

The Business of Healthcare Podcast with Tara Humphrey
Tara Humphrey
Tara Humphrey looks behind-the-scenes at the business side of healthcare by talking to NHS and private healthcare leaders. And, throughout this podcast, she also shares her own project management and leadership insights.
Tara has an MBA in Healthcare Leadership and Management and Leadership. She is the Founder and the Managing Director of THC Primary Care a leading healthcare consultancy.
Tara has an MBA in Healthcare Leadership and Management and Leadership. She is the Founder and the Managing Director of THC Primary Care a leading healthcare consultancy.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 9, 2020 • 13min
#22: Behind the Scenes - How we Plan to Kick Off 2020
Are you prepared to move forward into 2020 with clarity, direction, and focus? By strategising your goals and structuring your time accordingly, you can make every day count and have clarity on how to approach the various requests and demands thrown at you. With planning, you will no longer be thrown off by the ever-changing nature of the healthcare industry and can effectively prioritise what needs to get done to stay on track with what is important to you and your organisation. Today, I share an update on my work at THC and strategies I am implementing in the new year to support my present and future professional goals and commitments. I discuss my ambitious nature and how I stay organized and focused by mapping out my schedule for 90 day periods. I also highlight my journey with the Business of Healthcare Podcast thus far and how I hope to build the podcast moving forward to help even more healthcare professionals gain insight and enhance their performance. “Once you get that clarity, it’s like a weight off of your shoulders.” - Tara Humphrey This week on The Business of Healthcare: My hopes with the Business of Healthcare podcast as we move into the new year Aspects of my personal brand I intentionally worked on in 2019 What is currently going on behind the scenes for me in my work at THC The importance of strategic planning in supporting my goals and commitments My intentions for growing the Business of Healthcare podcast in 2020 Highlights of my work in 2019 and what I am proud of from the year Why I am being more open with sharing my future goals with my team How my mindset changed in 2019 and whether I want to bring that mindset into 2020 How having an organized system increased my clarity and helped me become more productive Why I like to have a plan and how it helps me organize my priorities What I am currently reflecting on in terms of my professional role and strengths An analogy to think about if you work in primary care and are seeking leadership direction Balancing flexibility with focused direction, considering both day-to-day tasks and your long-term vision Why you can and should plan your next 90 days with intention as you look to what you want to achieve The importance of analysing your resources when strategising your action plan What to do if you are interested in being featured on the Business of Healthcare Podcast Resources Mentioned Full Focus Planner by Michael Hyatt Improving the Business of Healthcare - One Episode at a Time Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of the Business of Healthcare Podcast with your host, Tara Humphrey. If you enjoyed this episode, head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe, leave your honest review, and share your favorite episodes on social media. Don’t forget to visit our website and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter for more great content and information to improve your healthcare organization.

Dec 19, 2019 • 26min
#21: How to Create an Attractive Place to Work with Jemma Fairclough-Haynes
Jemma Fairclough-Haynes is a Human Resources Specialist and the owner and CEO of Orchard Employment Law, a firm that provides valuable HR insights to help employers manage their staff more effectively. Jemma is a public speaker on topics surrounding HR, employment law, and related rights and obligations. She is also the co-host of the business radio show, Bunker Xtra. Jemma joins me today to discuss her top tips that employers can utilise to create a more conducive atmosphere for their workforce. She shares common reasons employees don’t show up at work and the impact of factors such as weather. Jemma also highlights the potential benefits of allowing flexible work options under certain circumstances, such as working from home, and the importance of ensuring workplace equity, not just equality. “Equality is not the gold standard; it’s about equity.” - Jemma Fairclough-Haynes This week on The Business of Healthcare: How Jemma’s career journey led her to open Orchard Employment Law The two biggest reasons clients come to Orchard Employment Law Common mistakes employers make when it comes to managing their staff How Jemma’s firm advises employers while helping them maintain credibility Why employees might not go to work and the importance of employee wellbeing The impact of employee benefits on overall staff morale How cold weather impacts the workplace and why you should have an adverse weather policy How employers can update their policies while minimising the potential disruption that can come with change Discrimination in the workplace and Jemma’s thoughts on equality and diversity Trends in healthcare HR compared to other sectors Jemma’s advice on how small teams can handle HR more responsibly The certification Jemma’s firm recently earned and what the review process entailed The importance of recognizing the difference between equality and equity Connect with Jemma Fairclough-Haynes: Orchard Employment Law Jemma Fairclough-Haynes on LinkedIn Improving the Business of Healthcare - One Episode at a Time Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of the Business of Healthcare Podcast with your host, Tara Humphrey. If you enjoyed this episode, head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe, leave your honest review, and share your favorite episodes on social media. Don’t forget to visit our website and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter for more great content and information to improve your healthcare organization.

