Mgma Small Talk

Guest: Anu Banerjee, Ph.D., M.S., M.H.A., FACHE, Recipient of the MGMA Harwick Innovation AwardIntroduction:In this episode of the MGMA Insights Podcast, host Daniel Williams welcomes Anu Banerjee, the 2024 recipient of the prestigious MGMA Harwick Innovation Award. Anu, with a long-standing career in healthcare leadership and innovation, shares his journey in developing a groundbreaking digital health platform designed to empower underserved populations. The conversation covers the platform’s ability to enable patients to manage chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension from home, reduce healthcare costs, and improve patient engagement.Key Takeaways:Patient-Centered Digital Health: Anu introduces his innovative platform that allows patients, especially in rural areas, to monitor and manage their health using a range of wearable devices. The data is shared in real-time with healthcare providers, ensuring ongoing care without needing frequent office visits.Beyond Telemedicine: Anu’s platform builds on

Guest: Lonn McDowell, Vice Chair and Director of Administration, University of Florida Department of SurgeryIntroduction: Welcome to another episode of the MGMA Insights Podcast, hosted by Daniel Williams. In today’s conversation, Daniel sits down with Lonn McDowell, Vice Chair and Director of Administration at the University of Florida's Department of Surgery, to explore his unique perspective on leadership ahead of his presentation at the MGMA Leaders Conference. Titled "Leading from the Middle," Lonn’s session addresses how leadership in healthcare is about collaboration, professionalism, and balancing operational efficiency with high-quality patient care.Key Takeaways:Leadership from All Levels: Lonn underscores that impactful leadership can happen at any level of an organization. "Leading from the Middle" encourages healthcare professionals to recognize that leadership isn't just for those at the top. "We need to work together towards common goals, and one person can't solve everything."Ethics and Profes

In this episode of the MGMA Business Solutions Podcast, host Daniel Williams talks with Paul Wiley, President of AvodahMed, a leader in healthcare technology. Wiley shares his journey from the airline industry to healthcare and how his company leverages artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics to improve clinical documentation and streamline healthcare operations. The conversation touches on key insights into the future of healthcare AI, its role in reducing physician burnout, and operational efficiency improvements.Key Takeaways:The Power of AI in Healthcare: Wiley discusses how AI, particularly ambient AI, is transforming healthcare by operating in the background, allowing doctors to focus more on patient care and less on administrative tasks. “Ambient AI really focuses on being in the background, which is where, in my opinion, it belongs in healthcare,” he explains​.Improving Operational Efficiency: Wiley highlights how AvodahMed's flagship product, Insights, helps streamline clinical documentation

Host: Daniel Williams, Senior Editor, MGMACohost: Cristy Good, Senior Advisor, MGMAIntroduction:In this episode of MGMA Week in Review, Daniel Williams is joined by Cristy Good, Senior Advisor at MGMA, filling in as co-host. The episode dives into two key topics: the challenges of adopting value-based care and advice for leaders transitioning into new roles. Cristy shares her insights into the upcoming MGMA Leaders Conference, where she will be a featured contributor for the Operations Management edition of MGMA’s Advanced Strategy Series.Key Takeaways:Challenges of Value-Based Care: Many practices face hurdles in adopting value-based care, including administrative burdens, resource constraints, and insufficient payer collaboration. Smaller practices, in particular, struggle with the upfront costs of transitioning to this model. However, CMS is driving initiatives to fully enroll Medicare beneficiaries in value-based care by 2030. Collaboration with payers, AI for data management, and ongoing staff training c

In this episode of the MGMA Insights Podcast, host Daniel Williams, Senior Editor at MGMA, speaks with Michael Tutty, PhD, MHA, FACMPE, Group Vice President at the American Medical Association (AMA). Tutty leads the AMA’s efforts in improving professional satisfaction and practice sustainability for clinicians across the country. Together, they explore critical issues impacting clinician well-being, including burnout, administrative burdens, and the importance of curiosity as a superpower for finding solutions. This conversation provides practical insights for medical practice leaders on how to tackle these issues and create a healthier work environment for their teams.Key Takeaways:The Challenge of Clinician Burnout: Over 50% of physicians report signs of burnout, driven by administrative burdens, increased workload, and a lack of time spent on patient care. Tutty emphasizes the importance of addressing system-wide issues that lead to burnout, rather than placing the burden solely on individuals."Burnout man

