Episode # 204 – Dr. Zeev Neuwirth Round 2 Talks About What He Learned in the C-Suite at a Leading System and from Leading Lights on His Podcast. Healthcare is on the Move Beyond the Walls – Here’s How.

Posted on November 30, 2023 by primarycarecures

In this episode Ron chats with Dr. Zeev Neuwirth. Zeev is a healthcare executive, author, and host of the “Creating a New Healthcare” podcast. Here, he delves deep into the innovative realms of employee health and the transformative potential of digital technology in healthcare. Zeev also shares insights from his book “Beyond the Walls: MegaTrends, Movements and Market Disruptors Transforming American Healthcare”.

Zeev Neuwirth, MD is a healthcare executive with over 15 years of clinical practice in Internal Medicine and another 15 years in clinical operations, quality improvement, care redesign, population health and innovation. He has served as an industry adviser to numerous digital health companies. His work to improve and transform healthcare delivery have been featured in Newsweek, Forbes, Fast Company, WebMD, The Yale School of Management Journal, and two Harvard case studies.

In 2017 Dr. Neuwirth launched a podcast entitled Creating a New Healthcare. It was named as one of the most popular healthcare podcasts of 2018 and awarded “Healthcare Podcast of the Year” in 2019 by the Healthcare and IT Marketing Community. It continues to be one of the leading healthcare podcasts.

In 2019, Dr. Neuwirth published his first book, Reframing Healthcare – A Roadmap for Creating Disruptive Change. which achieved Amazon #1 New Release status in the domain of healthcare administration and policy. Based on in-depth interviews with hundreds of healthcare leaders and entrepreneurs, it outlines the market trends re-shaping healthcare, and a comprehensive and scalable approach to transforming healthcare delivery.

In September 2023, Dr. Neuwirth published a second book, Beyond The Walls – Megatrends, and Market Disruptors Transforming American Healthcare. This book achieved Top New Release on Amazon, in the category of Hospital Administration. It outlines a 3-part strategy for the transformation of American healthcare and documents dozens of examples of the visionary, courageous entrepreneurs and leaders who are transcending the constraints of our legacy past.

Dr. Neuwirth is an alum of Tufts University and the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He received a Masters in Healthcare Management from the Harvard School of Public Health, where he continues to lecture. He is also a lecturer at the Yale School of Public Health, and a frequent speaker at national symposium and board retreats.

Episode # 203 – Round 2 with Dr. Gordon Chen From a Few Days Before Walmart Announced They Are in Talks. How to Deliver 30-50% Lower Hospitalizations and Much More.

Posted on November 15, 2023 by primarycarecures

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On this episode Ron has an engaging conversation with Dr. Gordon Chen, Owner, former Chief Medical Officer, and current Board Member, ChenMed Inc. He is also Co-author of “The Calling: A Memoir of Family, Faith and the Future of Healthcare.” Here, Gordon answers the hard-hitting questions of why everyone isn’t going full risk in value-based care, what differentiates ChenMed from other practices, why some physicians are willing to be put on waiting lists to work for ChenMed, and much more!

Gordon Chen, MD is leading a healthcare revolution. He created and oversees a world class physician development culture that empowers doctors to be the change they want to see in healthcare while fulfilling their purpose and creating personal opportunities.

Dr. Chen believes doctors can fulfill the moral imperative needed to create a healthcare delivery system that produces social justice through better health. He has developed programs to create world-class physician leaders with the influence required to spread value-based, preventive care beyond a medical center, city or even a state. His approach transforms doctors, patients, and entire communities.

After graduating from Brown University with a bachelor’s degree in economics as part of Brown’s Program of Liberal Medical Education, Dr. Chen followed family tradition and accepted a scholarship to attend the University of Miami School of Medicine. He remained in Miami for his internal medicine and cardiology training.

Dr. Chen is also the president of Nicaragua Medical Missions, a Christian non-profit organization that strives to create medical mission opportunities to meet the needs of multiple underserved Nicaraguan communities. Dr. Chen is married to his medical school sweetheart, Dr. Jessica Chen, ChenMed’s Chief Clinical Officer. They have four children.

