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OECD Health Division head Francesca Colombo challenges healthcare spending rankings, 20% waste, workforce shortages, and prevention across 38 nations. Roy Bejarano speaks with Francesca Colombo, Head of the OECD Health Division, about what international healthcare comparisons actually reveal. Drawing on the OECD's 2025 Health at a Glance report, they examine GDP spending, prices versus utilization, fiscal sustainability, quality outcomes, and why the OECD does not rank entire health systems from best to worst. They also explore healthcare waste, dependence on foreign-trained clinicians, workforce productivity, unequal access despite universal coverage, and why prevention still represents a small share of healthcare spending. What You’ll Learn• Why healthcare spending as a percentage of GDP cannot, by itself, measure performance• How prices, utilization, fiscal sustainability, and outcomes complicate U.S.–OECD comparisons• Why the OECD avoids simplistic overall rankings of national healthcare systems• What an earlier OECD estimate of roughly 20% potentially wasteful health spending means• Why international recruitment cannot solve structural workforce shortages indefinitely• How universal coverage can coexist with access inequalities• Why productivity, digital health, and prevention matter as populations age Key Timestamps(01:10) What the OECD Health Division measures across 38 countries(03:31) GDP spending and the 2025 OECD findings(06:10) Why there is no ideal healthcare spending level(07:01) Fiscal sustainability and measuring outcomes(09:03) Limitations of life expectancy and quality indicators(14:05) Price versus volume in international spending comparisons(15:22) The estimate that 20% of health spending is waste(23:00) Why spending alone cannot rank performance(26:12) Why the OECD does not publish an overall country ranking(29:40) Foreign-trained clinicians and workforce productivity(37:56) Hospital quality, patient safety, and avoidable admissions(41:43) Unequal access despite universal coverage(47:21) Aggregate versus granular health data(50:33) Why prevention remains underfunded Key Takeaways• Healthcare spending as a percentage of GDP is not automatically proof of better or worse care.• Prices and service volumes must be separated before interpreting international expenditure gaps.• The OECD emphasizes specific outcomes rather than an overall health-system league table.• Waste and preventable safety problems create opportunities to redirect resources toward patient outcomes.• International recruitment can relieve short-term staffing gaps but does not replace domestic workforce planning.• Aging populations make productivity improvements and technology-enabled models increasingly important.• Universal coverage can coexist with access disparities, while prevention has yet to gain a larger share of spending. Guest BioFrancesca Colombo leads the OECD Health Division, overseeing work comparing health system performance and policy challenges across 38 member countries. An economist by training, she focuses on how health systems use resources, improve outcomes, and respond to challenges including workforce supply, quality, affordability, and sustainability. SEO KeywordsFrancesca Colombo, OECD Health Division, Roy Bejarano, SCALE Community, Analyzing Healthcare, OECD Health at a Glance 2025, healthcare spending GDP, US healthcare costs, health system rankings, healthcare waste, health outcomes, fiscal sustainability, medical workforce, foreign-trained doctors, health system productivity, universal coverage, health equity, preventive healthcare

How Houston Methodist tests AI ROI, scales virtual care, builds smart hospitals, and challenges the cost of AI agents across nine hospitals, at scale. Jason Schifman speaks with Roberta Schwartz, Houston Methodist's EVP and Chief Innovation Officer, about disciplined healthcare innovation. She explains why the system prioritizes returns, three-year planning, scalable partnerships, and centralized virtual care over new tools. From smart rooms and remote monitoring to AI scheduling and clinical decision support, Roberta distinguishes operational savings from vendor promises. The discussion covers cautious AI-agent deployment, implementation challenges, technology consolidation, workflows, and how clinical quality and workforce sustainability define innovation success. What You'll Learn ✅ Why Houston Methodist plans innovation across three-year horizons ✅ How the system evaluates hard savings versus soft ROI claims ✅ Why AI agents may add expense without adding functionality ✅ How 2,500 to 2,600 connected rooms support virtual care and centralized teams ✅ Why its scheduling bot Zoe represents roughly 47 avoided hires ✅ What makes enterprise-wide scaling more valuable than narrow pilots Key Timestamps (01:08) Why Houston Methodist uses a partnership-led innovation model (03:30) Smart spaces, virtual care, remote monitoring, and connected hospitals (05:37) Care traffic control, smart charts, AI, and clinical intelligence (07:55) Zoe scheduling bot and the caution around AI agents (10:00) Why humanoid robots fail the scalability test (13:54) Hard savings versus vendor-promised soft savings (17:29) Why AI requires reimagining entire workflows (19:43) Why Houston Methodist scales proven solutions, not alpha pilots (22:03) Strategic technology partners and enterprise deployment (26:08) Business ROI versus slower clinical transformation (29:43) Measuring clinical outcomes, not just technology performance (34:58) Build-versus-buy, vendor consolidation, and Epic capabilities (40:39) Innovation as a tool for clinical excellence and workforce sustainability (44:52) Standardizing care pathways and physician preference cards Key Takeaways 💎 Innovation is a disciplined investment process, not a competition to adopt the latest technology. 💎 Hard ROI matters: technology that saves time without reducing or reallocating costs may simply add another layer of expense. 💎 Houston Methodist favors partners whose solutions can scale across its system, not just succeed in limited pilots. 💎 Connected rooms become valuable when their data enables new virtual workflows, centralized monitoring, and better staffing models. 💎 Clinical transformation is harder to measure than administrative automation and requires outcomes-based evaluation. 💎 Standardization and thoughtful centralization can improve efficiency while sustaining clinical quality. 💎 AI agents remain a selective investment until benefits justify their cost. Guest Bio Roberta Schwartz is Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer at Houston Methodist, a nine-hospital health system. She leads a partnership-driven innovation approach spanning smart hospitals, virtual care, artificial intelligence, automation, technology adoption, and clinical transformation. SEO Keywords Roberta Schwartz, Houston Methodist, Jason Schifman, SCALE Community, Analyzing Healthcare, healthcare AI ROI, hospital innovation, AI agents, smart hospital, virtual nursing, virtual care, remote monitoring, care traffic control, AI scheduling, Epic, clinical AI, workflow redesign, hospital automation, vendor consolidation, healthcare technology ROI

