Welcome to The Connected Physician, where healthcare leaders share insights into the future of patient care and the role of technology in transforming healthcare delivery. In this episode, host Katharina Juenger is joined by Ben Phillips, the CEO of PromiseCare Management Services, to discuss the evolving landscape of independent healthcare practices and how technology is making it easier for physicians to run successful, patient-focused operations.

Ben shares his extensive experience, including his previous role as regional vice president at Element Healthcare and his tenure as director of operations at Southern Health. He dives into the challenges independent physicians face, especially in a world dominated by larger hospital systems, and offers his vision for the future of independent practices.

In this episode, Katharina and Ben discuss:

• The Revival of Independent Practices: Ben addresses the controversial claim that independent practices will thrive in the next decade despite increasing burnout among physicians in larger healthcare systems. He explains how advancements in technology and software are making it easier for independent practices to compete.
• Leveraging Technology for Operational Efficiency: Learn how AI tools and advanced software systems are reducing administrative costs, streamlining processes, and allowing independent practices to enhance patient care and profitability.
• The Insurance vs. Concierge Care Debate: Ben discusses the viability of insurance-based models like ACOs and managed care alongside concierge care, highlighting how technology can enable profitability in both.
• Promise Care’s Approach: Ben outlines how Promise Care helps independent physician associations manage costs, integrate services like imaging, and implement AI for streamlined operations.
• The Future of AI in Healthcare: Discover how AI is revolutionizing healthcare operations, from claims adjudication to point-of-care testing and its role in managing chronic conditions. Ben even quotes the kid's movie Big Hero 6, referencing the AI character named Baymax, to illustrate the potential of AI to reduce administrative burdens and improve patient care.

• Ben Phillips on LinkedIn

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Welcome to The Connected Physician, where healthcare leaders and innovators share their expertise to enhance patient care and improve healthcare outcomes. In this episode, host Katharina Juenger welcomes Barry Howell, CEO of Plano Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center in Texas. With over 45 years of community-focused service, Barry has driven substantial growth and innovation in the orthopedic field. As a co-founder of TexasBestDocs.com, he has created a physician search platform that empowers patients to make informed healthcare choices.

In this episode, Katharina and Barry discuss:

• Barry’s Leadership Philosophy: Discover how Barry’s team-focused approach has driven his success, encouraging collaboration, efficiency, and innovation within his organization. Learn how leveraging cloud-based technologies and business analytics enabled him to scale operations effectively.
• Change Management and Technology: Barry shares his transparent leadership style in navigating transitions like implementing new EHR systems. He emphasizes balancing short-term challenges with long-term gains, enhancing both efficiency and patient care.
• Opportunities for Independent Practices: Gain insights into the flexibility and autonomy of independent practices, strategic growth through partnerships, and innovative methods like subleasing spaces for sustainable market entry.

• Barry Howell on LinkedIn

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Welcome to The Connected Physician, the podcast where healthcare leaders and innovators share their journeys and insights to inspire and inform. In this episode, host Katharina Juenger interviews Dr. Arun Villivalam, a family medicine practitioner with 20 years of experience, an MBA from Wharton, and a leadership role at a San Francisco-based health tech startup backed by top-tier venture capital firms. Dr. Villivalam shares his inspiring journey from medical residency to private practice and beyond, offering valuable lessons on navigating the intersection of medicine, technology, and entrepreneurship.

In this episode, Katharina and Dr. Villivalam discuss:

• The Journey to Private Practice: Dr. Villivalam reflects on his career evolution, from working in diverse medical environments to embracing autonomy as a private practice physician. Learn how his experiences with the Indian Health Service, Cerner, and an employer-based clinic group shaped his approach to patient care and practice management.
• Balancing Technology and Medicine: Discover Dr. Villivalam’s insights into the challenges of implementing electronic medical records (EMRs) and how tailoring technology to fit primary care needs can enhance efficiency and improve patient outcomes.
• The Role of a Virtual Scribe: Dr. Villivalam redefines the scribe’s role, emphasizing the importance of organizing information within complex primary care workflows. Learn how his virtual scribe supports his practice by ensuring data accuracy and streamlining administrative tasks.
• Managing Complexity in Primary Care: Explore Dr. Villivalam’s strategies for addressing multiple medical issues during patient visits, including leveraging an accountable care organization (ACO) model to enhance care quality while maintaining practice profitability.
• Overcoming Private Practice Challenges: Dr. Villivalam candidly shares the hurdles of running a private practice from rising costs to stagnant insurance reimbursements. He highlights the importance of collaboration with marketing firms and billing services to maintain operational efficiency and financial stability.
• The Future of Healthcare and Technology: Dr. Villivalam shares his vision for personalized care driven by thoughtful AI and technology integration. He critiques billing-focused systems and advocates for innovations that empower healthcare providers to deliver patient-centric care.

