This week on "Podnosis," we are exploring a topic that hits close to home for many: the struggles faced by LGBTQ+ patients, particularly trans men, when seeking healthcare services.  

A patchwork of federal and state laws exists to protect gender-diverse patients, to some extent, from discrimination in the healthcare setting. But even when such protections exist on paper, they are not guaranteed in practice.  

To unravel the complex legal landscape that providers and LGBTQ+ patients are attempting to navigate, Anastassia Gliadkovskaya, senior writer at Fierce Healthcare, interviewed Sasha Buchert, a senior attorney at Lambda Legal. 

To learn more about the topics in this episode: 

• Denied care: Trans men struggle for inclusive gynecologic healthcare
• LGBTQ+ founders reflect on the struggles of fundraising, seeking allies and pleasing investors
• LGBTQ+ adults more likely to delay, avoid care, Healthgrades survey finds

 

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Social prescribing is an emerging movement in healthcare, where providers may recommend personalized doses of arts and culture as part of a comprehensive care plan.

Fierce Healthcare’s Anastassia Gliadkovskaya sat down with two leaders in this space to discuss the power of the arts and their role in the next generation of mental health treatment.

To learn more about the topics in this episode: 

• Breaking down barriers with adaptive recreation
• Industry Voices—Let's treat loneliness like other public health crises
• Elevance Health research outlines ways health plans can fight loneliness in MA beneficiaries

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In an evolving healthcare landscape, organizational agility and resilience are paramount. In this episode, Mary Jo Williamson, Chief Administrative Officer at Mayo Clinic Laboratories, provides invaluable insights on how healthcare organizations can navigate change while staying true to their mission.

During the conversation, Williamson highlights the importance of connecting people to the organization's core values through consistent language and storytelling, celebrating living examples that reinforce the mission. She also advocates for setting expectations for change, employing scenario planning and creating a framework that allows for adjusting strategies and initiatives as new information emerges.

Remaining resilient amid a backdrop of constant change, Williamson explains, requires a thorough understanding of team challenges, the provision of ample resources, the creation of a sense of purpose and a fostering of a culture of optimism.

Tune into the full discussion to discover more.

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This week on “Podnosis,” we explore the pressing questions surrounding AI’s role in healthcare. From clinician trust to algorithm accuracy and patient privacy, there’s significant uncertainty about AI’s potential and impact in the healthcare sector, a topic that garnered considerable attention at this year’s South by Southwest conference. 

During the annual event, American Medical Association President Jesse Ehrenfeld, M.D, and Claire Novorol, co-founder and CMO at Ada Health, both participated in a panel discussion on the future of AI in healthcare. Fierce’s Anastassia Gliadkovskaya caught up with them after the panel to gain further insights, and you’ll have the opportunity to hear those conversations in this week’s episode. 

To learn more about the topics in this episode: 

• Google's healthcare AI ambitions: New model for personal health coaching and next steps for gen AI
• How Epic is building out AI, ambient technology for clinicians
• As AI adoption in healthcare grows, Senate lawmakers weigh regulation, payment approaches

 

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This week on “Podnosis,” we explore the dynamics surrounding the financial distress gripping hundreds of hospitals nationwide. Despite the perilous situation, there has been a notable increase in merger and acquisition activity, suggesting that amid the chaos, opportunities for value creation and strategic partnerships still exist. 

Joining us for this deep dive is Michael Abrams, managing partner at the healthcare consulting firm Numerof & Associates. In a conversation with Dave Muoio of Fierce Healthcare, Michael provides insights into the current healthcare landscape, shedding light on the considerations that potential buyers evaluate when eyeing distressed hospital assets. 

To learn more about the topics in this episode: 

• Financial distress fueled more hospital M&A deals in 2023, report finds
• Half of rural hospitals are losing money. Rising MA enrollment likely won't help them, Chartis warns
• Operating pressures, rising demand ensure dealmaking will hold steady in 2024, KPMG says
• Federal regulators, clinicians make their case against private equity in healthcare
• 'Innovative' NJ hospital merger marries for-profit with nonprofits to preserve safety-net care

 

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In this week’s episode of "Podnosis," you'll hear from two journalists from the Fierce Healthcare team: Paige Minemyer, senior editor of Fierce Health Payer, and Dave Muoio, a staff writer for Fierce Healthcare. Together, they'll dive into the most recent earnings updates from the largest health plans and health systems, sharing their key insights and the trends they've identified. 

