HealthBiz with David E. Williams

As a physician and healthcare CEO, Russ Richmond already knew a lot about healthcare. But when a bad accident put him into the hospital for three months he developed a much more profound understanding of caregiving.

In particular, he learned that many of the nurses and therapists who provided him with such great care were thinking of quitting their jobs!

Once he was released he did some research and discovered that a root cause of burnout was a lack of effective management and high administrative burden. He zeroed in on a solution: support for frontline nurse managers.

These insights formed the basis for the founding of Laudio, an intelligent platform that streamlines work for frontline leaders to drive large-scale change.

Before talking about Laudio, we also discuss Russ's earlier career, including a stint leading APS, where I had previously been chairman of the board. I'm grateful to Russ for growing and exiting that business.

Host David E. Williams is president of healthcare strategy consulting firm Health Business Group. Produced by Dafna Williams.

Richard Kellner is on a mission to end polycystic kidney disease (PKD), a leading cause of kidney failure in younger people. The key is combining  pre-implantation genetic testing with in vitro fertilization to prevent the disease from being passed from parent to child. The PKD Outreach Foundation, run by Richard is raising awareness so that physicians and parents-to-be know about this option. PKD Outreach is also making testing and IVF more affordable and accessible through a partnership with US Fertility and by making cash grants to families.

In addition, PKD Outreach is  publicizing ways to slowing the progression in young adults with lifestyle and drugs, and supporting live kidney donation.

Richard has a compelling personal story. His late wife passed away from PKD, even after receiving a kidney donation from Richard. His adult kids have it, too.

I like the organization's mission and determination so I decided to donate. You might want to do the same.

Host David E. Williams is president of healthcare strategy consulting firm Health Business Group. Produced by Dafna Williams.

Explore the life and career of Brett White, CEO of Weave, an AI-powered platform designed to support small and mid-sized medical practices. Brett shares his formative experiences growing up in Northern California, working on a farm, and benefiting from his father's career as an airline pilot. These early influences instilled in him a strong work ethic and an  appreciation for the value of hard work and simple living, shaping his approach to leadership and innovation in  healthcare.

We  trace Brett's professional journey, starting from his decision to study business economics at UC Santa Barbara, leading to a career in accounting with Arthur Young, and later transitioning to Oracle. Brett's career trajectory underscores the importance of hustle and results in achieving success. He eventually moved on to become CFO for various companies, including Mindbody, before joining Weave. Brett discusses his passion for helping small business owners, particularly doctors, and the satisfaction derived from supporting their success through technology.

In our conversation, we examine the current landscape of small and mid-sized specialty medical practices and how they thrive by focusing on key metrics and efficient processes. Brett explains how technology and AI can enhance efficiency, improve revenue cycle management, and reduce staff workload, citing specific examples like AI assistants automating review responses. Additionally, we explore how modern communication and payment systems can significantly enhance patient experience, reduce no-shows, and streamline collections, ultimately benefiting  patients and healthcare providers. 

Listen in as Brett White provides valuable insights and perspectives on the integration of technology in healthcare and its potential to transform patient care and business operations.

Host David E. Williams is president of healthcare strategy consulting firm Health Business Group. Produced by Dafna Williams.

PatientPay and ClearGage are merging. I interviewed CEO Tom Furr to get his take. The combined offering is intended to deliver a comprehensive billing and payment platform that includes estimation and eligibility along with streamlined patient payments.

Doctors offices are generally set up to bill insurance, but patients are now responsible for a lot more of the bill. Offices that manage patient payments effectively perform much better financially and reduce friction. That's what PatientPay enables.

Patients (i.e., consumers) have become accustomed to smooth transactions through Amazon and other e-commerce and in-person experiences. So physician offices can appear archaic in comparison unless they're using something like PatientPay.

Tom was a guest on the show several years ago, and it was great to have him back to share the big progress his company has made. 

Host David E. Williams is president of healthcare strategy consulting firm Health Business Group. Produced by Dafna Williams.

Blue Cross Blue Shield CEO Sarah Iselin is a great asset for Massachusetts. I admired her work when she ran the Department of Healthcare Finance and Policy and then the BCBS Foundation, and was grateful for her rescue of Massachusetts' implementation of the Affordable Care Act. 

After a decade-long sojourn to Florida and California she's come back to Massachusetts just in time to address some big challenges. Among the topics we discussed:

1. The Steward Healthcare bankruptcy
2. Access to care -especially behavioral health
3. The health care cost crisis
4. Women's health
5. Value based care and the Alternative Quality Contract

I also enjoyed learning about how Sarah was inspired by her parents to enter public service and her early dates as an art student.

Host David E. Williams is president of healthcare strategy consulting firm Health Business Group. Produced by Dafna Williams.

Jeff Greenfield's journey is fascinating. As a child he was enchanted with magic, fell in love with Disney, and was transformed by a year in Israel during high school. 

Jeff shares how his early experiences shaped his career path, from studying biochemistry at the University of Maryland to becoming a chiropractor, all the while nurturing his passion for close-up magic. A car accident meant he had to stop practicing, but ultimately led him to embrace the burgeoning internet era of the mid-90s.

