1 00:00:00,119 --> 00:00:02,737 Hi, everyone. This is Erica Car with the 2 00:00:02,895 --> 00:00:04,958 Becker healthcare care podcast series. 3 00:00:05,434 --> 00:00:07,680 Thank you so much for tuning into this 4 00:00:07,814 --> 00:00:10,384 episode. Where we're joined by Catherine Tobacco, 5 00:00:10,865 --> 00:00:12,945 Ceo of Matrix Medical Network. 6 00:00:13,345 --> 00:00:15,184 Catherine, it's a pleasure to have you. Welcome 7 00:00:15,184 --> 00:00:15,905 to the podcast. 8 00:00:16,478 --> 00:00:18,146 Thank you so much. Here it comes. Thanks 9 00:00:18,146 --> 00:00:20,290 for having me. Yeah. Absolutely. 10 00:00:20,846 --> 00:00:22,911 To get us started here before we dive 11 00:00:22,911 --> 00:00:24,738 into the discussion. Do you mind just sharing 12 00:00:24,738 --> 00:00:26,841 a bit about your back around in your 13 00:00:27,056 --> 00:00:27,215 organization? 14 00:00:28,407 --> 00:00:30,654 Sure. So as you said, I am the 15 00:00:30,710 --> 00:00:34,364 chief Executive officer of Matrix medical network. I 16 00:00:34,364 --> 00:00:35,420 joined the company 17 00:00:36,285 --> 00:00:38,586 Almost 3 years ago, I'll be celebrating my 18 00:00:38,586 --> 00:00:41,467 3 year anniversary at the end of June 19 00:00:41,919 --> 00:00:42,871 at the end of this month. 20 00:00:44,003 --> 00:00:45,143 30 year career 21 00:00:45,681 --> 00:00:46,800 that has spanned, 22 00:00:47,439 --> 00:00:48,339 many different 23 00:00:48,798 --> 00:00:50,795 industries, many different countries, 24 00:00:51,529 --> 00:00:52,828 I've been mostly 25 00:00:53,687 --> 00:00:57,204 working with large global publicly traded organizations throughout 26 00:00:57,204 --> 00:00:59,361 my career, and I've had the privilege of 27 00:00:59,361 --> 00:01:01,060 working on 5 continents 28 00:01:01,374 --> 00:01:01,613 actually. 29 00:01:02,330 --> 00:01:04,799 20 of those years, I've spent health care 30 00:01:04,799 --> 00:01:05,835 in the health care industry, 31 00:01:06,791 --> 00:01:08,964 about 80 percent of my experience in services 32 00:01:09,101 --> 00:01:09,601 businesses, 33 00:01:10,296 --> 00:01:11,977 or the way I like to see it 34 00:01:11,977 --> 00:01:13,666 to see, keep all businesses. 35 00:01:14,434 --> 00:01:16,019 And I've spend about 2 thirds of my 36 00:01:16,019 --> 00:01:17,921 career in marketing and more broadly speaking, 37 00:01:18,572 --> 00:01:19,129 commercial roles, 38 00:01:19,845 --> 00:01:24,163 building or rebuilding commercial organizations, product or services 39 00:01:24,458 --> 00:01:24,777 portfolio. 40 00:01:25,428 --> 00:01:27,497 Transforming businesses and taking them to the next 41 00:01:27,497 --> 00:01:29,805 level of performance. On the personal side, Erica, 42 00:01:30,044 --> 00:01:31,875 I was born in France. That's where the 43 00:01:31,875 --> 00:01:34,365 accent comes from. And I moved to Chicago 44 00:01:34,605 --> 00:01:36,685 Illinois just over 8 years ago where I 45 00:01:36,685 --> 00:01:37,805 live with my husband today. 46 00:01:39,245 --> 00:01:42,125 On the matrix side, matrix is an organization 47 00:01:42,125 --> 00:01:45,404 that actually pioneered the first national in home 48 00:01:45,404 --> 00:01:48,268 clinical network almost 25 years go down. 49 00:01:49,302 --> 00:01:52,504 Today, Matrix is the only independent provider of 50 00:01:52,504 --> 00:01:55,465 in home health and care assessments across our 51 00:01:55,465 --> 00:01:55,625 nation. 52 00:01:56,344 --> 00:01:58,879 We act as an extension of our client 53 00:01:58,999 --> 00:02:01,717 partners and enhance the benefits that they provide 54 00:02:01,717 --> 00:02:02,616 to their members 55 00:02:02,995 --> 00:02:06,432 by extending care and health education to the 56 00:02:06,432 --> 00:02:08,030 individuals where they're most comfortable. 57 00:02:08,685 --> 00:02:09,564 In their own homes. 58 00:02:10,525 --> 00:02:12,925 The way the company has differentiated itself over 59 00:02:12,925 --> 00:02:14,305 the years is 60 00:02:15,564 --> 00:02:16,844 because it is patient centered. 