To learn more about the topics in this episode: 

• UnitedHealth Group's stock stumbles as it reports spike in utilization for Q4
• Strong demand, higher per-patient revenues propel HCA Healthcare in Q4 2023
• Despite pockets of higher utilization in Q4, Elevance Health execs say trends aligned with expectations
• Universal Health Services beats on earnings, revenues and projects 'conservative' earnings growth for 2024
• Despite 'significant progress,' Providence ends 2023 with $1.2B operating loss
• Kaiser Permanente reports $4.1B profit, exceeds $100B operating revenues in 2023
• Trinity Health nearly wipes last year's operating losses, grows revenue by over 11%
• Despite sale of its MA business, Cigna CEO says the market is still 'attractive'
• Medicare Advantage headwinds didn't prevent payers from turning a profit in 2023
• Community Health Systems discloses DOJ investigation
• UPMC reports almost $200M operating loss as expenses rise
• CommonSpirit Health's finances trend upward thanks to higher volumes, efficiency push
• Humana reaffirms 2025 guidance as CMS pitches decrease in MA benchmark payments
• Tenet Healthcare shares M&A updates, projects above-guidance 2023 earnings
• Ascension escapes last year's losses with higher per-patient revenues, tempered cost growth
• Mayo Clinic closed out 2023 with $18B in revenue, 6% operating margin
• Mass General Brigham reports $82M operating gain even as expenses continue to bite
• CVS cuts 2024 outlook amid rise in medical costs in Q4

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This week on “Podnosis,” Fierce Healthcare’s Anastassia Gliadkovskaysa sits down with NeuroFlow Chief Medical Officer Tom Zaubler, M.D., to discuss the barriers to the widespread adoption of measurement-based care in behavioral health. 

To learn more about the topics in this episode: 

• 2024 Outlook: How tech, incentives could push measurement-based care in behavioral health
• Few therapists measure outcomes. A startup's new framework aims to change that
• Industry Voices—Innovative mental healthcare practices are hampered by access challenges, administrative burdens

 

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This week on “Podnosis,” we explore the critical issue of maternal mental health. 

Ayla Ellison, Editor-in-Chief of Fierce Life Sciences and Healthcare, sits down with Ken Levey, M.D., co-founder and CEO of Mother Goose Health. Together, they explore the deficiencies in maternal mental health care in the U.S. and discuss actionable steps for improvement. Mother Goose Health provides a platform aimed at aiding physicians and patients in initiating care and identifying pregnancy-related risks, including those associated with mental health. 

To learn more about the topics in this episode: 

• Providers rarely screen for maternal mental health. Are new guidelines enough to move the needle?

• Maternal death rates nearly doubled in 2 decades, study finds. Inconsistent data collection also hampers improvement efforts

• Sweeping new study analyzes maternal health outcomes with SDOH, finds Black mothers at much higher risk

• One in 5 mothers mistreated during maternity care, nearly half withhold concerns, CDC reports

 

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How can healthcare organizations face up to the growing threat posed by cybercriminals? What tangible steps can they take to bolster their defenses? 

Brian Arnold, Director of Legal Affairs at Huntress, joins the podcast to provide valuable insights and actionable strategies for healthcare organizations seeking to navigate the complex cybersecurity landscape and protect themselves against evolving threats. Such threats, Brian outlines, include phishing attacks, social engineering, and the worrying rise of ransomware incidents.

However, there are ways to turn the tide. Building a strong team of defenders, implementing basic cybersecurity hygiene practices, and leveraging cybersecurity products tailored to the healthcare industry… these are all actions which can make a real difference. And they need not break the bank either.

Throughout the conversation, Brian also underscores the critical role of leadership buy-in, employee training, and collaboration with cybersecurity experts in safeguarding patient data and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.

Want to learn more? Tune in to the full discussion now.

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In the U.S., where the healthcare sector emits significantly more carbon emissions than the aviation industry, hospitals are starting to think about ways to address their climate footprint. 

This week on "Podnosis," Estelle Monod, who leads the global buildings segment at Schneider Electric, sits down with Fierce Healthcare's Anastassia Gliadkovskaya to talk about the sustainability needs of the healthcare sector and ways to address them. 

To learn more about the topics in this episode: 

• A 'reckoning' in healthcare: The climate crisis and what the industry can do about it
• Joint Commission announces sustainability certification program for hospitals
• Fierce 50 Social Impact Category

 

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