Dec 12, 2019 • 29min
#20: How CCG Supplies are Leading Their Business with Values and Value with Ben Elvidge
BH020 - How CCG Supplies are Leading Their Business with Values and Value Ben Elvidge serves as Company Director at CCG Supplies, a full-service healthcare organization that provides information technology resources and medical supplies to clients such as the NHS. In addition to his work with CCG Services, Ben is the co-founder and former Co-CEO of a charity called Don’t Mind Me UK, which aims to provide a place for connection and conversation regarding mental health. Ben also works as Company Director at Elite Cricket, a company that produces bats for cricket players internationally. Ben joins me today to discuss his work with CCG Supplies, and his insights on how his company has become one of the leaders in the medical supplies space. He shares how the value of customer service is a cornerstone of CCG Supplies and the importance of ethics in business. Ben also provides an inside look into how CCG Supplies operates and the lessons he has learned while running the company. “Industry recognition is lovely, but it only goes so far. Without your clients, you’re nothing. Without your suppliers, you’re nothing.” - Ben Elvidge This week on The Business of Healthcare: The history, culture, and growth of CCG Supplies How CCG has achieved a 100% recruitment success rate The one goal that every team member within CCG Supplies works towards CCG Services’ sales and customer service strategies What products CCG Services produces How CCG Services continues to grow as a profitable company How CCG Services supports primary care networks and the resulting impact How the company’s leadership team divides responsibilities Ben’s thoughts on why CCG Services is rapidly growing and the competitive advantages the company has How Ben’s strengths contribute to his leadership of CCG Services and where he feels those strengths derive from Tough times Ben has faced in his work with CCG and the key lessons he has learned as a result Ben’s advice for those working in the healthcare space Connect with Ben Elvidge: CCG Supplies Ben Elvidge on LinkedIn Email: ben@ccgconsumables.co.uk Phone: 08001214245 Improving the Business of Healthcare - One Episode at a Time Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of the Business of Healthcare Podcast with your host, Tara Humphrey. If you enjoyed this episode, head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe, leave your honest review, and share your favorite episodes on social media. Don’t forget to visit our website and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter for more great content and information to improve your healthcare organization.

Dec 5, 2019 • 29min
#19: How Dexcom is Revolutionising the Management of Type 1 Diabetes with Karen Baxter
BH019 How Dexcom is revolutionising the management of Type 1 Diabetes with Karen Baxter Karen Baxter is the Senior Director at Dexcom UK, a diabetes management company specializing in continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems. She brings two decades of healthcare experience to this role and has previously worked in leadership roles at Johnson & Johnson, Innovex, and Pfizer Consumer Healthcare. Throughout her career, Karen has worked in sales, marketing, and business management positions, and has done work related to diabetes for over ten years. Karen joins me today to discuss the past, present, and future of Dexcom and the strategic leadership decisions she has made within the company. She highlights the products Dexcom offers and the importance of having an open line of communication between company and customer. Karen also shares advice on recruitment and leadership for those looking to launch a startup in the healthcare space. “Where companies really lose their way is when they stop listening to their customers.” - Karen Baxter This week on The Business of Healthcare: Dexcom’s history and organizational structure Karen’s history in the healthcare industry and how she started working at Dexcom How Dexcom’s products work and its impact on diabetes management Karen’s thoughts on NHS and the future of medical technology funding The types of diabetes Dexcom’s devices are suited for Why Karen decided to implement a subscription model The importance of quality assurance, technical support, and customer feedback Future additions to Dexcom’s portfolio and how long it takes to develop new products How Dexcom engages patients and customers in the development process Where Dexcom’s funding comes from What Karen learned about business leadership from her time in the Armed Forces Advice for healthcare entrepreneurs and startup employees Connect with Karen Baxter: Dexcom Customer Sales Support Line: 1-888-738-3646 Technical Support Line: 1-844-607-8398 Improving the Business of Healthcare - One Episode at a Time Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of the Business of Healthcare Podcast with your host, Tara Humphrey. If you enjoyed this episode, head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe, leave your honest review, and share your favorite episodes on social media. Don’t forget to visit our website and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter for more great content and information to improve your healthcare organization.

