HFMA’s Voices in Healthcare Finance

Steven Kelley, president and CEO of Ellenville Regional Hospital, a 25-bed critical access hospital in the Catskill region of New York, discusses how his organization drastically reduced ED times and improved outcomes for patients suffering from complications of COVID-19. This episode is sponsored by USA Senior Care Network. USA Senior Care Network brings together Medicare Supplement Insurance carriers and quality healthcare facilities in a nationwide network for Medicare Supplement policyholders.  Although these policyholders have the ability to choose any hospital they want, they know that by choosing the in-network facility, it helps to manage costs and to keep premiums affordable for the future.  Through this innovative network, USA Senior Care Network’s insurance clients are able to channel their Medigap policyholders to participating hospitals in markets all across the country.  Thousands of credentialed hospitals and other medical facilities have contracted with USA Senior Care Network to gain patient volume and revenue on inpatient and outpatient procedures and services.

HFMA President and CEO Joe Fifer interviews Sergio Melgar, CFO at UMass Memorial Health, about his history with health systems in peril and what he thinks could come out of pandemic-era changes.   Mentioned in this episode: HFMA's Healthcare 2030 series

Joyce Fitzpatrick, a nurse and director of the Marian K. Shaughnessy Nurse Leadership Academy at the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University and Robyn Begley, CEO of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership and the chief nursing officer for the American Hospital Association, discuss the challenges facing the nursing profession. They talk about shortages of new nurses and educators to prepare them, early retirement of Baby Boomers due to the pandemic and the effect burnout is having on the industry as a whole.   Mentioned in this episode: Student Enrollment Surged in U.S. Schools of Nursing in 2020 Despite Challenges Presented by the Pandemic

Racial disparities in the healthcare industry have long been an issue, with serious effects on outcomes. In this episode, Dr. Rumay Alexander discusses how the industry can begin to rebuild trust and shares some practical advice about how to build a program around diversity, equity and inclusion.   Stories mentioned in this episode: HFMA's Healthcare News of Note: Black patients experience higher rates of adverse patient events relative to white patients, study says New poll shows Black Americans put far less trust in doctors and hospitals than white people CDC: Working together to reduce black maternal mortality Howard University announces center to research health disparities

Arnold Saperstein from Cecelia Health and Susan Beane from HealthFirst discuss the opportunities of telehealth for patients with chronic conditions.

Khalid Al-Maskari of Health Information Management Systems discusses the future of telehealth

Nick Hut talks with John Friedel from Abeo about the No Surprises Act and what providers should be doing now to prepare.

Matt Hocks from Sanford Health System describes his organization’s strategy for communicating with patients about the vaccination plan. Dolly Parton clip comes from her Instagram: @DollyParton.

HFMA President and CEO Joe Fifer interviews Dr. Zeev Neuwirth about the dangers of fee-for-service and how every stakeholder has a responsibility to move the industry forward.

Social media can be tricky to navigate. Today, we're talking with Jill Geisler about how to use your social channels for good, and what to consider before you post.   Read Jill's latest Leadership column in hfm magazine for more of her thoughts about working smarter.