In this week’s MGMA Week in Review podcast, cohosts Daniel Williams and Colleen Luckett explore the tech and trends shaping the future of medical group practices. From AI chatbots transforming patient communication to new research on stress in the healthcare workforce, we cover actionable insights, policy shifts, and human-centered stories from the field. We also discuss how practices can navigate rising drug costs amid new tariff threats—and what it takes to rebuild the doctor-patient bond in a tech-driven world.

🔑 Key Takeaways from This Episode:

• 🤖 AI Chatbots in Healthcare
  Only 19% of medical group practices use AI chatbots, despite their growing capabilities in scheduling, triage, and multilingual patient communication. Weill Cornell saw a 47% increase in digital bookings after implementation.
• 🧠 Stress Awareness Month – Workplace Mental Health Trends
  Nearly 50% of employees report feeling regular stress. Studies from Deloitte, Headspace, Oxford, and NAMI show that meaningful connections and proactive mental health support create healthier, more resilient workplaces.
• 🩺 Rekindling the Doctor-Patient Relationship
  A MedCity News article reveals staggering burnout among physicians and patients’ struggles to self-advocate. Holistic engagement models and health literacy tools are critical to restoring trust.
• 💻 Healthcare IT & MGMA's Julia Rosen
  Daniel interviews MGMA’s SVP of IT, Julia Rosen, on documentation burdens, tech integration, and her Big Bird elevator story. Spoiler: Julia’s childhood neighbor was Caroll Spinney.
• 💊 Pharma Tariffs & Financial Planning
  Proposed tariffs on imported pharmaceuticals could spike prices on generic medications. Practices are urged to audit supply chains, adjust financial forecasts, and attend MGMA’s upcoming cost management webinar.

 🕒 Timestamps
00:00 Introduction and Welcome
01:11 MGMA Staff Poll Results: AI in Healthcare
04:10 Interview with Julia Rosen: Healthcare IT Insights
09:56 Impact of Pharmaceutical Tariffs
12:24 Stress Awareness Month: Mental Health in the Workplace
17:19 Rekindling the Doctor-Patient Relationship
19:13 Conclusion and Farewell

🔗 Resources & Links from the Episode:

1. MGMA Stat Article
   Read the full results and analysis
2. AI Chatbot Case Study & Tools
   Explore AI integration success stories in MGMA Connection magazine
3. Mindful Leader April Trends Roundup
   Visit Mindful Leader's roundup on workplace wellbeing
4. Headspace 2025 Workforce Mental Health Report
   Download the Headspace report
5. MedCity News: Rekindling Doctor-Patient Trust
   Read the full article by Ashley Tyrner-Dolce
6. MGMA Insights Podcast – Julia Rosen Interview
   Listen to the full episode
7. Healthcare Dive – Pharmaceutical Tariff Report
   Read the latest report
8. MGMA DataDive: Financials and Operations
   Explore the DataDive resource
9. Upcoming MGMA Webinar – Navigating Hidden Costs
   Register now for the April 15 webinar

In this episode of MGMA Insights, Senior Editor Daniel Williams is live in studio with Julia Rosen, MGMA’s new Senior Vice President of Information Technology, to explore the dynamic intersection of technology and patient care in today’s healthcare landscape. Julia shares her unconventional journey from studying English to leading major IT initiatives at healthcare organizations, including her work at Epic, Centura Health and PeraHealth. Now at MGMA, she’s driving digital transformation efforts aimed at improving operations, enhancing patient experience, and ensuring robust cybersecurity across the healthcare industry.

