In this short mid-year check-in, The Exam Room reflects on the conversations that have shaped the podcast so far this year—and the common thread connecting them all: a commitment to value-based care.

From care coordination and patient engagement to data-driven decision making and team-based care, our guests have shared real-world insights on what it takes to improve outcomes and experiences in today's healthcare landscape.

This episode highlights key themes from those discussions while looking ahead to what's next.

We also want to hear from you.

What topics should we explore? What challenges are you facing? And who should we feature on the show?

If you're working to improve care in your community, your voice belongs in this conversation.

Subscribe, listen, and join us as we continue exploring the future of healthcare—one conversation at a time.

If value-based care represents better care… why isn't it standard for every patient?

In Part 2 of this Exam Room Podcast series, Dr. Rhiannon Winsor continues her conversation with Dr. Ben Schwartz, exploring the deeper challenges behind value-based care adoption.

This episode dives into physician incentives, operational complexity, and the reality of running parallel care models in today's healthcare system.

Dr. Schwartz argues that value isn't created by payment models alone—and that meaningful change requires rethinking how care is designed and delivered.

If you're working to implement value-based care—or questioning its impact—this episode offers a grounded, real-world perspective.

Is value-based care actually working—or is it falling short of expectations?

In Part 1 of this two-part Exam Room Podcast series, Dr. Rhiannon Winsor sits down with Dr. Ben Schwartz, a former orthopedic surgeon turned healthcare leader, to take a critical look at value-based care in practice.

From bundled payment models to CMS strategy, this conversation explores the gap between theory and reality—why some models have struggled, what's driving provider frustration, and whether the system is evolving in the right direction.

If you're navigating value-based care in today's healthcare environment, this episode offers an honest, experience-driven perspective.

Are we measuring the right things in healthcare—or just the easiest things to track?

In Part 2 of this Exam Room Podcast series, Dr. Rhiannon Winsor continues her conversation with healthcare advisor Kathy Letendre, diving into the critical difference between outputs and outcomes.

This episode explores how over-reliance on productivity metrics and proxy measures can distort priorities, contribute to clinician burnout, and limit real progress.

Kathy shares practical insights on how organizations can shift toward more meaningful measurement—focusing on systems, collaboration, and outcomes that truly reflect patient impact.

If you're a healthcare leader looking to align strategy, measurement, and culture, this episode offers a clear path forward.

Kathy's recent article "Are You Delivering What Matters Most?" expands on our conversation.

Her Excellence Advantage Inspirations newsletter is a great source of information, guidance and inspiration for leaders and change-makers.

Finally, Kathy mentions the Evidence-Based Leadership approach of PuMP during our conversation. Want to know more about this? You can reach out to Kathy directly or find out more here.

Kathy can be reached at [email protected]. She welcomes connections on LinkedIn as well at www.linkedin.com/in/kathyletendre.

What does real transformation in healthcare actually look like?

In this episode of The Exam Room Podcast, Dr. Rhiannon Winsor sits down with healthcare advisor and former executive Kathy Letendre to challenge a common assumption: that improvement comes from quick fixes and rapid change.

Instead, this conversation explores why meaningful, lasting transformation takes time—and why many organizations struggle when they try to move too fast.

Drawing on her experience helping healthcare systems move from average to exceptional performance, Kathy shares insights on leadership, patience, and the importance of aligning strategy with measurable outcomes that truly matter.

This is Part 1 of a two-part series focused on sustainable transformation in healthcare.

🔔 Don't forget to subscribe for Part 2.

In the final episode of this three-part series, The Exam Room concludes its conversation with Joslyn Mikeworth, a community health worker at Canyonlands Healthcare, with a focus on growth, accountability, and what it takes to create better systems for frontline healthcare workers.

Building on earlier conversations about frontline realities and advocacy, this episode explores what meaningful change can look like in practice. Joslyn reflects on lessons learned from challenging workplace experiences and highlights the importance of communication, leadership accountability, and continuous improvement.

The discussion emphasizes that creating supportive environments isn't just about identifying problems — it's about taking action. From fostering open dialogue to building trust across teams, Joslyn shares insights into how organizations can better support staff while improving patient care.

