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.

In this episode of Healthcare Champions, we sit down with Ron Rowe, Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska. With nearly 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry, Ron brings his straightforward and candid insights into the evolving payer models.

Ron dives into the complexities that plague our current healthcare system, exploring how misaligned incentives and outdated models contribute to rising costs and inefficiency. He also discusses innovative solutions like Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements (ICHRAs) and the potential they hold for reshaping how employers and individuals approach healthcare coverage.

We hope you will find his thoughts on the critical need for simplicity and affordability in healthcare as revolutionary as we did. Ron’s analogies and humor on tackling healthcare’s most entrenched problems is refreshingly candid. With a focus on aligning incentives and reducing complexity, Ron offers a compelling vision for the future of healthcare.

Tune for a thought-provoking conversation with host Sam Meers from BarkleyOKRP & Ron Rowe on steering healthcare in the direction of innovation and sustainability.

In our inaugural episode of Healthcare Champions, host Sam Meers sits down with Jimmy Keown from the BarkleyOKRP Health Innovations team and Jason Spacek, formerly of Blue Cross Blue Shield now the EVP at BarkleyOKRP Health Innovations. They kick off this first season with a series called Lessons in Health Innovation. They dive deep to discuss the critical impact they aim to make in healthcare by addressing friction points and driving innovation.

Jimmy and Jason share their initial phases of journey to creating an advanced primary care model. This innovative solution that eventually becomes Spira Care simplifies healthcare delivery by aligning incentives between payers and providers.

Hear their story as they pioneered new solutions in healthcare delivery. Listen to their struggles and insights navigating healthcare innovation with small, interdisciplinary teams. Learn how their focus on a data-driven approach with human-centered care at the forefront, guided them on the path to healthcare transformation.

Tune in to be inspired by their vision for a more efficient and patient-focused healthcare system.