In this episode of the MGMA Insights Podcast, host Daniel Williams welcomes Kelly Ladd, the CEO of Piedmont Internal Medicine in Georgia and the MGMA Legislative Liaison of the Year. Kelly shares her journey of becoming a passionate advocate for small medical practices, navigating the complex legislative landscape and the critical role MGMA plays in supporting administrators like herself.Key Takeaways:Kelly's Unexpected Honor: Kelly describes her initial reaction to being named the MGMA Legislative Liaison of the Year. "I was very shocked, and I was actually rendered speechless. Anyone who knows me knows that is quite a feat, because I typically have something to say on pretty much everything."Establishing Piedmont Internal Medicine: Kelly recounts the whirlwind process of offboarding 10 physicians from a health system and launching a private practice in just six weeks, highlighting the importance of MGMA resources during this transition.The Vital Role of MGMA for Small Practices: Kelly emphasizes the critica

Today's Guests: Steve Quach, MD, CEO of Chimera Leadership Group, and Gwen Dooley, NP, VP of People, Growth, and Strategy at CarePoint Health ColoradoEpisode Summary:In this episode of the MGMA Insights Podcast, host Daniel Williams interviews Steve Quach and Gwen Dooley, who are both featured speakers at the upcoming MGMA Leaders Conference. Their session, titled Leading Through the Gray: Unlocking Your Greatest Potential, addresses leadership challenges in uncertain and complex environments. The conversation dives into their professional journeys and offers insights on navigating the gray areas of leadership in healthcare, particularly during times of ambiguity and volatility.Key Takeaways:Understanding Uncertainty in Leadership:Steve Quach highlights the difficulty of transitioning from clinician roles to leadership, emphasizing that traditional healthcare training doesn't prepare individuals for the psychological challenges that come with leading in uncertain environments. He explains, “Good leaders don’t

Guest: Melinda Mastel, MBA, MS, FHFMA, CMPE, PMPIntroduction: In this episode of the MGMA Member Spotlight Podcast, host Daniel Williams sits down with Melinda Mastel, a healthcare finance professional and continuous learner, to discuss her career journey and insights on early career development. Melinda is set to co-present at the MGMA Leaders Conference in a session focusing on early careerist leaders in healthcare. Tune in to hear about the challenges early careerists face, the importance of continual learning, and actionable advice on career development and work-life balance.Key Takeaways:Lifelong Learning and Versatility:Melinda’s passion for lifelong learning has shaped her career path. With multiple degrees and certifications, including an MBA and MS in healthcare administration, she emphasizes the importance of broadening your skill set. “Looking at skill building helps you become a more versatile professional, able to contribute beyond your specific role,” she shares.Her diverse certifications have a

Welcome to this week’s episode of the MGMA Week in Review Podcast, hosted by Daniel Williams, Senior Editor at MGMA, and Colleen Luckett, Editor and Writer at MGMA. In today’s episode, we cover a range of critical topics affecting healthcare leaders, including a wave of bipartisan health legislation passed in the U.S. House of Representatives, the complexities of employee monitoring in healthcare, and the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in streamlining electronic health records (EHRs). We also dive into the rising DIY medicine trend and discuss important cybersecurity measures for healthcare organizations.Key Takeaways:Bipartisan Health Legislation:This week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed 14 bipartisan health bills, all aimed at improving the well-being of Americans. The focus is on strengthening Medicaid and Medicare, preventing fraud, and supporting vulnerable populations, such as individuals with Down syndrome.These bills include the Medicaid Program Improvement Act and the Fraud Prevention

In this episode of the MGMA Insights Podcast, host Daniel Williams sits down with Steve Dickens, the recipient of the 2024 MGMA Lifetime Achievement Award. Steve shares his remarkable journey, highlighting the pivotal role MGMA has played in his career development and his passion for mentoring the next generation of healthcare leaders. This conversation offers valuable insights for MGMA members looking to maximize their organizational involvement and unlock new opportunities for growth and impact.Key Takeaways:Steve's Early Career and the Importance of Professional Associations: Steve recounts his start in a small town in Tennessee and the pivotal moment when his colleagues encouraged him to join MGMA, leading to a transformative experience.The Transformative Power of MGMA Membership: Steve emphasizes the wealth of resources, education and connections MGMA has provided, crediting the organization as a driving force behind his career success.Navigating the MGMA-ACMPE Merger: As MGMA Chair during the merger, St

