Welcome to the MGMA Member Spotlight Podcast, hosted by Daniel Williams, Senior Editor at MGMA. In this special episode, we feature a dynamic panel of healthcare leaders recognized as MGMA's 2024 Future Five Award recipients. These outstanding professionals are in the first five years of their healthcare careers and are already making a significant impact. The panelists—Kyle Hussey, Jonathan Renzi, Anastasia Delaney, Disha Sawhney, and Samantha Baker—share their inspiring journeys and offer insights into healthcare innovation, patient-centered care, leadership, and operational efficiency. This episode explores the unique challenges of rural healthcare, telehealth advancements, service line development, and the evolving regulatory environment.

Key Takeaways:

• Kyle Hussey (Chief Operating Officer, Colorado Surgical Affiliates):
  • Kyle discusses his transition from the telecom industry to healthcare and the importance of creating sustainable service lines. He emphasizes the balance between financial goals, operational efficiency, and clinical outcomes. "Every service line we consider is put through a framework that ensures it’s viable financially and clinically." He shares insights on introducing Chronic Care Management in specialty care and operational improvements that enhance patient throughput.
• Jonathan Renzi (Clinical Manager, Lifespan):
  • Jonathan highlights the importance of leadership in healthcare and his journey from nursing to management. He discusses the critical role of collaboration and patient-centered care, particularly in managing staffing shortages and enhancing operational efficiency. "One of the major improvements in our clinic has been streamlining the internal referral process, ensuring timely care for our patients."
• Anastasia Delaney (Operations Coordinator, Mortenson Dental Partners):
  • Anastasia shares her passion for improving healthcare access in rural communities, focusing on dental and nutritional care. She emphasizes the value of community engagement and hands-on leadership in addressing gaps in care. "Leadership is about being on the ground, deeply connected to the communities we serve." Anastasia's work includes coordinating mobile dental clinics and free dental services in rural Kentucky.
• Disha Sawhney (Service Line Manager, Fox Chase Cancer Center):
  • Disha speaks about her role in leading interdisciplinary teams to improve oncology service lines. She highlights the challenges of coordinating new cancer treatments and the advancements in immunotherapy and AI. "Patient education is a key focus in ensuring patients are empowered to make informed decisions about their care."
• Samantha Baker (Healthcare Compliance Analyst, Cherry Bekaert):
  • Samantha reflects on the impact of the regulatory environment on healthcare and the need for innovative solutions. She emphasizes the importance of streamlining administrative processes to reduce the burden on providers and improve patient care. "It's all about balancing innovation with the practicalities of healthcare regulations and patient needs."

Resources Mentioned:

• MGMA Future Five Awards: Link to Future Five Awards Application
• Hardwiring Excellence: Link to the Book
• Crucial Conversations: Link to the Book