61 00:02:17,819 --> 00:02:19,740 We spend as long as it takes to 62 00:02:19,740 --> 00:02:21,980 make sure that the individuals that we care 63 00:02:21,980 --> 00:02:24,139 for in their home are in a better 64 00:02:24,139 --> 00:02:26,219 place when we leave them that when we 65 00:02:26,219 --> 00:02:27,020 walk to their door. 66 00:02:28,072 --> 00:02:31,742 We are clinician led our nurse, practitioners are 67 00:02:31,742 --> 00:02:34,135 employed by the company and the practice that 68 00:02:34,135 --> 00:02:37,193 it our license, they leverage their clinical judgment 69 00:02:37,407 --> 00:02:40,425 every single step of the assessment that they 70 00:02:40,425 --> 00:02:40,664 perform. 71 00:02:41,378 --> 00:02:43,619 And last but not least, we're quality and 72 00:02:43,619 --> 00:02:44,812 compliance focus, matrix, 73 00:02:45,369 --> 00:02:47,915 at matrix, everyone already understands the importance of 74 00:02:47,915 --> 00:02:50,086 the work that we do and the need 75 00:02:50,143 --> 00:02:51,280 for the comprehensive 76 00:02:52,308 --> 00:02:54,700 accuracy and completeness of the documentation and the 77 00:02:54,700 --> 00:02:55,896 diagnosis that we provide. 78 00:02:57,411 --> 00:03:00,282 Catherine far ranging career there and congrats on 79 00:03:00,282 --> 00:03:00,841 on 3 years. 80 00:03:01,413 --> 00:03:01,891 Thank you. 81 00:03:02,527 --> 00:03:04,197 Yeah. Well, to get us started, 82 00:03:04,675 --> 00:03:06,425 I wanna just kinda a level set on 83 00:03:06,425 --> 00:03:08,906 the definition of whole person care. I think 84 00:03:08,906 --> 00:03:10,818 it's something more and more we hear about 85 00:03:10,818 --> 00:03:13,287 from hospital and health system leaders. So can 86 00:03:13,287 --> 00:03:15,517 you start by telling us how you define 87 00:03:15,517 --> 00:03:17,052 that as well as 88 00:03:17,684 --> 00:03:20,880 why this concept is becoming so important with 89 00:03:20,880 --> 00:03:24,077 health organizations, moving to embrace health equity and 90 00:03:24,077 --> 00:03:25,376 value based care strategies. 91 00:03:26,645 --> 00:03:29,265 Absolutely. Absolutely. And and this is something that 92 00:03:29,265 --> 00:03:30,955 again has been a whole mark of this 93 00:03:31,249 --> 00:03:33,472 organization. So if you think about it, Erica, 94 00:03:33,869 --> 00:03:37,245 historically, the health your system is mostly focused 95 00:03:37,381 --> 00:03:37,881 on 96 00:03:38,495 --> 00:03:41,756 controllable aspects of an individual's overall health. 97 00:03:42,646 --> 00:03:44,895 I'm talking about, you know, the diet, the 98 00:03:45,031 --> 00:03:47,496 exercise, the sleep patterns of an individual. 99 00:03:48,132 --> 00:03:49,268 Now there is growing 100 00:03:49,643 --> 00:03:52,991 recognition that health outcomes are also impacted by 101 00:03:52,991 --> 00:03:56,268 less controllable variables. And here I'm talking about 102 00:03:56,641 --> 00:03:58,386 where a person was born where they did. 103 00:03:58,878 --> 00:04:01,047 Their education, their work, their. 104 00:04:02,058 --> 00:04:03,114 All of these factors 105 00:04:03,727 --> 00:04:06,844 contribute to the gaps in accessing care, and 106 00:04:06,844 --> 00:04:10,117 the gaps in quality of care, an individual 107 00:04:10,117 --> 00:04:10,596 may receive. 108 00:04:11,394 --> 00:04:13,550 So at matrix, when we refer to whole 109 00:04:13,550 --> 00:04:15,806 person care, we refer to 110 00:04:16,278 --> 00:04:19,006 the act of caring for patients by truly 111 00:04:19,063 --> 00:04:21,847 seeing their health in all its dimensions. 112 00:04:22,801 --> 00:04:24,733 Because we're in the home, we 113 00:04:25,124 --> 00:04:27,437 are able to see things that other do 114 00:04:27,437 --> 00:04:29,431 not. Others do not. We we can be 115 00:04:29,431 --> 00:04:31,664 the eyes in the ears of a primary 116 00:04:31,664 --> 00:04:33,738 care provider, for example, who isn't able to 117 00:04:33,738 --> 00:04:36,462 spend as much time with each of their 118 00:04:36,462 --> 00:04:36,621 patient, 119 00:04:37,337 --> 00:04:39,884 and who doesn't have necessarily the opportunity to 120 00:04:39,884 --> 00:04:43,568 assess things like living conditions and other environmental 121 00:04:43,705 --> 00:04:44,103 factors. 122 00:04:44,994 --> 00:04:48,031 So the comprehensive health assessment that we perform 123 00:04:48,031 --> 00:04:51,626 focuses on the poor pillars of health, physical 124 00:04:51,626 --> 00:04:52,905 health, emotional health, 125 00:04:53,798 --> 00:04:55,234 spiritual health and social health. 