🎙️ Episode Highlights:

• 00:00 — Welcome and Introduction
• 00:32 — Julia’s Unconventional Path to Healthcare IT
• 01:15 — Navigating Between Nonprofit and Business Worlds
• 03:02 — MGMA Book Club Picks and Julia’s Favorites
• 04:50 — COVID-19 Response and Career Highlights
• 07:00 — Rethinking Technology in a Post-Pandemic World
• 08:54 — Future of Patient Experience
• 15:06 — Julia’s Vision for MGMA
• 16:52 — Major Challenges in Healthcare IT
• 21:09 — Exploring Cybersecurity in Healthcare
• 24:12 — Big Bird, Colorado Life, and Fun Facts
• 26:34 — Final Takeaways

📚 Additional Resources:

• MGMA DataDive — Benchmark data to guide smarter decision-making
• MGMA Cybersecurity Playbook — Tools and strategies for keeping your practice safe
• Julie Rosen on LinkedIn —  Connect with Julia on Social
• Big Bird — Yes, the 8-foot-2 Sesame Street legend makes a cameo in Julia’s story
• Project Hail Mary — Julia’s must-read sci-fi favorite
• Ask by Jeff Wetzler — This is the MGMA Book Club's April selection
• Join MGMA Communities — Collaborate with healthcare IT leaders and practice managers

Hosted by Daniel Williams and Colleen Luckett, this episode of MGMA Weekend Review addresses issues in healthcare concerning AI compliance and clinician burnout. Drawing insights from the 2025 HIMSS Global Conference, the hosts discuss challenges and best practices for integrating AI within HIPAA constraints. The episode also highlights the importance of provider wellness, the ongoing struggle with prior authorization processes, lessons from disaster response, and strategies for mitigating clinician burnout.

00:00 Introduction and Hosts
00:30 AI and HIPAA Compliance Challenges (MGMA Article, MGMA Playbook)
04:46 Provider Wellness and Patient Satisfaction (Physicians Practice)
07:16 Prior Authorization Struggles (Fierce Healthcare)
11:17 Disaster Response Lessons from Maui (Becker's Hospital Review)
14:17 Clinician Burnout: Current Strategies and Statistics (MGMA Stat)
18:02 Conclusion and Farewell

Additional Resources:

• MGMA DataDive — Benchmark data to guide smarter decision-making
• MGMA Cybersecurity Playbook — Tools and strategies for keeping your practice safe
• Ask by Jeff Wetzler — This is the MGMA Book Club's April selection
• Join MGMA Communities — Collaborate with healthcare leaders and practice managers

In this episode of the MGMA Member Spotlight Podcast, host Daniel Williams sits down with Katie Komaridis, Senior Manager at ECG Management Consultants, to discuss the evolving landscape of primary care, the challenges facing women’s health services, and the impact of project management on healthcare operations.

Katie shares key takeaways from the MGMA Operations Conference, insights on workforce shortages and financial pressures, and strategies for helping medical practices remain competitive. She also highlights the importance of integrating behavioral health into primary care and the role of AI in improving operational efficiency.

Key Takeaways from the MGMA Operations Conference [02:30] 

• The impact of technology on medical practice operations
• The integration of behavioral health into primary care
• How organizations are rethinking workforce models

Trends in Women’s Health and Primary Care [07:10]

• Declining access to maternal healthcare, especially in rural communities
• The shift toward integrated women’s health models combining primary care and OB/GYN services
• The role of retail healthcare and why some large providers are scaling back

The Changing Landscape of Primary Care [12:45]

• The segmentation of primary care, including senior-focused and gender-specific models
• How independent practices can compete with larger healthcare organizations
• Strategies for adapting to changing payer models and reimbursement structures

Project Management in Healthcare: Best Practices and Common Pitfalls [18:20]

• How structured project management can improve efficiency
• Key mistakes to avoid when implementing projects in medical practices
• A real-world example of how project management supports new service lines

Challenges Facing Medical Groups Today [23:50]

• Staffing shortages and strategies for optimizing workflow
• The impact of AI-driven automation on administrative tasks such as prescription refills
• The uncertain future of value-based care and financial pressures on practices

Expanding Services and Implementing New Programs [29:10]

• Case studies of successful service expansion in high-risk pregnancy and behavioral health
• How practices can optimize existing resources for growth
• Lessons learned from launching new initiatives in medical practice operations

