Turn on the Lights Podcast

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Latest Episodes:

Catholic Health Care with Patricia Gabow Apr 11, 2025

Show notes

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

What happens when one of America’s largest health care systems quietly limits your access to essential care?

In this episode, Dr. Patricia Gabow, former CEO of Denver Health, discussed her values-driven leadership of the safety-net system, which remained financially stable while serving a predominantly uninsured and underserved population through integrated care and lean management. She highlighted concerns from her recent book about the growing influence of Catholic health systems in the U.S., particularly their adherence to religious directives that restrict reproductive, gender-related, and end-of-life care. Gabow emphasized the lack of transparency in these systems, noting that most patients are unaware of the limitations until they need care. She criticized the shift from mission-driven leadership by nuns to profit-focused lay leadership, often disconnected from frontline health care realities. While hopeful about Pope Francis’s advocacy for the poor, she expressed disappointment in the lack of reform among American bishops and health systems.

Tune in to pull back the curtain on Catholic hospitals, their powerful reach, and what it means for the future of patient care in the U.S!

Movement Building and Large Scale Change with Joe McCannon Apr 04, 2025

Show notes

How do we scale proven solutions in health care, climate resilience, and public health to create lasting impact?

In this episode, Joe McCannon, former Director of Sustainability for the Council on Environmental Quality in the Executive Office of the President of the United States, discusses scaling impactful solutions in public health, climate change, and health care resilience. Joe highlights three key challenges: providing clinical guidance for climate-related health issues, keeping health care facilities operational during disasters, and reducing healthcare’s environmental impact. He emphasizes the importance of showcasing successful sustainability efforts and leveraging policies like the Inflation Reduction Act to drive change. To tackle large-scale problems, he advocates for understanding harm and solutions, fostering collective action, leading with strong values, setting clear goals, and rejecting powerlessness. Despite challenges, Joe urges bold, proactive action, emphasizing that this is a moment for courage and innovation.

Tune in for an eye-opening conversation with Joe McCannon on the strategies, challenges, and innovations needed to drive large-scale change and build a healthier, more resilient future!

Rational Public Policy with Mike Chernew Mar 28, 2025

Show notes

Curious about how we can fix the inefficiencies of the U.S. health care system and ensure better care for all?

In this episode, Michael Chernew, the Leonard D. Schaeffer Professor of Health Care Policy at the Department of Health Care Policy at Harvard Medical School, discussed the challenges and reforms in the American health care system. He emphasized the concept of value-based insurance design, which aims to reduce cost-sharing for high-value services to ensure patients receive necessary care. Chernew highlighted the inefficiencies of the fee-for-service system and the importance of payment reforms, particularly within Medicare Advantage, to improve care quality and control costs. He also explained the complexities of the U.S. health care system, influenced by the balance between market forces and government regulation, leading to opaque pricing and administrative burdens. While acknowledging the potential lessons from other countries' health care systems, he noted that adopting foreign models directly may not work due to the unique economic and social landscape of the U.S.

Tune in as Professor Michael Chernew unpacks innovative solutions, such as value-based insurance design and payment reforms, that could reshape the future of health care!

The Evolution of Palliative Care with Christine Cassel Mar 21, 2025

Show notes

Palliative care aims to treat symptoms and improve patients' quality of life, even if they are not terminally ill, and should be integrated early in the treatment process.

In this episode, Dr. Christine Cassel, a pioneer in geriatrics and palliative care, shares her journey from an aspiring philosopher to an influential figure in health care. She discusses her early experiences that ignited her passion for moral philosophy and medicine, leading to her groundbreaking work in end-of-life care and palliative medicine. Dr. Cassel highlights the importance of early palliative care, emphasizing its role in symptom relief and preparing patients and families for the future. She also delves into her current initiative, Bridging Divides, aimed at fostering respectful conversations and reducing polarization within medical schools and beyond, emphasizing the power of curiosity, intellectual humility, and the "exhausted majority" in bridging divides.

Tune in to learn about Dr. Cassel's impactful career, the evolution of palliative care, and strategies for promoting understanding and unity in a divided world!

Think Tanks and Their Role in Health Care Policy with Andrea Ducas Mar 14, 2025

Show notes

The U.S. health care system is complex, costly, and often frustrating, but what if we could reimagine it to work better for everyone?

In this episode, Andrea Ducas, Vice President of Health Policy at the Center for American Progress, shares how her personal experiences shaped her commitment to creating a more equitable system, criticizing the current model as overly complex, costly, and dependent on employment and insurance status. She explains the historical development of employer-based insurance and government programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act (ACA), highlighting CAP’s role in shaping policy and advising lawmakers. CAP is currently focused on defending Medicaid from budget cuts while also exploring long-term reforms to simplify and improve health care access. Ducas emphasizes the importance of preparing bold, progressive policy solutions so they are ready for implementation when political opportunities arise.

Tune in to learn about the challenges of health care policy, the fight to protect Medicaid, and bold ideas for a more equitable future!