Nov 28, 2019 • 42min
#18: Understanding Change and What It Requires with Sophie Edwards
BH018 Understanding Change and What It Requires with Sophie Edwards Sophie Edwards is an organisational development consultant, facilitator, certified coach, and trainer, helping organisations strategically approach and navigate change. Sophie currently works as faculty on NHS England’s Sustainable Improvement Team and has also served as Associate Programme Director at a public sector consultancy called Shared Intelligence. Sophie offers her extensive expertise to individuals and teams at all organisational levels and specialises in drafting processes that elevate engagement within change initiatives. Sophie joins me today to discuss different types of change and how they are characterised, along with leadership skills that should be taken into consideration while working towards change. She shares the importance of feedback and support in the process of undergoing change, and how to manage imposter syndrome and your inner critic. Sophie also highlights whether all team members must be on board with change for it to be effective and factors that may impact their desire to engage. “People have got to feel that change is in their interest. Otherwise, every inch of them is going to unconsciously resist.” - Sophie Edwards This week on The Business of Healthcare: The distinction between transformational and transactional change What transformational change feels like and how you can tell it has occurred Why change is so difficult to achieve The price we pay when we don’t make necessary changes Why even small changes can be meaningful Whether or not all team members must be on board for change to occur Factors that impact an employee’s desire to engage with change initiatives Communication strategies to implement when asking team members to get involved How to decide who should be the “face of the change” within your organisation The importance of feedback to ensure that a proposed change is truly needed Necessary skills to lead system-wide changes and the importance of your “why” How to move forward while experiencing imposter syndrome and your inner critic The importance of surrounding yourself with trusted support while implementing change initiatives Resources Mentioned The Change Model Liberating Structures TRIZ Thinking Differently by NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement Connect with Sophie Edwards: NHS England Time for Care Sophie Edwards on LinkedIn Improving the Business of Healthcare - One Episode at a Time Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of the Business of Healthcare Podcast with your host, Tara Humphrey. If you enjoyed this episode, head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe, leave your honest review, and share your favorite episodes on social media. Don’t forget to visit our website and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter for more great content and information to improve your healthcare organization.

Nov 21, 2019 • 30min
#17: Lantum - Building a Business to Save the NHS £1Billion with Dr.Ishani Patel
BH017 Lantum - Building a Business to Save the NHS £1Billion with Dr.Ishani Patel Dr. Ishani Patel is a GP, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Lantum, an organization on a mission to revolutionize the healthcare workforce and reduce the NHS’s staffing costs through effective operating systems and mentorship for healthcare professionals. She is a contributing author for the Pulse blog and has led the development of online learning modules for the Royal College of GP’s. Dr. Ishani earned her Bachelor’s in Medicine from King’s College - London and is currently earning her Executive MBA in Business Administration and Medicine from the University of Warwick - Warwick Business School. She regularly speaks on topics related to early cancer detection in primary care - a topic she is deeply passionate about. Dr. Ishani joins me today to share a behind-the-scenes glimpse of Lantum and how the organization is helping the NHS save £1-billion in staffing costs. We discuss the process they used to gain capital investments to start their business and the different departments at Lantum. We discuss how the company began working with leading healthcare experts and how they expanded their services from primary to secondary and integrated care systems. We also discuss how Dr. Ishani manages her various roles as an entrepreneur and GP and her perspective on turning negative feedback into a positive experience. “We’re not pro locum over other types of working. We’re supportive of how YOU want to work as an individual.” - Dr. Ishani Patel This week on The Business of Healthcare: Ishani’s career trajectory and what inspired her to work in the healthcare industry Lantum’s mission and how it differs from other platforms in their space How their platform has impacted agency spend on staffing and recruitment retention Their mission to help the NHS save £1-billion in primary, secondary, and integrated care systems How Lantum’s vision has evolved over the years How they gained venture capital funding as a healthcare startup Lantum’s company culture and the type of professionals they’re currently recruiting How she manages the different roles she plays in her career as an entrepreneur and GP Why she decided to earn an MBA and how it has enhanced her professional career Ishani’s current role and responsibilities at Lantum How she handles negativity as a high-profile, female leader in healthcare How she manages her time as an entrepreneur and healthcare professional The current challenges they face at Lantum and how they plan to overcome them Ishani’s strategy for building and expanding her local and global professional network Ishani’s advice for healthcare professionals thinking about entering the primary care sector Her advice for entrepreneurs that want to start a business in the healthcare space Connect with Dr. Ishani Patel: Lantum Lantum on LinkedIn Ishani Patel on LinkedIn Ishani Patel on Twitter Improving the Business of Healthcare - One Episode at a Time Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of the Business of Healthcare Podcast with your host, Tara Humphrey. If you enjoyed this episode, head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe, leave your honest review, and share your favorite episodes on social media. Don’t forget to visit our website and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter for more great content and information to improve your healthcare organization.

