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This week, Dr. Sachin Jain of SCAN Health leads Academy Health's 2021 Datapalooza and National Health Policy Conference. He discussed how health systems that know they have issues with diversity can start to address the problem.

Dr. Sachin Jain Challenges Health Systems to Ask: Who's Not in the Room?

Dr. Shereef Elnahal had a full agenda when he took the helm at University Hospital Newark. Months later, he faced a new crisis: COVID-19. This week, Elnahal shares lessons from the pandemic at Academy Health's policy conference.

University Hospital's Dr. Shereef Elnahal to Share Lessons From the Pandemic

Arti Masturzo comes from a family of doctors.

A board-certified physician in internal medicine, Masturzo grew up in a village in India, where her grandfather was a doctor in a small village.

Today, Masturzo is the chief medical officer of CCS, a provider of care programs and home-delivered medical supplies for patients with chronic conditions. She served as a vice president at Humana, and she’s worked as a medical director at St. Elizabeth Healthcare in Kentucky and UC Health in Cincinnati.

Masturzo describes herself as a passionate advocate for value-based care. Even with her vast experience, she has gained new insights into healthcare as a patient.

In the spring, Masturzo shared that she is battling breast cancer. In the latest episode of Data Book, a podcast from 

, she talks about her journey and the patient’s perspective of the healthcare industry.

“It's been truly transformational, for someone who bleeds healthcare and really wants value-based care, for someone who wants healthcare to change for the better,” Masturzo says. “And sometimes things happen for a reason. I needed this insight. And this insight has truly changed me as a person, professionally and personally.”

“And I would say, from a healthcare executive standpoint, I would sum it up as: it is really scary to be a patient,” she continues. “The care is extremely siloed. The incentives are not aligned for my best health. The people doing the work are burned out, exhausted. And there is no one reaching across the table from payer and provider, health system, patient, all the other supporting, ancillary things that you need. There's no connection.”

Masturzo says she’s been getting exceptional care from her doctors and nurses, and some of those treating her are friends and former colleagues. But she also shares the problems that could impede patient care and add stress to an already difficult time.

While healthcare apps are making it more convenient to schedule appointments or see test results, Masturzo also said patients shouldn’t learn about a suspicion of cancer on the app, as she did.

“There is an app that gives me data results before my doctor sees them, which is, by the way, very scary, if you're not a doctor,” Masturzo says. “I learned that I had cancer before my doctor did, so if that tells you something. I'm a physician. So I can process this, right? How does someone who doesn't have a medical background, or doesn't have an advocate with them, get through this?”

Masturzo talks about the need to move toward value-based care and away from the fee-for-service model.

“We are all doing one-off care when we do health care,” she says. “It is not a well-orchestrated thing as it should be. And the quarterback, the person who really should be quarterbacking isn't really connected to all the other things that are happening, isn't paid to be connected to all the things that are happening, because it's a fee-for-service world. And this doesn't work.”

Masturzo discusses the need to consider all of the social drivers of a patient’s health, including economic challenges such as food and housing insecurity, to loneliness, which can be a problem for anyone regardless of income.

Her advice for physicians is simple. “Just put yourself in my shoes,” she says.

And she reminds everyone of the importance of regular screenings.

“Don't skip your cancer screenings,” she says. “I was this close to not getting my mammogram this year, because I had a normal one and thought, ‘I'm not at risk.’ So don't skip your cancer screenings.

“And then for those who are patients, I would say: Advocate for yourself.”

In a fascinating discussion, she talks about the fears patients have; the need for better and more empathetic communication; the importance of meeting patients’ emotional needs; having help available when a patient needs it and not just at a support group that meets every few weeks; designing technology and apps with the perspective of patients and doctors; the words patients need to hear and the well-meaning questions that shouldn’t be asked.

Arti Masturzo, the chief medical officer of CCS, talks about her diagnosis of breast cancer and how the healthcare industry needs to do better for patients.