Resources:

• Learn more about ECG Management Consultants: ECGMC.com
• MGMA Body of Knowledge Series
• Connect with Katie Komaridis on LinkedIn

In this episode of Ask an Advisor, hosts Daniel Williams and Christie Good delve into the topic of transitioning from paper to digital employee records for practice administrators. They explore the absence of federal laws requiring paper copies, highlight state-specific regulations, and discuss best practices for securing digital files, ensuring legal validity, and maintaining HIPAA compliance. The conversation also covers the importance of having reliable document management systems and IT professional involvement, retention and destruction policies, and the transition process from paper to digital. Show notes and additional resources, including links to EEOC record-keeping requirements and the MGMA HIPAA essentials course, are provided.

00:00 Introduction and Today's Topic
00:24 The Digital Transition: Can Practices Go Fully Digital?
02:26 Compliance and Legal Considerations
03:57 Best Practices for Secure Digital Storage
06:50 Retention Periods for Employee Records
08:17 Ensuring Document Authenticity and Legal Validity
08:55 HIPAA Compliance in Digital Records
09:46 Managing the Transition to Digital
12:09 Conclusion and Additional Resources

Additional Resources:

• EEOC 
• Bamboo HR 
• SHRM
• MGMA online course HIPAA Essentials for Medical Practice  

In this episode of MGMA Week in Review, hosts Daniel Williams and Colleen Luckett explore pressing issues impacting healthcare practices today. The episode opens with insights from the Colorado HIMSS Advocacy Day Breakfast, where Colleen shares the latest updates on healthcare cybersecurity and the growing need for vigilance against data breaches and cyber threats. Daniel dives into a recent study showing that patients are willing to wait for their preferred doctors, particularly for complex or personal care, highlighting the ongoing importance of continuity of care.

The conversation then shifts to incentive-based pay trends for advanced practice providers, where Colleen and Daniel analyze a modest but notable shift away from heavily incentivized compensation models. Rounding out the discussion, they examine predictions for hospital overcrowding and its downstream impact on outpatient care, stressing the importance of collaboration between hospitals and ambulatory practices to manage patient flow effectively.

00:47 Introduction and Hosts' Welcome

01:17 Colorado HIMSS Advocacy Day Recap (MGMA.com)

01:52 Cybersecurity in Healthcare: Key Insights (MGMA.com)

05:35 Patient Loyalty and Continuity of Care (Medical Economics)

09:19 Incentive-Based Pay for Advanced Practice Providers (MGMA Stat)

11:43 Dismissing Patients: Best Practices (Physicians Practice)

14:46 Hospital Overcrowding and Outpatient Care Implications (Health Journalism)

17:03 Conclusion and Resources

Additional Resources:

• Connect with the hosts at [email protected] and [email protected] to share your practice challenges, news to know, or to be featured on an upcoming episode. 
• Join Us at the 2025 MGMA Financial Conference (April 13-15, Washington, DC) - Register Here

Sponsors:

Your staff is buried in phone calls. Patients are frustrated. And you're losing revenue to no-shows. There's a better way. GoTo Connect for Healthcare is a unified, AI-powered communication platform built to support your HIPAA compliance, streamline scheduling, reduce staff burden, and help your team do more with less. Because when communication works, care works. Learn more and get a personalized demo.

Allied Medical Waste is the premier medical waste and document shredding company for medical groups all over the United States. On average, Allied helps medical groups save up to 50% on their monthly costs. Allied is known for their great service and impeccable response times. Reach out today for a free quote! Allied has a special offer for all MGMA members: the first 2 months FREE of charge! Connect with us at [email protected] or call (801) 328-8581. 

In this episode of MGMA Insights Podcast, host Daniel Williams sits down with Rob Lawless, founder of Rob's 10k Friends LLC and an upcoming keynote speaker at the MGMA Financial Conference. Rob shares his extraordinary mission to meet 10,000 different people for one hour each, exploring the profound value of human connection. This episode offers medical practice leaders a unique perspective on building meaningful relationships, improving workplace engagement, and understanding the power of intentional interactions.