How healthcare organizations can strengthen cybersecurity, prepare for ransomware, and build resilience before a breach disrupts patient care. In this episode, Roy Bejarano speaks with Baxter Lee, President of Clearwater Security, about healthcare’s growing cyber risk, why breaches often begin with basic security gaps, and why resilience goes beyond compliance. They also discuss Change Healthcare, M&A cyber diligence, incident response, ransom strategy, and the growing role of AI in cyber threats. What You’ll Learn ✅ Why healthcare is uniquely vulnerable to ransomware and cyberattacks ✅ Why cybersecurity is now tied to business resilience and patient care ✅ Why compliance certifications do not equal true cybersecurity ✅ How basic failures like weak credentials and lack of MFA drive major breaches ✅ What healthcare platforms and MSOs should evaluate during cyber diligence ✅ Why incident response and ransomware strategy must be planned before an attack ✅ How AI is changing both cyber offense and defense Key Timestamps (00:31) What Clearwater Security provides to healthcare organizations (01:26) Why healthcare is highly targeted for ransomware (02:49) Why cyber risk can never be reduced to zero (05:27) Common causes of healthcare cyber incidents (06:30) Lessons from the Change Healthcare attack (09:01) Why compliance does not equal cybersecurity (13:07) Cyber diligence for MSOs, platforms, and acquisitions (17:44) What to do before a ransomware attack (20:43) Why downtime depends on response and recovery capability (22:24) The brand and enterprise value impact of cyber breaches (24:38) Why recovery should be minutes, not months (26:09) AI, attackers, and healthcare’s next cyber challenge (29:06) Why cyber defense may become “bots versus bots” Key Takeaways 💎 Healthcare cybersecurity is no longer just an IT issue; it is fundamental to business continuity, patient care, and trust. 💎 Most successful breaches are not “Hollywood-style” attacks; they often start with preventable failures like compromised credentials, poor patching, and weak MFA. 💎 Compliance assessments are useful, but they are only point-in-time snapshots and should not be confused with a mature security program. 💎 Healthcare M&A creates cyber risk when platforms allow acquired companies to remain on fragmented technology and security infrastructures. 💎 The worst time to decide a ransomware strategy is during the ransomware attack. 💎 Organizations that prepare through playbooks, tabletop exercises, monitoring, backups, and recovery plans can dramatically reduce disruption. 💎 AI is giving attackers new speed and scale, but it may also become essential to healthcare cyber defense. Guest Bio Baxter Lee is President of Clearwater. He was promoted to President in September 2025 after serving as Clearwater CFO since May 2018. He is responsible for leading the company’s strategic growth plan and managing the company’s overall operations. Formerly, Baxter was CFO of Entrada Health, a mobile health documentation and productivity platform for healthcare providers, acquired by NexGen Healthcare (NASDAQ: NXGN) in 2017. Before his role with Entrada, he held multiple positions with Change Healthcare (fka Emdeon), a multi-billion dollar healthcare IT company. His roles included divisional CFO of the Ambulatory and Payer Services divisions and director of corporate development.

How price transparency, AI, and cross-border care reveal why patients struggle to shop for healthcare in the U.S. In this episode, Roy Bejarano speaks with Prof. Kelli Frias about healthcare pricing, consumer behavior, affordability, access, and why shopping for care is still so difficult for American patients. Kelli explains why more information does not always lead to better decisions, how patients use quality cues differently across markets, and what U.S. healthcare can learn from cross-border care in Mexico. The conversation also covers deductibles, delayed care, GLP-1s, AI-enabled patient decision-making, family caregiving, and why accessibility may matter as much as price transparency in shaping the future of consumer healthcare. What You’ll Learn ✅ Why insured Americans are being pushed to shop for healthcare ✅ How deductibles and affordability change patient behavior ✅ Why price transparency alone may not solve healthcare decision-making ✅ What cross-border care in Mexico reveals about access, cost, and trust ✅ Why patients delay care when the system feels unaffordable or inaccessible ✅ How AI could support more informed healthcare consumers ✅ Why healthcare shopping depends on context, quality cues, family, and trust Key Timestamps (01:26) How consumers shop for healthcare (02:08) From physician-directed care to consumer navigation (03:13) Deductibles, affordability, and patient responsibility (06:04) Why quality indicators change by market (07:09) U.S. vs. Mexico waiting room example (10:20) Why more information is not always better (11:43) What cross-border healthcare consumers understand about price (14:05) Which care decisions can be simplified for patients (17:38) Patient-centered care and co-producing decisions (22:15) Why delayed care may be more costly long term (25:05) Estimating cross-border care volume (26:43) Why patients travel to Mexico for care (31:08) How U.S. referral pathways amplify costs (35:06) AI, patient agency, and healthcare decision support (37:11) Why consumer segmentation matters in healthcare Key Takeaways 💎 U.S. patients are increasingly expected to behave like healthcare consumers, but most have never been trained to shop for care. 💎 Price transparency is important, but simply giving patients more information can create confusion rather than better decisions. 💎 Quality signals are context-dependent; the same cue can mean very different things in different healthcare markets. 💎 Cross-border care in Mexico shows how access, price, trust, and patient experience can drive healthcare decisions. 💎 Patients may not overuse care because they do not know the cost; many delay care because the system feels unaffordable or inaccessible. 💎 AI may help patients gain more agency, but healthcare leaders must account for trust, safety, segmentation, and misinformation risk. 💎 The future of consumer healthcare may require co-produced decisions between patients, clinicians, families, payers, and technology. Guest Bio Kelli Frias is a Provost Associate Professor of Marketing at American University's Kogod School of Business. She studies how people navigate uncertainty, evaluate imperfect information, build trust, and make tradeoffs inside complex systems such as healthcare, AI, and markets. Some of her latest research explores the affordability of healthcare, dual market navigation, and medical influencer credibility. She is an Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation Fellow and recipient of nearly $2 million in National Science Foundation grants, a $1.2 million grant from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, and the VentureWell Foundation.