Lessons from a doctor fighting cancer: ‘It’s really scary to be a patient’ | Data Book podcast

James Quarles says he wasn’t necessarily looking for a healthcare role.

After previously serving as CEO of Strava, the social network for athletes, Quarles is now a venture chair at Redesign Health, which has launched 50 healthcare startup companies in less than six years.

In the latest episode of Data Book, a podcast from 

, Quarles talks about what healthcare startup companies should be doing as they try to bring new solutions to market.

“We build healthcare companies,” Quarles says. “That is what we're in the business of doing. And we don't do devices. We don't do molecules. I think everything that's in the middle of enabling clinicians, payer, provider tech-enabled services, that's where those 50 businesses largely lie.”

He says his time as CEO of Strata helped prepare him for his current role. “That was just a very neat place to learn about digital wellness,” he says.

Health tech companies need to design products with equity in mind

In a lively conversation, Quarles talks about the ingredients of successful startups, what founders should be doing, and some common mistakes that should be avoided.

Quarles stresses the importance of having a narrow focus and not attempting to bite off too much in the development of a young company.

“I always say startups die actually of indigestion, not starvation,” he says.

Quarles outlines the continued challenges for funding for digital health startup companies, and the importance of developing solutions that can be scaled. He highlights the need for designing technology that can be integrated into healthcare solutions and designed for very specific uses. Echoing other healthcare business leaders, Quarles says 

some tech solutions aren’t being designed with clinicians in mind

Quarles also sheds light on how Redesign Health decides when a company is worth backing. The company researches proposals and then helps recruit founders to launch health tech companies.

“It's this art honestly, combined with science, and trying to figure out when do we have enough signal to say it's a big market, and we think we can make a difference to it,” Quarles says.

While the concept of disruption is popular in business, Quarles says there’s a need to work with hospitals and payers in overcoming their challenges.

“I think there's great problems to solve with incumbents who just are in the system,” Quarles says. “Big health systems have lots of problems and challenges. The payers have large challenges. And so, for as much as there's this concept of disrupting the system, I think we all like to build with the system.”

The former CEO of Strava is now a venture chair for Redesign Health, which has launched dozens of companies. He talks about the ingredients for success and some all-too-common mistakes. 

James Quarles of Redesign Health talks about starting healthcare companies | Data Book podcast

Adrienne Boissy focuses on empathy and values.

“I’ve got a big fire in my belly for reducing suffering and creating more joy,” she says.

Boissy is the chief medical officer of Qualtrics, a software company that helps organizations learn more about their customers in order to build better experiences. She’s a neurologist who takes care of patients with multiple sclerosis at the Cleveland Clinic, where she worked for years as the chief experience officer.

In the latest Data Book podcast, she talks about the importance of organizations living their values. As she notes, hospitals can cite empathy as a core value, but they must demonstrate that to their patients and workers.

“As healthcare tries to differentiate itself, in today's world, with a lot of different competitors, and a lot of different models of care, you're seeing people double down on experience as a differentiator,” she tells 

She also talks about the importance of demonstrating empathy to patients, which includes ensuring they are able to get appointments with doctors without waiting for months.

Health systems also show empathy by ensuring patients can get the care they need and aren’t foregoing treatment because they can’t afford it or they’re worried about medical debt. 

One in three patients postponed care because of the costs

, according to a recent Qualtrics survey.

In a wide-ranging interview, Boissy discusses the need to treat employees well to improve patient care and the bottom line. She talks about the dangers of toxic leaders, who can siphon the joy out of workers and the impact on patient care. And she talks about the growing desires for consumers to have the same convenience in healthcare as they get from other industries.

If hospitals and health systems want to create a better experience, Boissy says leaders must drive that change.

“I think it starts with the values of the organization,” she says, “and executive leadership being crystal clear about: Who do you want to be?”

The chief medical officer of Qualtrics, Boissy talks about organizations living their values, improving access, and how empathy provides a great return on investment.