Nov 14, 2019 • 39min
#16: Influencing a Culture to Speak Up with Allison Hawes
BH016 - Influencing a Culture to Speak Up Allison Hawes is a Freedom to Speak Up Guardian who currently works at the Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust. She has over thirty years of experience in the healthcare field, serving as a coach, mentor, facilitator, and senior nurse. Allison holds a Master of Science from the University of Surrey, where she also received a degree as a Specialist Community Public Health Nurse. Allison’s work as a Freedom to Speak Up Guardian involves supporting employees in resolving workplace concerns by facilitating communication and empowering a positive professional environment for all. Allison joins me today to discuss her role as a Freedom to Speak Up Guardian and the specifics of how her role helps mitigate “blame culture” and promote a culture of organizational improvement and professional development. She shares the need for employees to feel that their voices are appreciated, the importance of employee wellbeing, and how her role as a Guardian can help bridge the divide between managers and employees. Allison also reveals the most common workplace concerns her constituents face and the responsibility we all have to promote a fairer professional landscape. “There’s enough noise out there in the system for us to start believing that it’s okay to be treated well at work; it’s okay to expect this.” - Allison Hawes This week on The Business of Healthcare: What a Freedom to Speak Up Guardian is and daily responsibilities of Allison’s job The impact of Allison’s work and how she is encouraging colleagues to speak up The types of organizations that have Guardians and who Freedom to Speak Up Guardians report to The importance of valuing employees and addressing situations where they don’t feel valued Common barriers to speaking up and why an employee might not feel comfortable communicating with their manager Transferrable nursing skills Allison has harnessed in her role as a Guardian How a thorough, fair process of receiving feedback encourages strategic organizational growth The most common workplace concerns Allison has heard as a Guardian Allison’s thoughts on the impact of whistleblowing policies What organizations and individuals can do to promote a fairer workplace culture What to expect during National Speak Up Month Connect with Allison Hawes: Speak Up National Helpline Speak Up Telephone Helpline: 08000724725 (M-F, 8AM-6PM) Care Quality Commission National Guardian’s Office National Guardian’s Office Freedom to Speak Up Guardian Directory LinkedIn Twitter Improving the Business of Healthcare - One Episode at a Time Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of the Business of Healthcare Podcast with your host, Tara Humphrey. If you enjoyed this episode, head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe, leave your honest review, and share your favorite episodes on social media. Don’t forget to visit our website and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter for more great content and information to improve your healthcare organization.

Nov 7, 2019 • 12min
#15: MBAs... More than Just a Masters
BH015 MBAs...More than Just a Masters Is it truly worth getting your MBA in the healthcare industry? Does a master’s degree really give you a ‘leg up’ over your competition and help you land the prestigious positions you want for your career? How can a busy healthcare professional fit continuing education into their already busy lifestyle while raising a family and helping patients? As a healthcare professional with an MBA and a busy home-life and work-life, I’m frequently asked these important questions. In today’s episode, I share my thoughts on whether earning your master’s degree in healthcare is truly necessary and how MBAs open more doors of opportunities beyond a framed piece of paper for your office wall. I discuss how earning your MBA can improve your time-management, presentation, and leadership skills. I also share the process I used to balance working full-time in the healthcare industry while raising a family and earning my MBA. “An MBA education enhances your understanding of the sector that you’re working with.” - Tara Humphrey This week on The Business of Healthcare: Why I decided to earn my MBA How my journey as an entrepreneur in the healthcare industry began How healthcare employers can benefit from hiring professionals with master’s degrees The benefits of earning your MBA How going back to school to earn your MBA helps you hone your presentation skills How earning an MBA shows your dedication and commitment to your field and career How to apply the frameworks you learned from your MBA education into your day-to-day process at work How earning your MBA impacts your confidence The process I used to balance my personal life and work-life while earning my master’s degree Improving the Business of Healthcare - One Episode at a Time Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of the Business of Healthcare Podcast with your host, Tara Humphrey. If you enjoyed this episode, head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe, leave your honest review, and share your favorite episodes on social media. Don’t forget to visit our website and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter for more great content and information to improve your healthcare organization.

