1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:02,159 Hello, everyone. This is Jacob Emerson with the 2 00:00:02,159 --> 00:00:04,099 Becker's Behavioral Health Podcast. 3 00:00:04,400 --> 00:00:06,719 Thrilled today to be joined by doctor Matthew 4 00:00:06,719 --> 00:00:09,199 Hereford, who's the president and CEO of Community 5 00:00:09,199 --> 00:00:10,820 Care Behavioral Health Organization 6 00:00:11,119 --> 00:00:13,599 and the vice president of behavioral services at 7 00:00:13,599 --> 00:00:16,535 UPMC Health Plan, and doctor Michael Lynch, who's 8 00:00:16,535 --> 00:00:19,414 the senior medical director of quality and substance 9 00:00:19,414 --> 00:00:21,114 use disorder services 10 00:00:21,655 --> 00:00:25,175 at UPMC Health Plan. Doctor Hartford, doctor Lynch, 11 00:00:25,175 --> 00:00:26,614 thank you so much for taking the time 12 00:00:26,614 --> 00:00:28,314 to be with me on the podcast today. 13 00:00:28,699 --> 00:00:30,380 Great to be with you, Jacob. Yeah. Thank 14 00:00:30,380 --> 00:00:31,440 you for having us. 15 00:00:31,980 --> 00:00:34,060 Absolutely. And before we dive into everything we 16 00:00:34,060 --> 00:00:35,740 wanna talk with you both about, can you 17 00:00:35,740 --> 00:00:37,340 each tell us a little bit more about 18 00:00:37,340 --> 00:00:39,340 yourselves and what it is that you each 19 00:00:39,340 --> 00:00:40,640 do today at UPMC? 20 00:00:41,179 --> 00:00:42,880 Michael, do you wanna start us off? 21 00:00:43,185 --> 00:00:45,505 Sure. Happy to. So as you said, I'm 22 00:00:45,505 --> 00:00:47,825 a senior medical director for quality and substance 23 00:00:47,825 --> 00:00:50,645 use disorder services at UPMC Health Plan. 24 00:00:51,184 --> 00:00:51,664 Also, 25 00:00:51,984 --> 00:00:55,364 triple board certified in emergency medicine, medical toxicology, 26 00:00:55,585 --> 00:00:56,645 and addiction medicine, 27 00:00:57,280 --> 00:00:58,979 and practice at multiple 28 00:00:59,440 --> 00:01:00,979 hospitals in at UPMC, 29 00:01:01,679 --> 00:01:04,260 primarily in Pittsburgh, but we do offer telehealth 30 00:01:04,319 --> 00:01:08,079 addiction and toxicology services to all UPMC hospitals 31 00:01:08,079 --> 00:01:08,980 throughout Pennsylvania. 32 00:01:09,775 --> 00:01:11,155 Also founded and directed 33 00:01:11,935 --> 00:01:13,555 a telemedicine bridge clinic, 34 00:01:14,094 --> 00:01:16,894 to fill in gaps, with people with substance 35 00:01:16,894 --> 00:01:19,954 use disorder, particularly opioid use disorder, maybe experiencing 36 00:01:20,094 --> 00:01:20,995 in their care, 37 00:01:21,375 --> 00:01:22,814 to ensure that we don't lose them and 38 00:01:22,814 --> 00:01:25,369 we can help connect them back to, long 39 00:01:25,369 --> 00:01:26,670 term local treatment. 40 00:01:27,289 --> 00:01:29,310 So work in the emergency department, 41 00:01:29,689 --> 00:01:32,250 as well as inpatient toxicology services where we 42 00:01:32,250 --> 00:01:35,450 manage overdoses, withdrawal, addiction, and a variety of 43 00:01:35,450 --> 00:01:37,069 other, poisonings, envenomations, 44 00:01:37,369 --> 00:01:37,869 etcetera. 45 00:01:38,704 --> 00:01:40,405 Thanks, Michael. How about you, Matt? 46 00:01:40,864 --> 00:01:42,545 Yeah. Again, happy to be with you. My 47 00:01:42,545 --> 00:01:44,864 name is Matt Hereford. I'm a board certified 48 00:01:44,864 --> 00:01:45,364 psychiatrist, 49 00:01:46,625 --> 00:01:49,984 and I am the VP of behavioral health 50 00:01:49,984 --> 00:01:52,564 at UPMC insurance services where I provide 51 00:01:53,424 --> 00:01:53,924 executive 52 00:01:54,760 --> 00:01:56,299 clinical whole strategic oversight 53 00:01:56,840 --> 00:01:57,340 across 54 00:01:57,719 --> 00:01:58,219 our 55 00:01:59,239 --> 00:02:01,259 array of insurance products. 56 00:02:01,560 --> 00:02:03,739 UPMC insures over 4,000,000 57 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:05,180 people nationwide, 58 00:02:06,119 --> 00:02:07,739 across Medicare, Medicaid, 59 00:02:08,120 --> 00:02:09,099 commercial insurance. 60 00:02:09,735 --> 00:02:11,115 We work closely with 61 00:02:11,575 --> 00:02:14,314 Friends at Work partners and employee assistance programs 62 00:02:15,415 --> 00:02:15,915 nationally. 63 00:02:16,534 --> 00:02:18,935 In addition, I'm also the President and CEO 64 00:02:18,935 --> 00:02:21,594 of Community Care Behavioral Health, one of UPMC's 65 00:02:22,294 --> 00:02:24,474 Medicaid insurance plans. We cover 66 00:02:24,830 --> 00:02:26,689 just over 1,000,000 Pennsylvanians, 67 00:02:27,709 --> 00:02:30,590 and cover their Medicaid behavioral health benefits, working 68 00:02:30,590 --> 00:02:33,090 with 43 of Pennsylvania's 67 counties. 69 00:02:34,030 --> 00:02:36,349 Wonderful. Well, Matt, Michael, we really appreciate you 70 00:02:36,349 --> 00:02:38,049 both taking the time out of your schedules 71 00:02:38,110 --> 00:02:39,569 to talk with us today. 72 00:02:40,074 --> 00:02:42,254 Matt, I wanna talk with you first about, 73 00:02:42,634 --> 00:02:45,594 some recent news from UPMC Health Plan. You 74 00:02:45,594 --> 00:02:48,655 opened a new neighborhood center in Erie, Pennsylvania 75 00:02:48,875 --> 00:02:49,775 this past summer, 76 00:02:50,314 --> 00:02:53,935 with food, job navigation support that's being provided 77 00:02:53,995 --> 00:02:55,860 to that community. So So talk to us 78 00:02:55,860 --> 00:02:57,080 a little bit about this. 79 00:02:57,540 --> 00:03:00,180 Explain for our listeners who aren't familiar with 80 00:03:00,180 --> 00:03:02,340 what these centers are. What are these services 81 00:03:02,340 --> 00:03:04,099 gonna look like on the ground, and, ultimately, 82 00:03:04,099 --> 00:03:05,700 what are you hoping to achieve in the 83 00:03:05,700 --> 00:03:06,360 long term? 84 00:03:07,060 --> 00:03:09,814 Well, we're really thrilled, about opening this neighborhood 85 00:03:09,814 --> 00:03:12,474 center in the Lower East Side Of Erie. 86 00:03:13,254 --> 00:03:13,995 We have 87 00:03:14,375 --> 00:03:14,875 opened 88 00:03:15,575 --> 00:03:17,514 a neighborhood center in 89 00:03:17,814 --> 00:03:19,735 Pittsburgh that has been up and running now 90 00:03:19,735 --> 00:03:20,794 for a few years. 