WEBVTT 1 00:00:02.080 --> 00:00:04.319 - There's a small circle of people who truly 2 00:00:04.319 --> 00:00:05.919 - understand what it takes to lead a health 3 00:00:05.919 --> 00:00:08.660 - system right now. The decisions are enormous. 4 00:00:08.960 --> 00:00:11.919 - The variables are constantly shifting, and the stakes 5 00:00:11.919 --> 00:00:14.099 - of getting a call wrong don't stay contained. 6 00:00:14.400 --> 00:00:16.824 - That's not a complaint. It's a structural reality. 7 00:00:17.204 --> 00:00:19.125 - And it's why the most effective c suite 8 00:00:19.125 --> 00:00:21.285 - leaders are deliberate about where they go to 9 00:00:21.285 --> 00:00:22.585 - pressure test their thinking. 10 00:00:22.964 --> 00:00:25.945 - Becker's fourteenth annual CEO and CFO roundtable 11 00:00:26.324 --> 00:00:28.564 - brings together more than 1,500 12 00:00:28.564 --> 00:00:29.864 - executive level attendees 13 00:00:30.239 --> 00:00:32.799 - and nearly 400 speakers for four days built 14 00:00:32.799 --> 00:00:34.739 - around growth, financial sustainability, 15 00:00:35.280 --> 00:00:38.079 - workforce strategy, and the leadership questions that don't 16 00:00:38.079 --> 00:00:39.140 - have easy answers. 17 00:00:39.679 --> 00:00:41.840 - Join us November second through the fifth in 18 00:00:41.840 --> 00:00:42.340 - Chicago. 19 00:00:42.799 --> 00:00:44.820 - For the agenda and event details, 20 00:00:45.195 --> 00:00:47.355 - visit beckershospitalreview.com 21 00:00:47.355 --> 00:00:49.115 - and click on the events tab in the 22 00:00:49.115 --> 00:00:49.935 - upper right. 23 00:00:50.715 --> 00:00:52.875 - This is Laura Dierda with the Becker's Healthcare 24 00:00:52.875 --> 00:00:53.375 - podcast. 25 00:00:53.675 --> 00:00:55.355 - I'm thrilled today to be joined by Cody 26 00:00:55.355 --> 00:00:57.835 - Walker, president of Baptist Health Medical Center in 27 00:00:57.835 --> 00:00:59.700 - North Little Rock. Cody, it's a pleasure to 28 00:00:59.700 --> 00:01:01.780 - have you on the podcast today. Pleasure to 29 00:01:01.780 --> 00:01:03.300 - be here, Laura. Thanks so much for having 30 00:01:03.300 --> 00:01:05.939 - me. Absolutely. Now I'm excited for our conversation. 31 00:01:05.939 --> 00:01:07.380 - I know we'll catch up a bit on 32 00:01:07.380 --> 00:01:09.140 - some of the things that you're doing at 33 00:01:09.140 --> 00:01:11.715 - the hospital and then, you know, looking to, 34 00:01:12.274 --> 00:01:14.114 - how you're thinking about the future. But before 35 00:01:14.114 --> 00:01:15.314 - we dive in, can you tell us just 36 00:01:15.314 --> 00:01:17.474 - a little bit more about yourself and Baptist 37 00:01:17.474 --> 00:01:18.614 - Health Medical Center? 38 00:01:19.234 --> 00:01:19.734 - Sure. 39 00:01:20.034 --> 00:01:22.034 - My name is Cody Walker, president of Baptist 40 00:01:22.034 --> 00:01:23.634 - Health Medical Center here in North Little Rock, 41 00:01:23.634 --> 00:01:24.134 - Arkansas. 42 00:01:25.469 --> 00:01:27.569 - Baptist Health is a 14 hospital 43 00:01:28.109 --> 00:01:30.849 - system here exclusively in the state, and 44 00:01:31.150 --> 00:01:33.469 - I've been in this role as president of 45 00:01:33.469 --> 00:01:34.769 - our North Little Rock campus, 46 00:01:35.310 --> 00:01:37.150 - which is about a 225 47 00:01:37.150 --> 00:01:39.525 - bed facility for the last four years. 48 00:01:39.984 --> 00:01:41.665 - Been with Baptist Health for the last six 49 00:01:41.665 --> 00:01:44.625 - years and, you know, find myself busy. It 50 00:01:44.625 --> 00:01:46.965 - seems like busier, each and every day 51 00:01:47.265 --> 00:01:48.644 - with all that's going on, 52 00:01:49.025 --> 00:01:51.104 - but, proud to be with you today and 53 00:01:51.104 --> 00:01:52.545 - and to talk a little bit about what 54 00:01:52.545 --> 00:01:54.064 - we're working on and what we're looking forward 55 00:01:54.064 --> 00:01:54.564 - to. 56 00:01:55.290 --> 00:01:57.450 - That's great to hear. And, you know, I 57 00:01:57.450 --> 00:01:59.129 - think to get us started off, can you 58 00:01:59.129 --> 00:02:00.489 - give us just a little state of the 59 00:02:00.489 --> 00:02:01.390 - union of, 60 00:02:02.569 --> 00:02:04.409 - the hospital and and what has gone well 61 00:02:04.409 --> 00:02:05.769 - through this year so far as well as 62 00:02:05.769 --> 00:02:07.869 - what you're focused on for 2026? 63 00:02:08.844 --> 00:02:10.685 - Sure. I, you know, I I think as 64 00:02:10.685 --> 00:02:11.425 - as I, 65 00:02:12.125 --> 00:02:13.105 - ponder on that question, 66 00:02:14.125 --> 00:02:14.844 - sometimes it's, 67 00:02:15.645 --> 00:02:17.564 - what's going well is also some of what 68 00:02:17.564 --> 00:02:19.405 - we're struggling with. And what I mean by 69 00:02:19.405 --> 00:02:21.105 - that is is, you know, health care is, 70 00:02:21.680 --> 00:02:24.080 - as I can imagine, many would resonate around 71 00:02:24.080 --> 00:02:26.239 - the country today is as challenging as it's 72 00:02:26.239 --> 00:02:28.560 - ever been and probably the easiest as it's 73 00:02:28.560 --> 00:02:30.180 - ever going to be, it seems. 