How Millennium Physician Group uses primary care, specialties, hospitalists, and tech-enabled navigation to coordinate care within Mosaic Health. In this episode, Roy Bejarano speaks with Tesha Simpson, CEO of Millennium Physician Group, about building a multi-specialty, community-based care model anchored in primary care. Tesha explains how MPG supports independent physicians, coordinates specialists, hospitalists, labs, imaging, and EHR workflows, and uses patient data to decide when to build services internally versus partner externally. The conversation also covers Mosaic Health, including CareMore, Vera, and Castlight, and how technology, AI, and navigation can complement—not replace—the human side of care while improving access, quality, cost management, and service consistency across different patient populations and geographies. What You’ll Learn ✅ How Millennium Physician Group evolved from supporting independent physicians into a multi-specialty care platform ✅ Why MPG anchors its model around primary care, community access, and care coordination ✅ How specialists, hospitalists, labs, imaging, and shared EHR access support better patient navigation ✅ How MPG decides whether to build specialty services internally or partner externally ✅ How Mosaic Health brings together Millennium, CareMore, Vera, and Castlight ✅ Why technology can complement care without replacing the human relationship ✅ How MPG evaluates new markets like Georgia, Texas, and North Carolina Key Timestamps (00:55) Millennium’s provider footprint and market expansion (02:46) MPG’s origin as a solution for independent physicians (03:45) Why Millennium became multi-specialty (04:42) Shared tech stack and coordinated specialty access (06:17) Integrated referrals, imaging, and EHR access (07:45) Coordination, access, and total cost of care (10:18) How MPG decides which specialties to build or partner with (14:14) Hospitalists, admissions, and care transitions (16:18) Mosaic Health and the three-business-unit model (17:53) CareMore and high-need senior populations (18:27) Vera, Castlight, navigation, and tech enablement (21:28) Technology as a complement to human care (23:18) Geographic expansion into Georgia, Texas, and North Carolina Key Takeaways 💎 Specialty care strengthens access, coordination, and total cost-of-care management. 💎 Shared leadership, patient information, imaging, and EHR access enable effective multi-specialty care. 💎 MPG builds specialties internally where needed and partners where it makes sense. 💎 Hospitalists support admissions, transitions, discharge planning, and follow-up care. 💎 Mosaic Health brings together community care, senior-focused care, employer health, and navigation technology. 💎 Technology and AI can reduce administrative burden while complementing—not replacing—human care. 💎 MPG expands into markets based on physician alignment, community need, Medicare fit, and an anchor location. Guest Bio Tesha Simpson is CEO of Millennium Physician Group, a community-based physician organization with a strong primary care foundation and multi-specialty capabilities. Her work focuses on care coordination, physician alignment, value-based care, patient access, market expansion, and reducing administrative burden for clinicians while improving outcomes for the populations Millennium serves. SEO Keywords Tesha Simpson, Millennium Physician Group, Mosaic Health, SCALE Community, Analyzing Healthcare, primary care, multi-specialty care, value-based care, care coordination, patient navigation, MSO strategy, physician group, Florida healthcare, CareMore, Vera, Castlight, healthcare technology, AI in healthcare, referral management, total cost of care, healthcare access

U.S. healthcare transformation, AI adoption, value-based care, and payer-provider alignment take center stage as Dr. Dipul and Roy Bejarano explore what drives meaningful change. In this episode of Analyzing Healthcare by SCALE Community, Roy Bejarano speaks with Dr. Dipul, Associate Chief Medical Officer at Cigna and former healthcare leader at Salesforce, Ascension, and Advocate. They explore payer-provider alignment, trust, AI adoption, workflow redesign, value-based care, clinical variation, and consumer healthcare. Dr. Dipul shares why meaningful healthcare transformation requires more than new technology; it demands aligned incentives, operational discipline, practical workflows, and focused execution to deliver sustainable value. What You’ll Learn ✅ How payers, providers, and technology companies view healthcare differently ✅ Why incentive misalignment remains one of healthcare’s hardest problems ✅ Why trust is missing across major healthcare stakeholders ✅ How AI agents and CRM platforms fit into healthcare workflows ✅ Why workflow, change management, and incentives matter more than product elegance ✅ Why value-based care may not be dead, but still needs stronger execution ✅ How healthcare leaders can avoid chasing the “shiny penny” and focus on real problems Key Timestamps (01:42) Healthcare through payer, provider, and tech lenses (05:28) Trust and incentive misalignment (07:28) Healthcare innovation and high reliability (10:04) Lessons from Salesforce and big tech (12:48) The challenge of scaling AI agents (14:32) Why workflow matters more than product elegance (18:19) Is value-based care still alive? (19:22) Provider-payer partnerships and navigation (25:22) Alignment, loopholes, and commercial partnerships (27:24) Why Dr. Dipul is still proud of U.S. healthcare (31:44) What healthcare managers need to understand (32:22) Consumer healthcare and avoiding the shiny-penny trap Key Takeaways 💎 Healthcare’s biggest challenge may not be a lack of innovation, but misaligned incentives across payers, providers, technology companies, pharma, and regulators. 💎 Most healthcare organizations want better outcomes, but their operating models often push them toward different decisions. 💎 AI will only create value in healthcare when it fits real workflows, integrates data, and supports measurable execution. 💎 Value-based care still has promise, but the next phase depends on tighter payer-provider alignment, better access, navigation, and infrastructure. 💎 Product elegance alone will not transform healthcare; workflow assessment, change management, and incentive design are critical. 💎 U.S. healthcare remains a center of innovation, but affordability and sustainability will determine how far that innovation can scale. 💎 Healthcare leaders must start with the problem they need to solve, not the newest tool or trend. Guest Bio Dr. Dipul Patadia is Associate Chief Medical Officer at Cigna, where he helps advance clinical strategy, innovation, and client growth. He joined Cigna in 2025 after serving as Chief Health Officer at Salesforce, where he focused on applying technology to healthcare challenges. Previously, he held Chief Medical Officer roles at Ascension and Advocate Health, leading clinical initiatives and hospital operations. His work spans digital transformation, AI readiness, specialty care, quality improvement, and innovative value-based care strategies across payers, providers, and technology. SEO Keywords Dr. Dipul, Cigna, Roy Bejarano, SCALE Community, Analyzing Healthcare, payer provider alignment, healthcare incentives, healthcare innovation, AI in healthcare, agentic AI, Salesforce healthcare, value-based care, healthcare workflow, clinical variation, healthcare trust, consumer healthcare, healthcare management, payer strategy, health system transformation, healthcare technology, healthcare affordability