• Arun Villivalam on LinkedIn

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Welcome to The Connected Physician, where healthcare leaders and innovators share their expertise to enhance patient care and improve healthcare outcomes. In this episode, host Katharina Juenger welcomes Dr. Jesse Courtier, Chief of Pediatric Cardiology at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital in San Francisco. With over 20 years of experience and a pioneering career at the intersection of healthcare and technology, Dr. Courtier is redefining pediatric radiology through advanced AI-driven innovations.

In this episode, Katharina and Dr. Courtier discuss:

• The Role of AI in Pediatric Radiology: Dr. Courtier explores how AI is transforming imaging workflows, from scheduling and image processing to drafting preliminary reports, significantly enhancing efficiency and precision.
• Advancements in Imaging Techniques: Discover how faster imaging sequences are reducing the need for anesthesia in pediatric patients, improving safety and clinical outcomes.
• Augmented Reality and Surgical Planning: Learn how Dr. Courtier's team at UCSF integrates 3D imaging and AR to streamline complex surgical preparations, turning manual tasks into automated processes completed within seconds.
• Overcoming Challenges in AI Adoption: Dr. Courtier shares insights into ensuring AI reliability, addressing biases, and navigating the limitations of current AI systems to maintain accuracy in high-stakes diagnoses.
• Future Innovations in Pediatric Care: From predictive models to child-specific imaging tools, explore the potential of AI to revolutionize pediatric healthcare, especially in underserved areas like pediatric radiology.
• Training Clinicians to Collaborate with AI: Understand the importance of equipping healthcare professionals with the skills to effectively integrate AI into clinical decision-making, ensuring these tools complement human expertise.

• Jesse Courtier on LinkedIn

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Welcome to The Connected Physician, where healthcare leaders and innovators explore the intersection of technology and patient care. In this episode, host Katharina Juenger is joined by Dr. Eve Cunningham, Chief of Virtual Care and Digital Health at Providence, one of the largest healthcare systems in the U.S. Dr. Cunningham, an OB-GYN by training, shares her journey from practicing physician to a leader in virtual care and AI-powered clinical tools.

In this insightful conversation, Dr. Cunningham discusses:

• AI in Healthcare: A Tool, Not a Replacement – Dr. Cunningham addresses concerns about AI replacing doctors, drawing comparisons to past predictions of technology’s impact. She emphasizes that while AI can assist in healthcare, human connection remains central.
• Augmenting Clinician Capabilities with Technology – Dr. Cunningham likens modern clinicians to World War I pilots, illustrating how technology enhances their abilities to handle vast amounts of healthcare data.
• Improving Decision-Making with AI – She explains how AI can streamline workflows, reduce administrative burdens, and provide clinicians with real-time decision support, enabling more informed patient care.
• Med Parole: Revolutionizing Clinical Decision-Making – Dr. Cunningham discusses the AI tool she co-founded, Med Parole, designed to assist clinicians with patient referrals by integrating clinical decision support algorithms into electronic health records.
• The Future of AI in Telemedicine – Dr. Cunningham shares insights into how AI will continue to evolve in telemedicine, improving diagnostic processes and patient care, particularly in asynchronous telemedicine.

• Eve Cunningham on LinkedIn

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Welcome to The Connected Physician, the podcast where healthcare leaders and innovators share insights that shape the future of patient care. In this episode, host Katharina Juenger welcomes Dr. Kimberly Hutchison, a seasoned neurology specialist in sleep medicine with over 20 years of experience. Dr. Hutchinson is an associate professor at Oregon Health and Science University and the founder of Kimberley, M.D., an online platform dedicated to sleep apnea education.In this episode, Dr. Hutchinson delves into the fascinating world of sleep science, covering:

• The Growing Focus on Sleep Science: Dr. Hutchinson discusses the rising interest in sleep health driven by advancements in sleep-tracking technology and medications and the personal impact of sleep on overall well-being.
• How Sleep Medicine Has Evolved: From the early 2000s to today, Dr. Hutchinson reflects on the increasing societal recognition of sleep as a cornerstone of wellness, contrasting it with past attitudes that undervalued rest in favor of productivity.
• Measuring Sleep Accurately: Learn about the gold standard of sleep assessment—polysomnography—and how it compares to consumer devices like fitness trackers. Dr. Hutchinson highlights the pros and cons of these tools in diagnosing and understanding sleep disorders.
• Understanding Sleep Disorders: From common disturbances to significant conditions like insomnia and sleep apnea, Dr. Hutchinson explains the spectrum of sleep health and shares insights into diagnosis and treatment options, including CPAP machines and behavioral therapies.
• The Role of Circadian Rhythms: Explore how natural sleep-wake cycles differ among individuals and how modern societal schedules often clash with these rhythms. Dr. Hutchinson shares how personalized sleep schedules can improve productivity and well-being.
• The Future of Sleep Science: Envisioning a future where personalized approaches and technological advancements transform sleep medicine, Dr. Hutchinson emphasizes the value of tailored strategies for optimal health.

• Kimberly Hutchison on LinkedIn

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Welcome to The Connected Physician, where healthcare professionals and innovators come together to explore breakthrough solutions in patient care and medical challenges. In this episode, host Katharina Juenger welcomes Dr. John Hsu, a seasoned anesthesiologist and the founder of iPill Dispenser, a pioneering company aimed at improving medication adherence and addressing opioid use disorder (OUD).

In this episode, Dr. John shares his journey from practicing anesthesiology for 30 years to developing a secure medication dispenser that combines technology with healthcare to prevent misuse and ensure patients take their prescribed medications. He discusses:

• The Inspiration Behind iPill Dispenser: Dr. John reveals how his experiences with patients misusing medications, such as exchanging pills during pill counts, led him to develop a device that ensures medication is dispensed to the right person at the right time.
• How Technology Transformed Medication Adherence: Drawing parallels to ATM technology, Dr. John explains how the I-Pill iPill Dispenser works using biometric authentication and multi-factor security to ensure only the correct patient can access their medication.
• Addressing Opioid Use Disorder (OUD): Learn about the systemic challenges in treating OUD, particularly the reluctance of insurance companies to cover opioid addiction treatments, and how iPill Dispenser offers a potential solution.
• Opioid Crisis Insights: Dr. John discusses the rise of fentanyl, the shift from prescription opioids to illicit substances, and how medication adherence solutions can combat misuse and reduce overdose risks.
• Real-World Impact: With a focus on vulnerable populations like incarcerated individuals and veterans, Dr. John explains how his device helps provide continuous medication support for those at high risk of relapse.
• Expanding Access to Treatment: Dr. John shares his vision for the future of opioid addiction treatment, advocating for more innovative solutions like the iPill Dispenser to reach underserved communities.
• Advice for Healthcare Providers: Dr. John offers guidance for physicians dealing with opioid misuse patients, encouraging them to explore alternative care options, including telehealth and collaborations with innovative companies to increase access to effective treatments.

• John Hsu MD

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Welcome to this insightful episode, where we dive into the strategies that can significantly increase revenue for medical practices. Katharina sits down with Don Self, a seasoned consultant with 39 years of experience, to discuss how physicians can optimize their billing practices to generate at least $100,000 in additional yearly income—guaranteed or no charge. Don’s approach combines financial expertise with a focus on improving patient care.

In this episode, Don and Katharina explore:

• Key Challenges in Billing & Insurance: Learn how Don identifies inefficiencies in billing processes and ensures insurance companies fulfill their obligations, uncovering missed opportunities for revenue.
• Prioritizing Revenue Optimization: Don walks through vital steps such as reviewing the assignment of benefits forms and analyzing coding frequency reports to identify underutilized revenue streams.
• Common Billing Mistakes: Discover how under-coding and improper documentation can lead to hundreds of thousands in lost revenue and why accurate patient visit records are crucial for proper reimbursement.
• Sustainable Revenue Practices & Staff Education: Don shares strategies for educating staff on correct billing and coding practices, ensuring sustainable revenue growth, and preventing future losses.
• Maximizing Preventive Services: With only 12% of eligible Medicare patients receiving annual wellness visits (AWVs), Don provides tools for simplifying the process and integrating it with routine visits to boost revenue.
• Opportunities in Chronic Care & Remote Monitoring: Don discusses tools like the Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) machine to detect early vascular issues, as well as how chronic care and remote monitoring can become valuable, underused revenue streams.
• Reducing Physician Burnout: Learn how offloading time-consuming tasks to third-party services can reduce burnout while maintaining high-quality care and revenue.
• The Decline of Independent Practices: Don reflects on the pressures faced by independent practices and why he believes autonomy is vital for patient-centered care.
• A Success Story in Practice Restructuring: Don shares the powerful success story of a physician who revitalized their practice by focusing on Medicare patients and reducing hospital visits, leading to improved financial stability and work-life balance.