Episode # 202 – Andy Thompson is COO of the Largest Independent Pediatric Group and a Former Leader at VillageMD. Here We Learn About Key Quality Metrics, Full vs Partial Risk VBC, Deep Data and the Critical Importance of the Independent Caregiver.

Posted on September 8, 2023 by primarycarecures

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In this episode Ron chats with Andrew Thompson, COO of Pediatric Associates. Here they discuss whether the large health systems deliver better or worse outcomes than independent physicians. They also examine the influence of big healthcare systems, the rise of value-based care, and the monopolies that dominate the industry. Throughout the episode, Andrew and Ron explore the pivotal role of primary care in our healthcare system and discuss the pervasive corruption in the world of big healthcare systems.

Andy Thompson joined Pediatric Associates as the practice’s Chief Operating Officer in November of 2022. As Pediatric Associates continues to grow its footprint nationally, he will provide operational leadership across the national pediatric practice. As COO, Thompson will collaborate across the executive leadership team and a diverse market stakeholder base to drive operational efficiency and performance while building a continuously scalable organization.

Andy has dedicated his over 20 year career in physician practice management. Previously, Thompson held the same role at VillageMD, a national provider of value-based primary care services. Prior to Pediatric Associates and VillageMD, Thompson has excelled in several COO roles for both traditional and private equity backed organizations including Mercy and Bon Secours. At VillageMD, he built the operating model and created the structure for operations using analytics and other mechanisms to drive rigor.

Thompson has a BA in Psychology from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, and a master’s in healthcare administration from Missouri State University. He currently lives in Dallas, TX. Outside of work Andy is an avid tennis player, father, and husband.

Episode # 201 – Leon Wisniewski Round 2 is On Fire with a New App, Billy, Allowing All of Us to Easily See Local Hospital Pricing on Any Procedure. All You Need is a CPT Code and You’re Off..!

Posted on September 1, 2023 by primarycarecures

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In this episode, Ron chats with Leon Wisniewski, Founder of Health Cost Labs & Co-Founder of Billy – a consumer focused healthcare payment tool. Here, Leon discusses how Billy works, how it takes price transparency to a whole new level, how it creates hospital competition that will ultimately bring prices down, and much more!

Leon worked at large Blue Cross for over 15 years as an actuarial analyst, contract analyst, in payment integrity and in informatics. In these roles he modeled claims data to project spend, created fee schedules, supported contract negotiations with doctors and hospitals, identified recoveries by finding claims that did not pay correctly and modeled payment policy impact changes. More recently he worked at a population health company making benchmarks to inform companies of opportunities to make better decisions. With full experience in the managed care space he believes nothing is more effective to lowering cost and reducing doctor abrasion than knowing the price for treatment and creating data fluidity which will greatly reduce over-utilization and misdiagnosis.

He has a BA in Information Management from Holy Family University, lives in the Philadelphia area, is married, has two kids, and belongs to his church.

Episode # 200 – Primary Care Cures Celebrates its 200th Episode with Host Ron Barshop

Posted on August 23, 2023 by primarycarecures

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A lot has changed in healthcare since Ron Barshop started the podcast in 2019. On this 200th episode of Primary Care Cures, Ron reflects on the multitude of conversations he’s had with thought leaders from across the country, the growth of the podcast, the current retail disruptor wars in healthcare, federal complicity, and who is profiting from the massive headwinds healthcare has faced since the start of the podcast and specifically since the beginning of the pandemic.

Ron Barshop was Executive Vice President of Phone Power where he grew an inbound telemarketing tax service firm from 5 to 50 employees in under 2 years as the sole business development officer — he recruited clients such as WalMart, Hilton, Kelly Services and McDonalds before age 25.As President of the Financial Process Group he grew the agency from 3-50 employees into a top 2% performer.He served asPresident of a 3 city AM money talk radio network which under his leadership,raised several million in capital and increased revenues over 120% in 18 months.He was Co-Founder and CEO of APMD, an ancillary income physical medicine service add on in Primary Care Physician offices as well as Smart Allergy Labs which grew to 50 clinics in three states In its first 9 months.