Cambridge Health Alliance’s orthopedic growth, physician alignment, OR efficiency, AI-enabled workflows, supply-cost savings, and community hospital innovation take center stage in this episode of Analyzing Healthcare by SCALE Community. Hans Van Lancker, Chair of Orthopedics at Cambridge Health Alliance, shares how CHA is using its smaller footprint as a strategic advantage in Boston’s highly consolidated healthcare market. He discusses how culture, data, physician engagement, and operational discipline can help smaller health systems innovate and compete effectively. The conversation explores OR utilization, supply-cost management, physician incentives, primary care integration, AI scribing, billing and coding, patient education, and specialty care growth. A timely discussion for healthcare executives, hospital leaders, MSO operators, orthopedic groups, payors, investors, and healthcare innovators interested in physician alignment, operational efficiency, AI adoption, and sustainable community hospital growth. What You’ll Learn ✅ Why smaller health systems can sometimes innovate faster than larger incumbents ✅ How CHA optimized OR utilization and surgical productivity ✅ Why culture and physician engagement are central to sustainability ✅ How supply-cost incentives helped save nearly $1 million in six months ✅ Why CHA grew orthopedic surgical volume 52% in three years ✅ How AI scribing, cost analytics, billing, coding, and patient education support better workflows ✅ Why good management may be one of healthcare’s most underrated innovations Key Timestamps (00:30) Cambridge Health Alliance footprint (02:08) Why smaller systems can innovate faster (05:00) CHA’s public health roots and community role (06:40) Infrastructure challenges and growth limits (09:27) Starting with data and OR utilization (11:50) Productivity, supply costs, and incentive alignment (15:05) Bringing ASC-style incentives into a nonprofit model (16:38) Expanding the culture beyond orthopedics (18:10) Rethinking physician productivity models (21:11) Why orthopedics supports the broader system (23:15) 52% surgical volume growth and length-of-stay reduction (27:47) Health system model vs. MSO model (31:11) Exporting the model to other hospitals (33:04) AI, cost analytics, billing, coding, and patient education (38:24) Why hospitals must move faster Key Takeaways 💎 Culture, speed, and local focus give smaller health systems a strategic advantage. 💎 Data-driven operations improved OR utilization, service-line performance, and resource allocation. 💎 Aligned supply-cost incentives drove physician buy-in and nearly $1M in savings in six months. 💎 Orthopedics grew surgical volume 52% in three years while reducing arthroplasty LOS to 0.4 days. 💎 Nonprofit systems can adopt ASC-style accountability while maintaining broader community care. 💎 Primary care integration creates a powerful referral advantage. 💎 AI and technology are extending the model through scribing, cost analytics, billing, coding, and patient education. Guest Bio Hans P. Van Lancker, MD, MBA, FRCSC, FAAOS, is an orthopaedic trauma surgeon, health system leader, and entrepreneur focused on clinical care, technology, and organizational design. He serves as Chair of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology, Physiatry and Rehabilitation at Cambridge Health Alliance and holds a Clinical Instructor appointment at Harvard Medical School. He founded the Boston Orthopaedic Traumaplasty Fellowship and advises AI companies on clinical integration. His work spans healthcare innovation, digital rehabilitation, clinical informatics, physician compensation, and new models for efficient, sustainable care delivery.

Denmark’s healthcare model offers a different approach to coordination, efficiency, and patient-centered care. In this episode of Analyzing Healthcare by SCALE Community, Roy Bejarano speaks with Rasmus Møgelvang, CEO of Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen, about centralized expertise, hospital-at-home care, national data infrastructure, workforce shortages, low-value care, fixed budgets, and public-private partnerships. Rasmus shares what Denmark’s healthcare system can teach the U.S. about using resources more effectively, bringing care closer to patients, and building infrastructure for the future. A timely conversation for healthcare executives, hospital leaders, policymakers, investors, and operators focused on health system design, digital infrastructure, workforce strategy, and value-based care. What You’ll Learn ✅ Why Denmark centralized care expertise before decentralizing services✅ How chemotherapy and oncology care can move safely into the home✅ Why Denmark focuses on stopping low-value and harmful care✅ How national data infrastructure supports coordination and remote care✅ Why workforce shortages are forcing systems to rethink resource allocation✅ How fixed budgets affect innovation funding✅ Why public-private partnerships are critical to scaling new solutions Key Timestamps (00:14) Rigshospitalet and Denmark’s national hospital role (02:02) Denmark vs. NHS and U.S. healthcare models (05:05) Centralize knowledge, then decentralize care (06:40) Cancer treatment at home (09:26) Healthcare spending and waste (11:00) Platform trials and low-value care (13:25) Nordic data sharing (14:30) Virtual Nordic University Hospital (16:59) National patient data and interoperability (18:40) Remote MRI, neurosurgery, and COVID response (21:55) Global research and public systems (23:59) Demographics and workforce shortage (28:57) Limits of fixed-budget medicine (32:13) Innovation and public-private partnerships (32:49) Real partnerships with industry Key Takeaways 💎 Denmark’s model shows the power of centralizing expertise and standards, then decentralizing care delivery closer to the patient. 💎 Hospital-at-home is not just a convenience strategy; it is a workforce, access, and capacity strategy. 💎 A value-based public system creates stronger incentives to identify and stop low-value or harmful care. 💎 National data infrastructure allows patient information to move across sites of care and support real-time coordination. 