126 00:04:56,032 --> 00:04:59,144 We see medical and social gaps in care, 127 00:04:59,863 --> 00:05:01,813 we note and address in 128 00:05:02,663 --> 00:05:05,999 between care plans and an individuals lifestyle or 129 00:05:05,999 --> 00:05:06,714 their environment. 130 00:05:07,349 --> 00:05:10,146 And because we're clinician led The care that 131 00:05:10,146 --> 00:05:12,796 we delivered is guided by what is most 132 00:05:12,853 --> 00:05:15,640 impactful for each patient that we see. And 133 00:05:15,640 --> 00:05:18,281 we complement really the other care touch points 134 00:05:18,281 --> 00:05:19,787 within the healthcare ecosystem, 135 00:05:20,500 --> 00:05:23,220 assuming that person is engaged with the healthcare 136 00:05:23,275 --> 00:05:25,019 ecosystem and engaged with their health journey. 137 00:05:26,309 --> 00:05:28,306 What we do at at matrix is really 138 00:05:28,306 --> 00:05:29,265 we use education, 139 00:05:30,064 --> 00:05:30,564 preventative 140 00:05:31,182 --> 00:05:33,280 recommendations, connections to community service 141 00:05:33,751 --> 00:05:37,244 services to advocate for patients and really empower 142 00:05:37,244 --> 00:05:38,991 them to live healthier lives. 143 00:05:40,579 --> 00:05:43,294 Our clinicians will really do every think possible 144 00:05:43,294 --> 00:05:43,931 to support, 145 00:05:44,726 --> 00:05:46,952 educate, care for people on their journey towards 146 00:05:46,952 --> 00:05:47,509 better health, 147 00:05:48,145 --> 00:05:50,690 and the comprehensive home health assessment is really 148 00:05:50,690 --> 00:05:53,646 an essential first step Erica. And sometimes this 149 00:05:53,646 --> 00:05:56,267 is, as I mentioned earlier, the only encounter 150 00:05:56,267 --> 00:05:57,856 that a person will have with the healthcare 151 00:05:57,856 --> 00:06:00,160 care system in a in any given year. 152 00:06:01,049 --> 00:06:02,503 So they will do everything 153 00:06:03,036 --> 00:06:04,786 that they... We do everything we can to 154 00:06:04,786 --> 00:06:07,250 really provide that whole person care and make 155 00:06:07,250 --> 00:06:08,443 sure that we see that person. 156 00:06:09,253 --> 00:06:11,159 Head to talk to head and 03:60 that 157 00:06:11,159 --> 00:06:12,271 where Like to think about it. 158 00:06:13,621 --> 00:06:15,527 Yeah. Interesting way of putting it the eyes 159 00:06:15,527 --> 00:06:17,848 and ears, that primary care provider things they, 160 00:06:18,007 --> 00:06:20,719 they really may not see and even maybe 161 00:06:20,719 --> 00:06:22,416 not grasp even after having 162 00:06:22,793 --> 00:06:25,425 conversations in in the office about certain aspects 163 00:06:25,425 --> 00:06:26,542 of of a patient's life. 164 00:06:27,752 --> 00:06:29,420 Or sure. I mean, if you think about 165 00:06:29,420 --> 00:06:32,678 it, right? If you have may gone through 166 00:06:32,678 --> 00:06:36,587 the effort of getting showered, getting dressed getting 167 00:06:36,587 --> 00:06:37,484 of the home 168 00:06:37,939 --> 00:06:40,246 and getting to a clinic of the doctor's 169 00:06:40,246 --> 00:06:40,723 office, 170 00:06:42,075 --> 00:06:42,973 answering questions 171 00:06:43,283 --> 00:06:46,142 such as do you eat 2 healthy meals, 172 00:06:46,300 --> 00:06:48,365 at least 2 healthy meals per day? 173 00:06:49,715 --> 00:06:52,678 Is a question that someone might choose to 174 00:06:52,678 --> 00:06:53,418 answer differently, 175 00:06:54,676 --> 00:06:56,034 sitting in the doctor's office, 176 00:06:56,593 --> 00:06:58,532 when we are in the home and 177 00:06:58,911 --> 00:06:59,790 the fridge is empty. 178 00:07:00,603 --> 00:07:02,357 The kitchen doesn't look that it has been 179 00:07:02,357 --> 00:07:03,952 used or hasn't been cleaned in a while. 