Traktion Talks: Healthcare & Technology

When choosing a technology platform it's essential to make the right decision, as a bad one could set a healthcare organization back months or even years. Building upon the foundational need for a CRM, in this episode we delve into how a structured evaluation, scoring matrix, and vendor management process can transform a complex decision for a multi-practice healthcare organization into a confident choice. Key areas covered include:

Laying the Foundational Evaluation Criteria - Identify the initial considerations a specialty healthcare provider should undertake before diving into specific CRM platforms. This involves a deep assessment of essential platform capabilities, including feature sets, user-friendliness, integration potential with existing systems, critical aspects like HIPAA compliance, and a realistic understanding of the total cost of ownership.

Integrating Prioritized Needs into a Scoring Matrix. Explore how to cohesively organize and weigh various priorities into a structured scoring system, such as EHR integration, or patient communications workflow. This allows for an objective comparison of CRM options based on what truly matters most, from core functionalities and reporting capabilities to crucial elements like vendor support responsiveness and the platform's ability to scale with your patient growth.

Optimizing Vendor Engagement. Discuss the strategic coordination of vendor interactions, including demos and Q&A sessions, to ensure you gather the necessary information for informed decision-making. We also discuss how to navigate the often-complex landscape of contract negotiation and the selection of implementation partners to facilitate a smooth and successful deployment.

Differentiating Recommendation and Selection. Understand the key factors involved in synthesizing your evaluation data into clear, actionable recommendations. We explore how to present these findings effectively amongst stakeholders, which may include various administrative functions, executive teams, private equity leaders, and boards to facilitate confident and well-informed final selection.

Interested to learn more? Visit our Navigator home page to request our free white paper, or schedule a 45 minute, no-obligation Meet to get specific recommendations. 

Traktion Talks, brought to you by Traktion Partners, LLC

While the intricacies of patient intake and lead mapping are critical, creating an actionable patient journey map is where the magic really starts to happen. Building upon the previous discussion of Intake Process Design, Traktion co-founders Ryan Woolley and Jon Eggleton discuss how the patient's communication journey is where healthcare providers can truly elevate the patient experience, and turn a process into a plan.

In this episode, Ryan & Jon dissect the critical steps involved in moving from internal processes to designing patient-facing communication strategies. Key areas covered include:

• Laying the Foundational Thinking. Identify the initial considerations a healthcare provider should undertake before mapping out specific communications. This involves understanding patient needs, expectations, and potential friction points in the journey.
• Integrating Transactional and Promotional Outreach. Explore how to cohesively organize essential transactional messages (e.g. appointment reminders) alongside proactive promotional outreach (e.g. new service announcements) into a unified patient communication flow.
• Optimizing Communication Channels. Discuss the strategic combination of SMS, email, phone, and even direct mail to ensure the right message reaches the right patient at the right time, considering the nuances of each channel.
• Differentiating Automation Platforms. Understand the key factors that distinguish various marketing automation platforms, and how to align specific practice needs with the most suitable technology.

Interested to learn more? Visit our Navigator home page to request our free white paper, or schedule a 45 minute, no-obligation Meet to get specific recommendations. 

Traktion Talks, brought to you by Traktion Partners, LLC

As Large Language Models (LLMs) continue to evolve and get better, one of the more exciting promises of AI will be its ability to facilitate natural, human-like interactions. In this episode we sit down with Nick Hasty, founding engineer of internet sensation Giphy, now the innovative mind behind Luz Labs and Linda AI. Nick shares his remarkable journey from building products used by billions at Giphy to pioneering conversational AI with Linda, an AI companion transforming casual conversations into lasting podcast legacies that families can enjoy for generations to come. We dive into his vision for Linda's role in leveraging AI to enhance family connections, and explore his broader perspectives on technology's evolving future. 

Interested to learn more about Traktion? Visit our Navigator home page to request our free white paper, or schedule a 45 minute, no-obligation Meet to get specific recommendations around your patient intake, acquisition and retention efforts. 

Traktion Talks, brought to you by Traktion Partners, LLC

While patient acquisition efforts in paid media may get the most attention (and budget), the intricacies of lead management and intake are often overlooked in a healthcare setting. In this second episode of our Healthcare CRM and marketing automation series, Traktion co-founders Ryan Woolley and Jon Eggleton dive deep into designing the best possible patient intake process.

In the episode, we dissect the critical steps involved in mapping lead management changes, developing standardized intake workflows, and defining the lead qualification process. We continue our exploration of the Navigator framework, offering practical guidance for implementing these strategies. Key areas covered include:

• Identifying the blind spots, and pinpointing where leads are lost or stalled within the intake funnel, hindering potential growth.
• Defining key funnel stages, breaking down the patient journey from initial lead to confirmed patient, and tailoring these stages to specific healthcare scenarios.
• Implementing structured lead qualification, utilizing scoring systems and decision trees to prioritize patients and optimize conversion rates.
• Technology implementation decisions, understanding the factors that determine whether a CRM or marketing automation solution is necessary.
• Actionable short-term improvements, providing immediate steps healthcare practices can take to enhance their intake process and track key performance metrics.