91 00:03:21,175 --> 00:03:23,495 And this center in Erie is really modeled 92 00:03:23,495 --> 00:03:25,950 after that very successful program. 93 00:03:26,969 --> 00:03:29,610 And for us, it's really just another piece 94 00:03:29,610 --> 00:03:31,150 in a kind of ongoing 95 00:03:31,930 --> 00:03:34,830 mosaic of support for the Erie and Northwestern 96 00:03:35,129 --> 00:03:36,110 PA community. 97 00:03:36,944 --> 00:03:37,925 As you mentioned, 98 00:03:38,465 --> 00:03:40,865 this goes well beyond kind of support for 99 00:03:40,865 --> 00:03:42,324 traditional health needs 100 00:03:42,705 --> 00:03:43,604 and supports 101 00:03:44,224 --> 00:03:46,705 folks, whether they're members of our health plan 102 00:03:46,705 --> 00:03:49,504 or not, members of the community around, all 103 00:03:49,504 --> 00:03:52,349 sorts of health related social needs, like food 104 00:03:52,349 --> 00:03:52,849 security, 105 00:03:53,629 --> 00:03:56,669 job searching activities, and just navigating health and 106 00:03:56,669 --> 00:03:58,849 human services systems in general. 107 00:03:59,629 --> 00:04:02,370 And so while we have a physical location, 108 00:04:02,750 --> 00:04:05,604 they are great building where there's meeting spaces 109 00:04:05,604 --> 00:04:06,104 and 110 00:04:06,485 --> 00:04:09,305 opportunities and places for private consultation, 111 00:04:10,084 --> 00:04:12,564 there's so much more going on because of 112 00:04:12,564 --> 00:04:13,784 the over 50 113 00:04:14,164 --> 00:04:16,985 partnerships we have with various community based organizations 114 00:04:17,604 --> 00:04:21,009 across Erie and Northwestern PA. So whether folks 115 00:04:21,009 --> 00:04:23,410 come in looking again for a job, we 116 00:04:23,410 --> 00:04:24,389 can help navigate 117 00:04:25,569 --> 00:04:28,470 that through our UPMC Pathways to Work Programme, 118 00:04:28,610 --> 00:04:31,110 whether they're seeking employment with us at UPMC 119 00:04:31,569 --> 00:04:33,430 or elsewhere in the community, 120 00:04:34,524 --> 00:04:36,384 or if they're looking for, 121 00:04:37,324 --> 00:04:41,245 access to affordable, low cost or free healthy 122 00:04:41,245 --> 00:04:44,064 nutritious food, we have a fantastic partnership with 123 00:04:44,125 --> 00:04:46,305 the Second Harvest food pantry 124 00:04:46,829 --> 00:04:49,709 and created this Second Harvest marketplace where folks 125 00:04:49,709 --> 00:04:51,470 can make an appointment and come in and 126 00:04:51,470 --> 00:04:52,209 have access 127 00:04:52,750 --> 00:04:53,250 to, 128 00:04:53,949 --> 00:04:56,910 healthy and fresh produce, meats, dairy items, as 129 00:04:56,910 --> 00:04:59,069 well as shelf stable foods, all with the 130 00:04:59,069 --> 00:05:01,089 idea that, you know, food really is medicine. 131 00:05:01,470 --> 00:05:03,084 And there's so much more, 132 00:05:03,704 --> 00:05:05,644 lots of opportunities for individualized 133 00:05:06,345 --> 00:05:09,064 understanding of what people and their families might 134 00:05:09,064 --> 00:05:12,345 need. And this community center provides a front 135 00:05:12,345 --> 00:05:12,845 door, 136 00:05:13,225 --> 00:05:15,144 to this community so we can better support 137 00:05:15,144 --> 00:05:15,644 them. 138 00:05:16,139 --> 00:05:17,980 Well, it's great to hear that another community 139 00:05:17,980 --> 00:05:20,139 in the state has access to these types 140 00:05:20,139 --> 00:05:22,699 of services, Matt. And Michael, anything that you 141 00:05:22,699 --> 00:05:23,920 would add on this topic? 142 00:05:24,939 --> 00:05:27,360 I think Matt covered it really, really well, 143 00:05:27,980 --> 00:05:30,379 the the variety and diversity of services. And 144 00:05:30,379 --> 00:05:33,014 I think just really emphasizing the point that 145 00:05:33,154 --> 00:05:34,055 health and well-being 146 00:05:34,675 --> 00:05:36,914 don't only need to be addressed in the 147 00:05:36,914 --> 00:05:38,375 doctor's office, in the hospital, 148 00:05:38,995 --> 00:05:39,735 or from 149 00:05:40,115 --> 00:05:41,175 the payer headquarters. 150 00:05:41,555 --> 00:05:43,894 We really I think this just reflects UPMC's 151 00:05:44,720 --> 00:05:47,139 commitment to being a part of the communities, 152 00:05:47,759 --> 00:05:50,160 where our patients and our members are and 153 00:05:50,160 --> 00:05:53,220 our desire to be parts of those communities, 154 00:05:53,600 --> 00:05:54,259 be available, 155 00:05:54,639 --> 00:05:58,354 be present and partner, not just on traditional 156 00:05:58,354 --> 00:06:01,074 medical needs, but on all the other factors 157 00:06:01,074 --> 00:06:01,735 that contribute 158 00:06:02,035 --> 00:06:04,995 to health, but also to both physical and 159 00:06:04,995 --> 00:06:05,894 mental well-being, 160 00:06:06,514 --> 00:06:07,974 understanding that all of that 161 00:06:08,274 --> 00:06:10,134 is part of our mission. So I think 162 00:06:10,250 --> 00:06:11,870 the neighborhood centers really are just 163 00:06:12,250 --> 00:06:12,910 a demonstration 164 00:06:13,210 --> 00:06:14,110 of that commitment 165 00:06:14,490 --> 00:06:16,410 of being physically in the community and not 166 00:06:16,410 --> 00:06:18,009 sort of just waiting for people to come 167 00:06:18,009 --> 00:06:20,670 to us, but going out to find ways, 168 00:06:21,050 --> 00:06:22,110 to help anyone, 169 00:06:22,650 --> 00:06:24,045 in these areas to access 170 00:06:33,324 --> 00:06:34,225 incredible resources 171 00:06:34,845 --> 00:06:36,545 and really cool programs 172 00:06:37,019 --> 00:06:40,379 to help with education and not just helping 173 00:06:40,379 --> 00:06:42,220 people right now, but really teaching them to 174 00:06:42,220 --> 00:06:42,720 fish 175 00:06:43,579 --> 00:06:45,759 through training and job acquisition. 