74 00:02:31.439 --> 00:02:33.519 - But, you know, I think for what has 75 00:02:33.519 --> 00:02:34.500 - been going well 76 00:02:35.185 --> 00:02:37.284 - for for the for our hospital in specific 77 00:02:37.504 --> 00:02:39.745 - is we've been able to make access for 78 00:02:39.745 --> 00:02:40.245 - patients, 79 00:02:41.025 --> 00:02:43.424 - new access, and and and grow in our 80 00:02:43.424 --> 00:02:46.084 - our, ability to care for our community through 81 00:02:46.305 --> 00:02:49.150 - new efficiencies, and we've we've been able to 82 00:02:49.150 --> 00:02:51.650 - go from really a middle of the pack 83 00:02:51.870 --> 00:02:54.509 - player in throughput and efficiency and link to 84 00:02:54.509 --> 00:02:56.289 - stay to a top decile performer, 85 00:02:57.069 --> 00:02:58.209 - through some of the rigors 86 00:02:58.750 --> 00:03:01.709 - processes and and and group work that we've 87 00:03:01.709 --> 00:03:02.769 - put into play 88 00:03:03.425 --> 00:03:05.585 - recently that's really made an impact, I think, 89 00:03:05.585 --> 00:03:06.805 - on access to care. 90 00:03:07.185 --> 00:03:07.665 - So, 91 00:03:08.064 --> 00:03:09.925 - but but at the same degree, 92 00:03:10.305 --> 00:03:12.224 - you know, the demands for our services are 93 00:03:12.224 --> 00:03:15.125 - higher than they've ever been. And, I think 94 00:03:15.185 --> 00:03:17.344 - what, you know, what seems to be going 95 00:03:17.344 --> 00:03:18.325 - well is also 96 00:03:18.980 --> 00:03:21.560 - dovetailed and with some cautious optimism, 97 00:03:22.340 --> 00:03:22.840 - about, 98 00:03:23.300 --> 00:03:25.560 - you know, the demand for our services and 99 00:03:25.780 --> 00:03:27.460 - and I, you know, with with all that's 100 00:03:27.460 --> 00:03:29.480 - happening on the national and federal front, 101 00:03:30.340 --> 00:03:30.840 - around, 102 00:03:31.194 --> 00:03:33.675 - you know, the cost of of health care 103 00:03:33.675 --> 00:03:35.294 - and people dropping off of 104 00:03:35.594 --> 00:03:36.814 - and the ACA subsidy 105 00:03:37.355 --> 00:03:40.395 - based plans and and the pending Medicaid work 106 00:03:40.395 --> 00:03:41.615 - requirements, you know, 107 00:03:42.155 --> 00:03:44.074 - as as good as it's been for us 108 00:03:44.074 --> 00:03:44.574 - to 109 00:03:44.875 --> 00:03:45.694 - make access 110 00:03:46.040 --> 00:03:47.420 - for patients in our hospitals, 111 00:03:47.879 --> 00:03:50.300 - I think the waves keep coming. And, 112 00:03:51.080 --> 00:03:53.560 - unfortunately, I think that that beginning to look 113 00:03:53.560 --> 00:03:55.659 - more like self pay and charity pay 114 00:03:56.120 --> 00:03:56.620 - cases, 115 00:03:57.000 --> 00:03:58.520 - to which, you know, as a nonprofit health 116 00:03:58.520 --> 00:04:00.200 - system, we will continue to step up for 117 00:04:00.200 --> 00:04:02.055 - our community, but it it certainly makes it 118 00:04:02.055 --> 00:04:02.634 - a challenge. 119 00:04:03.254 --> 00:04:05.014 - Something else I think that's been going well 120 00:04:05.014 --> 00:04:06.395 - for us, Laura, is, 121 00:04:07.335 --> 00:04:08.875 - our focus on guest experience, 122 00:04:09.895 --> 00:04:10.395 - consumer 123 00:04:11.014 --> 00:04:13.849 - consumer experience at large and and trying 124 00:04:14.310 --> 00:04:15.830 - to to in our own ways as a 125 00:04:15.830 --> 00:04:17.829 - hospital make that as best as we possibly 126 00:04:17.829 --> 00:04:18.329 - can. 127 00:04:19.029 --> 00:04:19.769 - We've tried 128 00:04:20.310 --> 00:04:21.209 - a new partnership 129 00:04:21.589 --> 00:04:22.089 - with 130 00:04:22.389 --> 00:04:23.610 - a a texting platform 131 00:04:24.149 --> 00:04:26.230 - that's being utilized in the the Marriott and 132 00:04:26.230 --> 00:04:26.730 - Hilton 133 00:04:27.335 --> 00:04:30.295 - resorts around texting with our our guests and 134 00:04:30.295 --> 00:04:32.074 - and when they're on the inpatient setting, 135 00:04:32.615 --> 00:04:36.555 - not necessarily about their hospital lab values or 136 00:04:36.694 --> 00:04:38.375 - that an x-ray has been ordered, but more 137 00:04:38.375 --> 00:04:40.935 - so about the the needs that we can 138 00:04:40.935 --> 00:04:41.435 - address 139 00:04:41.980 --> 00:04:44.220 - that they typically are more interested in in 140 00:04:44.220 --> 00:04:46.620 - talking to us about, but oftentimes have to 141 00:04:46.620 --> 00:04:48.139 - use a call light just to speak with 142 00:04:48.139 --> 00:04:48.879 - our staff. 143 00:04:49.740 --> 00:04:51.660 - We've we've been working through over the last 144 00:04:51.660 --> 00:04:54.620 - several months ways to make texting available for 145 00:04:54.620 --> 00:04:56.860 - operational needs or hospitality like needs in our 146 00:04:56.860 --> 00:04:57.360 - hospital, 147 00:04:57.745 --> 00:04:59.925 - And I've gotten some really good and encouraging 148 00:04:59.985 --> 00:05:02.225 - feedback, some really strong engagement, and, 149 00:05:03.024 --> 00:05:05.345 - some good feedback from our our our patients 150 00:05:05.345 --> 00:05:07.904 - and even the support individuals that that come 151 00:05:07.904 --> 00:05:10.919 - alongside and and care for the patient, you 152 00:05:10.919 --> 00:05:12.600 - know as as a spouse or a loved 153 00:05:12.600 --> 00:05:13.339 - one that 154 00:05:14.439 --> 00:05:16.199 - that can inform us about how the care 155 00:05:16.199 --> 00:05:18.039 - is going while they're