Episodes

  • Lessons for Health Systems from a Rare Disease Patient Advocate
    Sep 13 2024
    In this episode…

    Chronic illnesses are affecting an increasing portion of the population, with nearly 50% of Americans currently managing such conditions. Despite the growing number of patients requiring long-term care, the healthcare system is still designed around acute, short-term issues, leaving those with chronic diseases feeling lost in a complex maze of care. How can the healthcare system evolve to better support patients navigating these complex, long-term conditions?

    With over 15 years of entrepreneurial experience, Kristy Dickinson, the Founder and CEO of Chronically Simple, is a patient advocate and digital health consultant passionate about reshaping the patient and caregiver experience. Drawing on her personal experience as a patient with a rare genetic disorder, she stresses the importance of integrating the patient’s voice throughout the healthcare process. Kristy built a digital tool to replace cumbersome binders of medical records, showing the necessity of innovative, patient-centered solutions. She urges healthcare professionals to treat patients as key team members, integrating them into the design of systems and care plans to improve outcomes and reduce the overwhelming administrative burden on those managing chronic conditions.

    In this episode of For the Better, Ben Cash welcomes Kristy Dickinson, the Founder and CEO of Chronically Simple, to discuss the challenges and opportunities in managing complex health conditions. Kristy shares her eye-opening experience with chronic illness, offers strategies for improving patient experiences, and highlights the value of digital tools in healthcare. Tune in for insights on prioritizing comprehensive care and the power of patient voices in driving healthcare efficiency and effectiveness.

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    32 mins
  • The Importance of Schema, Knowledge Graphs, and Kevin Bacon in Healthcare Marketing
    Jul 31 2024
    In this episode…

    With every Google search, there's an unseen layer of interwoven information that’s crucial for businesses to gain visibility. What if there was a way to clarify these connections, making it easier for search engines to deliver the most relevant content? How does semantic marketing change the game for search engine optimization, and what role does famed actor Kevin Bacon have to play in this?

    Martha van Berkel is the Co-founder and CEO of Schema App, an end-to-end schema markup solution for enterprise SEO teams. Known for her expertise in schema markup and knowledge graphs, Martha unravels the mysteries behind these concepts, explaining their vital role in helping businesses articulate their expertise effectively to both human users and search engines. She delves into how knowledge graphs enable machines to infer relationships, a critical component as AI continues to gain prominence in search technology. Her unique connection to Kevin Bacon, who once drove her car, illustrates the concept of inferencing and its practical applications for SEO strategy. Blending her insights on schema markup with anecdotes from her career and personal life, Martha offers a fresh, engaging take on the interconnected digital world in an AI-driven era.

    Tune in to this episode of For the Better as Ben Cash chats with Martha van Berkel, the Co-founder and CEO of Schema App, about transforming digital marketing through semantic search technology. Martha discusses the rapid changes in search engine tactics, highlights the importance of content knowledge graphs, and offers a roadmap for enterprises to future-proof their content strategies effectively. She also shares her career journey and provides an overview of Schema App’s upcoming tool, Entity Hub.

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    23 mins
  • The Practice and Potential of AI for Healthcare Marketers
    Jul 5 2024
    In this episode…

    Artificial Intelligence is swiftly becoming a game-changer in healthcare, but is it truly ready to transform the patient experience? The healthcare industry is buzzing about AI revolutionizing patient care, cost reduction, and efficiency. However, with much of the technology still labeled as potential, many wonder how much AI has impacted the consumer and patient experience. Could the fusion of technology and empathy be within our grasp?

    Alan Shoebridge is the Associate Vice President of National Communication at Providence, leading a diverse, multistate communications team. With years of experience driving digital innovation in enhancing patient care, he delves into the journey of AI—from a potential concept to a practical tool reshaping patient and consumer experiences. Providence has been at the forefront of adopting AI, working under the radar to develop, test, and implement AI-based solutions for over five years. From AI-assisted referral systems to scheduling, communication, and governance structures, Alan discusses the nuanced roles AI plays in augmenting the capabilities of healthcare professionals. He shares insights from Providence's experience, revealing how AI models assist with creating a smoother operational flow and improving interaction touchpoints for patients across the care continuum, making them a crucial and beneficial part of healthcare's future.

    In this episode of For the Better, Ben Cash hosts Alan Shoebridge, the Associate Vice President of National Communication at Providence, to explore how AI is transforming the healthcare industry. They discuss technology’s role in augmenting workflows and enhancing connections between patients and providers, Providence’s comprehensive AI roadmap, the critical role of governance in AI implementation, and Alan’s approach to staying updated on AI developments.

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    16 mins
  • Better Digital Transformation Through Product Management at Cedars-Sinai
    May 31 2024
    In this episode…

    Have you ever pondered the intricate relationship between healthcare and technology? Imagine a hospital environment where patients find precisely what they need online without hassle, and doctors communicate their value effortlessly. Could there be a solution to harmonize this complex data and improve everyone's experience?

    Christina Valls is the Associate Director of Product and Enablement at Cedars-Sinai, the largest non-profit hospital in the western US, pioneering innovative patient care. She unravels how her team is turning these challenges into opportunities, emphasizing outcomes-focused product development to enhance patient experience and drive business growth in the healthcare industry. By prioritizing operational efficiency in healthcare projects, service providers can lessen the administrative workload on healthcare professionals, improving their focus on patient care. Her team's approach to innovation is grounded in creating digital tools that benefit patients and providers alike, ensuring Cedars-Sinai remains at the forefront of the healthcare revolution.