• Don Self

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Welcome to The Connected Physician, the podcast where medical professionals and innovators converge to explore cutting-edge advancements in patient care and healthcare delivery. In this episode, host Katharina Juenger sits down with Dr. Shah, an internal medicine practitioner and co-founder of the AI healthcare company Midway. Together, they discuss his inspiring journey, the transformative potential of AI in medicine, and the future of healthcare innovation.

In this episode, Dr. Shah and the host dive into:

• From Vision to Reality: Discover how Dr. Shah's early challenges with overwhelming documentation in his medical career fueled his vision to found Midway, an AI company that aims to streamline healthcare workflows and improve patient outcomes.
• Midway’s Mission and Practical Benefits: Explore how Midway is designed to enhance efficiency by automating documentation, simplifying workflows, and delivering actionable data insights, empowering physicians to focus on high-value decision-making and patient care.
• The Role of Leadership and Innovation in Medicine: Dr. Shah shares his perspective on overcoming initial skepticism, fostering collaboration among healthcare stakeholders, and inspiring professionals to embrace forward-thinking solutions despite logistical challenges.
• AI and the Future of Healthcare: Gain insights into how AI is transforming the roles of physicians, from automating repetitive tasks to enabling preventative care and personalized treatment through natural language processing and advanced data analytics.
• Adopting AI While Navigating Systemic Hurdles: Learn about the barriers to integrating new technologies in healthcare, such as staffing shortages and retraining complexities, and how organizations can focus on long-term benefits.
• Inspiration for Change: Dr. Shah discusses the visionary leaders and everyday innovators who inspire him to push boundaries and lead the charge in transforming healthcare delivery.

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Welcome to The Connected Physician, where healthcare professionals and innovators converge to explore groundbreaking insights in patient care, wellness, and medical advancements. In this episode, host Katharina Juenger welcomes Dr. Michael Fenster, a board-certified interventional cardiologist, professor of culinary medicine, and acclaimed author. Also known as Chef Dr. Mike, he brings a unique perspective, blending medicine and culinary arts to transform how we think about food and health.

In this episode, Dr. Fenster and the host dive into:

• What is Culinary Medicine? Discover how this emerging field maximizes the positive relationship between food and health by examining how personal eating experiences impact wellness and disease.
• Dr. Fenster’s Unique Journey: Learn how Dr. Fenster's culinary roots—starting as a dishwasher and advancing to executive chef—shaped his path as a physician integrating food and medicine.
• Food’s Emotional and Environmental Impacts: Explore how emotional states and environmental contexts, such as eating during stress versus joyful moments, influence gut health and overall well-being.
• The Science of Chrono Nutrition: Dr. Fenster introduces chrono nutrition, explaining how aligning eating habits with natural biological rhythms enhances health and reduces stress.
• Food as Complex Information: Unpack the dynamic relationship between diet and the gut microbiome, which co-evolves with humans, affecting immunity, metabolism, and health outcomes.
• Rethinking Traditional Nutrition Science: Hear Dr. Fenster’s critique of reductionist approaches to nutrition, advocating for a systems-based model that considers emotions, environment, and biology.
• Practical Insights for Healthier Eating: Learn actionable tips, such as practicing mindful eating techniques like MBEAT to improve satiety, reduce overeating, and foster gratitude around meals.
• The Ultra-Processed Food Epidemic: Understand the detrimental effects of ultra-processed foods and simple strategies—like the “five-ingredient rule”—to make healthier choices.
• Historical Lessons from the French Paradox: Discover how traditional diets based on minimally processed foods, like those in France, contribute to better health outcomes compared to ultra-processed food consumption in the U.S.

• Michael (Chef Dr. Mike) Fenster, MD

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