The episode closes on a hopeful note, reinforcing that when frontline voices are heard and acted upon, healthcare systems can evolve into environments where both staff and patients thrive.

🎙️ Part Three and conclusion of a series on frontline healthcare, leadership, and advocacy in rural communities.

In Part Two of this three-part series, The Exam Room continues its conversation with Joslyn Mikeworth, a community health worker at Canyonlands Healthcare, exploring the realities of advocacy and workplace culture on the frontlines of healthcare.

Joslyn shares candid experiences navigating environments where support isn't always consistent, and where speaking up can feel difficult — but necessary. She reflects on the emotional toll of feeling unheard, as well as the importance of advocating for both patients and colleagues when systems fall short.

The conversation highlights how workplace culture, communication, and leadership behavior directly impact not only staff well-being, but also the quality of patient care. Joslyn also discusses the personal growth that comes from finding her voice and learning to speak up, even in uncomfortable situations.

This episode offers a powerful look at the importance of psychological safety, accountability, and creating environments where frontline workers feel empowered to contribute and be heard.

🎙️ Part Two of a three-part series on frontline healthcare, leadership, and advocacy in rural communities.

In this episode of The Exam Room, Dr. Rhiannon Winsor sits down with Joslyn Mikeworth, a community health worker at Canyonlands Healthcare, to explore what it's really like to work on the frontlines of rural healthcare.

Joslyn shares her journey through multiple healthcare roles — from CNA to medical assistant to community health worker — and how those experiences shape the way she connects with patients today. She explains how community health workers help bridge the gap between clinical care and patients' everyday lives, especially in rural settings where access and communication can be major challenges.

The conversation highlights the realities of patient engagement, including the difficulty of reaching patients and the importance of building trust through in-person connection.

The episode also takes an honest look at leadership — what supportive leadership looks like in practice, and how transparency, communication, and approachability can empower frontline staff to succeed. Joslyn contrasts these experiences with moments where leadership fell short, offering a powerful perspective on how workplace culture directly impacts both staff well-being and patient care.

This episode sets the foundation for a two-part series focused on frontline healthcare, leadership, and the systems that support — or fail — the people delivering care.

In this episode of The Exam Room, Dr. Rhiannon Winsor sits down with Heidi Sanborn, clinical professor at the Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation at Arizona State University, to explore one of the most pressing challenges in health care today: nurse retention and burnout.

Drawing from her unique background in technology, bedside nursing, leadership, and academia, Heidi shares how systems design — both physical and digital — often fails when frontline staff are not intentionally included in the process. From poorly implemented lifting equipment to mismatched software systems, she highlights how well-intentioned solutions can waste resources and increase frustration when end users are left out of design conversations.

The discussion also dives into workplace culture, generational shifts in nursing, lateral violence, and the evolving expectations of early-career nurses. Heidi reflects on how orientation models have changed over time, the loss of experienced preceptors, and why customized support during a nurse's first year is critical to long-term retention.

This episode sets the foundation for a deeper series conversation about innovation, leadership, and building systems that help nurses stay, grow, and thrive.

🎙️ Part One of a new series on nursing workforce sustainability and innovation.

In the final episode of this three-part series, The Exam Room concludes its conversation with Jessica Yanow, president and CEO of the Arizona Alliance for Community Health Centers.

This episode focuses on Medicaid unwinding, coverage retention strategies, and what health centers have learned from recent policy transitions. Jessica shares how Arizona's coordinated efforts — including data sharing, renewal alignment, outreach workflows, and "no wrong door" enrollment approaches — helped minimize coverage loss and protect access to care.

The conversation then turns toward the future. With rising operational costs, flat grant funding, and evolving federal requirements, health centers face significant financial and regulatory pressures. Jessica discusses the possibility of consolidation, the importance of sustainability planning, and why innovation — both operational and strategic — will determine long-term success.

The episode closes on a hopeful note: health centers are deeply rooted in their communities, governed by patient-majority boards, and strengthened by collaboration. In uncertain times, communication, partnership, and community voice remain their greatest assets.

🎙️ Part Three and conclusion of a three-part series on the future of community health centers.