here with us. So 156 00:05:18.039 --> 00:05:20.439 - we really enjoyed that and and plan to 157 00:05:20.439 --> 00:05:22.279 - to really hit the gas on that moving 158 00:05:22.279 --> 00:05:24.519 - forward and improving our guest experience. We've seen 159 00:05:24.519 --> 00:05:26.214 - some positive results so far. So those are 160 00:05:26.214 --> 00:05:27.654 - some of the things that I'd say are 161 00:05:27.654 --> 00:05:28.875 - are going well for us. 162 00:05:29.495 --> 00:05:30.855 - Well, that's great to hear. And, you know, 163 00:05:30.855 --> 00:05:33.435 - so interesting to think about that patient experience 164 00:05:33.574 --> 00:05:36.394 - and texting platform too. I I'm curious, 165 00:05:37.014 --> 00:05:38.214 - you know, what does it take to set 166 00:05:38.214 --> 00:05:40.800 - up something like that? And, you know, anything 167 00:05:40.800 --> 00:05:43.040 - you've been surprised by going through that process 168 00:05:43.040 --> 00:05:45.360 - as you've kind of been thinking through more 169 00:05:45.360 --> 00:05:47.779 - of the hospitality mindset versus the traditional 170 00:05:48.080 --> 00:05:50.819 - health care, provider to patient relationship? 171 00:05:51.839 --> 00:05:55.199 - Yeah. It's, it's been a codevelopment process for 172 00:05:55.199 --> 00:05:56.295 - us with this 173 00:05:56.694 --> 00:05:59.014 - with this company and and, you know, you 174 00:05:59.014 --> 00:06:01.035 - always hear about, you know, buy, build, 175 00:06:01.814 --> 00:06:03.975 - partner and and for us, this is one 176 00:06:03.975 --> 00:06:05.415 - of those that we we felt like we 177 00:06:05.415 --> 00:06:07.814 - needed to partner with an industry leader outside 178 00:06:07.814 --> 00:06:09.814 - the health care sector to to begin laying 179 00:06:09.814 --> 00:06:12.509 - the structure and groundwork to to try something 180 00:06:12.509 --> 00:06:13.169 - new inside 181 00:06:13.629 --> 00:06:16.349 - of health care. And and so we we're 182 00:06:16.349 --> 00:06:17.089 - really learning 183 00:06:17.629 --> 00:06:19.069 - a lot along the way. I mean, it's 184 00:06:19.069 --> 00:06:20.129 - it's kind of the 185 00:06:20.430 --> 00:06:22.189 - building the plane and flying it at the 186 00:06:22.189 --> 00:06:23.329 - same time concept. 187 00:06:24.110 --> 00:06:26.370 - And so we've we piloted it on, 188 00:06:27.074 --> 00:06:29.154 - three of our units so far and and, 189 00:06:29.314 --> 00:06:31.074 - we've been at it for about ninety days 190 00:06:31.074 --> 00:06:32.214 - now and are seeing 191 00:06:32.514 --> 00:06:33.334 - seeing those, 192 00:06:34.035 --> 00:06:36.274 - reap the benefits through the what our patients 193 00:06:36.274 --> 00:06:37.415 - are telling us. But 194 00:06:37.875 --> 00:06:40.115 - so far it's been a bit manual, Laura. 195 00:06:40.355 --> 00:06:41.654 - You know, not to 196 00:06:42.319 --> 00:06:43.939 - make it overly complicated 197 00:06:45.199 --> 00:06:47.439 - to start, you know, it's it's kind of 198 00:06:47.439 --> 00:06:48.819 - like one of those things where we 199 00:06:49.439 --> 00:06:51.439 - we wanna build a good process and then 200 00:06:51.439 --> 00:06:52.740 - begin to automate it 201 00:06:53.120 --> 00:06:55.120 - or or, you know, integrate it. And so 202 00:06:55.120 --> 00:06:56.800 - I think what we're trying to do right 203 00:06:56.800 --> 00:06:58.615 - now is is learn the process, 204 00:06:59.074 --> 00:07:01.074 - learn what works and what doesn't, and then 205 00:07:01.074 --> 00:07:03.975 - begin to build those integrations to to scale. 206 00:07:04.194 --> 00:07:06.514 - So we're we're really probably going a mile 207 00:07:06.514 --> 00:07:08.375 - deep in in the solution today, 208 00:07:09.475 --> 00:07:11.639 - and and learning what what kinks, 209 00:07:12.099 --> 00:07:14.099 - are are in the inherent process that we're, 210 00:07:14.099 --> 00:07:16.759 - I think, you know, frankly, kinda building from 211 00:07:16.979 --> 00:07:17.879 - from scratch. 212 00:07:19.060 --> 00:07:21.379 - And and so I think that, we will 213 00:07:21.379 --> 00:07:23.459 - get to those integrations here shortly, but we 214 00:07:23.459 --> 00:07:25.345 - really wanna make sure that we're we have 215 00:07:25.345 --> 00:07:28.925 - a crisp process before we, you know, accelerated 216 00:07:29.064 --> 00:07:31.384 - it and automate it. What I think there's 217 00:07:31.384 --> 00:07:33.144 - a lot of potential for for some of 218 00:07:33.144 --> 00:07:33.964 - this to be, 219 00:07:34.504 --> 00:07:36.764 - you know, auto or or agentic 220 00:07:37.430 --> 00:07:38.169 - AI responded, 221 00:07:38.949 --> 00:07:40.550 - because what we're finding is a lot of 222 00:07:40.550 --> 00:07:43.909 - the questions are are, as you would imagine, 223 00:07:43.909 --> 00:07:47.430 - are are categorized and routine, frequent questions that 224 00:07:47.430 --> 00:07:49.644 - we can probably create a lot of, you 225 00:07:49.644 --> 00:07:51.644 - know, automation around and then white glove the 226 00:07:51.644 --> 00:07:54.204 - rest of them, to help help guests get, 227 00:07:54.365 --> 00:07:55.964 - what they're looking for, the answers they need, 228 00:07:55.964 --> 00:07:57.644 - or the services that that we can help 229 00:07:57.644 --> 00:07:58.384 - them with. 230 00:07:58.925 --> 00:08:00.444 - That makes a ton of sense. You know, 231 00:08:00.444 --> 00:08:02.009 - it sounds like a really smart way to 232 00:08:02.009 --> 00:08:04.490 - begin using the technology, figuring out what's gonna 233 00:08:04.490 --> 00:08:05.709 - work best, and then, 234 00:08:06.410 --> 00:08:08.970 - leveraging for more efficiencies in in the larger 235 00:08:08.970 --> 00:08:10.189 - scale rollout too. 236 00:08:10.649 --> 00:08:12.189 - So that's super interesting. 