💎 Remote diagnostics and virtual specialty support can extend advanced care beyond the walls of major hospitals. 💎 Fixed annual budgets can support discipline, but they also make long-term innovation investment more challenging. 💎 Public-private partnerships help hospitals co-create scalable solutions rather than simply buying what already exists. Guest Bio Rasmus Møgelvang is Chief Executive at Rigshospitalet. He is a qualified physician and has previously been the Deputy Chief Executive of the hospital. He has also been the Centre Director of the Heart Centre at Rigshospitalet. Rasmus Møgelvang is also a member of the Danish government´s Life Science Council. SEO Keywords Rasmus Møgelvang, Rigshospitalet, Roy Bejarano, SCALE Community, Analyzing Healthcare, Denmark healthcare system, Nordic healthcare, single payer healthcare, hospital-at-home, healthcare centralization, healthcare decentralization, national patient data, interoperability, public-private partnerships, low-value care, workforce shortage, fixed budget healthcare, value-based care, healthcare innovation, health system design

Independent cardiology, ASC migration, physician autonomy, and site-of-care economics take center stage as Jason Schifman sits down with Jasen Gundersen, MD, Co-Founder & CEO of Cardio One. They explore why cardiology may be shifting back toward independent practice, Cardio One's non-acquisition model, the economics driving ASC growth, and how the company helps employed cardiologists build independent practices with operational, technology, contracting, staffing, and revenue cycle support. A must-listen for healthcare leaders, cardiology groups, MSOs, hospitals, payors, investors, and operators navigating the future of specialty care. What You’ll Learn ✅ Why most cardiologists are now employed by health systems✅ How ASC migration is changing the cardiology opportunity✅ Why hospital outpatient department billing is under pressure✅ What Cardio One means by physician “extractions”✅ How independent cardiologists can rebuild autonomy and practice ownership✅ Why patients may benefit from lower-cost, more convenient ambulatory care✅ Why hospitals may need partnership models beyond direct employment✅ How tech, revenue cycle, staffing, and ancillary services support independent practice Key Timestamps • (00:32) What Cardio One does• (01:43) Cardiology employment shift• (04:09) Cardiologists reclaiming independence• (06:42) Hospital control and ASC barriers• (09:40) Cardiac PET and reimbursement headwinds• (12:46) Cardio One's extraction model• (16:40) Patient, physician, and hospital value• (19:45) Right care, right site, right cost• (22:15) ASC and OBL development• (24:02) Hospital partnership opportunity• (26:49) What makes extractions work• (30:06) Tech stack and implementation model• (33:06) Expanding the addressable market• (35:07) Why Cardio One stays focused on cardiology• (37:32) Future of cardiology models• (39:46) Rhythm tech platform and interoperability Key Takeaways • 💎 Cardiology consolidated rapidly into hospital employment, but many physicians now want independence back.• 💎 Cardio One supports cardiologists without acquiring or owning their practices.• 💎 ASC migration creates new opportunities to move appropriate procedures out of high-cost hospital settings.• 💎 The “extraction” model helps employed physicians rebuild independent practices with operational support.• 💎 Patients can benefit from faster access, lower-cost sites of care, and more convenient office-based services.• 💎 Hospitals may still be key partners, but employment does not have to be the only alignment model.• 💎 Successful extractions require strong physician governance, office access, ancillary services, and disciplined execution.• 💎 A cardiology-specific tech and operating platform can create scale without forcing practice ownership. Guest Bio Jasen Gundersen, MD is Co-Founder and CEO of Cardio One, a practice enablement platform built to support independent cardiologists. Cardio One helps physicians establish and operate independent practices through real estate, staffing, contracting, technology, revenue cycle, marketing, equipment, and operational support. Dr. Gundersen’s work focuses on physician autonomy, ambulatory cardiology, site-of-care transformation, and building scalable models that help cardiologists thrive outside traditional hospital employment. Resource Links Guest: Jasen Gundersen, MD – Co-Founder & CEO, Cardio OneHost: Jason Schifman – President & Co-Founder, SCALE HealthcarePodcast: Analyzing Healthcare by SCALE CommunitySCALE Community: https://www.scale-community.com SEO Keywords Cardio One, Jasen Gundersen, Jason Schifman, SCALE Healthcare, Independent Cardiology, Cardiology MSO, Practice Enablement, Physician Autonomy, ASC Cardiology, Ambulatory Cardiology, Site of Care, Hospital Employment, Physician Extractions, Cardiac PET, Value-Based Care, Healthcare Strategy, Healthcare Podcast, Specialty Care, Payor Strategy, Healthcare Investors

Preventive health, GLP-1s, behavior change, AI coaching, longevity, diagnostics, and consumerization—Geoff Cook and SCALE explore how Noom is evolving from a weight-loss app into a broader everyday health platform. In this episode of Analyzing Healthcare by SCALE Community, Noom CEO Geoff Cook explains how the company is adapting to the GLP-1 era while remaining focused on sustainable habits and behavior change. He discusses why medication is only one part of the solution and how Noom is integrating clinical care, diagnostics, coaching, gamification, and AI. The conversation also examines the shift from episodic care to always-on health platforms, Noom’s engagement advantage with employers and health plans, and the role interoperability could play in connecting consumer data with the wider healthcare system. What You’ll Learn ✅ Why Noom defines itself as a preventive health and longevity platform✅ How GLP-1s changed Noom’s strategy✅ Why medication must be paired with behavior change✅ How Noom drives consumer engagement through habits, coaching, and gamification✅ Why preventive care may be moving beyond traditional primary care✅ How diagnostics, wearables, AI, and clinical access are converging✅ Why interoperability could reshape consumer health✅ What could drive long-term GLP-1 adoption Key Timestamps • (01:34) What Noom is today• (02:40) Building a GLP-1 companion• (03:51) Medication plus behavior change• (04:45) Consumer business vs. enterprise growth• (06:22) GLP-1 as a tool, not the full solution• (08:35) GLP-1 engagement and retention• (09:31) Gamification, seeds, and habit incentives• (10:29) Health outcomes beyond weight loss• (14:04) Preventive care vs. primary care• (17:29) Diagnostics, convenient care, and lifestyle support• (19:09) AI in coaching and biomarker screening• (21:31) Can preventive care bend the cost curve?