Welcome to another episode of the MGMA Insights Podcast. Your host, Daniel Williams, Senior Editor at MGMA, is joined by Chris Bevil, Chief Information Security Officer at InfoSystems, Inc., Tennessee. Chris, a leader in health informatics and cybersecurity, brings over two decades of experience to the table, and today he dives deep into one of the most crucial topics in healthcare: how medical practices can navigate the complexities of cybersecurity and generative AI. Chris also shares his journey, from collegiate baseball to healthcare cybersecurity, adding a personal touch to this insightful episode.Major Takeaways:Generative AI and Cybersecurity: Chris clarifies the distinction between AI and generative AI (Gen AI), emphasizing that while AI is evolving rapidly, it won’t replace jobs as long as people are willing to learn and adapt. As he points out, "You constantly have to have humans in the loop. AI isn’t going to take your job if you're willing to embrace it and learn how to use it."Guardrails for Gene

 In this episode of the MGMA Insights Podcast, host Daniel Williams is joined by two key leaders from Emerson Health: Craig Nesta, Vice President of Physician Practice Management, and Mike Tracy, Administrative Director. Together, they discuss the Emerson Health Administrative Fellowship Program and its impact on addressing workforce challenges in healthcare. Craig and Mike share their insights on how to build and sustain fellowship programs that cultivate future healthcare leaders, as well as their experiences mentoring and developing talent.Major Takeaways:Building a Fellowship Program from Scratch: Craig Nesta shares how Emerson Health built its administrative fellowship program from the ground up starting in 2017. The program is designed to grow healthcare leadership talent by offering real-world, hands-on experience in healthcare administration. “We started it from scratch, and anybody can do what we did,” Craig explains. Since its inception, the program has grown significantly, helping Emerson Health fi

In this episode of the MGMA Week in Review podcast, your hosts Daniel Williams and Colleen Luckett dive into some of the most pressing issues in healthcare today. Topics include how immigration reform could alleviate healthcare staffing shortages, strategies for successful physician onboarding, United Healthcare's new Gold Card program for streamlining prior authorizations, and advice on work-life balance for workaholics.Key Takeaways:Healthcare Staffing Shortages: Colleen discusses an article from HealthExec highlighting how immigration policy reforms could help address physician shortages in the U.S. Attorney Kathleen Campbell Walker advocates for expanding visa caps and streamlining immigration processes to meet healthcare demand.Intentional Onboarding for Physicians: Daniel shares insights from Medical Economics authors Tara Osseck and Jenny Binner on the importance of a structured onboarding process for physicians. Personalizing the onboarding experience can significantly improve retention and job satisf

In this episode of the MGMA Insights Podcast, host Daniel Williams welcomes Mo Kasti, CEO of the Healthcare Leadership Institute. Kasti shares his journey from surviving the civil war in Beirut, Lebanon to becoming a healthcare leadership expert. He discusses how he is applying the leadership principles he learned at GE Healthcare to redesign healthcare education and development.Key Takeaways:Kasti's 10-year experience at GE Healthcare taught him the power of leadership development and how to apply best practices like Lean Six Sigma and succession planning.Kasti describes the founding of the Healthcare Leadership Institute as the "best kept secret" and the largest provider of leadership training and coaching in the U.S.The institute's work as a private label provider involves applying GE's leadership principles and methodologies to transform healthcare education and development.With a passion for finding your true calling, Kasti states "when you find your passion, you don't have a job anymore."Kasti will host

Welcome to the MGMA Women in Healthcare Podcast, where host Adrienne Lloyd sits down with Jenny Reese, a leader and innovator in healthcare administration, to discuss leadership strategies in today's rapidly evolving medical landscape. In this episode, Jenny shares insights into problem-solving for medical practice leaders, with a focus on effective team management, adapting to industry changes, and fostering a culture of transparency and growth within healthcare organizations.Key Takeaways:Leading with Transparency: Jenny emphasizes the importance of clear communication and transparency in leadership roles, especially when navigating challenges like staffing shortages or policy changes.“In times of uncertainty, clarity is your best tool to keep teams focused and motivated.”Adapting to Industry Shifts: The healthcare industry is constantly evolving. Jenny discusses strategies for adapting to changes such as hybrid work models, increased reliance on technology, and shifts in patient expectations.Fostering a Co