180 00:07:04,510 --> 00:07:07,142 The likelihood that that person is heating 2 181 00:07:07,142 --> 00:07:08,896 healthy meals a day, at least, 182 00:07:09,469 --> 00:07:10,207 is probably 183 00:07:10,980 --> 00:07:11,457 less so. 184 00:07:12,332 --> 00:07:16,365 So we do truly see things, observe things 185 00:07:16,880 --> 00:07:20,055 a test of things from an environment and 186 00:07:20,055 --> 00:07:20,555 a 187 00:07:22,198 --> 00:07:25,792 insecurity, potentially insecurity food for shelter violence in 188 00:07:25,792 --> 00:07:28,103 the home that that may or may not 189 00:07:28,103 --> 00:07:29,719 be that obvious or 190 00:07:30,892 --> 00:07:31,392 shared 191 00:07:31,703 --> 00:07:35,227 that easily when you're near the practitioner 192 00:07:35,682 --> 00:07:36,716 in an office setting. 193 00:07:37,990 --> 00:07:40,377 Yeah. I absolutely becoming more more and more 194 00:07:40,377 --> 00:07:43,601 important to spot and identify those potential gaps 195 00:07:43,738 --> 00:07:45,890 outside of what what patients are are physically 196 00:07:45,890 --> 00:07:47,187 saying and and telling 197 00:07:48,042 --> 00:07:48,542 providers 198 00:07:48,933 --> 00:07:51,085 Katherine, based on your work, what are the 199 00:07:51,085 --> 00:07:54,034 key elements for achieving whole person care and 200 00:07:54,034 --> 00:07:55,628 really driving quality improvements? 201 00:07:57,157 --> 00:07:59,946 Well, whole person care is ready at its 202 00:07:59,946 --> 00:08:01,243 best when 203 00:08:01,699 --> 00:08:02,916 a patient's 204 00:08:03,293 --> 00:08:06,256 full care team is involved. Again, assuming that 205 00:08:06,256 --> 00:08:08,168 that person's engaged with their health and they 206 00:08:08,168 --> 00:08:10,558 have a Care team. Right? It's really about 207 00:08:10,558 --> 00:08:13,200 engaging the the entire team, the entire care 208 00:08:13,200 --> 00:08:15,190 team. And that full team 209 00:08:15,986 --> 00:08:18,691 perspective can really improve the patient health by 210 00:08:18,691 --> 00:08:20,624 addressing those social risk factors 211 00:08:21,173 --> 00:08:24,212 losing health disparities where Gaap can exist 212 00:08:24,585 --> 00:08:27,760 based on again, income race ethnicity community environment 213 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:28,633 where your person is. 214 00:08:29,919 --> 00:08:31,515 What we we also see 215 00:08:32,153 --> 00:08:32,653 Cns 216 00:08:33,191 --> 00:08:37,341 placing significant importance now on social risk factors 217 00:08:37,341 --> 00:08:41,350 and health priorities through the new health index 218 00:08:41,350 --> 00:08:43,347 and and the changes to the star report 219 00:08:43,347 --> 00:08:45,025 factor that have been put in place. 220 00:08:45,677 --> 00:08:47,978 So these new initiatives already designed, I think 221 00:08:47,978 --> 00:08:50,675 to encourage new approaches to care and to 222 00:08:50,675 --> 00:08:52,604 reflect the holistic model with considers 223 00:08:52,994 --> 00:08:55,788 many variables that could impact a patient's health, 224 00:08:56,267 --> 00:08:58,342 or in other words all person care. 225 00:08:59,220 --> 00:09:01,750 Another key element I think, Erica that drives 226 00:09:02,108 --> 00:09:05,711 successful 4 person care is the commitment to 227 00:09:05,769 --> 00:09:06,985 quality and 228 00:09:07,360 --> 00:09:09,668 accuracy. So as I mentioned before, I mean, 229 00:09:09,827 --> 00:09:11,989 matrix has really made a reputation for itself 230 00:09:11,989 --> 00:09:13,971 over almost a quarter of a century now, 231 00:09:14,843 --> 00:09:16,984 being truly committed to doing the right things 232 00:09:16,984 --> 00:09:18,729 and doing things the right way. 233 00:09:19,460 --> 00:09:22,259 So we've put a rigor rigorous, very rigorous 234 00:09:22,259 --> 00:09:23,399 and relentless focus 235 00:09:23,940 --> 00:09:27,240 in the company on our processes to ensure 236 00:09:27,540 --> 00:09:28,519 accuracy of diagnosis 237 00:09:29,231 --> 00:09:32,168 accuracy of coding and to establish consistency across 238 00:09:32,168 --> 00:09:33,200 the organization 239 00:09:33,835 --> 00:09:36,613 for the... To really provide the best outcomes 240 00:09:36,613 --> 00:09:37,407 for for all. 241 00:09:38,929 --> 00:09:42,286 The information that we connect, Erica is transparent 242 00:09:42,421 --> 00:09:42,921 shared 243 00:09:43,690 --> 00:09:44,801 with health plans, 244 00:09:45,773 --> 00:09:48,910 with the primary care providers or other specialists 245 00:09:49,209 --> 00:09:50,268 that the 246 00:09:50,647 --> 00:09:53,792 member that we met in their home that 247 00:09:53,848 --> 00:09:55,359 individual that we met in their home have 248 00:09:55,359 --> 00:09:57,823 declare or part of their care team. So 249 00:09:57,823 --> 00:09:59,492 we share that information, 250 00:10:00,526 --> 00:10:02,709 and make sure to to really 251 00:10:03,241 --> 00:10:07,129 ensure that timely appropriate care coordination and follow 252 00:10:07,129 --> 00:10:08,820 ups can be organized. 