176 00:06:46,699 --> 00:06:48,459 So, really, really proud of the work that 177 00:06:48,459 --> 00:06:49,980 the health plan has done and our partners 178 00:06:49,980 --> 00:06:51,519 who oversee those programs. 179 00:06:52,545 --> 00:06:54,145 Yeah. No. It's really great to hear all 180 00:06:54,145 --> 00:06:55,985 about this. And I hear you loud and 181 00:06:55,985 --> 00:06:58,064 clear that, a lot of needs can be 182 00:06:58,064 --> 00:07:00,165 met outside the four walls of a hospital. 183 00:07:00,384 --> 00:07:02,705 But, Michael, if we are sticking to some 184 00:07:02,705 --> 00:07:06,324 new recent developments this year, within UPMC Hospitals, 185 00:07:07,800 --> 00:07:10,779 We're seeing that you've added behavioral inpatient capacity 186 00:07:10,839 --> 00:07:12,300 this year at different facilities, 187 00:07:12,839 --> 00:07:14,860 more intensive outpatient programs, 188 00:07:15,240 --> 00:07:17,980 behavioral health pods in emergency departments. 189 00:07:19,160 --> 00:07:21,855 So how are you all thinking right now 190 00:07:21,855 --> 00:07:25,935 about balancing your investments across inpatient, outpatient, and 191 00:07:25,935 --> 00:07:27,795 community based recovery supports? 192 00:07:28,814 --> 00:07:30,975 What are some lessons learned this year that 193 00:07:30,975 --> 00:07:33,055 the other behavioral health leaders listening in can 194 00:07:33,055 --> 00:07:36,100 really take away from, where UPMC is leading? 195 00:07:37,120 --> 00:07:38,800 I think it's just so important to break 196 00:07:38,800 --> 00:07:40,500 down the walls and the barriers. 197 00:07:40,879 --> 00:07:43,060 You know, too long physical health and 198 00:07:43,439 --> 00:07:45,759 behavioral health, have kind of worked in silos, 199 00:07:45,759 --> 00:07:47,220 and a lot of that has been structural, 200 00:07:47,839 --> 00:07:49,379 not necessarily by desire. 201 00:07:51,454 --> 00:07:54,194 And I think most in both worlds recognize 202 00:07:54,414 --> 00:07:54,914 the 203 00:07:55,214 --> 00:07:57,714 integration or the need for integration of services 204 00:07:57,774 --> 00:07:58,514 that each 205 00:07:59,134 --> 00:08:01,454 influences the other. You can't treat behavioral health 206 00:08:01,454 --> 00:08:01,954 without 207 00:08:02,629 --> 00:08:04,889 managing physical health and vice versa. 208 00:08:05,270 --> 00:08:07,189 And so to try to treat them in 209 00:08:07,189 --> 00:08:08,089 separate places 210 00:08:08,629 --> 00:08:09,850 and treat them separately, 211 00:08:10,550 --> 00:08:12,089 you're going to be bound for 212 00:08:13,189 --> 00:08:15,435 worse outcomes. So I think that's really at 213 00:08:15,435 --> 00:08:16,095 the foundation. 214 00:08:16,634 --> 00:08:18,794 And beyond sort of integrating that care and 215 00:08:18,794 --> 00:08:19,694 trying to partner 216 00:08:20,074 --> 00:08:22,235 with physical health and behavioral health providers and 217 00:08:22,235 --> 00:08:23,454 payers and resources, 218 00:08:23,914 --> 00:08:25,694 I think another driving 219 00:08:26,634 --> 00:08:26,881 force for us is continuity. We really want 220 00:08:26,881 --> 00:08:27,854 to think about those connections of care. 221 00:08:28,849 --> 00:08:30,870 We really want to think about those connections 222 00:08:30,930 --> 00:08:31,509 of care. 223 00:08:32,049 --> 00:08:34,370 I think for too long, we have looked 224 00:08:34,370 --> 00:08:36,129 at the structure of healthcare and looked at 225 00:08:36,129 --> 00:08:36,629 nodes, 226 00:08:37,009 --> 00:08:39,009 stopping points, whether it be the hospital or 227 00:08:39,009 --> 00:08:41,909 ED or the outpatient office or the therapist's 228 00:08:41,970 --> 00:08:42,870 office or 229 00:08:43,475 --> 00:08:44,375 social services 230 00:08:45,074 --> 00:08:47,074 provider and those kinds of things. Instead of 231 00:08:47,074 --> 00:08:48,914 thinking them as we should, as sort of 232 00:08:48,914 --> 00:08:50,774 a web or a net that's connected, 233 00:08:51,154 --> 00:08:52,214 where each one 234 00:08:52,595 --> 00:08:54,754 should kind of have an easy and obvious 235 00:08:54,754 --> 00:08:57,009 pathway to the other and back and forth, 236 00:08:57,009 --> 00:08:59,490 both through communication for us, but also navigation 237 00:08:59,490 --> 00:09:00,309 for the patients. 238 00:09:00,850 --> 00:09:02,389 You know, because for 239 00:09:02,769 --> 00:09:03,990 most just laypeople, 240 00:09:04,370 --> 00:09:06,149 navigating the system is incredibly 241 00:09:06,529 --> 00:09:07,830 challenging. It's confusing. 242 00:09:08,504 --> 00:09:09,404 It's complicated. 243 00:09:10,264 --> 00:09:11,865 Who needs what? Where do you need to 244 00:09:11,865 --> 00:09:12,365 be? 245 00:09:13,065 --> 00:09:15,225 What paperwork needs to be signed? All of 246 00:09:15,225 --> 00:09:16,365 those kinds of things 247 00:09:16,985 --> 00:09:17,965 are all opportunities 248 00:09:18,424 --> 00:09:20,665 to lose somebody to the care that we 249 00:09:20,665 --> 00:09:22,504 know they need. And the better we can 250 00:09:22,504 --> 00:09:23,725 connect those things, 251 00:09:24,329 --> 00:09:26,730 and start the process in one place, and 252 00:09:26,730 --> 00:09:29,629 then hand it off to the next place, 253 00:09:30,169 --> 00:09:31,789 all with the patient at the center 254 00:09:32,329 --> 00:09:34,329 of that journey. And so it's you know, 255 00:09:34,329 --> 00:09:36,730 the pathway is easy for them. Those are 256 00:09:36,730 --> 00:09:38,009 all things that are going to help us 257 00:09:38,009 --> 00:09:40,615 get people the care that they need and 258 00:09:40,615 --> 00:09:43,254 