Turn on the Lights Podcast

Is the rapid growth of Medicare Advantage a solution for health care efficiency, or is it a costly gamble that benefits insurers more than patients?

In this episode, Hayden Rooke-Ley discusses the rapid expansion of Medicare Advantage, a privatized form of Medicare, and the growing influence of private insurance companies in the U.S. health care system. He highlights concerns about the cost-effectiveness and quality of care under this model, as well as insurance companies' anti-competitive practices, and emphasizes the need for regulatory action despite the political challenges involved.

Tune in to discover what it means for health care costs, patient care, and the future of Medicare!

About CareQuest:

CareQuest Institute for Oral Health is a national nonprofit dedicated to creating an oral health care system that is accessible, equitable, and integrated. Learn more about how their advocacy, philanthropy, research, and education are creating a better oral health system at carequest.org/turnonthelights

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What happens when we reduce people to mere data points in a world driven by economic values?

In this episode, Marshall Ganz, the Rita T. Hauser Senior Lecturer in Leadership, Organizing, and Civil Society at the Harvard Kennedy School, discusses how health care and other systems risk dehumanization by reducing people to data points, driven by economic values rather than human complexity. He argues that real power is relational, emerging through interdependence and that social movements succeed by focusing on people-based power instead of wealth or authority. Social movements, he explains, are more than protests; they require sustained practices, relationship-building, and a commitment to values transformation to create a lasting impact. Reflecting on his experiences with Cesar Chavez, Marshall underscores the need for moral, accountable institutions and emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and practical engagement in driving change. His new book, People, Power, Change, champions hope as essential, believing in the possibility of meaningful outcomes even amid uncertainty.

Tune in as Marshall Ganz shares powerful insights on transforming communities, challenging the status quo, and reclaiming humanity in systems like health care!

About CareQuest:

CareQuest Institute for Oral Health is a national nonprofit dedicated to creating an oral health care system that is accessible, equitable, and integrated. Learn more about how their advocacy, philanthropy, research, and education are creating a better oral health system at carequest.org/turnonthelights

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Could health care thrive if leaders treated trust and teamwork as carefully as they manage finances?

In this episode, Thomas H. Lee, Chief Medical Officer for Press Ganey Associates, Inc., talks about the critical role of social capital in fostering trust, teamwork, and effective patient care within health care organizations. Thomas argues that leaders should approach social capital with the same discipline as financial capital, establishing norms reinforcing reliability and mutual respect. He highlights examples from the Mayo Clinic, where solid social norms create a cohesive, patient-centered culture. Thomas notes that modern life and technology often erode social connections, making it essential to deliberately nurture social capital. He also emphasizes that social capital is indispensable for long-term success, especially as financial and staffing resources are limited.

Tune in to learn how prioritizing social capital can transform health care, enhance patient care, and foster a culture of collaboration and trust!

About CareQuest:

CareQuest Institute for Oral Health is a national nonprofit dedicated to creating an oral health care system that is accessible, equitable, and integrated. Learn more about how their advocacy, philanthropy, research, and education are creating a better oral health system at carequest.org/turnonthelights

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When health care meets ethics, our choices reveal as much about our values as they do about our scientific advances.

In this episode, Vardit Ravitsky, President and CEO of the Hastings Center, highlights the role of bioethics in navigating complex health care choices, especially those made prominent by the pandemic. She describes bioethics as interdisciplinary, involving collaboration across philosophy, sociology, and other fields to address ethical issues like justice, equity, and patient autonomy. Her journey into bioethics began with personal experiences that led her to explore the intersections of technology and core human values, such as family and kinship. Looking ahead, Vardit identifies artificial intelligence and climate change as the next major ethical challenges in health care, with AI potentially increasing access but presenting risks like bias and privacy concerns. Viewing bioethics as a guide for responsible innovation, she sees the Hastings Center as dedicated to public engagement, policy influence, and fostering diversity within bioethics.

Tune in and dive into the heart of bioethics, exploring how our most challenging health care decisions reflect who we are and shape the future of medicine!

About CareQuest:

CareQuest Institute for Oral Health is a national nonprofit dedicated to creating an oral health care system that is accessible, equitable, and integrated. Learn more about how their advocacy, philanthropy, research, and education are creating a better oral health system at carequest.org/turnonthelights

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AI is rapidly transforming health care, offering technology companies new possibilities for improving patient outcomes and revolutionizing care delivery.

In this episode, Dr. Michael Howell, Chief Clinical Officer at Google, explores how technology giants like Google are impacting health care, sharing insights on AI advancements and their potential to improve patient outcomes. Dr. Howell believes machine learning breakthroughs, particularly in image recognition, have enabled significant progress in diagnosing conditions like diabetic retinopathy and cancer. He highlights Google's mission to provide better health information while also leveraging AI to support clinicians and enhance care delivery. Dr. Howell also discusses recent innovations, such as pulse detection in wearable devices and large-scale public health campaigns, emphasizing the role of trust and data security in Google's health initiatives.