237 00:08:12.569 --> 00:08:14.649 - And, you know, I'm curious. Obviously, a lot 238 00:08:14.649 --> 00:08:17.205 - of, great opportunities and interesting things going on 239 00:08:17.205 --> 00:08:18.805 - right now, but what are some of the 240 00:08:18.805 --> 00:08:20.485 - headwinds as well that you're keeping an eye 241 00:08:20.485 --> 00:08:22.645 - on and preparing for? I know you mentioned 242 00:08:22.645 --> 00:08:24.324 - a little bit about some of the different, 243 00:08:24.884 --> 00:08:25.545 - you know, 244 00:08:26.085 --> 00:08:28.884 - payer challenges and and and things happening with 245 00:08:28.884 --> 00:08:31.545 - the ACA plan drop offs and whatnot. So 246 00:08:31.729 --> 00:08:33.089 - how are you thinking about those as well 247 00:08:33.089 --> 00:08:34.070 - as any other headwinds, 248 00:08:34.769 --> 00:08:36.230 - as you prepare for the future? 249 00:08:37.009 --> 00:08:38.389 - Yeah. We we've seen, 250 00:08:38.929 --> 00:08:40.929 - like, I know many of my colleagues around 251 00:08:40.929 --> 00:08:42.149 - the country, we've seen 252 00:08:42.529 --> 00:08:43.830 - a pretty alarming 253 00:08:44.365 --> 00:08:46.945 - drop off in the in the exchange products, 254 00:08:47.804 --> 00:08:49.485 - because of that cost. And so we're we're 255 00:08:49.485 --> 00:08:51.184 - watching that really closely. But 256 00:08:51.644 --> 00:08:52.945 - we also know that, 257 00:08:53.485 --> 00:08:56.524 - the Medicaid work requirements for our state, soft 258 00:08:56.524 --> 00:08:57.690 - launch this month, 259 00:08:58.250 --> 00:09:00.250 - well, actually, July 1, they they did a 260 00:09:00.250 --> 00:09:03.309 - soft launch and will go into effect 01/01/2027. 261 00:09:03.769 --> 00:09:05.309 - And this isn't our first round, 262 00:09:05.690 --> 00:09:08.169 - of that in 2018. We we our state 263 00:09:08.169 --> 00:09:09.705 - did something similar and it, 264 00:09:10.264 --> 00:09:11.404 - it became a challenge, 265 00:09:11.945 --> 00:09:12.445 - because, 266 00:09:12.904 --> 00:09:14.825 - a lot a lot of people fell out 267 00:09:14.825 --> 00:09:17.225 - of coverage and so we expect that to 268 00:09:17.225 --> 00:09:19.644 - happen, you know, to some degree again, 269 00:09:20.024 --> 00:09:21.705 - and and I know for the right reasons, 270 00:09:21.705 --> 00:09:23.165 - but also it it affects, 271 00:09:24.480 --> 00:09:26.240 - you know, our how how we do our 272 00:09:26.240 --> 00:09:28.480 - business. And so we're we're watching that really 273 00:09:28.480 --> 00:09:29.759 - closely and and, 274 00:09:30.159 --> 00:09:32.320 - continuing to try to make efficiencies along the 275 00:09:32.320 --> 00:09:32.820 - way, 276 00:09:33.440 --> 00:09:35.519 - because we know what our ER boarding looks 277 00:09:35.519 --> 00:09:37.200 - like today or or the demand for our 278 00:09:37.200 --> 00:09:39.379 - services is only going to increase 279 00:09:39.834 --> 00:09:40.575 - as people 280 00:09:41.595 --> 00:09:44.075 - don't seek care routinely and and come in 281 00:09:44.075 --> 00:09:46.075 - more emergently, so we're we're watching that very 282 00:09:46.075 --> 00:09:46.575 - close. 283 00:09:47.355 --> 00:09:50.235 - You know, working with our our local hospital 284 00:09:50.235 --> 00:09:53.134 - association in partnership with the National Hospital Association 285 00:09:53.754 --> 00:09:54.154 - around, 286 00:09:55.089 --> 00:09:55.830 - the three forty 287 00:09:56.529 --> 00:09:57.110 - b discussion, 288 00:09:57.970 --> 00:09:59.269 - on Capitol Hill and, 289 00:09:59.970 --> 00:10:02.210 - and even some of what CMS has proposed 290 00:10:02.210 --> 00:10:04.129 - around side neutral payments, and, 291 00:10:04.610 --> 00:10:06.450 - we're we're watching that really close. I think 292 00:10:06.450 --> 00:10:09.055 - those are, you know, headwinds we've all been 293 00:10:09.434 --> 00:10:11.695 - talking about for a while now that, 294 00:10:12.075 --> 00:10:13.774 - you know, could be very disruptive 295 00:10:14.315 --> 00:10:16.634 - in in how we conduct business every day 296 00:10:16.634 --> 00:10:18.555 - and and provide care for the the communities 297 00:10:18.555 --> 00:10:19.855 - that we serve. And so, 298 00:10:20.235 --> 00:10:21.934 - those are some of the things that we, 299 00:10:22.340 --> 00:10:24.340 - you know, are not unique to our market 300 00:10:24.340 --> 00:10:27.540 - per se, but, certainly something that would cause 301 00:10:27.540 --> 00:10:29.299 - us to to have to pivot in a 302 00:10:29.299 --> 00:10:31.480 - variety of ways to to continue to provide 303 00:10:31.540 --> 00:10:33.700 - high level care to to those in our 304 00:10:33.700 --> 00:10:34.519 - market. So 305 00:10:34.865 --> 00:10:36.225 - that that's what I'd say, Laura, is that 306 00:10:36.225 --> 00:10:36.884 - we're watching. 