Anyone Can Choose Leadership with Dennis Wagner and John Scanlon Mar 07, 2025

Show notes

Anyone can choose leadership, and it requires bold aims, intentional actions, and disciplined responses to challenges.

In this episode, Dennis Wagner, Principal and Managing Director of Yes And Leadership, LLC, and John Scanlon, partner at Financial Transformations Inc., highlight the key themes of their book Choosing to LEAD, like how leadership is distinct from management, administration, and observation. The book presents 12 essential leadership mindsets and methods drawn from years of experience and insights from respected figures. While the book focuses on health care, its principles apply broadly, showing that effective leadership involves adaptability, teamwork, and positive communication. Ultimately, the discussion encourages individuals at all levels to embrace leadership, as it not only improves organizations and communities but also enhances personal fulfillment and effectiveness.

Tune in for an inspiring conversation full of powerful lessons on leadership, mindset, and the choices that drive meaningful impact!

The Economics and Ills of U.S. Health Care and Health Insurance with Zack Cooper Feb 28, 2025

Show notes

The structure of the U.S. health care system, particularly employer-sponsored insurance, is significantly impacting the economic well-being of most Americans.

In this episode, Zack Cooper, Associate Professor of Public Health and Economics for Yale University, examines the drivers of rising health care costs and their impact on individuals and the economy. He highlights the disconnect between Medicare and private insurance spending, the role of provider market power in driving up prices, and the surprising link between health care costs and job losses for lower and middle-income workers. Zack explains that rising health care premiums lead companies to reduce payroll, disproportionately affecting workers earning between $20,000 and $100,000 annually. He argues that employer-sponsored insurance contributes to income inequality and suggests potential policy solutions such as broader insurance markets, eliminating employer-sponsored insurance, and stronger antitrust enforcement in the health care sector. Zack also touches on the debate between single-payer systems and market-based approaches, emphasizing the need for greater efficiency and value in health care spending.

Tune in and learn how health care costs are affecting your wallet and the broader economy!

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Continuous Learning for Better Care with Daniel Hyman and Peter Margolis Feb 21, 2025

Show notes

Learning health networks offer a powerful, cost-effective approach to improving health care outcomes by fostering collaboration.

In this episode, Dr. Peter Margolis, Co-Director Emeritus of the James M. Anderson Center for Health Systems Excellence at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, and Dr. Daniel Hyman, Principal and Founder of Frontline Quality Solutions, LLC, discuss the learning health network model, which involves communities working together to improve health by sharing information and working together. They cover the history of collaboratives, highlighting the importance of translating evidence into practice and building reliability. Dr. Margolis and Dr. Hyman highlight networks that successfully improved remission rates and reduced harm, such as Improved Care Now and Children's Hospital Solutions. They also touch on the role of patient and family engagement in driving innovation and the potential for applying the learning health network model to adult health care. Finally, Dr. Margolis and Dr. Hyman agree that although the cost of joining a network can be as low as $4000 per year, securing buy-in and budget allocation for learning health network participation is a challenge that needs to be addressed at the organizational level.

Tune in and learn how experts agree that learning health networks can transform health care!

About CareQuest:

Approaching Systems Change with Dan Heath Feb 14, 2025

Show notes

The key to improving broken systems lies in identifying leverage points and strategically restacking existing resources.

In this episode, Dan Heath, a New York Times bestselling author, discusses how to apply behavioral and systems thinking principles to health care. He emphasizes that health care, despite its challenges, can improve by focusing on successful examples, addressing system bottlenecks, and driving change through collaboration and alignment with existing motivations. Dan stresses the importance of prioritizing changes that are most likely to be adopted and supported. He also underscores the need to shift from a sense of helplessness to a sense of agency by learning from past successes.

Tune in and learn how to find your leverage points to drive meaningful change in health care!

About CareQuest:

The Past, Present, and Future of Health Plan Innovation with Liz Fowler Feb 07, 2025

Show notes

How well is the U.S. health care system working, and what is being done to address its biggest challenges?

In this episode, Dr. Liz Fowler, former Deputy Administrator and Director of the Innovation Center at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, discusses the progress and challenges of U.S. healthcare reform, emphasizing the impact of the ACA, the shift to value-based care, and the need for systemic innovation to improve access, affordability, and quality. While the ACA has expanded coverage and improved access for individuals with pre-existing conditions, high out-of-pocket costs, care denials, and inefficiencies persist. Dr. Fowler emphasizes the need for mandatory value-based payment models to drive systemic change, focusing on team-based care, predictive analytics, and home-based interventions. She notes that while CMS has the scale to implement reforms, Medicaid innovation remains complex due to state-by-state variations. Driven by real patient experiences, Dr. Fowler remains committed to improving health care access, affordability, and quality through government-led innovation.

Tune in as Dr. Liz Fowler shares firsthand insights on the evolution of health care reform, the shift to value-based care, and the ongoing innovations shaping the future of Medicare and Medicaid!

About CareQuest: