1
00:00:04,780 --> 00:00:06,270
This is the Becker's Healthcare Podcast,

2
00:00:06,340 --> 00:00:07,950
created by the team of
Becker's Healthcare,

3
00:00:08,110 --> 00:00:11,150
a multimedia company devoted to
the people who power us healthcare.

4
00:00:11,460 --> 00:00:15,430
Four new 15 minute episodes are released
daily containing industry news analysis

5
00:00:15,430 --> 00:00:19,110
and thought leadership from
powerful healthcare decision
makers Support our show

6
00:00:19,250 --> 00:00:23,190
by leaving it a five star rating and
review on Apple Podcast or other platforms

7
00:00:23,190 --> 00:00:23,700
you use.

8
00:00:23,700 --> 00:00:26,790
It's a chance to tell us what you like
about the show and act on your feedback.

9
00:00:26,790 --> 00:00:28,750
Thanks for listening.
Now here's the episode.

10
00:00:32,540 --> 00:00:34,710
This is Laura Dedo with the
Becker's Healthcare Podcast.

11
00:00:35,330 --> 00:00:38,790
I'm thrilled today to be joined
by Armando Chu, chief Officer,

12
00:00:39,110 --> 00:00:41,190
hospital-based care at
Lee Health. Armando,

13
00:00:41,190 --> 00:00:42,670
it's a pleasure to have
you on the podcast today.

14
00:00:43,770 --> 00:00:45,510
Oh, it's a pleasure to be
here. Thanks for having me.

15
00:00:46,090 --> 00:00:47,990
Now, I'm really looking
forward to our conversation.

16
00:00:48,150 --> 00:00:51,190
I know there's a lot
happening in healthcare and
really just such an exciting

17
00:00:51,220 --> 00:00:55,910
time for organizations to, um, be jumping
into different initiatives and, and,

18
00:00:56,330 --> 00:00:58,710
um, doing a lot of great
things for the community,

19
00:00:58,720 --> 00:01:01,750
which I know you're doing at Lee Health.
But before we dive into my questions,

20
00:01:01,750 --> 00:01:03,830
can you tell me a little bit more
about yourself and your background?

21
00:01:05,140 --> 00:01:09,230
Sure. So I serve as the chief officer
for hospital-based care. I've got, um,

22
00:01:10,010 --> 00:01:13,670
responsibility over five
acute care facilities, um,

23
00:01:13,990 --> 00:01:15,950
1,850 licensed beds,

24
00:01:16,170 --> 00:01:20,510
and really work with an exceptional
team of physician, nurse,

25
00:01:20,730 --> 00:01:22,950
and clinical and nonclinical leaders.

26
00:01:24,130 --> 00:01:29,030
We are the primary provider for the
Southwest Florida community here in Lee

27
00:01:29,030 --> 00:01:29,370
County,

28
00:01:29,370 --> 00:01:34,230
and really feel blessed to have had
an amazing career that has gotten

29
00:01:34,330 --> 00:01:39,270
me to a place where I see the
impact of my work touching thousands

30
00:01:39,270 --> 00:01:41,190
of lives on a regular basis.

31
00:01:42,450 --> 00:01:45,510
That's outstanding to hear and and
definitely, you know, really, um,

32
00:01:45,520 --> 00:01:49,270
appreciate your efforts. Now, what
are some of your top priorities today?

33
00:01:51,030 --> 00:01:51,580
Well, I mean,

34
00:01:51,580 --> 00:01:56,320
it wouldn't be healthcare if we
weren't facing some pressures

35
00:01:56,390 --> 00:02:00,360
between cost, labor reimbursement,

36
00:02:01,260 --> 00:02:05,760
and I think those pressures have really
been exacerbated over the past couple of

37
00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:10,320
years here in southwest Florida.
We also suffered Hurricane Ian,

38
00:02:10,700 --> 00:02:12,160
and in the aftermath of that,

39
00:02:13,360 --> 00:02:17,960
everyone is working hard to try to find
efficiencies within our operations,

40
00:02:18,860 --> 00:02:23,520
try to be better financial
stewards and really ensure the

41
00:02:23,720 --> 00:02:28,680
solvency and success of the health
system for a hundred years to

42
00:02:28,680 --> 00:02:29,220
come.

43
00:02:29,220 --> 00:02:33,880
And so I'd say that the biggest priorities
right now is how do we continue to do

44
00:02:34,090 --> 00:02:36,200
great things and produce great outcomes,

45
00:02:37,220 --> 00:02:40,120
but do it in a more cost
effective and efficient manner.

46
00:02:44,130 --> 00:02:46,450
Absolutely. I I love that.
And, and certainly, you know,

47
00:02:46,450 --> 00:02:49,410
when you look at some of the outcomes and,

48
00:02:49,470 --> 00:02:54,130
and ability to really produce those
great outcomes and then like you said,

49
00:02:54,130 --> 00:02:55,330
doing it cost effectively.