long term, hopefully prevent them from needing those 259 00:09:43,254 --> 00:09:43,995 more acute 260 00:09:44,375 --> 00:09:45,115 or urgent 261 00:09:45,495 --> 00:09:47,415 care kinds of services that we see at 262 00:09:47,415 --> 00:09:49,254 the hospital. So while a lot of the 263 00:09:49,254 --> 00:09:51,575 investment occurs at the hospital, the fundamental goal 264 00:09:51,575 --> 00:09:53,509 is actually to reduce the need 265 00:09:54,209 --> 00:09:57,009 of hospital and emergency care because we've connected 266 00:09:57,009 --> 00:09:58,789 people to those community, 267 00:09:59,250 --> 00:10:00,070 both healthcare, 268 00:10:00,449 --> 00:10:03,089 behavioral health, and social service resources that they 269 00:10:03,089 --> 00:10:04,850 need. So, I think still a lot of 270 00:10:04,850 --> 00:10:06,070 work to do. 271 00:10:06,529 --> 00:10:07,429 It's a complicated 272 00:10:08,245 --> 00:10:11,125 space. But, you know, the first step in 273 00:10:11,125 --> 00:10:12,884 doing it is to do it, is to 274 00:10:12,884 --> 00:10:15,064 prioritize it and make sure that 275 00:10:15,365 --> 00:10:18,084 we demonstrate through our actions and through our 276 00:10:18,084 --> 00:10:19,764 behaviors that that is what we think is 277 00:10:19,764 --> 00:10:22,470 important. And so I think that's really fundamental 278 00:10:22,610 --> 00:10:24,230 and at the heart of that work. 279 00:10:24,769 --> 00:10:26,450 Absolutely. No. It's a great call to action 280 00:10:26,450 --> 00:10:28,450 for everyone listening in. And, Matt, I would 281 00:10:28,450 --> 00:10:30,690 extend the same question to you in terms 282 00:10:30,690 --> 00:10:32,309 of for our leaders, 283 00:10:33,330 --> 00:10:35,875 hearing from from you both right now. And 284 00:10:35,875 --> 00:10:37,475 when you're thinking about some of the investments 285 00:10:37,475 --> 00:10:39,315 I mentioned that the system has made in 286 00:10:39,315 --> 00:10:41,334 this space over the last year or so, 287 00:10:41,475 --> 00:10:43,554 what would you say in terms of lessons 288 00:10:43,554 --> 00:10:44,054 learned? 289 00:10:45,315 --> 00:10:47,334 Well, Mike absolutely nailed the 290 00:10:47,714 --> 00:10:49,414 answer, I think, and and and 291 00:10:50,450 --> 00:10:52,290 right to the heart of the matter, which 292 00:10:52,290 --> 00:10:52,790 is 293 00:10:53,170 --> 00:10:54,769 not only you have to think about this 294 00:10:54,769 --> 00:10:56,790 in terms of a continuum of care, 295 00:10:57,330 --> 00:10:59,970 but actually think about it as a web 296 00:10:59,970 --> 00:11:03,009 of support or a safety net. And, 297 00:11:03,834 --> 00:11:06,634 that net is only as strong as its 298 00:11:06,634 --> 00:11:07,134 weakest 299 00:11:08,394 --> 00:11:08,894 portion. 300 00:11:09,434 --> 00:11:11,674 And so the when we think about the 301 00:11:11,674 --> 00:11:14,394 investments and what lessons learned that we can 302 00:11:14,394 --> 00:11:17,179 take away from working in particularly high needs 303 00:11:17,179 --> 00:11:17,679 communities, 304 00:11:18,299 --> 00:11:19,200 it's to 305 00:11:20,139 --> 00:11:23,120 constantly remind ourselves of that fact. And so 306 00:11:23,500 --> 00:11:26,460 to think about a concrete example here, if 307 00:11:26,460 --> 00:11:28,394 I'm somebody with a serious mental illness, 308 00:11:28,875 --> 00:11:31,054 I know that I can go into UPMC's, 309 00:11:31,595 --> 00:11:34,495 Western Psychiatric Hospital and get world class 310 00:11:34,955 --> 00:11:35,455 inpatient 311 00:11:35,835 --> 00:11:39,035 care for my schizophrenia or bipolar disorder or 312 00:11:39,035 --> 00:11:39,934 or other diagnoses. 313 00:11:41,009 --> 00:11:43,430 But if I'm discharged to a community where 314 00:11:43,649 --> 00:11:45,910 I don't have access to, 315 00:11:46,769 --> 00:11:48,450 you know, food or I have to make 316 00:11:48,450 --> 00:11:51,509 a decision between spending money on transportation 317 00:11:51,970 --> 00:11:54,070 to get to my follow-up appointment 318 00:11:56,174 --> 00:11:59,134 or my medicines or my food, then those 319 00:11:59,134 --> 00:12:01,475 choices put people in impossible situations. 320 00:12:02,014 --> 00:12:03,875 And so when we think about these investments, 321 00:12:04,654 --> 00:12:06,894 we have to take the blinders off and 322 00:12:06,894 --> 00:12:09,169 recognize that we cannot look at this 323 00:12:09,710 --> 00:12:10,290 in silos, 324 00:12:10,830 --> 00:12:11,970 and that the partnerships 325 00:12:12,429 --> 00:12:15,230 that are so important and pivotal in people's 326 00:12:15,230 --> 00:12:16,210 daily lives, 327 00:12:17,470 --> 00:12:19,870 round out and complete that safety net of 328 00:12:19,870 --> 00:12:22,370 support. And that's why things like the 329 00:12:22,964 --> 00:12:25,225 neighborhood center in Erie are these partnerships, 330 00:12:25,924 --> 00:12:29,284 with food pantries, transportation providers, legal aid, and 331 00:12:29,284 --> 00:12:30,985 other community based organizations 332 00:12:31,444 --> 00:12:32,584 are so essential 333 00:12:33,044 --> 00:12:34,769 because everything falls 334 00:12:35,250 --> 00:12:38,210 apart when people don't have that full safety 335 00:12:38,210 --> 00:12:40,850 net and the set of supports available to 336 00:12:40,850 --> 00:12:41,350 them. 337 00:12:41,889 --> 00:12:43,889 And so the important thing is that we 338 00:12:43,889 --> 00:12:45,110 don't stop our investments 339 00:12:45,570 --> 00:12:47,730 at the four walls of our hospitals, our 340 00:12:47,730 --> 00:12:48,230 clinics, 341 00:12:48,985 --> 00:12:51,865 or our emergency departments. And we recognize that 342 00:12:51,865 --> 00:12:55,324 the vast majority of time that our members 343 00:12:55,384 --> 00:12:58,264 and our patients are spending are outside of 344 00:12:58,264 --> 00:12:59,004 our campuses. 