253 00:10:10,399 --> 00:10:10,899 And 254 00:10:11,279 --> 00:10:13,299 with regards to the quality, 255 00:10:13,600 --> 00:10:15,759 I think important is really to stay on 256 00:10:15,759 --> 00:10:16,480 top of, 257 00:10:17,360 --> 00:10:19,233 I would say the latest technology. 258 00:10:19,921 --> 00:10:21,530 That's why at matrix we continually 259 00:10:22,060 --> 00:10:23,803 invest in tools, training, 260 00:10:24,437 --> 00:10:24,937 auditing, 261 00:10:25,309 --> 00:10:26,436 process is 262 00:10:26,913 --> 00:10:29,061 auditing our processes in order to make sure 263 00:10:29,061 --> 00:10:31,925 that we maintain what we're very proud of 264 00:10:31,925 --> 00:10:34,167 in the company, which is that 99 percent 265 00:10:34,167 --> 00:10:36,178 coding accuracy that has been 266 00:10:36,632 --> 00:10:39,335 sustained over over 10 years now. So as 267 00:10:39,335 --> 00:10:40,528 a provider organization, 268 00:10:41,244 --> 00:10:43,908 we're very, very focused as I said on 269 00:10:44,286 --> 00:10:44,786 accuracy 270 00:10:45,324 --> 00:10:46,223 of those diagnosis 271 00:10:46,601 --> 00:10:47,421 of the coding 272 00:10:47,958 --> 00:10:48,458 because 273 00:10:48,836 --> 00:10:51,551 key elements of achieving whole person care is 274 00:10:51,551 --> 00:10:55,745 engaging people ensuring that you assess you diagnose 275 00:10:55,804 --> 00:10:56,304 appropriately 276 00:10:57,004 --> 00:10:59,485 communicate. And then the most important part, Erica 277 00:10:59,485 --> 00:11:02,217 is what happens after we close the door, 278 00:11:03,175 --> 00:11:05,330 and that's the follow up and, 279 00:11:05,969 --> 00:11:06,368 any, 280 00:11:07,246 --> 00:11:09,774 additional support that that person may need that 281 00:11:10,053 --> 00:11:11,248 that we ensure happens. 282 00:11:12,601 --> 00:11:14,433 Yeah. It sounds like it's really about having, 283 00:11:14,592 --> 00:11:17,379 as you mentioned, everybody involved and care engaged 284 00:11:17,379 --> 00:11:20,028 and ready to spot. And address any any 285 00:11:20,028 --> 00:11:22,346 of those disparities that that might come up. 286 00:11:22,745 --> 00:11:25,542 And Catherine really sounds like partnerships could be 287 00:11:25,542 --> 00:11:27,380 a big part of this work too. So 288 00:11:27,380 --> 00:11:29,311 looking ahead, what developments, 289 00:11:30,028 --> 00:11:31,165 partnerships or opportunities 290 00:11:31,542 --> 00:11:33,534 do you see on the horizon that can 291 00:11:33,534 --> 00:11:36,482 advance person care? What's 1 step leaders can 292 00:11:36,482 --> 00:11:37,597 can take now to prepare? 293 00:11:38,809 --> 00:11:40,889 So that's a that's a very good, question, 294 00:11:41,129 --> 00:11:41,529 Erica. 295 00:11:42,169 --> 00:11:44,350 You're right. I think that in my 296 00:11:45,704 --> 00:11:48,017 over my career in the 20 years of 297 00:11:48,017 --> 00:11:50,011 spent in health care, having seen health care 298 00:11:50,011 --> 00:11:50,989 on on multiple 299 00:11:51,446 --> 00:11:51,946 continents, 300 00:11:53,281 --> 00:11:56,484 having worked with with health care professionals, 301 00:11:57,280 --> 00:11:58,713 in many different countries. 302 00:11:59,668 --> 00:12:00,645 I think that 303 00:12:01,180 --> 00:12:03,647 It's... I can easily say the Us has 304 00:12:03,647 --> 00:12:05,023 a very very 305 00:12:05,654 --> 00:12:09,270 solid healthcare care system. We don't need more 306 00:12:09,889 --> 00:12:10,128 stuff. 