Adrienne Boissy of Qualtrics talks about the patient experience | Data Book podcast

Many patients in the LGBTQ+ community are more likely to have poor health outcomes, or simply avoid treatment, because of fears of bias and discrimination, C.K. Wang says.

He's the chief medical officer of COTA, a tech company that analyzes data to advance cancer care. He talked with 

 about the disparities in care and outcomes in the latest episode of the Data Book podcast. 

Wang talked about the ways that data can be used to achieve health equity, particularly for the  LGBTQ+ community, or the sexual and gender diverse (SGD) population.

He talked about the importance of getting better data to improve outcomes, and the need to build trust. Many in the sexual and gender diverse population “delayed or avoided receiving needed medical care or preventative screenings in the past year, because of disrespect, or discrimination from the doctor, or other health care providers,” Wang says.

SGD patients with cancer often have significantly worse survival rates than other patients. They disproportionately experience certain cancers, such as anal, colorectal, breast, cervical, prostate, and lung cancer, he says.

Wang talked about the importance of building trust with patients from the LGBTQ+ community.

“I have found that when patients trust their clinicians, they will provide them with the accurate and necessary data,” Wang says. “And I always say that the fundamental tenets to building trust are education and transparency.”

“I think that this transparency will help garner trust from the patients that you are doing the right thing for them,” he says, adding that providing their health information “will ultimately lead to their improved experience, and care.”

He also talks about the need for better medical education in treating the SGD community, and the importance of better training in health systems as well.

“Health systems can start by offering training programs to all their staff, you know, on SGD topics,” Wang says.

In addition, health systems and hospitals need to “create a safe place” for SGD patients, he adds.

C.K. Wang of COTA talks about the disparities in outcomes for the sexual and gender diverse population. He talks about the need for more information and improved training for clinicians.

Seeking better data, and better health outcomes, for LGBTQ+ patients | Data Book podcast

Mimi Winsberg says she’s seeing encouraging results in providing mental health services via telehealth.

Winsberg is the chief medical officer and co-founder of Brightside Health, a telehealth company focusing on mental health.

“Our goal is to deliver life-changing mental healthcare to individuals who have everything from mild to severe clinical depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions. We are even treating patients who have elevated suicidal risk,” Winsberg says.

Brightside Health is aiming to offer more options to patients as many areas face a shortage of mental health professionals.

“More than half the counties in the United States don't have a single psychiatrist, so we have an access problem,” Winsberg says. “And we have a problem of suicidal patients not being often able to get the appropriate care.”

Where telehealth can help patients and providers avoid in-person care

Some studies have shown telehealth has been successful in 

treating patients with substance use disorder

a high level of accuracy in telehealth diagnoses in psychiatry and other areas

“What we're seeing is that telehealth can actually provide some benefits,” Winsberg says. “Yes, you can't do a physical exam over telehealth. But in behavioral health conditions, that's often not necessary. Most of the time it’s not necessary. What you can do with a telehealth platform is incorporate other features that really can drive great outcomes.”

Winsberg discusses some of the opportunities for telehealth to meet the needs of patients who can’t easily access care.

Telehealth “can take that geography problem out of the equation,” she says.

 offers free, 24/7 support for those in distress. Call or text 988.

DEA allows telehealth flexibilities to continue until at least November

She talks about the opportunities to meet the needs of patients who don't have easy access to mental health services and what must be done to expand telehealth.

Mimi Winsberg of Brightside Health talks about expanding mental health services | Data Book podcast

Chanda Hinton has devoted her life to improving care for individuals with disabilities.

It’s a very personal mission. When she was nine years old, Chanda suffered a spinal injury when she was accidentally shot in the back of the neck.

 in Denver, she spoke about her work in the latest episode of the Data Book podcast from 

. The center works to improve care for those with spinal cord injuries, brain injuries and other injuries and disabilities.

She also wants to counter the narrative that she hears from too many physicians who don’t understand that individuals with disabilities can live productive and healthy lives.