307 00:10:37.584 --> 00:10:39.284 - Very you know, health care is very, 308 00:10:39.745 --> 00:10:42.225 - it's just as disruptive as ever. And, 309 00:10:43.184 --> 00:10:44.644 - there's there's some things that 310 00:10:45.664 --> 00:10:47.664 - are coming at us, or at least being 311 00:10:47.664 --> 00:10:49.264 - being discussed at a level that I think, 312 00:10:50.039 --> 00:10:51.659 - could cause a a lot of disruption. 313 00:10:52.600 --> 00:10:54.360 - That makes a ton of sense. And, you 314 00:10:54.360 --> 00:10:55.339 - know, I can imagine, 315 00:10:56.440 --> 00:10:58.600 - a a lot having having to balance a 316 00:10:58.600 --> 00:11:00.279 - lot when you're looking at, you know, what 317 00:11:00.279 --> 00:11:02.440 - you need to prepare for, for next year 318 00:11:02.440 --> 00:11:04.424 - and and some of these trends continue. And 319 00:11:04.504 --> 00:11:06.424 - just fascinating to hear about the Medicaid work 320 00:11:06.424 --> 00:11:08.504 - requirements too. I mean, you know, is there 321 00:11:08.504 --> 00:11:11.065 - anything that you're preparing to do differently as, 322 00:11:11.464 --> 00:11:13.565 - the the those continue, 323 00:11:14.105 --> 00:11:16.825 - as compared to 2018? Or, I guess, what 324 00:11:16.825 --> 00:11:18.044 - lessons did you learn 325 00:11:18.759 --> 00:11:21.019 - that would be helpful for other hospital executives 326 00:11:21.240 --> 00:11:22.379 - to know and think about? 327 00:11:23.319 --> 00:11:24.440 - Yeah. I mean, I think, 328 00:11:25.720 --> 00:11:27.959 - that's a good question. I I don't have 329 00:11:27.959 --> 00:11:29.799 - the best answer for you other than, you 330 00:11:29.799 --> 00:11:31.659 - know, we have to continue to be 331 00:11:32.115 --> 00:11:32.615 - efficient 332 00:11:32.995 --> 00:11:35.394 - and manage and steward the resources that we 333 00:11:35.394 --> 00:11:38.034 - have now more than ever, you know, looking 334 00:11:38.034 --> 00:11:39.014 - at ways that 335 00:11:39.634 --> 00:11:41.654 - to reduce waste within our systems, 336 00:11:42.595 --> 00:11:45.394 - because, you know, providing access to care is 337 00:11:45.394 --> 00:11:47.254 - not an option. It's never it's never 338 00:11:48.070 --> 00:11:50.709 - been something that we'd even entertain. It's just 339 00:11:50.709 --> 00:11:51.190 - that, 340 00:11:51.990 --> 00:11:53.589 - these are realities we have to deal with 341 00:11:53.589 --> 00:11:54.089 - and, 342 00:11:54.709 --> 00:11:55.209 - be 343 00:11:55.669 --> 00:11:58.309 - be flexible and willing to to pivot to 344 00:11:58.309 --> 00:12:00.629 - make those adjustments to continue to do what 345 00:12:00.629 --> 00:12:02.490 - we've been doing for over a hundred years. 346 00:12:02.975 --> 00:12:05.075 - Yeah. I do think we have 347 00:12:05.615 --> 00:12:08.355 - been having conversations with our state legislature 348 00:12:08.735 --> 00:12:09.235 - around 349 00:12:09.774 --> 00:12:11.795 - ways to promote fairness and 350 00:12:12.575 --> 00:12:14.595 - preserve the rural hospitals 351 00:12:15.295 --> 00:12:17.129 - in our our state as well. I mean, 352 00:12:17.129 --> 00:12:19.450 - we're all under threat for that around the 353 00:12:19.450 --> 00:12:21.450 - country and I think for us, you know, 354 00:12:21.450 --> 00:12:24.330 - we in Arkansas get paid 50 out of 355 00:12:24.330 --> 00:12:27.450 - 50 on federal and CMS reimbursement and we 356 00:12:27.450 --> 00:12:29.725 - also get paid 50 out of 50 on 357 00:12:29.725 --> 00:12:32.365 - commercial reimbursement. So, you know, as a state, 358 00:12:32.365 --> 00:12:34.205 - we're at the bottom of the barrel on 359 00:12:34.205 --> 00:12:35.585 - reimbursement, but yet 360 00:12:36.285 --> 00:12:39.424 - cost is, you know, on par with bordering 361 00:12:39.485 --> 00:12:39.985 - states. 362 00:12:40.845 --> 00:12:43.565 - You know, the expenses for supplies, we don't 363 00:12:43.565 --> 00:12:46.039 - get a break on because of our reimbursement 364 00:12:46.100 --> 00:12:47.480 - structure in our state. So, 365 00:12:47.940 --> 00:12:49.940 - you know, ways to promote fairness for the 366 00:12:50.019 --> 00:12:51.639 - for who we care for, 367 00:12:52.580 --> 00:12:55.639 - across state lines like in Texas or Louisiana 368 00:12:55.779 --> 00:12:57.940 - or Tennessee. I mean, we still provide care 369 00:12:57.940 --> 00:13:00.375 - for for patients all around our state beyond 370 00:13:00.375 --> 00:13:02.455 - and yet we get paid on a on 371 00:13:02.455 --> 00:13:04.295 - a totally different scale. And so how do 372 00:13:04.295 --> 00:13:06.535 - how do we communicate that message to, you 373 00:13:06.535 --> 00:13:08.934 - know, promote fairness when the you know, it 374 00:13:08.934 --> 00:13:09.654 - seems like, 375 00:13:10.134 --> 00:13:12.539 - so much is changing around us to, you 376 00:13:12.539 --> 00:13:14.720 - know, make sure we're reimbursed on a 377 00:13:15.259 --> 00:13:17.580 - similar scale as those that, 378 00:13:18.379 --> 00:13:20.559 - you know, we share borders with, but then, 379 00:13:20.700 --> 00:13:22.940 - you know, ways that we can preserve the 380 00:13:22.940 --> 00:13:25.664 - the rural hospitals that provide such, you know, 381 00:13:25.664 --> 