Next, we lift the veil on the complexities of modern digital advertising. We explore how digital marketing has shifted the focus to the bottom of the funnel, increasing competition and costs. A captivating case study about leveraging MasterCard data to target weight loss customers highlights the sophisticated and costly nature of today's advertising strategies. 

In the final chapter, we delve into the intricate world of healthcare and pharmaceutical marketing privacy. Jeff sheds light on the dual-focus strategy of targeting both healthcare providers and consumers, explaining how pharmaceutical companies educate providers while raising consumer awareness. The evolution from traditional TV and radio ads to digital marketing is discussed, with an emphasis on the impact of iOS privacy changes and browser policy updates. We explore the significance of first-party and third-party cookies in the ad economy and the challenges posed by their potential phase-out. 

Host David E. Williams is president of healthcare strategy consulting firm Health Business Group. Produced by Dafna Williams.

Most people living with chronic conditions have more than one, yet digital health is full of point solutions for specific conditions. Dr. Tryggvi Thorgeirsson transformed that insight into Sidekick Health, which takes a platform approach to addressing a patient's complex needs.

The company is growing fast, both organically and through acquisition. The latest addition, PINK! specializes in cancer care and women's health.

Tryggvi is from Iceland, and I enjoyed uncovering his fascinating journey. He shares personal stories from his time with a volunteer mountaineering rescue squad and his extensive educational path through the University of Iceland, MIT Media Lab, and Harvard School of Public Health.

I knew there were a lot of hot, emerging geothermal features in Iceland. Now I know of at least one hot, emerging digital health company, too.

Host David E. Williams is president of healthcare strategy consulting firm Health Business Group. Produced by Dafna Williams.

Dr. Sarah Adler, founder and CEO of Wave and clinical associate professor of psychiatry at Stanford University, shares her journey from childhood through an eclectic academic path at Columbia University, a brief stint in medical school, and an unexpected career turn at a hedge fund. 

Her story offers a unique perspective on how personal experiences --in Sarah's case a diagnosis of ADHD at age 40 --can ignite a passion for mental health and drive innovative approaches to care.

We  explore how Generation Z is revolutionizing the healthcare landscape with their digital-first approach. By segmenting Gen Z into older, middle, and younger cohorts, we uncover their distinct preferences and the challenges of engaging with them through traditional healthcare methods. Our discussion highlights the pressing need for healthcare systems to adapt to meet the demands of a tech-savvy generation, emphasizing the role technology can play in providing accessible and efficient care.

Finally, we tackle the critical issue of the growing demand for mental health services amid a shortage of licensed therapists. Dr. Adler shares innovative strategies, including the integration of data and technology and the use of health coaches trained in accredited programs to deliver evidence-based treatments. We stress the importance of building a robust data infrastructure for measuring outcomes and maintaining mental well-being, both at Wave and beyond. 

When Sarah touts the benefits of starting every company meeting with a mini-mindfulness exercise, I challenge her to try that out in a sales call! We'll see how it goes.

Host David E. Williams is president of healthcare strategy consulting firm Health Business Group. Produced by Dafna Williams.

Can value-based care  transform the American healthcare system? In this episode, we dive deep into this pressing question with Dr. Mohamed Diab, president of CVS Accountable Care. Dr. Diab highlights systemic challenges, such as physician burnout and the inadequacies of primary care funding. With an emphasis on primary care's critical role in managing chronic conditions and preventing illness, he reveals how a shift to value-based care can lead to better health outcomes by focusing on holistic, patient-centered approaches that tackle social determinants and behavioral health.

We also address the complexities of this transition, specifically for healthcare executives who are navigating the shift from fee-for-service to value-based models. Learn about Medicare's ambitious plan to achieve 100% value-based care by 2030 and discover how CVS Health's Accountable Care Organization is leveraging technology, analytics, and clinical programs to support providers and Medicare beneficiaries. 

Host David E. Williams is president of healthcare strategy consulting firm Health Business Group. Produced by Dafna Williams.

Greg Mario, CEO of TAXIS Pharmaceuticals shares his dynamic journey from a childhood of constant relocations to spearheading the fight against antibiotic-resistant infections. Greg opens up about his immigrant grandparents' profound influence and a transformative experience with a captivating professor at Trinity College that shifted his academic focus from mechanical engineering to chemistry. This pivotal change set the foundation for his career in the pharmaceutical industry, highlighting his adaptability and dedication to human health.

Discover the fascinating evolution of Evogen, a company initially centered on bio and chemical threat detection, which pivoted to tackle central nervous system diseases under Greg's leadership. We also explore the creation of as revolutionary blood-based epilepsy diagnostic test, as well as the pressing issue of antibiotic resistance. 

Greg provides a historical perspective on antibiotics and underscores the urgent need for innovative antimicrobial treatments to combat the relentless rise of superbugs, emphasizing the resilience and adaptability required in the healthcare industry.

In the final section, we explore the relentless pursuit of funding in the biotech world through Greg's experiences with TAXIS Pharmaceuticals. Learn about the company's early days and the recent $2.7 million NIH grant for their promising efflux pump inhibitor, now on the brink of human trials. 

Host David E. Williams is president of healthcare strategy consulting firm Health Business Group. Produced by Dafna Williams.