307 00:12:10,847 --> 00:12:12,626 We need to make better use 308 00:12:13,099 --> 00:12:14,057 of what we have. 309 00:12:14,695 --> 00:12:17,010 And into that point of whole person care, 310 00:12:17,409 --> 00:12:18,627 it's a better 311 00:12:19,164 --> 00:12:22,291 coordination Area of what we have. So more 312 00:12:22,291 --> 00:12:24,125 in along the lines of partnerships, 313 00:12:24,762 --> 00:12:27,394 rather than trying to recreate the wheel is 314 00:12:27,394 --> 00:12:29,887 how do we make sure that the information 315 00:12:30,438 --> 00:12:30,938 circulates 316 00:12:31,472 --> 00:12:31,972 effectively 317 00:12:32,426 --> 00:12:33,801 in a timely manner 318 00:12:34,175 --> 00:12:38,413 so that somebody who is in need of 319 00:12:38,549 --> 00:12:39,742 support or care. 320 00:12:40,554 --> 00:12:43,110 Can actually get access to that care. 321 00:12:44,069 --> 00:12:45,368 In terms of 322 00:12:46,306 --> 00:12:46,806 what 323 00:12:47,345 --> 00:12:47,639 steps 324 00:12:48,156 --> 00:12:51,258 leaders can take to prepare, Erica. I think 325 00:12:51,258 --> 00:12:53,882 that, you know, the trends, and and there's 326 00:12:53,882 --> 00:12:56,523 enough research around health equity and and how 327 00:12:56,523 --> 00:12:58,197 it aligns with whole person care. 328 00:12:59,075 --> 00:12:59,872 As an example, 329 00:13:00,430 --> 00:13:03,700 Cms released, the 20 21 20 30 National 330 00:13:03,779 --> 00:13:05,055 Health expenditure report, 331 00:13:05,865 --> 00:13:08,646 recently projecting that the total healthcare care spending 332 00:13:08,646 --> 00:13:11,824 will reach like almost 7000000000000 by 2030. 333 00:13:12,554 --> 00:13:13,453 And and Medicare 334 00:13:14,069 --> 00:13:16,620 continues to grow an average rate of just 335 00:13:16,620 --> 00:13:19,490 around 7 percent due to increased utilization and 336 00:13:19,490 --> 00:13:20,606 an aging population. 337 00:13:21,259 --> 00:13:23,899 So along with that aging population, and increased 338 00:13:23,899 --> 00:13:25,120 health care expenditures, 339 00:13:25,740 --> 00:13:29,509 the final debt continues to climb. Raising concerns 340 00:13:29,509 --> 00:13:31,817 about the sustainability of government spending on health 341 00:13:31,817 --> 00:13:34,204 care. And to address all these challenges, I 342 00:13:34,204 --> 00:13:35,659 think Cms is now implementing 343 00:13:36,209 --> 00:13:37,506 things such as the Health 344 00:13:38,042 --> 00:13:40,614 index, initiatives to reduce health disparities, 345 00:13:41,149 --> 00:13:44,111 and particularly for members with social risk factors. 346 00:13:44,270 --> 00:13:47,309 So as an industry leader and industry leaders 347 00:13:47,920 --> 00:13:49,587 now have the ability to get a better 348 00:13:49,587 --> 00:13:52,047 better understanding of the health disparities themselves. 349 00:13:52,860 --> 00:13:55,340 And the impact on member health and overall 350 00:13:55,340 --> 00:13:57,040 quantity of care because 351 00:13:57,420 --> 00:13:59,120 Cns is absolutely 352 00:13:59,994 --> 00:14:03,031 know pushing for and implementing several initiatives in 353 00:14:03,031 --> 00:14:06,308 response to those disparities between members with social 354 00:14:06,308 --> 00:14:08,465 risk factors and and those without. 355 00:14:09,913 --> 00:14:12,452 I think that health care services performed in 356 00:14:12,452 --> 00:14:14,936 the home, Erica can provide health plans with 357 00:14:15,230 --> 00:14:17,875 a real road roadmap to improve health equity 358 00:14:17,875 --> 00:14:21,315 measures and overall planned performance. For example, 359 00:14:22,514 --> 00:14:23,815 theirs was most 360 00:14:24,608 --> 00:14:27,232 think as of the standard of comprehensive of 361 00:14:27,232 --> 00:14:27,312 an... 362 00:14:28,663 --> 00:14:30,810 If you think about what an in home 363 00:14:30,810 --> 00:14:32,878 health assessment is. Right? And when we think 364 00:14:32,878 --> 00:14:34,882 about a comprehensive home assessment, 365 00:14:36,077 --> 00:14:37,135 people mostly 366 00:14:38,069 --> 00:14:40,779 think about checking, as I said earlier, head 367 00:14:40,779 --> 00:14:43,100 to head. What, we do at matrix as 368 00:14:43,100 --> 00:14:44,609 well. We provide screenings. 