Most recently served as CEO of Beacon Clinics a leading ancillary income firm for primary care providers. Beacon clinics was a top-in-class national leader in allergy outcomes , patient volume and safety protocols.

He has won numerous leadership awards and honors in Texas and has served on multiple statewide and San Antonio civic boards. Ron has led several capital campaigns for nonprofits all exceeding the goal .He is a guest lecturer at the Boise State University Master in Population & Health Systems Management program.

He led two angel networks, including founding Angel SA– the members funded the first round of RackSpace, and including Chairing The Capital Network which raised

over $100M in angel capital for startups under his tenure.

He is father to three adult sons and has completed 10 marathons.

Episode # 199 – Dr. Cristin Dickerson Has Served 18,000/yr at Green Imaging with 3,000 Centers where Costs Drop 60% with Equal or Better Quality. This is a Preferred Diagnostic Network Defined — Round 2!

Posted on August 11, 2023 by primarycarecures

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In this episode Ron brings Dr. Cristin Dickerson back on the show. Here, she discusses the Green Imaging business model, how they focus on providing fairly priced imaging, her thoughts on what the ideal health plan would be, and more.

Dr. Cristin A. Dickerson is the founding partner of Green Imaging. She is a graduate of the University of Texas Medical School at Houston where she was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. Dr. Dickerson completed her radiology residency at UT Houston, where she was a chief resident, with extensive training in cancer imaging at MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Dr. Dickerson practiced for 13 years at the Diagnostic Clinic of Houston where she served as a two-term president of the 50 physician clinic and oversaw a self-funded health plan. Her clinical interests include oncologic (cancer) MRI and CT and PET/CT, breast imaging, and cardiac screening.

She founded Green Imaging in 2011 to provide affordable, high-quality medical imaging for uninsured and high deductible patients in Houston and rapidly expanded the company to provide services throughout most of the US and to employer-sponsored health plans. She loves being able to provide quality services to patients who otherwise couldn’t afford them and delivering significant imaging cost savings to patients with healthcare coverage and their employers without compromising quality. Dr. Dickerson is passionate about spreading the word that patients and employers do have great new nontraditional healthcare coverage options in the fast-growing alternative healthcare market.

Episode # 198 – Dr. Paula Muto has 5,000 Specialists and 10,000 in Process to join UBERDOC a Consumer to Doctor Marketplace.

Posted on August 2, 2023 by primarycarecures

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In this episode Ron chats with Paula Muto, Founder & CEO of UBERDOC. UBERDOC is where direct-pay patients go to find the care they need without the barriers that limit choice, cause delay, and cost more. They are building a fee-for-service model that re-establishes an efficient and direct-connection between doctor and patient. Here she discusses what inspired her to start UBERDOC, why doctors are excited about joining UBERDOC, how their model works, and more.

UBERDOC Founder and CEO Paula M. Muto, MD FACS, is a practicing vascular and general surgeon in solo practice and the owner of Muto Vein Center. She is a member of a family of physicians and surgeons who have collectively practiced medicine in Massachusetts for over 50 years. She is an outspoken advocate for patient care and is passionate about women’s health issues.

Episode # 197 – Donald Trigg is an Author and CEO of apree Health, A Combination of Digital Health Innovator Castlight Health and Advanced Primary Care Leader Vera Whole Health.

Posted on July 21, 2023 by primarycarecures

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In this episode Ron chats with Donald Trigg, CEO of apree Health. Here he discusses how apree health is building the first integrated health network that combines data-driven personalization, a coordinated care model, and aligned incentives which aims to unlock value and make life better for those they serve. He also discusses his partnership with JPMorgan Chase, and what he sees in the apree Health’s future.

Donald Trigg is the chief executive officer of apree Health, a combination of digital health innovator Castlight Health and advanced primary care leader Vera Whole Health.