    Tune in to this episode of For the Better as Ben Cash interviews Christina Valls, the Associate Director of Product and Enablement at Cedars-Sinai, about implementing digital innovation in healthcare. They delve into the significance of scalability and efficiency in digital health solutions, navigating change within teams and organizations, the value of cross-functional collaboration, and the strategic thinking behind developing impactful digital products.

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    19 mins
  • Healthcare Recruitment: Using Marketing Skills for Workforce Development
    May 3 2024
    In this episode…

    The healthcare industry's paramount quest for workforce excellence hinges on attracting and retaining top talent. Aligning brand culture with employee experience and retention is essential for fostering a culture of engagement crucial for long-term success.

    With over 15 years of experience leading marketing initiatives, Christine Albert, the former CXO at LCMC Health, helps healthcare brands connect the dots between brand, culture, and experience. She draws a parallel between consumer and employee acquisition, highlighting the importance of adopting a marketing mindset and leveraging automation tools to streamline recruitment processes. Her innovative strategies enhance employee engagement and improve overall organizational effectiveness, reflecting her deep understanding of the interplay between marketing and human resources in creating a cohesive corporate identity.

    In this episode of For the Better podcast, Ben Cash hosts Christine Albert, the former CXO at LCMC, to explore the interconnection between brand culture and employee retention. Christine discusses how strategic brand integration can enhance employee satisfaction, the importance of reinventing recruitment strategies in times of crisis, the need for a personalized and empathetic experience for candidates, and the shift from reactive to proactive strategies in organizational management.

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    16 mins
  • The Secret to Future Proofing Your Website
    Mar 1 2024
    In this episode…

    With a focus on bridging departmental divides, organizations must optimize their digital infrastructure to meet evolving patient demands. So, what strategies are essential for future-proofing websites amidst the ever-changing healthcare technology landscape?

    Stephen Barry, Product Manager at Lee Health, leverages his design and development background to improve the website and patient experience for the company’s patient-facing website, bridging the gap between departments. He highlights the benefits of a dedicated product owner role, particularly in emphasizing web infrastructure, and highlights the evolution of his role from a hybrid marketing and IT position to a clearly defined product role. According to him, continuous website improvement through incremental change is crucial to addressing the disruptions in the healthcare industry. Stephen emphasizes the importance of staying on top of industry trends and future-proofing your website with solid fundamental elements.

    In this episode of For the Better podcast, Ben Cash hosts Stephen Barry, the Product Manager of Lee Health, to discuss the role of product owners in future-proofing healthcare websites. Stephen explains how product managers bridge marketing and IT departments, the importance of continuous website improvement, the foundational elements of a winning website, and how to enhance efficiency in small teams.

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    26 mins
  • Navigating Change: Strategies and Priorities for Healthcare Marketing Teams
    Jan 30 2024
    In this episode…

    Artificial intelligence (AI) has been a game changer in healthcare marketing. Whether looking to improve patient engagement, optimize digital marketing efforts, or better track and analyze data, AI can help achieve your goals more effectively and efficiently. However, what key strategies and priorities should healthcare marketing teams consider when implementing AI in marketing plans?

    Aaron Mauck, former Harvard faculty and the Vice President and Executive Partner at Advisory Board, leverages his extensive healthcare background to support digital initiatives by generating strategic and operational insights to tackle the core challenges impacting performance. Highlighting the challenges marketing teams face in keeping up with the rapid evolution of AI-powered health marketing, Aaron emphasizes an understanding of the evolving consumer landscape to shape loyalty and drive success. Marketers should prioritize a task-oriented design, simplifying the customer journey instead of introducing new technologies that increase friction. In addition, while generative AI can help streamline content creation and improve UX, it’s crucial to acknowledge the need for human oversight to ensure quality.

    In this episode of For the Better, Ben Cash once again hosts Aaron Mauck, the Vice President and Executive Partner at Advisory Board, to discuss the challenges of AI implementation in healthcare marketing. Aaron highlights the potential of generative AI to simplify content creation and improve UX, explains the importance of a task-oriented UX design, and dissects the 70/20/10 rule in digital road mapping.

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    32 mins
  • Unlocking the Potential of Digital Transformation in Healthcare
    Jan 10 2024
    In this episode…

    Technology has revolutionized the way we live, work, and interact with each other. And the healthcare industry is no exception. Digital transformation has made it possible to deliver healthcare innovatively, from virtual consultations to remote monitoring of patients. However, this transformation is not without its challenges. How can healthcare organizations fully realize the value of digital innovation?

    Aaron Mauck, former Harvard faculty and the Vice President and Executive Partner at Advisory Board, leverages his extensive healthcare background to support digital initiatives by generating strategic and operational insights to tackle the core challenges impacting performance. According to him, prioritization and pragmatism are crucial to success in digital health, as overambitious goals can lead to decreased productivity. He emphasizes the importance of reducing friction in the digital healthcare experience, particularly on the consumer side and restructuring data management systems to enable AI to make a meaningful impact. In addition, organizations must embrace a cost-conscious approach to digital transformation, integrating new technologies while being mindful of investment strategy and financial constraints. 

    In this episode of For the Better, Ben Cash chats with Aaron Mauck, Vice President and Executive Partner at Advisory Board, to explore the challenges and opportunities of digital transformation in healthcare. Aaron highlights minimizing friction in healthcare delivery, adopting a cost-conscious approach to digital transformation, and improving AI’s impact through effective data management. He provides valuable insights on leading strategic initiatives and fostering growth in retail healthcare.

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    22 mins