Key Takeaways:

The FRIEND Framework for Meaningful Connections:

• F: Family 
• R: Relationships
• I: Industry (career and education path)
• E: Entertainment (hobbies outside work)
• N: Needs
• D: Dreams for the future

Problem-Solving Insights for Medical Practice Leaders:
Improving Employee Engagement: Rob suggests taking an hour to sit with employees, actively listen, and write their stories back to them. This approach:

• Forces active listening
• Creates a sense of being truly seen and heard
• Potentially increases talent retention
• Builds deeper workplace connections

Connection Strategy: 

• Rob emphasizes that "no one really knows what they're doing with their lives" and everyone is "doing the best they can with the resources they have."

Notable Quotes:

• "Every human interaction, no matter how brief, has the potential to change your life."
• "The act of writing people's stories afterwards forces you to be present."

Resources:

• Rob Lawless on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robs10kfriends/
• Connect with Rob Lawless on LinkedIn
• Upcoming Keynote: 2025 MGMA Financial Conference (April 13-15, Washington, DC) - Register Here

Sponsors:

Your staff is buried in phone calls. Patients are frustrated. And you're losing revenue to no-shows. There's a better way. GoTo Connect for Healthcare is a unified, AI-powered communication platform built to support your HIPAA compliance, streamline scheduling, reduce staff burden, and help your team do more with less. Because when communication works, care works. Learn more and get a personalized demo.

Allied Medical Waste is the premier medical waste and document shredding company for medical groups all over the United States. On average, Allied helps medical groups save up to 50% on their monthly costs. Allied is known for their great service and impeccable response times. Reach out today for a free quote! Allied has a special offer for all MGMA members: the first 2 months FREE of charge! Connect with us at [email protected] or call (801) 328-8581. 

In this episode, MGMA editor and writer Colleen Luckett talks with women leaders Cheryl Mongillo, MBA; Delores McNair, MHA, ASCP; and Paola Turchi, MSHCA, FHFMA, CPC, FACMPE who discuss their experiences with mentorship, leadership, and the value of networking in professional growth. Paola shares her journey and the importance of building connections; Cheryl speaks on her experience rising from a secretary to a leadership position with the help of mentorship; and Dolores highlights the value of vulnerability and authenticity in leadership roles.

00:47 Introduction and Personal Experiences

03:06 Dolores' Perspective on Mentorship

04:56 Cheryl's Journey and Mentorship Insights

06:00 The Importance of Mentorship

07:59 Paula's Unique Mentorship Experience

10:44 Dolores' Mentorship Journey

13:50 Discussion on the Women's Resource Group Meeting

21:22 Vulnerability in Leadership

26:10 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Additional Resource
Read the feature story from Colleen Luckett where she discusses the Women Leaders in Healthcare resource group with Cheryl Mongillo, Delores McNair and Paola Turchi.

Join the conversation
The next meeting of the Women Leaders in Healthcare resource group will be take place online on April 18 at 9:00 a.m. Sign up to start making those crucial connections that will support your career trajectory.  

Learn more: MGMA Member Resource Groups
MGMA’s Member Resource Groups were launched as a commitment to facilitating inclusion and belonging within the healthcare management profession. These groups quickly became a valuable part of the MGMA community, providing safe, supportive environments where members could engage in meaningful conversations about career growth, professional challenges and industry leadership with their peers. Based on the overwhelming success of in-person resource groups at the 2023 and 2024 Leaders Conferences, MGMA expanded these efforts to include quarterly virtual meetings, ensuring that members could maintain and build these connections year-round.

Sponsors:

Your staff is buried in phone calls. Patients are frustrated. And you're losing revenue to no-shows. There's a better way. GoTo Connect for Healthcare is a unified, AI-powered communication platform built to support your HIPAA compliance, streamline scheduling, reduce staff burden, and help your team do more with less. Because when communication works, care works. Learn more and get a personalized demo.