“That's a problem,” she says. “I mean, I'm 41, I've got a spinal cord injury, but I can be healthy, I can be well, I can be productive.”

Hinton says health leaders and systems who want to improve care and treatment for those with disabilities should be “proactive with i.”

“Make it a part of your mission in a true and genuine way. Don't be doing it because you have to based on compliance … do it, because it's the right thing to do,” she says.

Check out a very interesting conversation. 

Reminder: You can subscribe to the Data Book podcast virtually everywhere you get your podcasts.

In this episode, Chanda Hinton, founder of the Chanda Center for Health in Denver, talks about her journey, her center and how the healthcare industry can offer better care.

Data Book podcast: Chanda Hinton and improving care for those with disabilities

Tom Cotter spends time thinking about things that would keep some people up at night.

Cotter is president and executive director of Healthcare Ready, a nonprofit organization that works with the health sector to ensure sufficient supplies of pharmaceuticals and other needed supplies for disasters. He talks about the organization’s work in the latest Data Book podcast.

Healthcare Ready was founded in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and coordinates information sharing between the healthcare sector and supply chain entities.

In light of shortages of key drugs such as albuterol and children’s ibuprofen in recent months, Cotter says, “We need to understand where's the data that is useful for decision makers to take action.”

“I think people think there's more visibility and transparency than there actually is in the supply chain, especially in the healthcare sector,” Cotter says.

Cotter says the supply chain “is more of a supply web. And there's a lot of interdependencies.”

“I think what we need to now do, in general, you know, at a high level, is make sure we're institutionalizing the lessons learned from the past couple of years, and not just from COVID-19,” he adds.

In our latest episode, Cotter talks about his nonprofit organization that helps the health sector prepare for emergencies, and the need for more data to manage the supply chain.


Data Book podcast: Tom Cotter of Healthcare Ready on preparing for disaster

In our latest episode of the Data Book podcast, Justin Norden talks about the emergence of ChatGPT and what it means for healthcare.

Norden is a physician who teaches about digital health at Stanford Medicine. He’s also a partner at GSR Ventures, an investment firm focusing on early stage digital health companies. In this conversation, he talks about how AI is going to eventually touch every part of the healthcare journey.

Growing up in a family of physicians, he graduated from Stanford University School of Medicine. He became fascinated with the idea of merging technology and healthcare. He helped start the Stanford Center for Digital Health.

As Norden says, “You can’t spend that long in Silicon Valley without starting a few companies of your own.” He was CEO and co-founder of Trustworthy AI, which was acquired by Waymo, Google’s self-driving vehicle company. He also worked on the healthcare team at Apple. He’s been at GSR Ventures for nearly four years.

ChatGPT could be the fastest-growing consumer technology project ever, Norden says.

When asked about ChatGPT’s implication for healthcare, Norden says, “That is the million, if not billion dollar question.”

Justin teaches about digital health at Stanford Medicine and is a partner at GSR Ventures. He talks about the potential of ChatGPT, the ethical questions, and how AI will transform the industry.

Data Book podcast: Justin Norden talks about ChatGPT and AI in healthcare

On this episode of Healthy Bottom Line, Barry Sample, PhD, director of science and technology at Quest Diagnostics, discusses the rise in drug positivity rates among healthcare professionals over the course of 2020 and the consequences of drug use among employees in healthcare settings. He also talks about the role that marijuana legislation has played a role in this increase as well as some solutions to reduce positivity rates.

Barry Sample, PhD, director of science and technology at Quest Diagnostics, discusses the rise in drug positivity rates among healthcare employees, the reasons behind the rise, and what can be done to combat them.

Healthy Bottom Line:  COVID-19 and Marijuana Laws: Why Employee Drug Positivity is on the Rise in Healthcare

On this week's episode of Data Book, Chief Healthcare Executive™ spoke with Peter Urbanowicz, managing director and co-head of Alvarez and Marsal’s Healthcare Industry Group. We discussed the FDA’s recent shift in priorities to address supply chain issues, device shortages, and the backlog of drug approvals as well as how technology can help. We also talked about how hospitals are handling these issues and what they can do as they wait for the FDA to catch up.