Interested to learn more? Visit our Navigator home page to request our free white paper, or schedule a 45 minute, no-obligation Meet to get specific recommendations. 

Traktion Talks, brought to you by Traktion Partners, LLC

The pace of change in healthcare is accelerating, creating new daily challenges for providers. While patient growth is still the mindset for most, revenue pressures and pending clinical talent shortages mean solving for operational efficiency is no longer a nice to have, but a requirement. This episode is the first in a series of Traktion Talks focused on Healthcare CRM, and in it, Traktion co-founders Jon Eggleton and Ryan Woolley kick things off by laying the groundwork of the what, why and how around CRM and marketing automation implementations within a healthcare setting. Specific topics covered include:

• The fundamental business reasons why a healthcare organization may choose to embark on a project of this nature, and why building a solid patient intake process really matters.
• A situational analysis for evaluating the present state of a technology stack. What are the common trigger and pain points that typically lead to beginning a project?
• The crucial questions healthcare providers should ask themselves before getting started, both to secure executive buy-in on the front-end, and set themselves up for success later. 
• The benefits of improving the end-to-end patient journey, from the moment a potential patient lands on your website or calls the office, to the long-term retention of existing patients.

Interested to learn more? Visit our Navigator home page to request our free white paper, or schedule a 45 minute, no-obligation Meet to get specific recommendations. 

Traktion Talks, brought to you by Traktion Partners, LLC

As the opioid crisis rages on in the U.S., a Phoenix-based company is hoping to change the way society views drug addiction. In our first episode of a new season of Traktion Talks we sit down with Nick Stavros, CEO of Community Medical Services, a leading provider of evidence-based, compassionate opioid addiction treatment. In our wide-raging conversation we talk with Nick about a number of issues, including:

• Why treating every individual holistically and with respect is so critical to successful outcomes.
• How they practice a philosophy of harm reduction, and why they believe it's the most effective way to achieve positive long-term results.
• What role the community plays in what they do, and how CMS has successfully addressed mis-perceptions about what they do.
• The rise of technology in healthcare, and how they've used it to add value for patients, and keep their staff focused on delivering the very best treatment possible.
• Where Nick sees CMS into the future, and what he'd like the company's legacy to be.

Referenced in this episode:

Community Medical Services
Nick Stavros (LinkedIn bio)

Traktion Talks, brought to you by Traktion Partners, LLC

It has been reported that 77% of U.S. adults would prefer to age in place in their own homes. Simultaneously, healthcare options in more rural parts of the country have become increasingly scarce. Put those two together, and helping seniors in areas like Appalachia is a serious challenge for our healthcare system.

In this episode we sit down with Marcie Campbell, Vice President of Marketing for One Senior Care, the nation's leading PACE provider to rural and Appalachian communities. In our conversation we talk about the importance of allowing seniors to age in place, the advantages of being both the payer and provider of care, and what Marcie sees as opportunities and challenges in the healthcare space related to senior care.

Links from this episode:

One Senior Care
Life NWPA
Cherry Blossom PACE
Mountain View PACE
PACE Anytime Act

Traktion Talks, brought to you by Traktion Partners, LLC

In the first part of our series on The Hatchery, Emory's Center for Innovation, we spoke to interim director Ben Garrett, as well as two healthcare-related student founders from the summer cohort of this Emory University incubator. Our follow-up features an extended conversation with The Hatchery's internal Entrepreneur in Residence, Stuart Zola, an industry veteran with multiple co-founding credits to his name, including Redwood City-based Neurotrack, and Atlanta-based MapHabit. He's also held various academic roles in the past as well, including serving as the Interim Provost for Emory. In our conversation we talk about both of those companies, the healthcare space in general, and how The Hatchery is aiming to help train the entrepreneurs of tomorrow.

Hatching A Startup Revolution: Part I

Traktion Talks, brought to you by Traktion Partners, LLC

An increasing number of college students are choosing to pursue entrepreneurial efforts coming right out of school, eschewing the relative safety net of a steady job and income. In parallel with that development, research suggests that more than 50% of the U.S. workforce will be freelance within the next several years, which will only further impact the labor market of tomorrow. In a sector like healthcare that's already in the midst of transformational change, there is hope that an increase in entrepreneurship will help solve some of the industry's biggest problems, from inefficiencies in patient care, to pursuing better clinical outcomes that can improve the quality of life.

Enter The Hatchery, Emory University's Center for Innovation. The Hatchery was created to help train the entrepreneurs of tomorrow, not just in healthcare, but across a full multi-disciplinary spectrum. In the first of our two-part series, we sit down with the Center's interim director Ben Garrett, as well as two student founders from the program, to find out how they're preparing for that future.

Traktion Talks, brought to you by Traktion Partners, LLC

In this episode we sit down with Dr. Sima Epstein, Founder and CEO of OrthoNu, an innovative healthcare company that's looking to become part of the new standard of care for orthodontics patients and the practices that serve them. During our wide-ranging conversation we touched on Sima's founder story, how she developed products that improved patient care while creating practice efficiencies, different ways technology is innovating the patient experience, and what advice she'd offer others beginning their entrepreneurial journey. 

Traktion Talks, brought to you by Traktion Partners, LLC