00:13:27.504 - life sustaining care to the communities they serve 382 00:13:27.504 --> 00:13:29.264 - along the way. And so I think those 383 00:13:29.264 --> 00:13:30.644 - are the messages that we, 384 00:13:31.345 --> 00:13:33.745 - would share with others, but also just promote 385 00:13:33.745 --> 00:13:36.384 - with them that as as the rules, you 386 00:13:36.384 --> 00:13:38.884 - know, continue to be reviewed and, 387 00:13:39.740 --> 00:13:42.139 - debated, I I think we have to continue 388 00:13:42.139 --> 00:13:44.460 - to focus on what we can here locally 389 00:13:44.460 --> 00:13:46.159 - around stewarding our our resources, 390 00:13:46.860 --> 00:13:47.360 - managing 391 00:13:47.820 --> 00:13:48.480 - high efficiencies, 392 00:13:48.940 --> 00:13:49.419 - and, 393 00:13:49.899 --> 00:13:50.799 - but then also 394 00:13:51.339 --> 00:13:53.839 - discussing more on the the lobby front around, 395 00:13:54.644 --> 00:13:56.644 - ways that we can preserve this in the 396 00:13:56.644 --> 00:13:59.304 - long run too, because it's it's as challenging 397 00:13:59.365 --> 00:14:00.985 - as ever and and, 398 00:14:01.445 --> 00:14:03.865 - we need our our communities and our our 399 00:14:04.164 --> 00:14:05.384 - legislator to, 400 00:14:06.004 --> 00:14:06.804 - to help us, 401 00:14:07.605 --> 00:14:09.304 - keep doing what we do so well. 402 00:14:10.330 --> 00:14:12.250 - Got it. That's so helpful to understand and, 403 00:14:12.250 --> 00:14:13.870 - you know, I know it's a constant, 404 00:14:14.649 --> 00:14:15.149 - constant 405 00:14:15.529 --> 00:14:17.929 - moving target in some ways, but it seems 406 00:14:17.929 --> 00:14:20.009 - like it makes so much sense to have 407 00:14:20.009 --> 00:14:22.830 - those, kind of local ties and and certainly 408 00:14:23.184 --> 00:14:25.925 - connected with the legislators too, as they're making, 409 00:14:26.384 --> 00:14:29.425 - different policies and updates. So I appreciate, your 410 00:14:29.425 --> 00:14:32.144 - thoughtful and candid response here. Now I wanted 411 00:14:32.144 --> 00:14:34.065 - to ask you about growth too. Where do 412 00:14:34.065 --> 00:14:35.585 - you see some of the best opportunities to 413 00:14:35.585 --> 00:14:37.024 - grow in the next two to three years 414 00:14:37.024 --> 00:14:37.684 - or so? 415 00:14:38.420 --> 00:14:40.500 - You know, we've seen a lot of disruption 416 00:14:40.500 --> 00:14:41.000 - in, 417 00:14:41.700 --> 00:14:43.779 - health care in the last, you know, year 418 00:14:43.779 --> 00:14:45.540 - or two, and it seems like every six 419 00:14:45.540 --> 00:14:46.040 - months 420 00:14:46.660 --> 00:14:49.700 - that new insurance or new, disruptions are are 421 00:14:49.700 --> 00:14:50.200 - affecting, 422 00:14:50.740 --> 00:14:52.500 - the ways that we strategically plan for the 423 00:14:52.500 --> 00:14:54.475 - next two to three years. But I I 424 00:14:54.475 --> 00:14:57.434 - think for our health system, we have always 425 00:14:57.434 --> 00:14:59.754 - prided ourselves on providing some of the highest 426 00:14:59.754 --> 00:15:02.254 - end specialties and the highest level of care 427 00:15:02.315 --> 00:15:04.394 - in and around our region, you know, being 428 00:15:04.394 --> 00:15:05.455 - the first to do 429 00:15:06.394 --> 00:15:08.610 - a a variety of, you know, tertiary 430 00:15:09.070 --> 00:15:11.970 - service lines or or treatments here. I think 431 00:15:12.269 --> 00:15:14.049 - that focus hasn't changed. 432 00:15:14.590 --> 00:15:15.649 - As much as we 433 00:15:16.029 --> 00:15:18.750 - will continue to focus on value based care 434 00:15:18.750 --> 00:15:21.629 - and population health and and access to primary 435 00:15:21.629 --> 00:15:22.129 - care, 436 00:15:22.705 --> 00:15:24.865 - and ways to be convenient to our consumers, 437 00:15:24.865 --> 00:15:27.424 - we we have to continue to be focusing 438 00:15:27.424 --> 00:15:29.605 - on the things that only we can do 439 00:15:29.664 --> 00:15:30.784 - in the ways that we can do it. 440 00:15:30.784 --> 00:15:31.524 - And so, 441 00:15:31.904 --> 00:15:33.904 - over the next two to three years, and 442 00:15:33.904 --> 00:15:36.225 - really even beyond, you know, we'll we'll remain 443 00:15:36.225 --> 00:15:36.945 - focused in on, 444 00:15:37.809 --> 00:15:39.029 - critical care and 445 00:15:39.570 --> 00:15:40.629 - high level specialties 446 00:15:40.930 --> 00:15:42.629 - like spine surgery and 447 00:15:42.930 --> 00:15:44.470 - neurosurgery, heart surgery, 448 00:15:45.170 --> 00:15:46.710 - you know, behavioral health, 449 00:15:47.730 --> 00:15:48.710 - women's health, 450 00:15:49.330 --> 00:15:49.830 - vascular, 451 00:15:50.450 --> 00:15:52.290 - those things that, you know, have built our 452 00:15:52.290 --> 00:15:54.345 - brand and have built whom we are known 453 00:15:54.345 --> 00:15:56.684 - for in the community, we have to continue 454 00:15:56.745 --> 00:15:59.245 - to be excellent at that. And that sometimes 455 00:15:59.465 --> 00:16:01.384 - means recruiting, you know, the best and the 456 00:16:01.384 --> 00:16:04.365 - brightest, sometimes that means, providing the 457 00:16:05.144 --> 00:16:07.884 - the level of technology and robotics minimally invasive 458 00:16:08.319 --> 00:16:10.559 - surgery with good