345 00:12:59,464 --> 00:13:01,299 They're in their homes, they're in their churches, 346 00:13:01,299 --> 00:13:02,120 at their workplaces, 347 00:13:02,820 --> 00:13:03,639 in their communities. 348 00:13:04,019 --> 00:13:05,399 And that's where we need 349 00:13:05,860 --> 00:13:08,179 to be partnering and supporting. So that that 350 00:13:08,179 --> 00:13:10,419 has been a major focus of UPMC for 351 00:13:10,419 --> 00:13:12,419 some years, and I think it will only 352 00:13:12,419 --> 00:13:12,919 increase 353 00:13:13,299 --> 00:13:14,519 relevance and importance 354 00:13:15,299 --> 00:13:16,279 in the years ahead. 355 00:13:17,215 --> 00:13:19,774 Certainly. And so these these services, they're they're 356 00:13:19,774 --> 00:13:21,774 so important to continue to invest in, and 357 00:13:21,774 --> 00:13:24,675 it sounds like UPMC is really committed there, 358 00:13:25,215 --> 00:13:26,115 looking forward. 359 00:13:27,054 --> 00:13:28,679 In terms of where both of you sit, 360 00:13:28,679 --> 00:13:30,600 you know, you're really leading efforts at the 361 00:13:30,600 --> 00:13:33,179 intersection of emergency care, toxicology, 362 00:13:33,720 --> 00:13:34,220 behavioral 363 00:13:34,600 --> 00:13:36,539 managed care as as an insurer. 364 00:13:37,159 --> 00:13:39,240 So what do you both think right now 365 00:13:39,240 --> 00:13:41,559 are some of the most scalable strategies for 366 00:13:41,559 --> 00:13:42,059 continuing 367 00:13:42,440 --> 00:13:42,940 to, 368 00:13:43,559 --> 00:13:44,414 see more investment 369 00:13:48,495 --> 00:13:49,714 in across the populations 370 00:13:50,095 --> 00:13:51,074 that you serve? 371 00:13:51,934 --> 00:13:53,454 Matt, do you wanna go start us off 372 00:13:53,454 --> 00:13:53,954 there? 373 00:13:54,334 --> 00:13:55,394 Yeah. Happy to. 374 00:13:56,174 --> 00:13:57,954 You know, I think it comes down to, 375 00:13:58,014 --> 00:13:59,454 in in my mind, a single word, and 376 00:13:59,454 --> 00:14:02,330 that's network. And that's in both senses 377 00:14:02,710 --> 00:14:04,809 or multiple senses of that word. 378 00:14:05,190 --> 00:14:06,710 We have just talked about the importance of 379 00:14:06,710 --> 00:14:08,549 having a network of partnerships out in the 380 00:14:08,549 --> 00:14:11,129 community to help close those practical, 381 00:14:12,790 --> 00:14:16,194 logistical gaps for individuals like, you know, trans 382 00:14:16,315 --> 00:14:19,294 getting to care, transportation, child care, mobility, etcetera. 383 00:14:20,714 --> 00:14:23,934 But, you know, there's also an opportunity through, 384 00:14:24,554 --> 00:14:27,115 tele and digital networks and growing out the 385 00:14:27,115 --> 00:14:28,735 offerings that we can do virtually 386 00:14:29,115 --> 00:14:32,160 to help people also close those gaps to, 387 00:14:33,019 --> 00:14:35,259 access to care, whether, again, that's because they 388 00:14:35,259 --> 00:14:37,120 have personal mobility issues 389 00:14:37,500 --> 00:14:39,899 or because they simply, they're a single parent 390 00:14:39,899 --> 00:14:41,200 and they can't take the, 391 00:14:41,899 --> 00:14:44,565 the risk of, having their child not in 392 00:14:44,565 --> 00:14:46,165 a safe place while they go take care 393 00:14:46,165 --> 00:14:48,245 of their own health. The ability for us 394 00:14:48,245 --> 00:14:50,345 to use virtual Intelli options, 395 00:14:50,965 --> 00:14:53,524 has greatly expanded our ability to meet people 396 00:14:53,524 --> 00:14:55,125 where they are. And so when we think 397 00:14:55,125 --> 00:14:57,125 about what what can we truly scale and 398 00:14:57,125 --> 00:14:59,690 in some environments, we're gonna have to continue 399 00:14:59,690 --> 00:15:01,830 to do more, with with less, 400 00:15:02,610 --> 00:15:04,549 then we have to look to these scalable 401 00:15:04,610 --> 00:15:05,110 solutions. 402 00:15:05,570 --> 00:15:07,649 And so in my mind, it really does 403 00:15:07,649 --> 00:15:08,549 come down to, 404 00:15:09,090 --> 00:15:10,389 leveraging technology 405 00:15:10,850 --> 00:15:11,590 and leveraging 406 00:15:12,345 --> 00:15:15,164 partnerships with those community based organizations, 407 00:15:15,625 --> 00:15:17,565 other providers, payers, policymakers, 408 00:15:18,105 --> 00:15:19,485 human service organizations 409 00:15:20,024 --> 00:15:21,404 to think about where, 410 00:15:21,784 --> 00:15:23,544 can we help support their efforts, where can 411 00:15:23,544 --> 00:15:26,230 they support ours, all with this idea of 412 00:15:26,230 --> 00:15:28,070 keeping the person at the center of what 413 00:15:28,070 --> 00:15:28,730 we do. 414 00:15:29,509 --> 00:15:31,190 And and, Michael, let you weigh in on 415 00:15:31,190 --> 00:15:33,769 what you think are the most scalable strategies 416 00:15:33,830 --> 00:15:36,309 right now in this space, but also how 417 00:15:36,309 --> 00:15:38,870 you're thinking about measuring the business impact and 418 00:15:38,870 --> 00:15:40,065 and the clinical impact, 419 00:15:40,465 --> 00:15:43,184 in ways that resonates with your other payer 420 00:15:43,184 --> 00:15:45,044 partners, with your state partners. 421 00:15:46,144 --> 00:15:47,524 How are you thinking about that? 422 00:15:48,465 --> 00:15:51,504 Absolutely. And and it the measurement is so 423 00:15:51,504 --> 00:15:54,019 critical. It it's can be challenging, but it's 424 00:15:54,019 --> 00:15:54,519 necessary. 425 00:15:55,459 --> 00:15:57,779 And I fully I think you can maybe 426 00:15:57,779 --> 00:15:59,539 not surprise that Matt and I frequently agree 427 00:15:59,539 --> 00:16:00,279 with each other. 428 00:16:00,580 --> 00:16:02,679 But I absolutely agree. I think from 429 00:16:03,379 --> 00:16:04,600 a scalable perspective, 430 00:16:05,384 --> 00:16:07,465 you know, digital and that can mean things 431 00:16:07,465 --> 00:16:09,085 like EHR integration, 432 00:16:10,024 --> 00:16:11,725 information, kind of communication, 433 00:16:12,985 --> 00:16:15,465 and being at at our fingertips so we 434 00:16:15,465 --> 00:16:16,605 can get more rapid, 435 00:16:17,225 --> 00:16:18,285 integration of 436 00:16:18,870 --> 00:16:20,090 community based information, 437 00:16:20,549 --> 00:16:22,970 whether it be drug availability, what's happening, 438 00:16:23,549 --> 00:16:25,289 you know, local pressures, 439 00:16:25,750 --> 00:16:27,830 things like that that can be integrated, the 440 00:16:27,830 --> 00:16:30,309 digital space in the EHR so that, you 441 00:16:30,309 --> 00:16:31,095 know, we spend less 442 00:16:31,975 --> 00:16:34,534 time, looking for information, but just having it 443 00:16:34,534 --> 00:16:36,214 there and coming to us, I think that's 444 00:16:36,214 --> 00:16:37,814 going to be really important, even to the 445 00:16:37,814 --> 00:16:40,134 degree of artificial intelligence being able to take 446 00:16:40,134 --> 00:16:41,814 over not a lot of the care duties, 447 00:16:41,814 --> 00:16:43,514 but some of the tasks, the administrative 448 00:16:44,120 --> 00:16:46,039 burdens, I think, you know, that allow us 449 00:16:46,039 --> 00:16:48,919 to spend more time with people. So people 450 00:16:48,919 --> 00:16:50,759 are taking care of people and the things 451 00:16:50,759 --> 00:16:53,159 that are tasks can get handled in the 452 00:16:53,159 --> 00:16:54,860 background. I think those are all opportunities. 453 00:16:55,480 --> 00:16:57,855 And from a telehealth perspective, and I will, 454 00:16:58,414 --> 00:17:00,334 use that as an example to answer your 455 00:17:00,334 --> 00:17:01,634 question regarding measurement. 456 00:17:02,254 --> 00:17:04,255 In my own personal experience, you know, running 457 00:17:04,255 --> 00:17:06,115 a telehealth bridge clinic, we've seen, 458 00:17:06,734 --> 00:17:09,714 continuous growth. We operate throughout all of Pennsylvania. 459 00:17:09,855 --> 00:17:13,230 We've managed more than 16,000 encounters across 66 460 00:17:13,230 --> 00:17:15,730 of the 67 counties in Pennsylvania. 461 00:17:16,349 --> 00:17:18,109 And, you know, so that's rural, that's urban, 462 00:17:18,109 --> 00:17:20,589 that's suburban. And I think really that supply 463 00:17:20,589 --> 00:17:21,650 demand mismatch, 464 00:17:22,909 --> 00:17:25,404 you know, is really scalable, not just in 465 00:17:25,404 --> 00:17:27,724 behavioral health and substance use, but in medicine 466 00:17:27,724 --> 00:17:29,825 in general, where maybe you have a concentration 467 00:17:29,884 --> 00:17:32,144 of certain types of providers in one area, 468 00:17:32,445 --> 00:17:34,045 but not so many in another area, but 469 00:17:34,045 --> 00:17:35,984 there are people there who need those services. 470 00:17:36,204 --> 00:17:37,585 How do we make those connections, 471 00:17:38,200 --> 00:17:40,700 whether through econsulting or professional consultations, 472 00:17:41,480 --> 00:17:42,299 direct telemedicine? 473 00:17:42,920 --> 00:17:44,279 I think there's all sorts of, 474 00:17:44,920 --> 00:17:48,700 possibilities there to scale and meet those needs. 475 00:17:49,080 --> 00:17:51,320 With capacity that exists in the system, it 476 00:17:51,320 --> 00:17:53,815 just doesn't always exist where the needs are. 477 00:17:53,815 --> 00:17:55,815 And so I think that is, really an 478 00:17:55,815 --> 00:17:56,875 exciting opportunity. 479 00:17:57,494 --> 00:17:59,174 But to your point, we need to make 480 00:17:59,174 --> 00:18:00,934 sure that when we're doing that, we don't 481 00:18:00,934 --> 00:18:02,375 just do it because we think it's a 482 00:18:02,375 --> 00:18:02,855 good idea, 483 00:18:03,335 --> 00:18:05,014 but that we're able to show that not 484 00:18:05,014 --> 00:18:06,474 only is it feasible 485 00:18:06,829 --> 00:18:09,089 and is the quality of care sufficient, 486 00:18:09,549 --> 00:18:12,190 and appropriate to meet people's needs, but is 487 00:18:12,190 --> 00:18:15,549 it making sense, from a business perspective? Because 488 00:18:15,549 --> 00:18:17,630 in the end, to support those, particularly to 489 00:18:17,630 --> 00:18:21,009 get those things started and expanded and scaled, 490 00:18:21,154 --> 00:18:23,255 it takes some degree of upfront investment, 491 00:18:24,034 --> 00:18:26,115 to stand it up. And so part of 492 00:18:26,115 --> 00:18:28,615 what we've done through our telemedicine bridge clinic 493 00:18:28,835 --> 00:18:30,835 is we have done that with not only 494 00:18:30,835 --> 00:18:32,774 UPMC health plan data analytics, 495 00:18:33,250 --> 00:18:35,809 we've worked with the, with the Pennsylvania Department 496 00:18:35,809 --> 00:18:38,369 of Human Services and Medicaid Review Committee to 497 00:18:38,369 --> 00:18:40,210 do analyses where we look at what the 498 00:18:40,210 --> 00:18:41,269 utilization is, 499 00:18:41,809 --> 00:18:43,809 what are the quality outcomes we care about? 500 00:18:43,809 --> 00:18:45,890 So are people getting on medication? Are they 501 00:18:45,890 --> 00:18:49,214 following up with outpatient treatment providers? Are we 502 00:18:49,214 --> 00:18:50,355 reducing the amount 503 00:18:50,815 --> 00:18:52,274 of unplanned care utilization 504 00:18:52,815 --> 00:18:54,734 and total cost of care and those types 505 00:18:54,734 --> 00:18:57,234 of things? Are we engaging them in other 506 00:18:57,375 --> 00:18:58,355 preventive treatments, 507 00:18:58,815 --> 00:19:00,359 that we want to see? And so those 508 00:19:00,359 --> 00:19:02,119 are some of the analyses we've actually done 509 00:19:02,119 --> 00:19:04,119 and published, and we have been able to 510 00:19:04,119 --> 00:19:06,440 show that. And just to take that one 511 00:19:06,440 --> 00:19:08,380 step further, I've been able to use 512 00:19:08,680 --> 00:19:11,000 those analyses and those data to go back 513 00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:11,500 to 514 00:19:11,880 --> 00:19:15,315 payers and other stakeholders to demonstrate and say, 515 00:19:15,474 --> 00:19:17,154 this is what we're doing. This is what 516 00:19:17,154 --> 00:19:19,734 the potential value is. And actually get additional 517 00:19:19,794 --> 00:19:21,414 buy in, of resources 518 00:19:21,875 --> 00:19:22,615 and investment 519 00:19:23,075 --> 00:19:25,794 to continue and increase that work. And so 520 00:19:25,794 --> 00:19:27,714 I think that's always going to have to 521 00:19:27,714 --> 00:19:29,234 be the way that it works. I think 522 00:19:29,234 --> 00:19:30,454 of it as like a ratchet, 523 00:19:31,039 --> 00:19:32,900 you know, where you start to do something 524 00:19:33,119 --> 00:19:34,960 and then you need to scale it, so 525 00:19:34,960 --> 00:19:36,319 you have to show some outcomes. You do 526 00:19:36,319 --> 00:19:38,160 that. You get some more investment. You scale 527 00:19:38,160 --> 00:19:41,039 it further. You get, a more robust set 528 00:19:41,039 --> 00:19:42,900 of outcomes and so on and so forth. 529 00:19:43,119 --> 00:19:44,480 And that's what we really need to do 530 00:19:44,480 --> 00:19:46,099 to ensure that we're not implementing 531 00:19:46,634 --> 00:19:48,095 lots of digital or 532 00:19:48,555 --> 00:19:50,955 application based or telehealth programs that aren't good 533 00:19:50,955 --> 00:19:51,455 quality, 534 00:19:52,394 --> 00:19:54,795 but are offering the services people need where 535 00:19:54,795 --> 00:19:57,275 they need them, and the outcomes are what 536 00:19:57,275 --> 00:19:59,214 we want them to be from a quality 537 00:19:59,275 --> 00:20:01,950 and a cost efficiency perspective. And so that 538 00:20:01,950 --> 00:20:03,789 is really important. It is hard work and 539 00:20:03,789 --> 00:20:06,049 there is cost itself in the evaluation. 540 00:20:06,829 --> 00:20:08,589 But I think in the long run, it 541 00:20:08,589 --> 00:20:09,890 becomes well worth it. 542 00:20:10,429 --> 00:20:12,269 Yeah. No, it seems like such a fine 543 00:20:12,269 --> 00:20:15,149 balance between making those investments that you both 544 00:20:15,149 --> 00:20:15,649 mentioned, 545 00:20:16,095 --> 00:20:18,194 growing those physical and and virtual 546 00:20:18,654 --> 00:20:20,654 networks, but then also bringing it back to 547 00:20:20,654 --> 00:20:23,214 the sustainable business piece and and meeting those 548 00:20:23,214 --> 00:20:25,694 measures you've set internally and with your external 549 00:20:25,694 --> 00:20:26,194 partners. 550 00:20:27,615 --> 00:20:29,535 Gentlemen, before we go, I I do wanna 551 00:20:29,535 --> 00:20:32,562 mention, of course, I I'm sure most of 552 00:20:32,562 --> 00:20:35,298 our listeners are aware that September is National 553 00:20:35,298 --> 00:20:38,377 Recovery Month, which really observes, the gains that 554 00:20:38,377 --> 00:20:41,114 individuals like you all over the country have 555 00:20:41,114 --> 00:20:44,192 made in terms of, making progress in mental 556 00:20:44,192 --> 00:20:46,744 health and substance use recovery efforts. So, 557 00:20:47,684 --> 00:20:49,065 as as your final, 558 00:20:49,444 --> 00:20:51,204 thoughts or final piece of advice you wanna 559 00:20:51,204 --> 00:20:52,565 offer to the audience, can you each take 560 00:20:52,565 --> 00:20:54,884 a minute within the context of a national 561 00:20:54,884 --> 00:20:57,525 recovery month and and share for us, anything 562 00:20:57,525 --> 00:20:59,444 else we might have missed today? Matt, you 563 00:20:59,444 --> 00:21:00,585 wanna start us off? 564 00:21:01,200 --> 00:21:03,380 Sure. Well, obviously, at UPMC, 565 00:21:03,759 --> 00:21:05,599 we're all about recovery twelve months out of 566 00:21:05,599 --> 00:21:07,919 the year. But the fact that as a 567 00:21:07,919 --> 00:21:11,119 nation, we take September to shine a special 568 00:21:11,119 --> 00:21:12,179 light on 569 00:21:12,480 --> 00:21:15,619 on recovery, whether that's from substance use disorders, 570 00:21:16,355 --> 00:21:18,055 or other mental health conditions, 571 00:21:18,434 --> 00:21:21,255 I do think it has tremendous value to 572 00:21:21,555 --> 00:21:22,615 raise people's awareness 573 00:21:23,154 --> 00:21:26,035 around the importance of recovery and behavioral health, 574 00:21:26,035 --> 00:21:27,015 generally speaking, 575 00:21:27,875 --> 00:21:30,134 as well as reducing the stigma associated 576 00:21:31,234 --> 00:21:34,359 with these conditions and seeking help for them. 577 00:21:34,660 --> 00:21:35,559 So I wanna 578 00:21:36,259 --> 00:21:38,660 thank Becker's for trying helping to shine a 579 00:21:38,660 --> 00:21:39,160 light 580 00:21:39,539 --> 00:21:43,059 on recovery month, this year. And it's so 581 00:21:43,059 --> 00:21:45,144 important, I think. We've coming out of the 582 00:21:45,144 --> 00:21:47,724 COVID pandemic, we have certainly seen a dramatic 583 00:21:47,945 --> 00:21:50,684 increase in the demand for behavioral health services. 584 00:21:50,984 --> 00:21:52,265 I do think a lot of that has 585 00:21:52,265 --> 00:21:54,424 to do with the kind of education and 586 00:21:54,424 --> 00:21:55,805 public awareness that 587 00:21:56,505 --> 00:21:57,005 increased 588 00:21:57,545 --> 00:21:58,045 during 589 00:21:58,480 --> 00:21:59,220 COVID and 590 00:22:00,559 --> 00:22:02,799 it's a positive sign that people are more 591 00:22:02,799 --> 00:22:04,019 willing to 592 00:22:04,399 --> 00:22:07,599 ask questions about and check-in with themselves and 593 00:22:07,599 --> 00:22:10,659 loved ones about their health and overall wellness, 594 00:22:10,880 --> 00:22:11,380 including 595 00:22:11,695 --> 00:22:13,535 behavioral health. So as we go into, you 596 00:22:13,535 --> 00:22:17,055 know, National Recovery Month, certainly UPMC is going 597 00:22:17,055 --> 00:22:20,255 to continue to provide support and offerings. We've 598 00:22:20,255 --> 00:22:22,755 got trainings, for example, that are available, 599 00:22:23,215 --> 00:22:25,474 free and open to the public, whether you're 600 00:22:25,640 --> 00:22:28,279 a UPMC provider member or not. You can, 601 00:22:28,279 --> 00:22:30,360 for example, go to Community Care Behavioral Health's 602 00:22:30,360 --> 00:22:32,120 website, ccbh.com, 603 00:22:32,120 --> 00:22:33,640 and there's information on, 604 00:22:33,960 --> 00:22:36,860 seven training sessions throughout the month of September, 605 00:22:37,240 --> 00:22:39,500 all about substance use disorder recovery, 606 00:22:40,555 --> 00:22:43,775 and how to support individuals on that journey. 