This past year has been one for the books, especially in the healthcare world. As health systems have faced persistent challenges from the pandemic, workforce changes, and ongoing shifts in our country, we reflect on how this past year has impacted our listeners. Joining us is Modern Healthcare's Aurora Aguilar, Editor-in-Chief, to discuss a recent survey taken by Next Up Listeners.

Many healthcare organizations took a serious look at their diversity, equity, and inclusion position and decided to do more in 2020 and 2021. But what should be on the priority list for 2022 and beyond?

In this episode, we’re talking to Kou Thao, Director of Embedding Equity at the American Medical Association and Founder and CEO of LIT Consulting. Kou uses his position at the intersections of his own identity to inform his work towards equity across sectors. Here, he shares his insights on what DEI leaders should focus on in the upcoming year.

Patients are now finally being recognized as customers with the power to choose their providers. Health systems have responded to this by installing experience officers and investing in more patient-centered care delivery —  but what about including patients in designing the services and programs on the front-end? Here's how health systems can think of patients as not only customers but as healthcare experts.

Melinda Karp, Vice President of Consumer Centered Quality for Commonwealth Care Alliance and Executive Director for the Center to Advance Consumer Partnership shares her insight on centering patient experience.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses have been our foundation. Now, they're exhausted and leaving their careers altogether. This, on top of a previously pending nursing shortage, means long-term strategic planning for nursing care and nursing leaders may require some changes.

In this second part of a 2-part episode, Kathleen Sanford, Executive Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer of CommonSpirit Health, is sharing insights on how to strategically plan for the predicted nursing shortage.

Nurses have been the backbone of the pandemic response. Now, data shows they're exhausted and jumping ship, on top of a previously pending nursing shortage. As a result, long-term strategic planning for nursing care and nursing leaders may look different this time around.

In this episode, we're talking to Kathleen Sanford, Executive Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer of CommonSpirit Health. She is sharing her insights on how to strategically plan for the predicted nursing shortage.

Leadership changes are common in health systems, but how do you show your worth to the new person at the head of your meeting table? How do you assess a new leader, and then add the value they care about to avoid being replaced?

In this episode, Assistant Director of Digital Strategy Lisa Spengler shares insights from her over 20 years working for University of Chicago Medicine — where she has built the knowledge and relationships that have made her indispensable.

COVID-19 has led a lot of people to re-evaluate life — especially when it comes to their careers. Workers in all fields are quitting their jobs in search of new roles, and healthcare professionals are no different. Due to burnout, some are leaving. A recent Modern Healthcare article reveals that women healthcare workers are leaving at a rapid pace. But thanks to new inspiration, more are on track to enter the field.

Amidst it all, how should hiring decision-makers in health systems approach finding new candidates? Jason Hutton, Vice President of Human Resources at Access Community Health Network, offers his insights.

The whiplash from COVID is still aching — especially for nurses. Nursing teams around the nation are still feeling the impacts of caring for COVID-19 patients, including feeling overwhelmed, burnt out, and depressed. Plus, some are considering leaving the profession altogether.

In this episode, we're talking to Dr. Ernest Grant, President of the American Nurses Association, about how health systems can support their nurses' mental health now and moving forward. Dr. Grant was also named one of Modern Healthcare’s 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare.

It's one thing to have a stellar bench of diverse executives on your board and senior leadership team. But it's quite another to also have an amazing lineup of diverse vendors who can create jobs because of opportunities with your healthcare organization. Entrepreneurs build communities, period.

Joan Archie, Executive Director of Construction Compliance at the University of Chicago Medical Center, shares her insight on how health systems can make good on their commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion through diverse vendors.

Most health systems are bound to experience bad press at one time or another. But bad press doesn't have to be the last word. How do you make sure you come out smelling like roses?

In this episode, we're talking to Rosemary Plorin, Crisis Counselor and CEO of Lovell Communications, a Healthcare PR and Crisis Communications firm, about how health systems can prepare for and navigate bad press. She discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted health systems, and how aspiring leaders can respond to bad press.