outcomes that that only we 459 00:16:10.559 --> 00:16:11.220 - can provide, 460 00:16:11.759 --> 00:16:13.299 - all while continuing to 461 00:16:13.759 --> 00:16:15.679 - meet our consumers where they are along their 462 00:16:15.679 --> 00:16:16.899 - health journey and promoting, 463 00:16:17.360 --> 00:16:18.019 - you know, 464 00:16:18.480 --> 00:16:20.980 - well care instead of sick care too. So 465 00:16:21.355 --> 00:16:21.855 - that's 466 00:16:22.235 --> 00:16:23.995 - for us what we've we've got our sights 467 00:16:23.995 --> 00:16:24.495 - on, 468 00:16:24.875 --> 00:16:27.455 - all while continuing to promote access, 469 00:16:27.995 --> 00:16:30.075 - in and around our entire state. You know, 470 00:16:30.075 --> 00:16:31.615 - Baptist Health was built on 471 00:16:32.154 --> 00:16:34.975 - extending health care, not only just for urban 472 00:16:35.480 --> 00:16:36.199 - centers, but, 473 00:16:36.919 --> 00:16:37.819 - in in metropolitan 474 00:16:38.120 --> 00:16:40.699 - areas, but to to extend our tentacles into, 475 00:16:41.559 --> 00:16:43.899 - rural Arkansas to to make a difference, 476 00:16:44.440 --> 00:16:46.600 - because they deserve the same level of care 477 00:16:46.600 --> 00:16:48.299 - as as any one of us. And so 478 00:16:48.394 --> 00:16:49.595 - we have to be efficient. We have to 479 00:16:49.595 --> 00:16:52.394 - level load patients across all of our our, 480 00:16:52.715 --> 00:16:55.355 - access points and making sure that we're consistent 481 00:16:55.355 --> 00:16:58.075 - across our whole enterprise. So opportunity for us 482 00:16:58.075 --> 00:17:00.075 - is is doubling down a high end specialty, 483 00:17:00.075 --> 00:17:00.975 - but but also 484 00:17:01.355 --> 00:17:02.335 - making access, 485 00:17:03.209 --> 00:17:05.470 - as easy as it's ever been. 486 00:17:06.169 --> 00:17:07.609 - That makes a ton of sense. And I 487 00:17:07.609 --> 00:17:09.929 - know that access question is something that so 488 00:17:09.929 --> 00:17:10.669 - many organizations 489 00:17:10.970 --> 00:17:13.529 - and hospitals and systems across the country are 490 00:17:13.529 --> 00:17:15.865 - looking at and thinking about. And so to 491 00:17:15.865 --> 00:17:17.144 - understand how you're, 492 00:17:18.184 --> 00:17:20.345 - planning around it and and really seeing access, 493 00:17:20.345 --> 00:17:20.845 - especially 494 00:17:21.384 --> 00:17:23.544 - reaching further into some of the rural areas 495 00:17:23.544 --> 00:17:25.384 - too is just fascinating to hear. I know 496 00:17:25.384 --> 00:17:28.105 - it's, you know, never easy to to plan 497 00:17:28.105 --> 00:17:30.105 - through some of that expansion and access points, 498 00:17:30.105 --> 00:17:32.640 - but so critical for the larger and and 499 00:17:32.640 --> 00:17:34.019 - broader market there. 500 00:17:34.480 --> 00:17:36.559 - Before we wrap up, I wanted to ask 501 00:17:36.559 --> 00:17:37.059 - you, 502 00:17:37.839 --> 00:17:40.319 - about leadership as well. Who do you admire 503 00:17:40.319 --> 00:17:42.319 - as a leader from really any industry and 504 00:17:42.319 --> 00:17:42.819 - why? 505 00:17:43.454 --> 00:17:44.894 - That's a great question. You know, a lot 506 00:17:44.894 --> 00:17:46.815 - of people come to mind. I mean, personal 507 00:17:46.815 --> 00:17:47.315 - mentors, 508 00:17:48.575 --> 00:17:50.335 - first. But, you know, if I I have 509 00:17:50.335 --> 00:17:50.835 - to 510 00:17:51.375 --> 00:17:53.615 - in answer that, I think in light of, 511 00:17:53.934 --> 00:17:56.970 - where we are in, you know, our February, 512 00:17:57.029 --> 00:17:58.730 - you know, birthday as a country, 513 00:17:59.190 --> 00:18:00.409 - I've recently been 514 00:18:00.710 --> 00:18:03.269 - reading on and studying a lot about our 515 00:18:03.269 --> 00:18:05.529 - founding fathers, and I've I've just been, 516 00:18:06.069 --> 00:18:08.169 - I think in a renewed way, 517 00:18:08.714 --> 00:18:10.494 - so impressed and inspired by 518 00:18:11.115 --> 00:18:11.934 - George Washington. 519 00:18:13.755 --> 00:18:14.255 - He's 520 00:18:14.634 --> 00:18:16.894 - what he went through and the resilience and 521 00:18:16.954 --> 00:18:18.815 - really the opposition a lot of times. 522 00:18:19.275 --> 00:18:21.275 - To be remembered as such a, you know, 523 00:18:21.275 --> 00:18:23.134 - incredible pillar of our our 524 00:18:23.500 --> 00:18:26.079 - country, I it wasn't easy for him 525 00:18:26.380 --> 00:18:27.599 - in so many respects, 526 00:18:28.619 --> 00:18:31.019 - and and so I I appreciate his resilience 527 00:18:31.019 --> 00:18:31.679 - and fortitude 528 00:18:32.059 --> 00:18:33.579 - and so many of the things that he 529 00:18:33.579 --> 00:18:36.380 - did that, you know, his leadership qualities I 530 00:18:36.380 --> 00:18:37.279 - I wanna emulate 531 00:18:38.285 --> 00:18:40.045 - in in forging a path and staying true 532 00:18:40.045 --> 00:18:40.865 - to a purpose, 533 00:18:41.325 --> 00:18:43.505 - and a mission, and and to me that's 534 00:18:43.565 --> 00:18:45.565 - awe inspiring. But but I think in today's 535 00:18:45.565 --> 00:18:47.325 - world, if I was to answer that question 536 00:18:47.325 --> 00:18:49.825 - about who who in in our current 537 00:18:50.230 --> 00:18:52.569 - day and age is