Allied Medical Waste is the premier medical waste and document shredding company for medical groups all over the United States. On average, Allied helps medical groups save up to 50% on their monthly costs. Allied is known for their great service and impeccable response times. Reach out today for a free quote! Allied has a special offer for all MGMA members: the first 2 months FREE of charge! Connect with us at [email protected] or call (801) 328-8581. 

In this episode of MGMA Weekend Review podcast, senior editor Daniel Williams and co-host Colleen Luckett discuss key healthcare topics. They begin by highlighting OptumRx's decision to eliminate prior authorizations for around 80 drugs, followed by a segment on the importance of workplace happiness, featuring a case study from Lanco Medical Group. They then cover the latest MGMA stat polling on EHR system updates and improvements and review the challenges alternative care settings face with current EHR technology. The episode also looks at lessons doctors can learn from salmon and the reformation needs of the U.S. mental health care system. 

00:47 Introduction and Welcome 

01:34 Prior Authorizations Update (Healthcare Dive)

03:09 Workplace Happiness Insights (Harvard Business Review)

06:22 EHR Systems Update (MGMA Stat) 

11:20 Lessons from Salmon for Doctors (Physicians Practice)

14:57 Rethinking Mental Health Care (MedCity News)

17:05 Conclusion and Farewell

Resources And Sources:

• 2025 MGMA Financial Conference (April 14) - Register Here
• 2025 MGMA Summit (June 3-5) - Register Here
• Contact us at [email protected]

Sponsors:

Your staff is buried in phone calls. Patients are frustrated. And you're losing revenue to no-shows. There's a better way. GoTo Connect for Healthcare is a unified, AI-powered communication platform built to support your HIPAA compliance, streamline scheduling, reduce staff burden, and help your team do more with less. Because when communication works, care works. Learn more and get a personalized demo.

Allied Medical Waste is the premier medical waste and document shredding company for medical groups all over the United States. On average, Allied helps medical groups save up to 50% on their monthly costs. Allied is known for their great service and impeccable response times. Reach out today for a free quote! Allied has a special offer for all MGMA members: the first 2 months FREE of charge! Connect with us at [email protected] or call (801) 328-8581. 

In this episode of the MGMA Insights Podcast, host Daniel Williams sits down with Les Jebson, Regional Administrator at Prisma Health, to unpack the critical challenge of medical equipment acquisition. Jebson brings a wealth of experience from both private and academic healthcare settings, offering medical practice leaders a comprehensive guide to making informed decisions about purchasing, leasing, or renting medical equipment. The conversation explores the financial, strategic, and compliance considerations that can make or break a medical practice's technology investments.

Key Takeaways:

• Value Proposition is Paramount

Les emphasizes the importance of objectively evaluating equipment based on:

1. Clinical necessity
2. Potential revenue generation
3. Anticipated lifespan of technology
4. Alignment with current and future practice needs

• Strategic Acquisition Strategies

Recommended approach for medical practices:

1. Define capital equipment clearly
2. Consider pros and cons of purchasing vs. leasing
3. Implement 4-year replacement cycles for most technology
4. Explore lease-to-own options for capital-constrained practices

• Compliance and Risk Mitigation

Critical considerations for consumable agreements:

1. Avoid inducement-based contracts
2. Ensure fair market value
3. Vet agreements through legal counsel
4. Track historical consumption trends

• Recommended Next Steps for Practice Leaders:

1. Conduct a comprehensive audit of current medical equipment
2. Develop a strategic technology replacement timeline
3. Create a cross-functional team for equipment acquisition decisions
4. Establish clear criteria for evaluating new technology investments

Upcoming Events:

• 2025 MGMA Financial Conference (April 14) - Register Here
• 2025 MGMA Summit (June 3-5) - Register Here
• Visit the Prisma Health website