• (24:20) Bringing longevity medicine mainstream• (28:24) Regulation and interoperability• (33:17) Why people stop GLP-1s Key Takeaways • 💎 Noom is positioning itself as a preventive health and longevity platform, not just a weight loss app.• 💎 GLP-1s can accelerate early success, but sustainable outcomes still depend on habits.• 💎 Consumer trust and brand recognition help Noom drive stronger employer and health plan engagement.• 💎 Preventive care is becoming more proactive, consumer-led, and data-driven.• 💎 AI can help personalize coaching, interpret biomarkers, and guide next actions.• 💎 Interoperability may allow consumer health data to become part of the broader medical record.• 💎 Price and side effects remain major barriers to long-term GLP-1 use. Guest Bio Geoff Cook is CEO of Noom, where he drove the launch of Noom Med product lines, growing it from zero to two-thirds of Noom's total revenue within 3 years of joining; introduced AI tools including Face Scan and Future Me; and led the convergence of diagnostics, behavior, and care. He also established Noom’s mission to help everyone live better longer. Previously, Geoff co-founded The Meet Group, serving as CEO through its $500 million sale in 2020. Resource Links Guest: Geoff Cook – CEO, NoomPodcast: Analyzing Healthcare by SCALE CommunitySCALE Community: https://www.scale-community.com SEO Keywords Noom, Geoff Cook, GLP-1, Preventive Health, Longevity, Behavior Change, AI in Healthcare, Healthcare Consumerization, Weight Loss, Health Coaching, Digital Health, Diagnostics, Interoperability, Value-Based Care, Employer Health, Payor Strategy, Healthcare Podcast, Healthcare Trends and Innovations, Healthcare Strategies, Leading Healthcare Stakeholders, Thought Leaders in Healthcare, Healthcare Industry Insights, Healthcare Innovations, Healthcare Strategy, Latest Trends in Healthcare, Healthcare Thought Leadership, Scale Healthcare, Roy Bejarano, Scale Community, Jason Schifman

Summary How PDS Health is linking dental care, oral-systemic health, Epic data sharing, and value-based care to improve whole-person outcomes. In this episode of Analyzing Healthcare, Jason Schifman speaks with Daniel Burke, Chief Enterprise Strategy Officer at PDS Health, about dental-medical integration and the mouth-body connection. Daniel explains how PDS grew through de novo expansion, dentist ownership, and innovation, while using Epic data sharing to connect oral health with broader medical outcomes. The conversation explores periodontal disease, diabetes, payer interest, value-based care, and how dental practices can support whole-person, preventive healthcare. What You’ll Learn ✅ Why PDS Health built through de novo growth ✅ How dentist ownership supports alignment ✅ Why oral health matters in chronic disease ✅ How Epic enables dental-medical collaboration ✅ Why payers are watching integrated care ✅ How PDS Health structures innovation at scale Key Timestamps (00:02) Introduction to Daniel Burke and PDS Health (01:52) Pacific Dental’s history and founder-led culture (04:14) Owner-doc model, alignment, and dentist-level accountability (05:20) Why PDS stayed independent and invested in innovation (09:13) De novo growth, under-leverage, and financial discipline (14:59) Why PDS views healthcare as relational, not transactional (22:53) Why PDS moved into integrated dental-medical care (23:27) The science behind the mouth-body connection (25:35) Gum disease, diabetes, and medical cost reduction (29:28) Epic, data sharing, and virtual collaboration (31:15) Partnership models with medical groups (33:40) Why co-located medical and dental care improves follow-through (40:30) Patient reception to integrated care (41:32) Why payers are interested in dental-medical integration (43:25) Value-based care and risk-sharing opportunities (44:35) A1C testing in dental practices (48:23) Physician fee schedule and oral health referral incentives (51:35) How PDS structures innovation at scale (55:16) Final takeaway: oral health as better healthcare Key Takeaways 💎 PDS Health grew through dentist ownership, de novo expansion, and long-term alignment. 💎 Oral health should not be separated from medical care. 💎 Periodontal disease can affect chronic conditions and medical utilization. 💎 Epic helps connect dental and medical teams through shared data. 💎 Payers see oral health as a lever for better outcomes and lower costs. 💎 Integrated care may scale through co-location, partnerships, data sharing, and value-based reimbursement. 💎 Innovation at PDS Health is supported by dedicated teams, structure, and disciplined testing. Guest Bio Daniel Burke is Chief Enterprise Strategy Officer at PDS Health, where he helps lead enterprise strategy across one of the country’s most innovative dental and integrated care platforms. PDS Health, formerly PDS, supports more than 1,000 dental practices and is advancing a model that connects oral health, medical care, data sharing, and whole-person outcomes. Daniel’s work focuses on growth strategy, dental-medical integration, payer engagement, innovation, and building scalable care models that support better patient health. Resource Links Guest: Daniel Burke – Chief Enterprise Strategy Officer, PDS Health Host: Jason Schifman – President & Co-Founder, SCALE Healthcare Podcast: Analyzing Healthcare by SCALE Community SCALE Community: https://www.scale-community.com SEO Keywords PDS Health, PDS, Daniel Burke, Roy Bejarano, SCALE Healthcare, SCALE Community, Dental-Medical Integration, DSO, Dental Support Organization, Integrated Care, Oral Health, Mouth-Body Connection, Periodontal Disease, Diabetes Care, Epic Healthcare, Value-Based Care, Healthcare Innovation, Preventive Care, Payer Strategy, Dental Practices, Healthcare Strategy, Healthcare Podcast

Nursing leadership, workforce shortages, nurse education, COVID’s impact, pay equity, licensure, prevention, and AI- Dr. Beverly Malone and Roy Bejarano unpack the future of nursing and its central role in U.S. healthcare. In this episode of Analyzing Healthcare, Roy Bejarano, CEO at SCALE Healthcare, speaks with Dr. Beverly Malone, CEO of the National League for Nursing, former President of the American Nurses Association, former Deputy Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of Health, and former General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing in the UK. Dr. Malone reflects on decades of nursing leadership, discussing the profession's evolution, COVID's impact, workforce challenges, advanced practice, and how prevention and technology are shaping the future of nursing. What You’ll Learn ✅ Why nurses remain one of the most trusted professional groups ✅ How COVID reshaped the nursing workforce emotionally and operationally ✅ Why nurse practitioners and advanced practice nurses are critical to access ✅ Why nurse pay is often misunderstood in healthcare inflation debates ✅ What global nurse recruitment means for both U.S. care and source countries ✅ Why licensure compacts could improve workforce mobility across states ✅ How prevention, research, AI, and virtual care could expand nursing’s impact Key Timestamps (00:01) Introduction to Dr. Beverly Malone and her leadership background (03:33) What has stayed constant in nursing (05:05) Trust, appreciation, and nurses as healthcare leaders (09:09) How COVID impacted nurses and the healthcare workforce (13:02) Nurse practitioners, CRNAs, and filling access gaps (19:08) International nurse recruitment and ethical workforce strategy (24:10) Nurse educator shortages and funding challenges (33:15) Nurse pay, hospital inflation, and undervalued care (39:30) Why nurses do not take strikes lightly (44:57) What nurses are most excited about next (47:42) Multistate licensure compacts and workforce mobility (50:57) AI, technology, and more hands-on nursing care Key Takeaways 💎 Nursing is rooted in caring, integrity, inclusion, excellence, and patient trust. 