607 00:22:43,835 --> 00:22:45,515 I know that Doctor. Lynch has been doing 608 00:22:45,515 --> 00:22:47,855 trainings in this area as well around empowering 609 00:22:48,315 --> 00:22:51,035 providers on substance use disorders. It's just one 610 00:22:51,035 --> 00:22:53,115 of the ways at UPMC that we wanna 611 00:22:53,115 --> 00:22:54,414 continue to support, 612 00:22:55,769 --> 00:22:58,170 the provider community. And as, 613 00:22:58,809 --> 00:23:00,910 mister Rogers said, it's helping the helpers. 614 00:23:01,690 --> 00:23:03,769 And great. Last message and sentence for me 615 00:23:03,769 --> 00:23:06,170 there, Matt. I really love that. Michael, anything 616 00:23:06,170 --> 00:23:07,549 else you'd like to add? 617 00:23:07,945 --> 00:23:10,684 Yeah. I just wanna echo the appreciation for 618 00:23:10,744 --> 00:23:13,384 the discussion and shining a light. You know, 619 00:23:13,384 --> 00:23:13,965 a major 620 00:23:14,664 --> 00:23:15,884 barrier and challenge, 621 00:23:16,265 --> 00:23:17,724 in this space is stigma, 622 00:23:18,184 --> 00:23:20,744 you know, both real and perceived, conscious and 623 00:23:20,744 --> 00:23:21,244 unconscious. 624 00:23:22,184 --> 00:23:23,484 I think it it limits 625 00:23:24,400 --> 00:23:26,799 the the work that could otherwise be done 626 00:23:26,799 --> 00:23:30,320 because people are concerned about how others are 627 00:23:30,320 --> 00:23:32,420 gonna feel about them when they seek help. 628 00:23:32,720 --> 00:23:34,740 When people seek help, they sometimes encounter 629 00:23:35,119 --> 00:23:35,619 negative, 630 00:23:36,000 --> 00:23:38,240 you know, circumstances. And so the more we 631 00:23:38,240 --> 00:23:40,515 can talk about it and just recognize, 632 00:23:41,295 --> 00:23:43,234 that these issues are out there, they're common, 633 00:23:43,855 --> 00:23:46,894 they're a disease, they're not a moral failing 634 00:23:46,894 --> 00:23:49,714 or a choice and those kinds of things, 635 00:23:49,934 --> 00:23:51,375 you know, it seems like an obvious thing 636 00:23:51,375 --> 00:23:53,720 to say, but I think it bears repeating, 637 00:23:54,420 --> 00:23:56,500 because we the more we focus on it 638 00:23:56,500 --> 00:23:59,220 and then think about what are the real 639 00:23:59,220 --> 00:24:02,099 solutions, what are the available therapies that work, 640 00:24:02,099 --> 00:24:03,700 what is the evidence, just like we would 641 00:24:03,700 --> 00:24:06,444 if we were talking about diabetes or hypertension 642 00:24:06,444 --> 00:24:07,904 or coronary artery disease. 643 00:24:08,444 --> 00:24:09,964 I think that really just helps to put 644 00:24:09,964 --> 00:24:10,944 it in the framework, 645 00:24:11,804 --> 00:24:12,464 of other, 646 00:24:13,005 --> 00:24:14,224 you know, kind of 647 00:24:14,684 --> 00:24:15,184 processes 648 00:24:15,484 --> 00:24:15,984 and, 649 00:24:16,444 --> 00:24:19,105 and procedures that we use in, 650 00:24:19,644 --> 00:24:23,110 health care all the time. And finally, with 651 00:24:23,110 --> 00:24:25,029 that, I think the other part, and I 652 00:24:25,029 --> 00:24:27,690 like to emphasize this particularly during recovery month, 653 00:24:27,910 --> 00:24:30,390 because recovery month is really about the hope 654 00:24:30,390 --> 00:24:31,210 and the promise 655 00:24:31,590 --> 00:24:34,330 that recovery is there, recovery is possible. 656 00:24:35,054 --> 00:24:36,355 It doesn't just happen. 657 00:24:36,734 --> 00:24:38,194 It has to be worked at, 658 00:24:38,575 --> 00:24:42,095 but it is absolutely possible. And another quote 659 00:24:42,095 --> 00:24:44,095 that I love as well from Joel Barker, 660 00:24:44,095 --> 00:24:46,815 we're thinking about hope and vision and looking 661 00:24:46,815 --> 00:24:49,054 at what our plans are is vision without 662 00:24:49,054 --> 00:24:51,840 action. Is merely a dream. Action without vision 663 00:24:51,840 --> 00:24:54,400 just passes the time, but vision with action 664 00:24:54,400 --> 00:24:56,080 can change the world. And I think that's 665 00:24:56,080 --> 00:24:57,200 what we need to do is have our 666 00:24:57,200 --> 00:24:58,420 mission, have our vision, 667 00:24:59,119 --> 00:25:00,259 focused on recovery, 668 00:25:00,640 --> 00:25:02,804 on saving lives. And if we act and 669 00:25:02,804 --> 00:25:03,544 work on that, 670 00:25:03,845 --> 00:25:05,284 then we can change the world, and that's 671 00:25:05,284 --> 00:25:06,345 our goal every day. 672 00:25:07,044 --> 00:25:10,085 Wonderful. Well, doctor Lynch, doctor Hereford, I wanna 673 00:25:10,085 --> 00:25:12,164 thank you both for taking the time to 674 00:25:12,164 --> 00:25:14,484 sit down with us and for sharing about 675 00:25:14,484 --> 00:25:16,279 the work that's going on under both of 676 00:25:16,279 --> 00:25:19,480 your leadership at UPMC. We really appreciate it. 677 00:25:19,480 --> 00:25:21,079 And to our listeners, if you'd like to 678 00:25:21,079 --> 00:25:23,240 listen to more podcasts from Becker's Healthcare, you 679 00:25:23,240 --> 00:25:25,900 can visit beckers hospital review dot com.