Episode Description:In this episode of the MGMA Insights podcast, we speak with Annamarí Dietrichson, Division Vice President of Care Experience at HCA Healthcare Colorado, about her innovative approach to combating burnout in the healthcare industry. Drawing on her unique background and extensive experience, Dietrichson introduces us to the Thrive Method—a comprehensive framework designed to help healthcare professionals manage stress, maintain healthy habits, and reclaim their passion for patient care. Discover how to thrive in your healthcare career without burning out.Key Takeaways:The Evolution of Patient Experience: Dietrichson discusses the shift from patient satisfaction to a holistic care experience that includes the entire workforce.Introduction to the Thrive Method: Learn about the six key areas of the Thrive Method—Thoughts, Healthy Habits, Rest and Resilience, Intentionality, Vigilance, and Empowered Energy—that can help healthcare professionals prevent burnout.Practical Tips for Healthy Habits:

In this week's episode of the MGMA Week in Review podcast, co-hosts Daniel Williams and Colleen Luckett explore critical topics affecting healthcare today. From the evolving role of AI in public health to the ongoing challenge of physician burnout, Daniel and Colleen discuss how healthcare leaders can address these pressing issues. They also cover strategies for improving team dynamics in in-person, remote, and hybrid work environments.Topics Discussed:WHO's AI in Public Health Readiness ToolkitColleen discusses the World Health Organization's (WHO) release of its AI in Public Health Readiness Assessment Toolkit. The toolkit emphasizes the importance of infrastructure, workforce development, and ethical principles as healthcare organizations integrate AI into their systems.Source: MobiHealthNews, "World Health Organization releases AI in public health readiness toolkit"Improving Patient Experience by Going Back to the BasicsDaniel reviews an article from Medical Economics that focuses on enhancing patient exp

In this episode of the MGMA Insights Podcast, host Daniel Williams sits down with renowned speaker and author Riaz Meghji. Meghji is the author of the book Every Conversation Counts: The Five Habits of Human Connection that Build Extraordinary Relationships. Meghji explores the power of authentic human connection in the context of the hybrid work environment and also discusses the challenges faced by medical practice leaders. His upcoming keynote address for this year's MGMA Leaders Conference aims to inspire the audience with the transformative potential of a single conversation and the importance of showing up to serve others.Key Takeaways:The Importance of Authentic Connection:  Meghji discusses his journey in writing "Every Conversation Counts" and the need for leaders to prioritize genuine human connection, even in the face of overwhelming responsibilities.Addressing Empathy Fatigue: While delving into the concept of "empathy fatigue" and how it impacts medical professionals, Meghji offers strategies for

In this episode of the MGMA Insights podcast, we are joined by Dr. Roger Gerard, management consultant and author of Lead with Purpose: Reignite Passion and Engagement for Professionals in Crisis. Dr. Gerard shares his insights on the growing issue of commodification in healthcare and offers actionable strategies for leaders to restore purpose and autonomy among healthcare professionals. Discover how leading with purpose can transform your organization, improve patient care, and foster a positive and collaborative work culture.Key Takeaways:Commodification of Healthcare Professionals: Dr. Gerard discusses how the standardization and legal regulations in healthcare have led to a loss of autonomy for professionals, impacting both morale and patient care.Leading with Purpose: Learn about Dr. Gerard's leadership philosophy that emphasizes respect, autonomy, and collaboration with healthcare professionals.Five Promises for Leaders: Dr. Gerard outlines five critical promises that leaders should make to their teams

In this week’s episode of the MGMA Week in Review podcast, Daniel Williams and Colleen Luckett dive into the latest articles and trends impacting healthcare. From the ongoing issue of nurse burnout linked to EHR systems to the critical steps healthcare organizations can take to boost cybersecurity and the pressing question of who will fill the growing number of open healthcare jobs, this episode covers key topics that are shaping the future of healthcare.Key Takeaways:Nurse Burnout and EHR Systems: A recent report by KLAS Research reveals that nearly one-third of nurses experiencing burnout cite their EHR as a significant contributor. Despite efforts to improve these systems, many nurses report slow response times, unplanned downtimes, and unreliable systems as the main culprits. Moreover, 40% of these nurses are considering leaving their organizations within the next two years. Learn more about the report and the potential solutions to address this critical issue.Source: Healthcare Dive Article on Nurse Burn