💎 COVID deeply affected nurses because they could not provide care in the human way they were trained to deliver it. 💎 Nurse practitioners, CRNAs, and advanced practice nurses are essential to closing access gaps. 💎 The nursing shortage is also a nurse educator shortage. 💎 Nurses are not the main driver of hospital inflation, yet their value is often under-recognized economically. 💎 Ethical global recruitment should support both receiving countries and source countries. 💎 Licensure flexibility can help nurses deliver care across state lines. 💎 AI should reduce hands-off work so nurses can deliver more hands-on care. Guest Bio Dr. Beverly Malone is CEO of the National League for Nursing, one of the leading organizations advancing nursing education and workforce development in the U.S. She previously served as President of the American Nurses Association, Deputy Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of Health, and General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing in the UK. Her leadership spans nursing policy, education, workforce advocacy, global nursing, equity, and the future of patient-centered care. Resource Links Guest: Dr. Beverly Malone – CEO, National League for Nursing Host: Roy Bejarano – CEO & Co-Founder, SCALE Healthcare Podcast: Analyzing Healthcare by SCALE Community SCALE Community: https://www.scale-community.com SEO Keywords Nursing, Beverly Malone, National League for Nursing, NLN, Roy Bejarano, SCALE Healthcare, SCALE Community, Nursing Workforce, Nurse Shortage, Nurse Education, Nurse Educators, Healthcare Workforce, Nurse Practitioners, CRNA, COVID Healthcare Impact, Nurse Pay, Healthcare Inflation, Nursing Leadership, Health Equity, Preventive Care, AI in Nursing, Virtual Care, Healthcare Podcast

Maryland’s all-payer model, value-based reimbursement, health system scale, AI, rural care, and health equity- Mark Shaver and Roy Bejarano unpack what makes the University of Maryland Medical System one of the most unique healthcare platforms in the U.S. In this episode of Analyzing Healthcare, Roy Bejarano, CEO at SCALE Healthcare, speaks with Mark Shaver, Chief Strategy Officer at the University of Maryland Medical System, about how Maryland’s regulated reimbursement model changes the economics, strategy, and mission of care delivery. A strategic conversation for healthcare veterans, payors, investors, health system leaders, and U.S. healthcare enthusiasts interested in what sustainable care delivery could look like beyond traditional fee-for-service economics. What You’ll Learn ✅ Why Maryland’s all-payer model is unlike any other state healthcare market ✅ How global budgets change hospital margin, growth, and access strategy ✅ Why value-based care is built into Maryland’s reimbursement structure ✅ Why Medicare Advantage adoption is much lower in Maryland ✅ How UMMS balances public-private partnerships, mission, and scale ✅ Why advanced therapies must also address health equity ✅ How AI and virtual care are moving from hype to practical systemwide use ✅ Why rural workforce development is central to healthcare transformation Key Timestamps • (00:03) Introduction to Mark Shaver and UMMS • (01:42) “For-profit mindset and nonprofit heart” • (03:41) Why nonprofit healthcare needs business discipline • (06:36) Maryland’s all-payer reimbursement model • (08:53) Value-based care built into the system • (12:39) Global budget: stability vs. innovation capital • (22:30) Low Medicare Advantage adoption • (40:22) Specialty care closer to the community • (45:42) CAR-T therapy, multiple myeloma, and health equity • (48:03) AI, virtual care, and workflow value • (50:04) Rural workforce development Key Takeaways • 💎 Maryland’s all-payer model changes how hospitals think about margin, access, and growth. • 💎 Value-based care in Maryland is not a pilot—it is built into reimbursement. • 💎 Global budgets create stability but can limit surplus capital for innovation. • 💎 Low Medicare Advantage adoption changes primary care and payer strategy. • 💎 UMMS is focused on bringing specialty and advanced care closer to communities. • 💎 AI and virtual care are becoming practical tools, but leaders must separate hype from real workflow value. • 💎 Workforce development is a major lever for rural healthcare transformation. Guest Bio Mark Shaver is Chief Strategy Officer at the University of Maryland Medical System, where he leads enterprise strategy across one of Maryland’s most important healthcare platforms. With experience across nonprofit health systems, Welltower, Johns Hopkins, and earlier Wall Street roles, Mark brings a unique mix of growth strategy, operating discipline, and mission-driven leadership. His work spans systemness, ambulatory strategy, rural transformation, academic partnerships, AI, virtual care, and care delivery innovation across Maryland’s all-payer healthcare environment. Resource Links Guest: Mark Shaver – Chief Strategy Officer, University of Maryland Medical System Host: Roy Bejarano – CEO & Co-Founder, SCALE Healthcare Podcast: Analyzing Healthcare by SCALE Community SCALE Community: https://www.scale-community.com SEO Keywords Healthcare Strategy, University of Maryland Medical System, UMMS, Mark Shaver, Roy Bejarano, SCALE Healthcare, SCALE Community, Maryland Healthcare, All-Payer Model, Value-Based Care, Global Budget Healthcare, Medicare Advantage, Rural Healthcare, Healthcare AI, Virtual Care, Telemedicine, Ambulatory Strategy, Academic Medical Center, Health Equity, Healthcare Leadership, Healthcare Podcast