369 00:14:45,482 --> 00:14:45,799 We, 370 00:14:46,990 --> 00:14:48,816 have the ability to check for, 371 00:14:49,690 --> 00:14:51,771 insecurities as I exit earlier. So determines of 372 00:14:51,771 --> 00:14:52,090 health, 373 00:14:53,364 --> 00:14:57,266 ensure that we check for care coordination and 374 00:14:57,266 --> 00:14:59,710 spend a lot of time educating members, both 375 00:15:00,228 --> 00:15:01,845 So the partnerships 376 00:15:02,541 --> 00:15:06,311 of in home care providers like matrix and 377 00:15:06,529 --> 00:15:08,922 health plans or risk bearing entities across the 378 00:15:08,922 --> 00:15:09,081 nation, 379 00:15:09,894 --> 00:15:11,650 I think truly are the future of health 380 00:15:11,650 --> 00:15:11,889 care, 381 00:15:12,847 --> 00:15:15,400 because a full care team is as I 382 00:15:15,400 --> 00:15:17,156 mentioned earlier is really what's needed. 383 00:15:18,048 --> 00:15:21,168 In order to ensure that there is no 384 00:15:21,780 --> 00:15:24,559 drop or there is no ability for that 385 00:15:24,559 --> 00:15:27,356 person to drop off the system or drop 386 00:15:27,356 --> 00:15:28,151 off their journey. 387 00:15:28,707 --> 00:15:30,639 It's the continuity of care 388 00:15:31,014 --> 00:15:32,070 that really 389 00:15:33,081 --> 00:15:35,569 provides that whole person care. And 390 00:15:36,039 --> 00:15:38,676 no matter of bd actors are Erica, I 391 00:15:38,676 --> 00:15:39,475 think in the system, 392 00:15:40,513 --> 00:15:43,365 whether a caregiver is a family member whether 393 00:15:43,404 --> 00:15:46,294 a caregiver is a neighbor, whether the caregiver 394 00:15:46,909 --> 00:15:49,003 is a church of community 395 00:15:49,698 --> 00:15:50,016 member. 396 00:15:51,226 --> 00:15:54,174 Whomever that person trusts in that care ecosystem, 397 00:15:54,413 --> 00:15:56,564 Maybe to trust their pharmacist more than the 398 00:15:56,564 --> 00:15:57,462 trust their Pcp, 399 00:15:58,335 --> 00:16:01,535 we need to think differently about what's gonna 400 00:16:01,535 --> 00:16:05,215 make this person comfortable with engaging. 401 00:16:05,629 --> 00:16:06,267 With their care, 402 00:16:07,065 --> 00:16:10,255 engaging in their care journey and stay on 403 00:16:10,255 --> 00:16:12,329 their care journey. The way I like to 404 00:16:12,329 --> 00:16:14,004 think about what we do in the home, 405 00:16:14,642 --> 00:16:15,142 area 406 00:16:15,534 --> 00:16:17,622 at matrix is we're already 407 00:16:18,076 --> 00:16:19,744 most of the times the first domino. 408 00:16:20,300 --> 00:16:22,922 And with the assessment in how comprehensive that 409 00:16:22,922 --> 00:16:23,929 assessment is at 410 00:16:24,684 --> 00:16:26,454 include a inclusive of screenings 411 00:16:27,621 --> 00:16:29,606 and and additional test that we perform, 412 00:16:30,479 --> 00:16:32,464 we're sort of the first domino. 413 00:16:33,274 --> 00:16:34,813 That falls. And 414 00:16:35,272 --> 00:16:37,589 our role is to make sure that all 415 00:16:37,589 --> 00:16:40,546 of the other actors, again, whomever that person 416 00:16:40,546 --> 00:16:42,958 chooses to trust to take care of themselves. 417 00:16:43,517 --> 00:16:44,657 All of those actors 418 00:16:45,276 --> 00:16:47,833 in that village. We bring the village together, 419 00:16:48,472 --> 00:16:50,710 hold hands and make sure that that person 420 00:16:50,710 --> 00:16:52,644 stays the course with their career journey. 421 00:16:54,164 --> 00:16:55,605 Yeah. Catherine, and I think that all goes 422 00:16:55,605 --> 00:16:57,445 brought back to what you said to just 423 00:16:57,445 --> 00:16:57,945 around 424 00:16:58,325 --> 00:16:59,100 ensuring better 425 00:16:59,538 --> 00:17:01,769 coordination of what we have and how it's 426 00:17:01,769 --> 00:17:03,920 so critical to make sure that not just... 427 00:17:04,238 --> 00:17:06,412 We get the information we need, but then 428 00:17:06,644 --> 00:17:09,834 it's communicated quickly so about a patient gets 429 00:17:09,834 --> 00:17:12,067 access to the care resources they need in 430 00:17:12,067 --> 00:17:14,540 in a timely in a timely manner, so 431 00:17:14,540 --> 00:17:15,736 they don't fall off the system. 