Trigg has spent almost two decades at the intersection of health care and information technology. He served as President of Fortune 500 electronic medical record provider Cerner Corporation. As President, he held general management, P&L, and operational responsibilities for the full breadth of Cerner’s business groups. Prior to his role as President, Trigg held senior leadership roles at the company including executive vice president of Strategic Growth where he led a set of businesses that encompassed Cerner’s strategies around value-based care and Workforce Health. He also was managing director of the United Kingdom and Ireland, general manager of the U.S. Midwest region, and the first-ever vice president of Cerner’s government practice.

Trigg also has experience scaling early-stage growth businesses. He led the execution of Natural Language Processing (NLP) leader CodeRyte’s rapid growth plan, culminating in its acquisition by 3M in 2012. He also brings deep public policy experience to his role at apree Health including a decade in Washington, D.C. in senior policy roles in both the legislative and the executive branch. Trigg earned a BS from St. Lawrence University and is co-author of The New Health Economy: Ground Rules for Leaders (Georgetown University Press).

Episode # 196 – Dr. Keith Smith Launched the First Transparent Bundled Price Surgery Center Which has Now Served 100,000 Since 1997 and has Made its Mark Affecting System Pricing and Reducing Costs 20-60% for Employers and Consumers with Quality Metrics Unsurpassed.

Posted on July 11, 2023 by primarycarecures

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In this episode Ron brings Keith Smith, Medical Director at Surgical Center of Oklahoma back on the show to discuss the importance of transparent pricing in healthcare and how he helped to pioneer that movement. He also discusses how other organizations are copying the Surgery Center of Oklahoma pricing model, how the government is not doing enough to make a positive change in healthcare, the importance of direct contracting and free market competition, and more.

In 2009, Dr. Smith launched a website displaying all-inclusive pricing for various surgical procedures, a move that has gained him and the facility, national and even international attention. Many Canadians and uninsured Americans have been treated at his facility, taking advantage of the low and transparent pricing available. His most recent effort is the launch of the Free Market Medical Association which provides a platform where those seeking to obtain high quality and affordable health care can find free market-minded providers, both physicians and facilities.

Operation of this free market medical practice, the standard for all who have embraced this practice approach, has gained the endorsement of policymakers and legislators nationally. More and more self-funded insurance plans are taking advantage of Dr. Smith’s pricing model resulting in significant savings to their employee health plans. His hope is for as many facilities as possible to adopt a transparent pricing model, a move he believes will lower costs and improve quality of care for all.

He has made appearances on the John Stossel Show, CNBC, Huffington Post, The O’Reilly Factor, Capital Account, The Ron Paul Channel, NBC Nightly News and has been featured by Reason Magazine’s TV division. The New York Times, Time Magazine, ABC news, Forbes and many others have written articles featuring Dr. Smith’s revolutionary approach to the pricing of health care and uncompromising free market principles.

Episode # 195 – Dr. Mark Potts, as Superintendent of Ashtabula Area School District, Saved $9M Over 3 Years for an Average Annual 30% Savings… 60% is Possible if All Employees Participate.

Posted on June 26, 2023 by primarycarecures

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In this episode Ron chats with Dr. Mark Potts, President of Transformational Consulting, LLC. Here, Mark discusses his previous role as the Superintendent of the Ashtabula Area City Schools and how he discovered that that his employees did not have great healthcare benefits despite ever-increasing costs. This discovery led him on a journey to get a much better benefit plan for his staff that improved outcomes and ultimately saved both the school district and the plan members a significant amount of money. This inspired Mark to start Transformational Consulting so he could help other organizations get set up with much better healthcare benefits plans than then then they are currently on.

Dr. Mark Potts is the former Superintendent of the Ashtabula Area City Schools in Ashtabula, Ohio. Since leaving that position 7 months ago, he has started Transformational Consulting, LLC whose mission is shepherding schools districts and other public entities to healthcare plans that produce better health outcomes for their employees at substantial savings.

Dr. Potts is also an adjunct professor at Grand Canyon University teaching graduate education classes, and is a consultant for Bounceback, a program that helps teachers with wellness, self-care, and dealing with stress to ultimately help retain teachers in the profession.

He is a mission driven, servant leader who has also been active in his church and community.

Mark is married to Jessica, a nurse of nearly 30 years. They have a blended family with 6 children ages 20-30 – 4 of which got married in the past year.