Oct 31, 2019 • 11min
#14: When You Have Had a Bad Day
BH014 When you have had a bad day We all have bad days. Whether it’s due to a stressful event in our personal lives or an unexpected situation occurs at work that causes us to feel upset, worried, or otherwise stressed - we all experience moments when we think we’re prepared for just about anything, but something unexpected occurs. The question is - how do you handle bad days? In today’s episode, I share a recent bad day experience I had at work and the strategies I used to put that situation into perspective. I discuss the importance of identifying what you know to be true about a bad experience or situation and how it can differ from the story you tell yourself in the heat of the moment. I explain the process I used to help me learn from that experience, to allow me to make better decisions in the future when a similar situation arises. I also explain why it’s critical to separate your feelings and emotions from the facts of an event and how it can change your entire perspective on a situation. “We all have bad days. We all have situations where you think you’re prepared, and something else happens.” - Tara Humphrey Download my 7 questions to ask yourself after a bad day This week on The Business of Healthcare: The importance of separating your feelings from the facts of a situation Understanding your role in a situation and the importance of identifying the areas you could have influenced Identifying the best-case and worst-case scenario and what you would do if they occurred Addressing whether your proposed actions are aligned with your personal and professional values Determining what you could do differently in a similar situation Ask Yourself: What do you know to be true, and what is the story you’re telling yourself? What is your role in the situation? What is in your power to influence, and what is out of your control? What is the worst-case scenario, and what would you do if that happened? What is the best-case scenario, and what would you do if that happened? What do you want to do now, and are you willing to do it? Do your proposed actions go against your values? If you could turn back the clock, what would you do differently? Resources Mentioned: The Chimp Paradox: The Mind Management Program to Help You Achieve Success, Confidence, and Happiness by Professor Steve Peters How to Have a Good Day: Harness the Power of Behavioral Science to Transform Your Working Life by Caroline Webb Improving the Business of Healthcare - One Episode at a Time Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of the Business of Healthcare Podcast with your host, Tara Humphrey. If you enjoyed this episode, head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe, leave your honest review, and share your favorite episodes on social media. Don’t forget to visit our website and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter for more great content and information to improve your healthcare organization.

Oct 24, 2019 • 27min
#13: How to Manage Multiple Stakeholders with Ben Gowland
Ben Gowland is the Founder and Director of Ockham Healthcare, a leading healthcare consultancy specializing in the development of primary care. He is the host of The General Practice Podcast, a show that shares conversations with industry leaders and change-makers to unlock the secrets of their success and unpack the mistakes they’ve made along the way. He is the author of The Future of General Practice, a book that offers valuable resources to help GP’s, federations, and CCG’s resolve some of the most challenging obstacles they face in the industry. Ben earned his Bachelor’s degree in Theology from Oxford University and prior to forming his consultancy firm, he has held executive positions in the NHS. Ben joins me today to share his unique approach to managing multiple stakeholders. He shares his advice for new primary healthcare network managers on how to build effective relationships with stakeholders and explains the importance of balancing expectations and managing your time effectively. He shares tips on how to manage your cash flow and allocate resources more effectively and explains the role that your equity plays in a stakeholder’s decision-making process. He also shares the most valuable lesson he has learned throughout his career as an entrepreneur in the healthcare space. “The most important thing is to build effective relationships.” - Ben Gowland This week on The Business of Healthcare: How new primary healthcare network managers should build relationships with stakeholders Balancing expectations and managing your time effectively How to address unresolved conflicts and find common ground between CCG’s and general practices The value Ben’s podcast provides to general practitioners How Ben stays ahead of the fast-paced changes affecting the general practice industry Strategies to better manage your cash flow and allocate resources The role that equity plays in a stakeholder’s decision-making process The most valuable lesson Ben has learned throughout his entrepreneurial career in the healthcare industry Resources: Akimbo Podcast by Seth Godin Our Iceberg Is Melting: Changing and Succeeding Under Any Conditions by John Kotter Connect with Ben Gowland: Ockham Healthcare The General Practice Podcast The Future of General Practice Twitter Email: ben@ockham.healthcare Improving the Business of Healthcare - One Episode at a Time Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of the Business of Healthcare Podcast with your host, Tara Humphrey. If you enjoyed this episode, head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe, leave your honest review, and share your favorite episodes on social media. Don’t forget to visit our website and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter for more great content and information to improve your healthcare organization.