somebody that inspires me. 538 00:18:52.710 --> 00:18:54.569 - I I think across all the health sectors, 539 00:18:55.190 --> 00:18:56.869 - but I also think outside of health care 540 00:18:56.869 --> 00:18:58.069 - and and, 541 00:18:58.710 --> 00:18:59.369 - you know, 542 00:19:00.149 --> 00:19:02.630 - I'll I'll this may be, you know, kind 543 00:19:02.630 --> 00:19:04.875 - of a curve ball, but I I've truly 544 00:19:04.875 --> 00:19:06.095 - through some of our 545 00:19:06.634 --> 00:19:10.555 - reinventing of ourselves and change culture been very 546 00:19:10.555 --> 00:19:11.775 - inspired by 547 00:19:12.234 --> 00:19:14.955 - a biography I I read recently from Walter 548 00:19:14.955 --> 00:19:17.134 - Isaacson about Elon Musk. And, 549 00:19:17.490 --> 00:19:19.650 - you know, there's there's so many things that, 550 00:19:19.970 --> 00:19:22.869 - you can discuss there, but, really, his 551 00:19:23.250 --> 00:19:25.430 - the way he addresses change process, 552 00:19:26.609 --> 00:19:28.549 - is to me a pretty radical, 553 00:19:29.170 --> 00:19:30.529 - view of it. I mean, challenging 554 00:19:31.244 --> 00:19:32.704 - it's a five step process, 555 00:19:33.085 --> 00:19:34.625 - and it's challenging the norm. 556 00:19:35.325 --> 00:19:38.444 - It's deleting any steps that are unnecessary. It's 557 00:19:38.444 --> 00:19:41.105 - simplifying the process down to its bare minimum. 558 00:19:41.964 --> 00:19:44.845 - It's accelerating that process and then automating it, 559 00:19:44.845 --> 00:19:48.220 - and he's he's applied that through all of 560 00:19:48.220 --> 00:19:50.299 - his companies and, you know, you it's hard 561 00:19:50.299 --> 00:19:52.460 - to argue the outcomes of that. You know, 562 00:19:52.460 --> 00:19:55.019 - the style and and some of the other 563 00:19:55.019 --> 00:19:57.019 - things that come along with it, you know, 564 00:19:57.019 --> 00:19:58.779 - are could be argued as well, but I 565 00:19:58.779 --> 00:20:01.359 - think I've just been inspired by that. 566 00:20:01.744 --> 00:20:04.005 - In health care, we have so many requirements 567 00:20:04.065 --> 00:20:06.225 - and so many regulations, and and many are 568 00:20:06.225 --> 00:20:08.865 - there for the right purposes. But oftentimes, we 569 00:20:08.865 --> 00:20:10.945 - make it harder on ourselves to do the 570 00:20:10.945 --> 00:20:13.345 - things we try to do because, you know, 571 00:20:13.345 --> 00:20:15.630 - we we say that's just why we've always 572 00:20:15.630 --> 00:20:17.570 - done it. But, you know, I think 573 00:20:17.950 --> 00:20:20.830 - that that biography has has really flipped my 574 00:20:20.830 --> 00:20:23.230 - thinking on its head and helped me to 575 00:20:23.230 --> 00:20:23.730 - understand 576 00:20:24.190 --> 00:20:25.330 - that we we can, 577 00:20:26.430 --> 00:20:29.549 - challenge ourselves and challenge our historical processes to 578 00:20:29.549 --> 00:20:31.365 - make it easier on our patients and be 579 00:20:31.365 --> 00:20:33.204 - the best versions of ourselves while trying to 580 00:20:33.204 --> 00:20:33.704 - be 581 00:20:34.164 --> 00:20:36.964 - cost efficient and time efficient to provide value 582 00:20:36.964 --> 00:20:38.724 - back to all of our consumers, whether it's 583 00:20:38.724 --> 00:20:40.265 - physicians or staff or 584 00:20:40.565 --> 00:20:42.404 - or our our patients and their guests. And 585 00:20:42.404 --> 00:20:44.244 - and so I think that's been very inspiring 586 00:20:44.244 --> 00:20:45.605 - to me, and I've tried to emulate that 587 00:20:45.605 --> 00:20:47.750 - in in the ways I look at decisions 588 00:20:47.809 --> 00:20:50.470 - today. So, that's how I'd answer it, Laura. 589 00:20:51.250 --> 00:20:52.609 - No. I I love that. And I I 590 00:20:52.609 --> 00:20:54.230 - think that focus on efficiency 591 00:20:54.529 --> 00:20:55.350 - and serving 592 00:20:55.809 --> 00:20:58.450 - your, patient community and just really understanding what 593 00:20:58.450 --> 00:21:00.549 - it means in order to think differently 594 00:21:00.850 --> 00:21:01.350 - and, 595 00:21:01.825 --> 00:21:04.384 - improve results, makes a big difference. So I 596 00:21:04.384 --> 00:21:05.365 - appreciate that. 597 00:21:05.825 --> 00:21:07.265 - Thank you so much, Cody, for your time 598 00:21:07.265 --> 00:21:08.625 - today. This has been a lot of fun 599 00:21:08.625 --> 00:21:10.705 - and and just really catching up and learning 600 00:21:10.705 --> 00:21:12.705 - about how you're thinking about the future. And 601 00:21:12.705 --> 00:21:14.589 - I know we'll be talking more about that 602 00:21:14.589 --> 00:21:16.990 - at the CEO CFO roundtable in November while 603 00:21:16.990 --> 00:21:18.990 - you'll be speaking on a panel and really 604 00:21:18.990 --> 00:21:20.509 - digging further into a lot of these themes. 605 00:21:20.509 --> 00:21:22.369 - So I'm looking forward to that as well. 606 00:21:22.835 --> 00:21:24.355 - Yeah. Thanks again for having me on the 607 00:21:24.355 --> 00:21:26.515 - podcast today. I appreciated the conversation. I agree. 608 00:21:26.515 --> 00:21:28.115 - It's been a lot of fun. I look 609 00:21:28.115 --> 00:21:29.955 - forward to connecting with others in Chicago in 610 00:21:29.955 --> 00:21:31.335 - November. Thank you so much.