1 00:00:02,240 --> 00:00:05,120 The most important health care decisions don't happen 2 00:00:05,120 --> 00:00:05,779 in isolation. 3 00:00:06,240 --> 00:00:08,179 They happen when leaders come together. 4 00:00:08,800 --> 00:00:11,519 Becker's sixteenth annual meeting brings together more than 5 00:00:11,519 --> 00:00:12,559 3,500 6 00:00:12,559 --> 00:00:15,525 hospital and health system executives this April in 7 00:00:15,525 --> 00:00:16,024 Chicago. 8 00:00:16,565 --> 00:00:18,664 With 800 speakers from Ascension, 9 00:00:18,964 --> 00:00:22,164 Cleveland Clinic, CommonSpirit and more, the conversations get 10 00:00:22,164 --> 00:00:24,964 real. Leaders will share how their scenario planning 11 00:00:24,964 --> 00:00:27,605 for policy shifts, breaking through value based care 12 00:00:27,605 --> 00:00:30,480 barriers, and building clinical teams that translate new 13 00:00:30,480 --> 00:00:32,340 ideas into real world care. 14 00:00:32,960 --> 00:00:35,489 Join top decision makers in the room, April 15 00:00:35,489 --> 00:00:36,979 13 through the sixteenth. 16 00:00:37,520 --> 00:00:40,159 For the agenda and event details, visit beckers 17 00:00:40,159 --> 00:00:42,479 hospital review dot com and click on the 18 00:00:42,479 --> 00:00:44,340 events tab in the upper right. 19 00:00:46,375 --> 00:00:49,015 Welcome to Becker's Healthcare podcast. I'm Chris Sosa, 20 00:00:49,015 --> 00:00:50,534 your host, and I'm very happy to be 21 00:00:50,534 --> 00:00:53,015 joined today by James Burrows. He's senior vice 22 00:00:53,015 --> 00:00:55,814 president of government and community relations and chief 23 00:00:55,814 --> 00:00:58,234 equity inclusion officer of Children's Minnesota. 24 00:00:58,695 --> 00:01:00,394 James, thank you for joining us today. 25 00:01:01,219 --> 00:01:02,840 Thank you, Chris. Glad to be here. 26 00:01:03,460 --> 00:01:05,459 Awesome. So, James, for those in our audience 27 00:01:05,459 --> 00:01:08,099 who maybe are not too familiar with Children's 28 00:01:08,099 --> 00:01:10,099 Minnesota and yourself and your role, can you 29 00:01:10,099 --> 00:01:11,719 please tell us a bit about your background? 30 00:01:12,579 --> 00:01:15,140 Sure. Well, let's start with Children's Minnesota. We 31 00:01:15,140 --> 00:01:15,959 are the, 32 00:01:16,405 --> 00:01:20,265 largest exclusively pediatric healthcare system in Minnesota 33 00:01:20,724 --> 00:01:22,724 and one of the largest in The United 34 00:01:22,724 --> 00:01:26,325 States, exclusively doing pediatric care for, for kiddos. 35 00:01:26,325 --> 00:01:28,325 We consider ourselves the kid experts because we 36 00:01:28,325 --> 00:01:30,760 want to focus primarily on kids and their 37 00:01:30,760 --> 00:01:32,600 families and making sure that we have healthy 38 00:01:32,600 --> 00:01:33,820 families for our children. 39 00:01:34,439 --> 00:01:37,020 My background is my role is, threefold. 40 00:01:37,400 --> 00:01:40,359 One is government relations, which is we focus 41 00:01:40,359 --> 00:01:42,850 on our federal and state and local policies 42 00:01:42,850 --> 00:01:43,420 that affect health care for kids and families. 43 00:01:45,135 --> 00:01:46,115 Kids and families. 44 00:01:46,814 --> 00:01:49,534 I lead that effort also to community relations. 45 00:01:49,534 --> 00:01:50,674 We make sure we have 46 00:01:51,055 --> 00:01:53,534 community partners to make us a central partner 47 00:01:53,534 --> 00:01:56,174 in kids and families health care. We have 48 00:01:56,174 --> 00:01:57,694 to do that not only within our walls, 49 00:01:57,694 --> 00:01:59,930 but into the community as well. I'm also 50 00:01:59,930 --> 00:02:02,409 the chief equity inclusion officer, which includes all 51 00:02:02,409 --> 00:02:03,630 things of making us 52 00:02:04,010 --> 00:02:06,329 a very diverse staff, but also to one 53 00:02:06,329 --> 00:02:06,909 that provides 54 00:02:07,530 --> 00:02:08,030 quality, 55 00:02:08,569 --> 00:02:11,550 cultural, inclusive, and also belonging 56 00:02:11,930 --> 00:02:14,409 environments for our families as well. So that's 57 00:02:14,409 --> 00:02:15,229 it in a nutshell. 58 00:02:16,544 --> 00:02:17,824 Thank you for summing that up for us, 59 00:02:17,824 --> 00:02:19,905 James. Clearly, that covers a ton of ground. 60 00:02:19,905 --> 00:02:22,544 So you're obviously going to find yourself very 61 00:02:22,544 --> 00:02:24,564 busy each every day. There's no doubt. 62 00:02:24,865 --> 00:02:26,625 Where we're gonna start with this podcast, though, 63 00:02:26,625 --> 00:02:28,889 is just give us a little insight on 64 00:02:29,050 --> 00:02:31,050 how things have gone for Children's Minnesota last 65 00:02:31,050 --> 00:02:33,069 year and then look forward into 66 00:02:33,370 --> 00:02:35,050 this year as well. So let's start with 67 00:02:35,050 --> 00:02:36,409 this. So what would you say is the 68 00:02:36,409 --> 00:02:38,969 most important initiative you led in the last 69 00:02:38,969 --> 00:02:39,469 year? 70 00:02:39,849 --> 00:02:41,370 Specifically, if you could take us through how 71 00:02:41,370 --> 00:02:43,150 it evolved and the results that followed. 72 00:02:44,735 --> 00:02:47,134 Alright. I said the thing we met, 73 00:02:47,614 --> 00:02:49,474 most last year was a, 74 00:02:50,014 --> 00:02:51,614 transition of CEOs. So, 75 00:02:52,414 --> 00:02:54,574 we had a CEO, doctor Mark Golick, who 76 00:02:54,574 --> 00:02:56,254 had been with us in the CEO role 77 00:02:56,254 --> 00:02:57,474 about seven years, 78 00:02:57,930 --> 00:02:59,610 a little bit more than seven years, and 79 00:02:59,610 --> 00:03:00,990 he transitioned and retired, 80 00:03:01,370 --> 00:03:03,770 and our chief medical officer, Doctor. Emily Chapman, 81 00:03:03,770 --> 00:03:04,430 took over. 82 00:03:04,810 --> 00:03:07,370 Why that's the most significant is because, Doctor. 83 00:03:07,370 --> 00:03:09,689 Chapman had been our chief medical officer for 84 00:03:09,689 --> 00:03:11,689 many years and been with the hospital system 85 00:03:11,689 --> 00:03:13,305 twenty two years, but but we wanted to 86 00:03:13,305 --> 00:03:14,525 make sure that our continuity 87 00:03:14,905 --> 00:03:15,805 of leadership 88 00:03:16,264 --> 00:03:17,564 at our ELT level, 89 00:03:18,025 --> 00:03:20,025 kept us focused on our strategic plan, which 90 00:03:20,025 --> 00:03:21,705 it did. So we ended the last five 91 00:03:21,705 --> 00:03:22,205 months 92 00:03:22,584 --> 00:03:24,425 of the year with Emily in place, and 93 00:03:24,425 --> 00:03:26,745 she did amazing doctor Chapman in place did 94 00:03:26,745 --> 00:03:27,644 amazing job 95 00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:30,599 in leading us, to a good fiscal year 96 00:03:30,599 --> 00:03:31,099 that, 97 00:03:32,040 --> 00:03:33,960 as we closed the books, ended with about 98 00:03:33,960 --> 00:03:35,099 a balanced budget, 99 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:40,120 for the year. And also to, something that 100 00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:41,719 we wanted to make sure we did as 101 00:03:41,719 --> 00:03:42,219 well, 102 00:03:42,564 --> 00:03:43,764 the continuity of, 103 00:03:44,405 --> 00:03:46,905 showing how we show up in the, environment 104 00:03:46,965 --> 00:03:49,064 for our families and our community. 105 00:03:49,604 --> 00:03:51,145 That stayed the same as well. 106 00:03:51,604 --> 00:03:53,465 I can't think of any, let's say, particular 107 00:03:53,604 --> 00:03:54,985 project per se, 108 00:03:55,479 --> 00:03:57,560 but I said that changing in leadership, making 109 00:03:57,560 --> 00:03:59,639 sure we kept the continuity of our ELT 110 00:03:59,639 --> 00:04:01,960 team, and made sure that we stayed relevant 111 00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:04,280 for our patients, families, and communities was the 112 00:04:04,280 --> 00:04:05,960 major thing that we had going on in 113 00:04:05,960 --> 00:04:07,020 2025. 114 00:04:08,175 --> 00:04:09,854 I'll say doctor Chaput was kind enough to 115 00:04:09,854 --> 00:04:11,294 join us on the podcast a few months 116 00:04:11,294 --> 00:04:12,974 ago, and she's a wonderful guest as well. 117 00:04:12,974 --> 00:04:14,814 And so, yeah, I'm glad that you're able 118 00:04:14,814 --> 00:04:16,814 to join us today, James, and let us 119 00:04:16,814 --> 00:04:17,795 know what's happening, 120 00:04:18,415 --> 00:04:19,955 in addition to the transition, 121 00:04:20,735 --> 00:04:22,620 I should say, everything else that's going on. 122 00:04:22,860 --> 00:04:24,079 Let me ask you this. So, 123 00:04:24,779 --> 00:04:26,939 when you said doctor Chapman, of course, has 124 00:04:26,939 --> 00:04:29,120 been with Children's Minnesota a long, long time. 125 00:04:29,180 --> 00:04:31,740 So that probably eased the transition. So once 126 00:04:31,740 --> 00:04:34,139 she first sits in on a meeting as 127 00:04:34,139 --> 00:04:36,060 CEO, not that we want all the, you 128 00:04:36,060 --> 00:04:36,560 know, 129 00:04:36,935 --> 00:04:39,814 the the fine details. But what exactly happens 130 00:04:39,814 --> 00:04:41,095 in a meeting like that? What are you 131 00:04:41,095 --> 00:04:43,175 hoping to get across to her as she 132 00:04:43,175 --> 00:04:45,095 takes over as when she took over rather 133 00:04:45,095 --> 00:04:45,754 as CEO? 134 00:04:46,294 --> 00:04:48,214 Sure. Good question. One of the things that 135 00:04:48,214 --> 00:04:49,194 I asked Emily, 136 00:04:50,120 --> 00:04:51,879 and we go by first name. So Emily 137 00:04:51,879 --> 00:04:53,180 and and and I, 138 00:04:54,120 --> 00:04:55,720 one of the things I asked her was, 139 00:04:56,360 --> 00:04:59,180 what's your voice, for equity and inclusion 140 00:04:59,560 --> 00:05:01,420 and belonging here at Children's? 141 00:05:02,024 --> 00:05:03,785 Meaning we have a strategy, we have a 142 00:05:03,785 --> 00:05:06,024 plan, but also too, it's important to hear 143 00:05:06,024 --> 00:05:07,944 the leader's voice around that. So as we 144 00:05:07,944 --> 00:05:10,105 talked about it, she wanted to make sure 145 00:05:10,105 --> 00:05:12,584 that we continue to do equitable care, which 146 00:05:12,584 --> 00:05:14,699 is part of the domains of quality for, 147 00:05:15,180 --> 00:05:17,740 care for our patients and families, and making 148 00:05:17,740 --> 00:05:20,460 sure that everybody sees that through our actions. 149 00:05:20,460 --> 00:05:22,540 So what does that mean? Making sure that 150 00:05:22,540 --> 00:05:24,080 our providers and our nurses 151 00:05:24,540 --> 00:05:27,340 have strategies by which to, create an inclusive 152 00:05:27,340 --> 00:05:29,759 environment. And when they wanna try different experiments 153 00:05:29,819 --> 00:05:32,935 for whether it be different languages or different, 154 00:05:33,495 --> 00:05:36,475 aspects of community and culture, different economic, 155 00:05:36,855 --> 00:05:40,454 or generational differences between families, they can feel 156 00:05:40,454 --> 00:05:41,995 comfortable trying those experiments, 157 00:05:42,470 --> 00:05:44,629 learning from those, and then also to implementing 158 00:05:44,629 --> 00:05:46,069 that going forward. So she wanted to make 159 00:05:46,069 --> 00:05:48,710 sure we kept that equitable care environment. She 160 00:05:48,710 --> 00:05:49,210 also, 161 00:05:49,750 --> 00:05:51,189 wanted to make sure as, 162 00:05:51,590 --> 00:05:52,569 CEO that, 163 00:05:53,030 --> 00:05:55,030 we continue to show up when it needs 164 00:05:55,030 --> 00:05:57,944 to in community. So that means if certain 165 00:05:57,944 --> 00:06:00,044 communities have undergone a tremendous, 166 00:06:01,225 --> 00:06:02,745 challenge in 2025 167 00:06:02,745 --> 00:06:03,644 related to, 168 00:06:04,745 --> 00:06:06,685 immigration status and or, 169 00:06:07,064 --> 00:06:08,764 how they're able to navigate, 170 00:06:09,384 --> 00:06:10,845 to and from our hospital, 171 00:06:11,230 --> 00:06:12,910 Wanted to make sure that she wanna make 172 00:06:12,910 --> 00:06:15,149 sure that we kept that, as the forefront 173 00:06:15,149 --> 00:06:17,470 of what we're doing for our our families. 174 00:06:17,470 --> 00:06:19,470 And, also, too, when they run into challenges 175 00:06:19,470 --> 00:06:20,850 around that, that we're accommodating 176 00:06:21,389 --> 00:06:24,045 as it relates to that, as well. And 177 00:06:24,045 --> 00:06:26,045 thirdly, making sure that as we roll, and 178 00:06:26,045 --> 00:06:27,884 I'm sure she talked about this, our Eclipse 179 00:06:27,884 --> 00:06:30,305 project, which is our rollout of our electronic 180 00:06:30,365 --> 00:06:31,185 medical records, 181 00:06:31,725 --> 00:06:32,225 epic, 182 00:06:33,404 --> 00:06:36,480 going forward, that we integrate this work. And 183 00:06:36,560 --> 00:06:39,300 when I say this work, inclusion, community relations, 184 00:06:39,439 --> 00:06:40,259 government relations 185 00:06:40,720 --> 00:06:42,720 into that system. So it's not a separate 186 00:06:42,720 --> 00:06:44,639 and apart thing to do, but it's part 187 00:06:44,639 --> 00:06:46,740 of what we do as a system and 188 00:06:46,879 --> 00:06:49,754 also as electronic medical records as well. So 189 00:06:49,995 --> 00:06:52,154 those are the main things that, she's asked. 190 00:06:52,154 --> 00:06:52,975 And then lastly, 191 00:06:53,834 --> 00:06:55,595 nobody wants to retire, but one of the 192 00:06:55,595 --> 00:06:57,035 things I put off top of my list 193 00:06:57,035 --> 00:06:59,834 is what does succession planning or systems change 194 00:06:59,834 --> 00:07:02,154 look like for this work? Meaning, at some 195 00:07:02,154 --> 00:07:04,129 point in time, I always joke that the 196 00:07:04,129 --> 00:07:07,110 role of my, chief equity inclusion officer will, 197 00:07:07,329 --> 00:07:08,610 hopefully at some point in the next ten 198 00:07:08,610 --> 00:07:11,250 to fifteen years, disappear, and that folks will 199 00:07:11,250 --> 00:07:13,329 just have integrated that into the work that 200 00:07:13,329 --> 00:07:15,410 we do as a health care system. So 201 00:07:15,410 --> 00:07:16,529 those are some of the things we talked 202 00:07:16,529 --> 00:07:18,230 about in our initial meeting. 203 00:07:19,495 --> 00:07:21,095 That's a lot, Jace, but I would expect 204 00:07:21,095 --> 00:07:23,175 nothing less for someone taking over as a 205 00:07:23,175 --> 00:07:23,675 CEO. 206 00:07:24,294 --> 00:07:26,615 Glad you mentioned really all those issues that 207 00:07:26,615 --> 00:07:27,754 you touched on, including, 208 00:07:28,535 --> 00:07:30,294 the fact that you hope that that's such 209 00:07:30,294 --> 00:07:32,980 a wonderful aspiration that, you know, you don't 210 00:07:32,980 --> 00:07:35,300 want your role to exist anymore because this 211 00:07:35,300 --> 00:07:36,839 just becomes part of the fabric. 212 00:07:37,220 --> 00:07:38,100 I love that about, 213 00:07:38,580 --> 00:07:39,959 the direction that you're headed. 214 00:07:40,500 --> 00:07:42,580 So you touched on a few things that 215 00:07:42,580 --> 00:07:43,720 will follow-up here. 216 00:07:44,259 --> 00:07:45,639 So when you look ahead, 217 00:07:46,354 --> 00:07:48,035 there are priorities that you have at Children's 218 00:07:48,035 --> 00:07:49,875 Minnesota. There are headwinds that you have to 219 00:07:49,875 --> 00:07:52,354 face, as a team as as you move 220 00:07:52,354 --> 00:07:52,854 forward. 221 00:07:53,154 --> 00:07:55,154 So what do some of those look like 222 00:07:55,154 --> 00:07:57,894 as you head into the rest of 2026? 223 00:07:59,009 --> 00:08:01,189 Well, to be candid, some of those headwinds, 224 00:08:01,810 --> 00:08:02,930 are some of the, 225 00:08:03,569 --> 00:08:04,069 federal 226 00:08:04,689 --> 00:08:05,189 changes, 227 00:08:06,129 --> 00:08:08,069 that we saw in 2025 228 00:08:08,610 --> 00:08:10,770 that are also changing in 2026. 229 00:08:10,770 --> 00:08:11,830 So that could be 230 00:08:12,144 --> 00:08:15,204 through executive order, through policy changes, through changes 231 00:08:15,264 --> 00:08:17,584 in Medicaid as well. And some of those 232 00:08:17,584 --> 00:08:18,644 changes will impact, 233 00:08:19,584 --> 00:08:22,704 our delivery of care, to who we deliver 234 00:08:22,704 --> 00:08:24,625 the care to and how we deliver the 235 00:08:24,625 --> 00:08:27,430 service as well. Some of those changes also 236 00:08:27,569 --> 00:08:30,370 impacted how we look at equity, inclusion, and 237 00:08:30,370 --> 00:08:30,870 diversity. 238 00:08:31,250 --> 00:08:33,250 I'll be remiss if I didn't acknowledge that 239 00:08:33,250 --> 00:08:35,809 some of our children's systems in other places 240 00:08:35,809 --> 00:08:37,670 in other states have made, 241 00:08:38,529 --> 00:08:41,205 a lot of changes, significant changes in their 242 00:08:41,684 --> 00:08:44,965 delivery and or absence of equity, inclusion, or 243 00:08:44,965 --> 00:08:48,085 diversity work going forward because of changes in 244 00:08:48,085 --> 00:08:51,045 federal law or federal policy. We have not. 245 00:08:51,045 --> 00:08:53,649 We're still committed to providing equitable care through 246 00:08:53,649 --> 00:08:56,769 our equity inclusion office, through our employee resource 247 00:08:56,769 --> 00:08:59,809 groups, through our strategies about spending resources in 248 00:08:59,809 --> 00:09:01,970 community as well. So one of the things 249 00:09:01,970 --> 00:09:03,509 that continues to be a headwind 250 00:09:03,889 --> 00:09:06,261 are those changes, and as they change, we 251 00:09:06,261 --> 00:09:06,975 modify how we, 252 00:09:08,154 --> 00:09:09,274 talk about or how we, 253 00:09:11,195 --> 00:09:14,634 I'd say how we, record our progress or 254 00:09:14,634 --> 00:09:17,134 outcomes, but we're still gonna do the work. 255 00:09:17,674 --> 00:09:20,669 Some of the tailwinds I'm excited about are 256 00:09:21,549 --> 00:09:23,490 the realization in our system 257 00:09:23,870 --> 00:09:26,289 is that a lot of folks are providers 258 00:09:26,350 --> 00:09:29,549 and nurses especially have built into their nursing 259 00:09:29,549 --> 00:09:31,329 councils, have built into their, 260 00:09:31,950 --> 00:09:32,450 provider, 261 00:09:34,184 --> 00:09:35,245 projects or strategies 262 00:09:35,705 --> 00:09:36,184 equity, 263 00:09:36,585 --> 00:09:39,004 into their work. So one of the tailwinds 264 00:09:39,144 --> 00:09:41,065 is that sometimes it doesn't even have to 265 00:09:41,065 --> 00:09:42,264 be a call to my office or a 266 00:09:42,264 --> 00:09:44,845 call to my team. They're building in strategies 267 00:09:44,904 --> 00:09:47,165 that serve patients and families better, 268 00:09:47,750 --> 00:09:50,470 that they haven't been serving necessarily as well 269 00:09:50,470 --> 00:09:52,490 as they wanted to in the past. So 270 00:09:52,549 --> 00:09:54,470 that's one of the tailwinds that resulted from 271 00:09:54,470 --> 00:09:56,470 a lot of discussion about equity inclusion work 272 00:09:56,470 --> 00:09:59,365 in 2025 with some of those headwinds. Folks 273 00:09:59,365 --> 00:10:00,884 have said, hey. You know what? I can 274 00:10:00,884 --> 00:10:02,565 do this work on my own, and I 275 00:10:02,565 --> 00:10:04,725 could get coaching and advice from your team, 276 00:10:04,725 --> 00:10:06,245 but they can make this part of the 277 00:10:06,245 --> 00:10:07,605 work that I do as well. So I 278 00:10:07,605 --> 00:10:09,304 think those are the significant, 279 00:10:10,165 --> 00:10:11,125 2026 280 00:10:11,125 --> 00:10:13,740 headwinds and tailwinds that we're experiencing as we 281 00:10:13,980 --> 00:10:16,220 sit here on this January 16. Now that 282 00:10:16,220 --> 00:10:18,620 may change in February and March, but right 283 00:10:18,620 --> 00:10:20,159 now, I think those are the ones. 284 00:10:20,539 --> 00:10:22,299 It certainly can. And you kinda read my 285 00:10:22,299 --> 00:10:23,980 mind there, James, because I did wanna ask 286 00:10:23,980 --> 00:10:24,959 you about how, 287 00:10:25,580 --> 00:10:27,375 these practices are integrated with, 288 00:10:27,774 --> 00:10:29,294 your staff. So I'm glad you covered that 289 00:10:29,294 --> 00:10:31,455 as well. I do wanna follow-up and ask 290 00:10:31,455 --> 00:10:32,995 you simply so 291 00:10:33,455 --> 00:10:36,434 you mentioned how committed your organization is 292 00:10:36,815 --> 00:10:38,815 to all these efforts that you've laid out 293 00:10:38,815 --> 00:10:41,235 for us. So what has been the reaction, 294 00:10:42,389 --> 00:10:44,330 the atmosphere as far as your community 295 00:10:45,110 --> 00:10:46,090 since you have 296 00:10:48,070 --> 00:10:50,410 reinforced that that you're committed to these, 297 00:10:51,029 --> 00:10:52,570 these ethics and these efforts? 298 00:10:53,029 --> 00:10:55,750 Mhmm. The the external community or the internal 299 00:10:55,750 --> 00:10:58,035 community? Or Well, both. I I was referring 300 00:10:58,035 --> 00:11:00,195 to the external community, but how we how 301 00:11:00,195 --> 00:11:00,695 great. 302 00:11:01,154 --> 00:11:02,615 Sure. So ex externally, 303 00:11:03,075 --> 00:11:04,514 folks have received it very well. 304 00:11:05,475 --> 00:11:05,975 They, 305 00:11:06,434 --> 00:11:09,815 were looking at other companies and organizations who, 306 00:11:10,429 --> 00:11:12,429 I'd say take a step back from the 307 00:11:12,429 --> 00:11:15,230 work, and not received that not receiving that 308 00:11:15,230 --> 00:11:15,730 favorably. 309 00:11:16,269 --> 00:11:18,669 They were pleasantly surprised that we weren't backing 310 00:11:18,669 --> 00:11:19,629 away from the work. 311 00:11:20,429 --> 00:11:23,009 We have also what's called a Community, Advisory 312 00:11:23,149 --> 00:11:25,475 Council as part of my department that I 313 00:11:25,475 --> 00:11:27,875 run called the Collective for Community Health, which 314 00:11:27,875 --> 00:11:28,934 focuses on 315 00:11:29,315 --> 00:11:32,274 getting advice and counsel from community organizations, a 316 00:11:32,274 --> 00:11:34,674 diverse variety of those. But also, too, we 317 00:11:34,674 --> 00:11:35,975 give resources, 318 00:11:36,754 --> 00:11:38,215 invest back in community, 319 00:11:38,970 --> 00:11:41,230 to about a quarter of $1,000,000 right now 320 00:11:41,370 --> 00:11:44,330 into strategies for equitable care for our patients 321 00:11:44,330 --> 00:11:45,709 and families that are underserved. 322 00:11:46,089 --> 00:11:48,250 So they, sit at a table with us 323 00:11:48,250 --> 00:11:50,490 every quarter, give us strategy advice, and also 324 00:11:50,490 --> 00:11:52,795 too, we invest in those communities. They also 325 00:11:52,795 --> 00:11:55,695 have been excited about how equity inclusion continues 326 00:11:55,754 --> 00:11:57,274 to be a at the forefront of what 327 00:11:57,274 --> 00:11:59,115 we do and a part of our strategic 328 00:11:59,115 --> 00:12:01,675 plan. And also, just as important, that we 329 00:12:01,675 --> 00:12:03,995 invest in strategies that we can partner with 330 00:12:03,995 --> 00:12:06,879 at Children's in Community to provide great solutions. 331 00:12:06,879 --> 00:12:09,679 Some of those evolve around behavioral health. Some 332 00:12:09,679 --> 00:12:11,459 of those revolve around 333 00:12:11,839 --> 00:12:14,820 vaccine education and also vaccine access. 334 00:12:15,200 --> 00:12:16,899 Some of those have evolved around, 335 00:12:17,600 --> 00:12:20,384 you you know, mental health care, around gun 336 00:12:20,384 --> 00:12:22,544 violence and things in community as well. So 337 00:12:22,544 --> 00:12:24,884 we're excited that that continues. And then internally, 338 00:12:25,585 --> 00:12:27,504 as I said before, one of the things 339 00:12:27,504 --> 00:12:30,179 that excites us is the nursing councils, the, 340 00:12:31,460 --> 00:12:31,960 provider, 341 00:12:32,339 --> 00:12:34,259 groups, and then also too some of our 342 00:12:34,259 --> 00:12:36,279 staff who are non clinician facing, 343 00:12:36,899 --> 00:12:39,399 are excited about doing this work. Our, 344 00:12:40,019 --> 00:12:42,259 employee resource groups, which we have eight of, 345 00:12:42,259 --> 00:12:43,960 and we're going to add more to that, 346 00:12:44,019 --> 00:12:44,759 which are 347 00:12:45,125 --> 00:12:48,084 groups that share particular affinity, who get together 348 00:12:48,084 --> 00:12:50,565 and do different projects throughout the year in 349 00:12:50,565 --> 00:12:53,284 community and also internally to bring awareness to 350 00:12:53,284 --> 00:12:55,204 not only their identity, but also to how 351 00:12:55,204 --> 00:12:57,865 their identity can shape and mold and help 352 00:12:58,009 --> 00:13:00,429 us provide better care and services for families, 353 00:13:01,049 --> 00:13:03,610 in community. They're excited and have been excited 354 00:13:03,610 --> 00:13:06,089 a long time about how this work helps 355 00:13:06,089 --> 00:13:08,089 them want to, one, stay at Children's and 356 00:13:08,089 --> 00:13:09,769 be a part of our great, 357 00:13:10,250 --> 00:13:12,250 community. And then also too how they can 358 00:13:12,250 --> 00:13:14,774 share the knowledge and experience when they go 359 00:13:14,774 --> 00:13:17,254 back out into their home communities about what 360 00:13:17,254 --> 00:13:18,455 we do and how we do it as 361 00:13:18,455 --> 00:13:20,375 well. So those are some of the things 362 00:13:20,375 --> 00:13:22,695 that have provided some some some guiding lights 363 00:13:22,695 --> 00:13:25,514 for us, some guideposts in community and externally 364 00:13:25,975 --> 00:13:27,754 and also internally as well. 365 00:13:28,259 --> 00:13:30,100 No doubt that helps build the foundation of 366 00:13:30,100 --> 00:13:32,820 your culture there in Children's Minnesota. James, that's 367 00:13:32,820 --> 00:13:33,320 fantastic. 368 00:13:34,100 --> 00:13:35,720 Looking ahead pardon. 369 00:13:36,740 --> 00:13:37,240 So 370 00:13:37,540 --> 00:13:38,759 this question doesn't 371 00:13:39,460 --> 00:13:41,235 it can come off as a bit of 372 00:13:41,235 --> 00:13:43,235 a bummer. It doesn't, necessarily have to be 373 00:13:43,235 --> 00:13:44,675 that way, but I'll let's put it this 374 00:13:44,675 --> 00:13:46,355 way. So what would you say is the 375 00:13:46,355 --> 00:13:47,955 hardest thing you'll have to do in the 376 00:13:47,955 --> 00:13:50,115 coming year? That could absolutely be something you're 377 00:13:50,115 --> 00:13:52,115 very much looking forward to. And, you know, 378 00:13:52,115 --> 00:13:54,195 there's just some challenges, you know, that'll come 379 00:13:54,195 --> 00:13:55,730 along with it. So, you know, what would 380 00:13:55,730 --> 00:13:56,970 you say is the hardest thing you have 381 00:13:56,970 --> 00:13:57,549 to do? 382 00:13:58,570 --> 00:14:00,889 That's that's a tough one. Let's say hardest 383 00:14:00,889 --> 00:14:02,970 thing I have to do in this coming 384 00:14:02,970 --> 00:14:03,470 year, 385 00:14:04,409 --> 00:14:06,429 I'd say is to keep, 386 00:14:07,825 --> 00:14:08,325 momentum, 387 00:14:09,504 --> 00:14:12,804 going forward with respect to how folks believe 388 00:14:12,945 --> 00:14:13,684 this work 389 00:14:14,065 --> 00:14:17,365 is being integrated into the system of healthcare 390 00:14:17,825 --> 00:14:19,764 at Children's, and then also to 391 00:14:20,220 --> 00:14:22,220 what's their role. I think a lot of 392 00:14:22,220 --> 00:14:24,559 people get discouraged sometimes by 393 00:14:25,100 --> 00:14:27,659 what laws or policy tells you you can't 394 00:14:27,659 --> 00:14:28,159 do, 395 00:14:28,860 --> 00:14:30,539 or not supposed to do the same way 396 00:14:30,539 --> 00:14:33,019 as before, as opposed to looking at it 397 00:14:33,019 --> 00:14:34,779 as an opportunity to say, Okay, how can 398 00:14:34,779 --> 00:14:35,440 we be 399 00:14:35,794 --> 00:14:38,595 creative, innovative, and strategic about how we do 400 00:14:38,595 --> 00:14:39,574 it work differently? 401 00:14:39,954 --> 00:14:41,554 We may not call it the same thing. 402 00:14:41,554 --> 00:14:43,074 We may not look at it the same 403 00:14:43,074 --> 00:14:44,834 way, but we're gonna do it so it 404 00:14:44,834 --> 00:14:47,815 provides the same or not healthier quality outcomes 405 00:14:48,220 --> 00:14:49,899 for our patients and families. So I think 406 00:14:49,899 --> 00:14:51,659 the hardest thing to do is convince people 407 00:14:51,659 --> 00:14:54,059 that in spite of headwinds, we can send 408 00:14:54,059 --> 00:14:56,379 you the motivation to do the work and 409 00:14:56,379 --> 00:14:58,399 then also too in spite of necessarily 410 00:14:59,019 --> 00:15:00,879 what may may be at times 411 00:15:01,184 --> 00:15:02,485 policies that seem limiting, 412 00:15:02,785 --> 00:15:04,144 how we can look at that as, 413 00:15:05,184 --> 00:15:07,745 creation of innovative strategies in order to get 414 00:15:07,745 --> 00:15:08,644 the work done, 415 00:15:09,105 --> 00:15:11,264 as well. I think the other hard thing 416 00:15:11,264 --> 00:15:13,825 will be the external environment has a lot 417 00:15:13,825 --> 00:15:16,399 of moving parts to it. The external environment 418 00:15:16,399 --> 00:15:18,879 has a lot of things related to things 419 00:15:18,879 --> 00:15:20,879 that we can't control in community that are 420 00:15:20,879 --> 00:15:23,360 preventing people from even coming to us from 421 00:15:23,360 --> 00:15:25,759 health care, so for health care. So one 422 00:15:25,759 --> 00:15:27,120 of the things we're gonna have to do 423 00:15:27,120 --> 00:15:29,035 is how do we deliver that? I mean, 424 00:15:29,035 --> 00:15:30,715 virtual care is always an option, and it's 425 00:15:30,715 --> 00:15:32,794 something that we learn how to do during 426 00:15:32,794 --> 00:15:35,434 the pandemic or enhance in the pandemic. But 427 00:15:35,434 --> 00:15:37,195 there may be other ways in which we 428 00:15:37,195 --> 00:15:40,235 can convince people to come to us even 429 00:15:40,235 --> 00:15:42,554 though the environment or the culture or the 430 00:15:42,554 --> 00:15:45,059 neighborhoods they're in are not as safe as 431 00:15:45,059 --> 00:15:46,980 they want them to be right now. So 432 00:15:46,980 --> 00:15:48,259 I think that's the other thing we're working 433 00:15:48,259 --> 00:15:51,159 on, especially right now and 2026. 434 00:15:52,740 --> 00:15:54,419 Excellent. Thank you for laying all that out, 435 00:15:54,419 --> 00:15:56,039 James, especially, your 436 00:15:56,445 --> 00:15:59,325 approach, your your attitude towards saying, hey. Let's 437 00:15:59,325 --> 00:16:01,404 use this opportunity to be creative. I think 438 00:16:01,404 --> 00:16:01,904 leadership, 439 00:16:03,725 --> 00:16:06,605 effective leadership, especially, has that trait in common. 440 00:16:06,605 --> 00:16:09,665 And, obviously, you and Children's Minnesota share that. 441 00:16:10,125 --> 00:16:11,825 Lastly, James, I wanna 442 00:16:12,659 --> 00:16:15,379 look toward the future again, and that simply 443 00:16:15,379 --> 00:16:17,480 is, where do you see the best opportunities 444 00:16:17,620 --> 00:16:21,159 for organizational growth with Children's Minnesota? And particularly, 445 00:16:21,539 --> 00:16:24,019 certainly, as it is related to to your 446 00:16:24,019 --> 00:16:24,500 job, 447 00:16:24,899 --> 00:16:25,399 but 448 00:16:25,860 --> 00:16:26,360 if 449 00:16:27,065 --> 00:16:28,924 if there are aspects of, say, 450 00:16:29,384 --> 00:16:31,565 mental health and telehealth, 451 00:16:32,424 --> 00:16:34,504 if there's crossover there, you know, we can 452 00:16:34,504 --> 00:16:36,024 do that. Tell you what, James. Let let 453 00:16:36,024 --> 00:16:38,184 me pause that. See, this is the the 454 00:16:38,184 --> 00:16:39,785 great part where we're not live, where I 455 00:16:39,785 --> 00:16:42,250 can say, you know what? Because this might 456 00:16:42,250 --> 00:16:43,610 go on a little bit before we get 457 00:16:43,610 --> 00:16:44,350 to the substance 458 00:16:44,649 --> 00:16:46,190 of of the podcast. So, 459 00:16:47,289 --> 00:16:50,090 when when you consider that question related to 460 00:16:50,090 --> 00:16:50,590 your, 461 00:16:51,610 --> 00:16:52,110 role, 462 00:16:54,554 --> 00:16:56,894 When when Jones of Minnesota is grow growing 463 00:16:56,954 --> 00:16:57,694 with respect 464 00:16:58,634 --> 00:16:59,694 to equity inclusion, 465 00:17:01,194 --> 00:17:03,134 how what what do you think of that? 466 00:17:03,834 --> 00:17:04,335 Okay. 467 00:17:05,034 --> 00:17:07,454 As we grow with respect to equity inclusion, 468 00:17:07,710 --> 00:17:09,230 I think one of the things that I'm 469 00:17:09,230 --> 00:17:10,529 looking forward to is, 470 00:17:12,269 --> 00:17:14,029 succession planning and what the work looks like 471 00:17:14,029 --> 00:17:15,089 in the future. So, 472 00:17:16,029 --> 00:17:18,429 I'm I'm older than the average youngster, but 473 00:17:18,429 --> 00:17:20,429 I'm not as old as retirement yet, Chris. 474 00:17:20,429 --> 00:17:22,485 So I do plan to retire the next, 475 00:17:22,485 --> 00:17:24,325 say, seven to ten years. So one of 476 00:17:24,325 --> 00:17:26,424 the things that excites me about growth is 477 00:17:26,644 --> 00:17:28,485 how do we grow the work to plan 478 00:17:28,485 --> 00:17:28,985 for 479 00:17:29,445 --> 00:17:32,085 the next better improved two point o version 480 00:17:32,085 --> 00:17:33,880 of the work that I do for that 481 00:17:33,880 --> 00:17:35,880 next leader, and what does that look like? 482 00:17:35,880 --> 00:17:38,279 Meaning, are we giving them the opportunity to 483 00:17:38,279 --> 00:17:39,900 learn all the aspects 484 00:17:40,440 --> 00:17:42,679 of our healthcare system and then how we 485 00:17:42,679 --> 00:17:44,759 embed equity into that? So one of the 486 00:17:44,759 --> 00:17:46,855 growth things I see is we have an 487 00:17:46,855 --> 00:17:49,815 equitable care committee as part of our, Eclipse 488 00:17:49,815 --> 00:17:52,454 rollout for Epic. How does that equitable care 489 00:17:52,454 --> 00:17:54,875 committee build into patient experience, 490 00:17:56,534 --> 00:17:58,634 community experience, employee experience, 491 00:17:58,990 --> 00:18:01,329 and make sure that we provide equitable strategies 492 00:18:01,390 --> 00:18:03,390 around that going forward and grow in that 493 00:18:03,390 --> 00:18:05,630 area. So it's not one person or one 494 00:18:05,630 --> 00:18:08,029 division's work, but it's the work of the 495 00:18:08,029 --> 00:18:10,829 entire community, and we're serving as coaches around 496 00:18:10,829 --> 00:18:11,295 that. 497 00:18:11,695 --> 00:18:13,715 Another aspect I see in growth, 498 00:18:14,174 --> 00:18:17,055 would be our community relations or our community 499 00:18:17,055 --> 00:18:17,555 partnerships. 500 00:18:17,934 --> 00:18:20,095 Right now we have partnerships with about eight 501 00:18:20,095 --> 00:18:21,634 to 10 different groups, 502 00:18:22,414 --> 00:18:24,494 but obviously community is much more than eight 503 00:18:24,494 --> 00:18:26,174 to 10 groups. Like how do we grow 504 00:18:26,174 --> 00:18:26,579 that, 505 00:18:27,619 --> 00:18:29,319 substantially, but also, too, 506 00:18:30,099 --> 00:18:32,919 expanding capacity to reach more communities, 507 00:18:33,460 --> 00:18:35,859 to reach into our rural communities as well 508 00:18:35,859 --> 00:18:37,460 that we serve and are proud of as 509 00:18:37,460 --> 00:18:39,299 well, and to reach into our region. 510 00:18:39,779 --> 00:18:42,444 We are the largest in Minnesota, but we're 511 00:18:42,444 --> 00:18:45,164 also too our our footprint is, the Greater 512 00:18:45,164 --> 00:18:47,244 Midwest, so the Upper Midwest. So how do 513 00:18:47,244 --> 00:18:49,005 we continue to grow community? So when I 514 00:18:49,005 --> 00:18:50,765 talk to you about community, I'm not talking 515 00:18:50,765 --> 00:18:53,164 about just Minnesota. I'm talking about Iowa, North 516 00:18:53,164 --> 00:18:54,865 Dakota, Nebraska, Illinois, 517 00:18:55,339 --> 00:18:57,259 those kind of things as well. Nebraska, the 518 00:18:57,259 --> 00:18:58,400 Lower Midwest, but, 519 00:18:58,779 --> 00:19:00,079 we still count them too. 520 00:19:00,380 --> 00:19:02,380 So I think that growth would be important 521 00:19:02,380 --> 00:19:04,299 there as well. And then the last aspect 522 00:19:04,299 --> 00:19:07,279 on government relations that are under my purview, 523 00:19:07,339 --> 00:19:10,160 how do we make sure that policy makers 524 00:19:10,845 --> 00:19:13,744 consider the health needs of kids and families, 525 00:19:14,204 --> 00:19:15,325 not as a, 526 00:19:16,605 --> 00:19:18,605 a separate and apart thing from the adult 527 00:19:18,605 --> 00:19:20,765 system, but how does that integrate into the 528 00:19:20,765 --> 00:19:23,164 work of moms and families? How does that 529 00:19:23,164 --> 00:19:25,779 integrate into work of making sure that healthy 530 00:19:25,779 --> 00:19:27,940 kids lead healthier lives, being part of the 531 00:19:27,940 --> 00:19:28,759 healthy communities, 532 00:19:29,140 --> 00:19:30,980 which expands the work of what we call, 533 00:19:30,980 --> 00:19:33,220 and you're familiar with this, the social determinants 534 00:19:33,220 --> 00:19:35,220 of health. How do we look at housing 535 00:19:35,220 --> 00:19:36,900 and how do we look at education? How 536 00:19:36,900 --> 00:19:37,960 do we look at economic 537 00:19:38,494 --> 00:19:40,174 development as part of the work we do, 538 00:19:40,174 --> 00:19:42,894 and expand partnerships around that. So when we 539 00:19:42,894 --> 00:19:45,455 say we're going to have healthier children, I 540 00:19:45,455 --> 00:19:47,134 can't say we're going to have a healthy 541 00:19:47,134 --> 00:19:49,955 child go back to a neighborhood that's unsafe, 542 00:19:50,569 --> 00:19:53,049 doesn't have proper running water, doesn't have proper 543 00:19:53,049 --> 00:19:55,450 housing, and then the child is gonna have 544 00:19:55,450 --> 00:19:57,049 great health care needs. So how do we 545 00:19:57,049 --> 00:19:59,230 expand and grow in that area for partnerships 546 00:19:59,609 --> 00:20:01,369 in order to address those needs as well? 547 00:20:01,369 --> 00:20:02,730 So I think those are the ways I 548 00:20:02,730 --> 00:20:04,109 see us growing, 549 00:20:04,730 --> 00:20:06,269 over the next several years. 550 00:20:07,424 --> 00:20:09,025 At the risk of understanding it, James, lots 551 00:20:09,025 --> 00:20:11,505 of important and crucial work to be done 552 00:20:11,505 --> 00:20:13,845 on on behalf of Children's Minnesota. So, 553 00:20:14,384 --> 00:20:16,304 best of luck to you and your leadership 554 00:20:16,304 --> 00:20:18,544 team and really everyone at your organization in 555 00:20:18,544 --> 00:20:20,940 in working on everything that you have ahead. 556 00:20:20,940 --> 00:20:22,859 James, thank you so much for being on 557 00:20:22,859 --> 00:20:25,180 the podcast today. We very much appreciate it. 558 00:20:25,180 --> 00:20:26,880 We very much look forward to, 559 00:20:27,740 --> 00:20:30,059 sharing your insights with our audience. And, obviously, 560 00:20:30,059 --> 00:20:31,500 we certainly look forward to seeing you at 561 00:20:31,500 --> 00:20:33,464 our conferences, and I look forward to next 562 00:20:33,464 --> 00:20:35,625 time our crowd our paths cross, I should 563 00:20:35,625 --> 00:20:36,125 say. 564 00:20:36,585 --> 00:20:38,825 Thanks, Chris. I appreciate you, and I appreciate 565 00:20:38,825 --> 00:20:40,684 Becker's for providing that forum, 566 00:20:41,065 --> 00:20:42,664 by which I can express some of the 567 00:20:42,664 --> 00:20:44,424 things that we're doing. And also too, I'll 568 00:20:44,424 --> 00:20:45,625 say this. I will be remiss if I 569 00:20:45,625 --> 00:20:48,539 didn't thank Becker's for allowing the interaction you 570 00:20:48,539 --> 00:20:50,220 get with other leaders from around the country 571 00:20:50,220 --> 00:20:52,460 and around the world to share that knowledge 572 00:20:52,460 --> 00:20:54,779 and basically come up with innovative solutions. It's 573 00:20:54,779 --> 00:20:56,460 been a great conference to attend over the 574 00:20:56,460 --> 00:20:58,539 years, and I look forward to attending many 575 00:20:58,539 --> 00:20:59,039 more. 576 00:20:59,664 --> 00:21:01,424 One of our primary goals for sure, James. 577 00:21:01,424 --> 00:21:02,785 Thank you for saying that. Alright. Well, that 578 00:21:02,785 --> 00:21:04,865 will wrap up this podcast. Thank you, everyone, 579 00:21:04,865 --> 00:21:07,105 and we look forward to hearing from you 580 00:21:07,105 --> 00:21:07,845 next time.