumers.  The idea of cost transparency and rebates have also generated a lot of discussion more recently.  More than 60 PBMs administer prescription drug plans for more than 270 million Americans.  Our guest is JC Scott, President of the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA), which is a national association representing America’s pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs.  Today, JC will explain why drug costs are high and the roles PBMs play in helping to contain costs.

Show notes:  Book: March by John Lewis; Podcast: The Pharmacy Benefit by the PCMA

Full Script:

Hi Listeners, I am introducing a new concept today.  Over the years, people have asked me what books I’ve been reading, and which podcasts I regularly listen to.  As you know, I ask this question of our guests on each episode.  Here’s the idea: From time to time I’ll share a VERY brief review of a favorite book.  These reviews will cover topics that will resonate with you as a business professional and will cover a variety of genres including business, history, biography and self-help.  The vast majority of these books will be non-fiction, but I might throw in a novel occasionally if the book contains a poignant message.  Let me know what you think by sending a brief email to [email protected] and don’t forget to give B-Time a 5 start rating on your favorite podcasting platform.  Now here’s our first review.

The Splendid and the Vile:
A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz

By Erik Larson

I was mesmerized by Larson’s Devil in the White City and was hoping The Splendid and the Vile would hold my attention in a similar manner, and it sure did.  Pushing all other leisure reading and podcasts aside, I couldn’t wait until I could steal a few moments to dive back into this book. 

Larson pulls together snippets of experiences from individuals that were close to Churchill, through work or family ties, during his first year as Prime Minister.  Much of this information is extracted from personal journals so the reader gets an intimate and frank perspective of Churchill that is not often captured in the history books.

When first reading this book, I wasn’t sure exactly how Larson would tie all these pieces of information together, but he did.  These individual perspectives somehow unite to form the picture of a great leader. By the end of the book, Larson has created a deeply moving picture of the seemingly insurmountable challenges Churchill, his government and the British people faced during the Blitz.  I’ve long admired Churchill and the British citizens but getting a vivid picture from the view of people who lived through this trying time increased that admiration and makes the phrase “Keep Calm and Carry On” even more meaningful to me.  I thoroughly enjoyed this book. 

Understanding history allows us to learn from the suffering and sacrifice of others.  Larson’s ability to engage the reader in such an important part of world history should encourage high school and college educators to include this book in their school curriculum.  And if you want to be a better leader, read as much as you can about Churchill including his own writings.  I can’t think of a better teacher than the man himself.   

On B-Time, we bring guests to the show who refuse to accept the status quo.  Our guest today, Dr. Rushika Fernandopulle is taking on the primary care delivery system.  His mission in life is to transform healthcare by building a new model of care.

Rushika is a primary care physician, CEO and co-founder of Iora Health, a primary care delivery organization dedicated primarily to serving older adults.  Iora is unique in that it focuses on helping patients overcome the barriers that get in the way of their health. 

Show Notes: Books: Anti-Fragile: Things That Gain From Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb; Manifesto For A Moral Revolution: Practices To Build A Better World by Jacqueline Novogratz; The Second Mountain: The Quest For A Moral Life by David Brooks. 

Favorite Podcasts: B-Time (of course!), Revisonist History; How I Built This; This American Life; A Second Opinion, A Healthy Dose; Zeev Neuwirth: Creating A New Healthcare.

David Weingard was a healthy 36-year-old participating in triathlons when he was diagnosed with Type I diabetes.  He had no family history of the disease and no where to turn for help.  He searched the internet but was overwhelmed with information.  He needed someone to help him sort through all this information and help him get on the right path – quickly.  Luckily, David found a diabetes educator who helped him understand that being diagnosed with Type I diabetes was not a death sentence.  David’s experience was so impactful that he was determined to help others that needed someone to help guide them through a difficult and confusing experience.  David shares will us his journey and how his company, Cecelia Health touches the lives of those dealing with Diabetes in an impactful and meaningful way.

Show Notes: Favorite Books:  Rules for Renegades.  Inspiring Quotes from the podcast: “I always finish the race.”  “When you have cash coming in the door you have choices.”

Public policy has significant impact on all corporations and it’s important for business professionals to understand this topic.   However, public policy issues also generate as much “noise” as they do facts so it’s difficult to sort through and understand what’s important and what’s not.  Mark Newsom, Founder and Principal of Health Evaluations a Washington, DC based consulting practice gives us solid advice and good tips as to how to gain an understanding of public policy and determine how to leverage it to grow your business. 

Show Notes: Podcasts: Politico's Pulse Podcast & the Gist Podcast

In March of 2020, the US was beginning to shut down.  Restaurants and bars were closed.  Schools and libraries shut their doors.  A debate was raging over the definition of an essential worker.  CEO Keith Jones had to determine how to serve a precious and vulnerable population, children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, while ensuring continuity of care and the safety of his employees.  I speak with Keith about key leadership decisions and the guiding principles he used to make these decisions during a time of many unknowns.  Keith’s journey is truly a lesson in great leadership from which listeners will greatly benefit.