In this episode of Healthcare Champions, host Sam Meers from BarkleyOKRP, sits down with Munzoor Shaikh, Founder and CEO of Long Game Health, to explore patient empowerment, value-based care, and the long-term transformation of healthcare systems. With a background in healthcare consulting, Munzoor is a leader in digital transformation, health equity, and value-based care—delivering strategies that generate tangible outcomes for healthcare organizations.

Munzoor shares his experiences and vision for shifting healthcare’s focus from "patients" to "people," emphasizing the need to understand individuals beyond their health conditions. He discusses the importance and difference between “patient success” versus “patient experience.” He explores his beliefs about how empowering individuals to take ownership of their healthcare can lead to better outcomes. Munzoor unpacks the challenges of value-based care, highlighting how misaligned incentives and short-term thinking hinder progress. He also shares his insights on the future of healthcare, including how a focus on patient empowerment and “patient success” could play a critical role in driving long-term change.

We know you will be inspired by Munzoor’s practical solutions, as he breaks down complex issues like healthcare cost management, utilization, and the need for a cultural shift in how we approach care. Join us for a compelling conversation on the future of healthcare and the critical shifts needed to make it more equitable, sustainable, and centered around the individual.

Tune in to hear how Munzoor aims to make a lasting dent in healthcare by playing the "long game" and driving transformation one patient—one person—at a time.

In this episode of Healthcare Champions, we sit down with Terry Burke, a senior healthcare leader, strategic advisor, and executive performance coach at Oliver Wyman. With decades of experience in healthcare, Terry shares his straight-shooting insights on the critical shift from "sick care" to "health care."

Terry discusses the significant impact he aims to make by tackling inefficiencies and championing innovation within the healthcare system. He emphasizes the importance of moving from a volume-based sick care model to a more efficient, patient-centered approach. With a mix of value-based care, digital transformation, and strategic alignment of incentives, Terry paints a compelling (and occasionally irreverent) vision for the future of healthcare.

Listeners will be entertained—and likely inspired—by Terry's passion for transforming healthcare. He dives into the industry's challenges and opportunities, offering visionary ideas and practical solutions with a dash of personality to keep things lively.

Join Sam Meers from BarkleyOKRP as he explores Terry's journey, his innovative ideas, and his relentless drive to make a lasting dent in the universe of healthcare.

In the second episode of our "Lessons in Healthcare Innovation" series on Healthcare Champions, host Sam Meers continues the conversation with Jimmy Keown and Jason Spacek from BarkleyOKRP’s Healthcare Innovations team. This time, they delve into the critical friction points in healthcare that hinder innovation and how the innovation of Blue KC’s Spira Care was designed to address these challenges.

The discussion begins with Jason and Jimmy outlining the challenges with the healthcare industry's tendency to preserve the status quo. They explore how their team focused on the root problem of misaligned incentives between payers, providers, and patients, and how this insight shaped the creation of Spira Care.

Listeners will learn how whole-brand thinking and a focus on human insights over technology were key to developing Spira Care’s successful model. Follow along and discover the challenges faced, the strategic decisions made, and what makes these leaders hopeful for the future of healthcare.