Peter Urbanowicz, managing director and co-head of Alvarez and Marsal’s Healthcare Industry Group, discusses the FDA’s new focus in addressing supply chain and device shortages posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and what hospitals should be doing in the meantime to adjust.

Waiting for FDA to Catch Up: What Hospitals Can Do to Address Supply Chain and Device Shortages

Prostate cancer cases have increased after years of decline. Evan Goldfischer, president of LUGPA, talks about the need to increase awareness and outreach.

Pushing for more men, and more Black men, to be screened for prostate cancer

Fitch Ratings cited continued losses and a low amount of cash on hand. The Pennsylvania-based system says it’s making progress toward profitability.

Tower Health suffers rating downgrade as it strives to recover

Physicians, and tomorrow’s doctors, are struggling with their well-being, a new study finds. Experts call for changes to encourage doctors, residents and students to get the help they need.

Doctors aren’t the only ones battling burnout. Many medical students are hurting.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy went to Staten Island University Hospital to express thanks for the support of medical providers since Russia’s invasion.



Ukraine president visits Northwell Health hospital 

Boston Medical Center and University of Chicago Medicine ranked high in the Lown Institute’s list of racially inclusive hospitals. Leaders share their insights. 

Health equity is a journey, and these hospitals are leading the way

 - After three years of the COVID-19 pandemic, hospital leaders must focus on their workers, Rick Pollack says.

Pollack, the president and CEO of the American Hospital Association, sat down for an interview with 

 this week. He talked about the industry’s challenges in a discussion during the 

American Hospital Association’s Leadership Summit

. Many healthcare workers who have made it through the past three years are struggling with burnout. 

“You have to strengthen the workforce,” Pollack says. “Without a viable workforce, hospitals and the healthcare system will simply collapse.”

“We’ve got to make sure we’re caring for our caregivers,” he says.

Pollack also stresses the importance of hospital executives connecting with their state and local lawmakers. He says it’s a critical way for hospital leaders to draw more attention on the impact of insufficient federal aid and other challenges, such as prior authorization.

“A second thing I would really focus on is developing relationships with your legislators at every level,” Pollack says.

“At the end of the day, Medicare and Medicaid are a source of a lot of funding for hospitals and health systems,” he continues. “The regulatory process has a significant impact on everything we do.

“I think it's really important now that we're past COVID to have everybody be visiting their hospitals and inviting their legislators to visit, so they really have an understanding of what we're facing and the challenges that we're facing, so they can be better informed in making the policy choices that they're faced with.”

Dartmouth Health CEO Joanne Conroy outlines rural hospital crisis

Futurist Amy Webb warns of seismic changes ahead for hospitals

The president and CEO of the American Hospital Association, Pollack urges health system executives to focus on caregivers and build connections with lawmakers.

Rick Pollack offers advice for hospital leaders

As hospitals face more ransomware attacks, Steve Cagle says top executives and boards must make cybersecurity a high priority throughout the organization.

Cagle, the CEO of Clearwater, a cybersecurity firm, outlined some steps in a recent interview with 

“I think it starts all the way at the level board. It's important to establish a culture of cybersecurity," Cagle says. "Cybersecurity is everybody's job. And it has to be thought of that way. It has to be something that we're thinking about constantly."

Hospital CEOs must make cybersecurity an organization-wide mission, and he says leaders must tie cybersecurity to patient care.

“For healthcare providers, of course, core to the mission is treating patients and we can't treat patients effectively when the organization is being crippled by a cyber incident, or when we have hundreds of thousands or millions, or any number of records that are being compromised, that are very sensitive in nature,” he says.

He outlines steps hospital leaders should take to ensure that cybersecurity is a top priority throughout the organization.

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