How can independent health systems compete in a consolidating market? Ben Wade shares strategies for outpatient growth, partnerships, and community access. Hospital strategy, outpatient growth, healthcare partnerships, and community access are becoming critical priorities for independent health systems. In this episode of Analyzing Healthcare Jason Schifman, President at SCALE Healthcare, sits down with Ben Wade, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at Stamford Health, to discuss how independent providers can compete in increasingly consolidated markets. Ben shares why Stamford Health has prioritized ambulatory care, physician alignment, strategic partnerships, and consumer-focused access, with outpatient services now accounting for nearly 70% of revenue. The conversation explores partnerships with HSS and Dana-Farber/Brigham, the role of ambulatory surgery centers, and the growing impact of Medicaid eligibility changes on community health systems. Ben also explains why cultural alignment is often the deciding factor behind successful healthcare partnerships. What You'll Learn ✅ How Stamford Health competes as an independent health system✅ Why outpatient services drive nearly 70% of revenue✅ The role of physician alignment in long-term growth✅ What makes healthcare partnerships successful✅ Why cultural fit matters as much as economics✅ How ambulatory surgery centers improve access and affordability✅ The impact of Medicaid eligibility changes on community care✅ Strategies for protecting access amid rising uncompensated care Key Timestamps (00:01) Introduction to Ben Wade and Stamford Health(00:56) Market position and uncompensated care challenges(04:11) Stamford Health's strategic framework(06:50) Why outpatient care drives growth(10:26) Ambulatory surgery centers and physician alignment(12:33) Stakeholder response to outpatient expansion(14:53) Partnerships with HSS and Dana-Farber/Brigham(19:48) Why cultural fit matters in partnerships(23:02) PE-backed physician groups as partners(25:15) Medicaid eligibility changes and community accessKey Takeaways 💎 Independent systems can stay competitive through focused strategy and local relevance💎 Outpatient care is central to health system sustainability💎 Successful partnerships require meaningful integration, not just branding💎 Ambulatory investments can strengthen access, affordability, and physician relationships💎 Cultural alignment is a major predictor of partnership success💎 Community health systems must prepare for coverage disruptions and rising uncompensated careGuest Bio Ben Wade is Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at Stamford Health, where he leads strategy, ambulatory growth, partnership development, and market positioning. His work focuses on helping independent health systems remain competitive through physician alignment, outpatient expansion, and community-centered innovation. Resource Links Guest: Ben WadeHost: Jason SchifmanPodcast: Analyzing Healthcare by SCALE CommunitySCALE Community:www.scale-community.com SEO Keywords Healthcare Strategy, Hospital Strategy, Outpatient Growth, Ambulatory Care, Health System Partnerships, Stamford Health, Ben Wade, Jason Schifman, Independent Health Systems, Physician Alignment, Ambulatory Surgery Centers, Medicaid Eligibility, Community Health, Healthcare Leadership, Healthcare Innovation, Hospital Growth Strategy, Healthcare Podcast, Healthcare Industry Insights, SCALE Healthcare, SCALE Community.

Healthcare accreditation, telehealth accreditation, AI governance, and healthcare quality are reshaping modern care delivery. In this episode of Analyzing Healthcare, Roy Bejarano, CEO of SCALE Healthcare, speaks with Shawn Griffin, MD, CEO of URAC, about how accreditation builds trust, improves quality, and supports accountability across healthcare. Shawn discusses URAC’s evolution from utilization review into a leading accreditation organization with programs spanning telehealth, specialty pharmacy, credentialing, health plans, and AI. The conversation explores what makes accreditation meaningful, how quality standards are developed, and why consistent oversight matters. They also examine telehealth quality, global access challenges, and the growing need to distinguish credible healthcare organizations from poor performers. The episode concludes with a discussion on healthcare AI, including privacy, bias, governance, and accountability, and why URAC launched one of the industry's first AI accreditation programs. What You'll Learn ✅ How URAC fits into the healthcare accreditation landscape ✅ Why accreditation matters for trust, quality, and credibility ✅ How URAC differs from facility-based accreditors ✅ The role of reviewer consistency in accreditation outcomes ✅ What telehealth accreditation evaluates ✅ Why telehealth quality standards matter globally ✅ How URAC approaches healthcare AI accreditation ✅ Key AI governance considerations, including privacy and bias ✅ How accreditation can become a strategic differentiator ✅ Why quality standards may grow in importance as innovation accelerates Timestamps • {00:00} Introduction to Shawn Griffin and URAC • {00:45} URAC and the accreditation ecosystem • {02:18} Origins in utilization review and governance • {04:09} How accreditation programs are developed • {06:14} URAC's scale and reviewer model • {13:28} Reviewer independence and conflict avoidance • {15:24} How URAC differs from other accreditors • {22:20} Telehealth, access, and quality assurance • {35:00} Why URAC launched AI accreditation • {38:10} Evaluating AI developers and users • {41:27} AI oversight in patient care • {50:54} The practical realities of AI accreditation Key Takeaways • 💎 Accreditation creates trust where risk and complexity are high • 💎 Quality oversight goes beyond basic compliance requirements • 💎 Consistent review processes strengthen accreditation outcomes • 💎 Telehealth growth increases the need for trusted standards • 💎 AI adoption requires governance, oversight, and accountability • 💎 Demonstrating best practices is more valuable than simply claiming them • 💎 Accreditation can help distinguish credible organizations from opportunistic ones • 💎 Standards may become increasingly influential as healthcare innovation accelerates Guest Bio Shawn Griffin, MD, is the CEO of URAC, a leading independent healthcare accreditation organization. A physician executive with experience in clinical practice, hospital leadership, health information technology, and healthcare quality, Dr. Griffin has dedicated his career to improving patient outcomes through accountability and innovation. Under his leadership, URAC has expanded its accreditation programs across telehealth, specialty pharmacy, credentialing, digital health, and artificial intelligence, helping healthcare organizations demonstrate quality, trust, and operational excellence. Guest: Shawn Griffin, MD – CEO, URAC Host: Roy Bejarano – CEO, SCALE Healthcare Podcast: Analyzing Healthcare by SCALE Community SEO Keywords: Healthcare accreditation, URAC, Shawn Griffin, Roy Bejarano, telehealth accreditation, healthcare quality, healthcare AI, AI governance, utilization review, healthcare standards, credentialing, specialty pharmacy, patient safety, digital health, healthcare trust, healthcare oversight, healthcare podcast, SCALE Healthcare.