432 00:17:16,710 --> 00:17:18,470 Before we wrap up, is there anything else 433 00:17:18,470 --> 00:17:20,070 we didn't get to that that you wanna 434 00:17:20,070 --> 00:17:20,950 leave our listeners with? 435 00:17:23,190 --> 00:17:25,450 I think whole person care is 436 00:17:25,763 --> 00:17:27,377 a notion that 437 00:17:28,308 --> 00:17:28,808 encompasses 438 00:17:29,342 --> 00:17:31,411 practices, of as I said earlier, I've had 439 00:17:31,411 --> 00:17:33,969 the ability to choose see an. I even 440 00:17:33,969 --> 00:17:36,509 grew up in in in a different healthcare 441 00:17:36,509 --> 00:17:38,653 care system being French by birth, 442 00:17:39,527 --> 00:17:41,771 a system that leaf focus is a lot 443 00:17:41,771 --> 00:17:44,644 more erica on the preventative side of care 444 00:17:44,644 --> 00:17:48,450 versus the curative side of care. So more 445 00:17:48,649 --> 00:17:50,960 of a health care versus maybe a sick 446 00:17:50,960 --> 00:17:51,837 care system. 447 00:17:52,634 --> 00:17:54,627 And when we talk about whole person care 448 00:17:54,627 --> 00:17:57,272 in the Us, to, it sounds a lot 449 00:17:57,272 --> 00:17:59,663 like what I grew up with. Making sure 450 00:17:59,663 --> 00:18:02,473 that we don't... We lower actually the barriers 451 00:18:02,531 --> 00:18:03,828 to accessing care 452 00:18:04,377 --> 00:18:04,877 healthcare, 453 00:18:06,043 --> 00:18:07,788 literacy, healthcare care education, 454 00:18:08,660 --> 00:18:11,199 giving people a lot more access so that 455 00:18:11,199 --> 00:18:12,174 they can make 456 00:18:12,484 --> 00:18:15,436 their choice. You won't change somebody's mind if 457 00:18:15,436 --> 00:18:17,591 they are in denial of a disease or 458 00:18:17,591 --> 00:18:19,426 have chosen a different path for themselves, 459 00:18:20,159 --> 00:18:22,547 that's fine. But I think there's a whole 460 00:18:22,547 --> 00:18:24,378 debate as to whether, you know, 461 00:18:25,016 --> 00:18:27,882 health is a a right or privilege. 462 00:18:28,615 --> 00:18:31,414 You think about the fact that health, the 463 00:18:31,414 --> 00:18:33,575 health of the population is a health of 464 00:18:33,575 --> 00:18:35,115 a nation. I 465 00:18:36,388 --> 00:18:36,888 absolutely 466 00:18:37,423 --> 00:18:40,769 determined to live a mark with this organization 467 00:18:40,769 --> 00:18:41,508 that matrix 468 00:18:42,043 --> 00:18:44,592 on as many people as we can, giving 469 00:18:44,592 --> 00:18:45,092 them 470 00:18:45,403 --> 00:18:46,618 comfort and 471 00:18:46,992 --> 00:18:48,763 probably rebuilding the trust 472 00:18:49,375 --> 00:18:51,679 with a healthcare care system that they don't 473 00:18:51,679 --> 00:18:55,058 necessarily understand well or that can be intimidating 474 00:18:55,196 --> 00:18:55,835 to navigate. 475 00:18:56,234 --> 00:18:58,651 So the fact that we're able to see 476 00:18:58,709 --> 00:19:00,625 as many members as we see per year 477 00:19:00,625 --> 00:19:02,541 or being patient as we see per in 478 00:19:02,541 --> 00:19:03,020 their home. 479 00:19:03,753 --> 00:19:06,079 It is really something that I know every 480 00:19:06,214 --> 00:19:08,278 matrix employee is very proud of that I'm 481 00:19:08,278 --> 00:19:09,707 very proud of, and, hopefully, 482 00:19:10,263 --> 00:19:10,739 it gets... 483 00:19:11,470 --> 00:19:13,549 A few of them, hopefully, most of them, 484 00:19:13,710 --> 00:19:15,630 but a few of them to re engage 485 00:19:15,630 --> 00:19:18,429 with their health because a healthier population again 486 00:19:18,429 --> 00:19:20,675 is a healthier nation. And and that's... There's 487 00:19:20,675 --> 00:19:22,105 is a lot... There's a lot writing on 488 00:19:22,105 --> 00:19:22,263 this. 489 00:19:23,454 --> 00:19:25,360 Oh, crap, Catherine, thank you so much for 490 00:19:25,360 --> 00:19:27,663 your time today and sharing insights on such 491 00:19:27,663 --> 00:19:28,457 a critical, 492 00:19:29,428 --> 00:19:31,503 part of health care today. Thank you so 493 00:19:31,503 --> 00:19:33,019 much, Eric again. It was a pleasure. 494 00:19:33,658 --> 00:19:36,291 Absolutely. We also wanna thank our podcast sponsor 495 00:19:36,291 --> 00:19:39,249 for this up episode Matrix medical network. And 496 00:19:39,249 --> 00:19:42,609 listeners you can tune into additional podcast episodes 497 00:19:42,903 --> 00:19:45,226 by visiting the podcast episode page on our 498 00:19:45,226 --> 00:19:48,254 website at becker hospital review dot com. Thanks 499 00:19:48,254 --> 00:19:48,653 so much.