Tune in for an insightful conversation on how big firms plan to use AI to reshape health care and unlock new opportunities for innovation in patient care!

About CareQuest:

CareQuest Institute for Oral Health is a national nonprofit dedicated to creating an oral health care system that is accessible, equitable, and integrated. Learn more about how their advocacy, philanthropy, research, and education are creating a better oral health system at carequest.org/turnonthelights

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transforming health systems requires addressing social determinants of health and expanding beyond traditional hospital care.

In this episode, Michael Dowling, President and CEO of Northwell Health, talks about how he is redefining health system leadership by addressing broader health determinants and expanding services beyond traditional hospital care. He shares his journey from a background in human services to leading Northwell Health, where he focuses on integrating community services and growing access. Michael discusses Northwell's extensive network and proactive measures in areas like gun violence and mental health. He also advises that leaders should promote decency, respect, and community well-being to improve overall health, suggesting that political leaders should embody these values to support better health outcomes.

Tune in to discover how Michael Dowling is redefining health care by tackling social determinants of health and expanding the role of health systems beyond traditional hospital care!

About CareQuest:

CareQuest Institute for Oral Health is a national nonprofit dedicated to creating an oral health care system that is accessible, equitable, and integrated. Learn more about how their advocacy, philanthropy, research, and education are creating a better oral health system at carequest.org/turnonthelights

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a time when trust in health care leadership and media is faltering, how can transparent, local, and solution-driven journalism bridge the gap and rebuild confidence in the stories that shape our health and lives?

In this episode, David Rousseau, Publisher and Executive Director of Journalism and Information Technology at KFF Health News, talks about the challenges that today’s health care journalism faces and how he seeks to build trust in health care leadership and media. KFF Health News, a trusted and non-partisan source, focuses on explaining complex health care issues through policy analysis, polling, and journalism. Throughout this conversation, David addresses the challenges of navigating the health care system, the impact of local news decline on health reporting, and the role of misinformation. He also emphasizes how rebuilding trust requires transparency, diverse experts, and localized storytelling.

Tune in and learn about the future of health reporting, trust, and the impact of misinformation on our health care system!

About CareQuest:

CareQuest Institute for Oral Health is a national nonprofit dedicated to creating an oral health care system that is accessible, equitable, and integrated. Learn more about how their advocacy, philanthropy, research, and education are creating a better oral health system at carequest.org/turnonthelights

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AI implementation in health care, especially for predicting conditions like sepsis, needs collaboration between data scientists and clinicians to ensure accurate and valuable results.

In this episode, Dr. Eric Poon, professor of medicine and the Chief Health Information Officer at the Duke University Health System, discusses the significant impact of information technology on health care, mainly focusing on electronic medical records (EMRs) and the growing influence of AI technologies. He touches on the challenges of integrating AI into health care, emphasizing the importance of bridging the gap between clinical practice and IT. Dr. Poon shares insights on the evolving role of digital scribes, ambient technologies, and the potential of AI to enhance patient care. He also highlights the need for human supervision to ensure AI systems are safe and accurate and explains how generative AI could both challenge and improve the future of health care.

Tune in and learn how technology is reshaping the health care landscape and what the future might hold for both clinicians and patients!

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Community organizing empowers patients, clinicians, and providers to advocate for necessary reforms.

In this episode, Dr. Pedja Stojicic, Executive Director of People Power Health, discusses the urgent need for change in healthcare and the challenges faced by established organizations. He highlights the role of agency in health, arguing people experience better outcomes when they have control over their health future. Dr. Stojicic touches on the influence of Marshall Ganz's organizing principles, which emphasize building relationships and collective action as the foundation for change, and explains how these skills have been applied in diverse contexts, from climate change advocacy to improving healthcare policies in the U.S. He also urges listeners to consider the power of small actions in driving larger change, underscoring the importance of growing leadership and engagement within communities to create a more sustainable healthcare system.

Tune in and learn how grassroots organizing can transform healthcare and empower communities to take control of their health futures!

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Early online patient communities were pioneers in sharing personal health data to support others with similar conditions.

In this episode, Susannah Fox, anthropologist and author of Rebel Health, dives into the evolving landscape of health care, where the traditional power dynamics between patients and providers are shifting. Susannah explores the concept of co-production of care, where patients' experiences are valued as much as scientific knowledge. She highlights the rise of patient-led communities and innovations, particularly in diabetes care, where patients have hacked their devices to improve their outcomes. Susannah also discusses AI's role in health care, emphasizing the importance of integrating patient experiences into AI tools. 

Tune in and learn how patients are revolutionizing health care and shaping its future!

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