50
00:02:55,390 --> 00:02:59,640
Is there anything at Lee Health that you
found to be particularly successful in

51
00:02:59,660 --> 00:03:02,880
or initiatives, programs
or anything that, uh, you,

52
00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:04,640
you've done that you're really proud of?

53
00:03:06,180 --> 00:03:08,270
Well, I mean, when it comes to efficiency,

54
00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:13,190
we're all looking at
technology and where either AI

55
00:03:13,370 --> 00:03:18,030
or other digital enhancements
are going to help us shave

56
00:03:18,110 --> 00:03:20,790
minutes, days off of encounters,

57
00:03:21,250 --> 00:03:25,150
really create the most
ideal outcomes for patients

58
00:03:26,250 --> 00:03:28,910
and help us get patients home,

59
00:03:28,920 --> 00:03:32,390
which is where patients want to be and
where they belong and where the best

60
00:03:32,390 --> 00:03:33,390
healing occurs.

61
00:03:34,170 --> 00:03:38,790
And so I'd say as we really
partner with our colleagues

62
00:03:39,650 --> 00:03:44,310
in IT and in h I m and really look
at different ways of achieving

63
00:03:45,590 --> 00:03:49,130
the desired outcomes and leveraging
technology wherever we can,

64
00:03:49,930 --> 00:03:54,290
I think that's really something that
I'm excited about from an innovative and

65
00:03:54,770 --> 00:03:57,810
strategic standpoint and
looking forward to the future.

66
00:03:59,630 --> 00:04:00,450
That's great to hear.

67
00:04:00,450 --> 00:04:04,770
And I know artificial intelligence and
some of the potential capabilities there

68
00:04:04,770 --> 00:04:07,690
for healthcare is certainly something
we're watching very closely,

69
00:04:07,870 --> 00:04:10,970
and I know executives and
leaders across the country are,

70
00:04:10,970 --> 00:04:14,210
are definitely trying to figure out
what makes the most sense for their

71
00:04:14,210 --> 00:04:17,010
organizations now, you know, elite health.

72
00:04:17,270 --> 00:04:20,930
How do you see growth and evolution
over the next two to three years?

73
00:04:20,950 --> 00:04:22,250
What's really top of mind?

74
00:04:24,290 --> 00:04:24,790
You know, it,

75
00:04:24,790 --> 00:04:29,030
it's interesting because I think
across the country we're all looking at

76
00:04:29,870 --> 00:04:30,790
hospital at home models.

77
00:04:31,280 --> 00:04:36,270
We're all looking at ways to get patients
into the right setting to receive

78
00:04:36,290 --> 00:04:39,510
the right care for the appropriate cost.

79
00:04:40,350 --> 00:04:42,790
I think this really reduces pressure on

80
00:04:44,360 --> 00:04:49,120
employers who are ultimately funding a
large portion of the commercially insured

81
00:04:49,430 --> 00:04:50,680
patient population.

82
00:04:50,880 --> 00:04:55,440
I think it also helps patients
to heal in the most appropriate

83
00:04:55,440 --> 00:04:57,960
environment where patients
are most comfortable,

84
00:04:57,960 --> 00:04:59,480
which is the comfort of their home.

85
00:05:00,020 --> 00:05:02,200
And so I'd say that over
the next two to three years,

86
00:05:02,340 --> 00:05:07,040
you'll see Lee Health and most other
major health systems across the country

87
00:05:07,460 --> 00:05:09,960
really investing in
hospital at home models.

88
00:05:10,660 --> 00:05:15,520
You'll see us working to create
access points throughout the community

89
00:05:15,520 --> 00:05:20,080
that are convenient to patients
that are staffed during hours when

90
00:05:20,360 --> 00:05:21,720
patients need care.

91
00:05:22,540 --> 00:05:27,440
And the goal being to avoid admissions
and avoid ER visits whenever possible.

92
00:05:28,220 --> 00:05:28,760
And so the,

93
00:05:28,760 --> 00:05:33,480
the next two to three years will
really be focused on breaking

94
00:05:33,660 --> 00:05:37,840
the paradigm of patients coming to the
er, getting admitted to the hospital,

95
00:05:38,240 --> 00:05:42,320
spending five to seven days in
the hospital, and if possible,

96
00:05:43,900 --> 00:05:48,380
avoiding that admission through more
timely access to care within the community

97
00:05:48,720 --> 00:05:49,700
or care at home.

98
00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:53,850
That makes a lot of sense.
You know, and certainly, um,

99
00:05:53,870 --> 00:05:58,000
an area that's fascinating to see how
much the hospital to home programs have

100
00:05:58,000 --> 00:06:02,000
grown and, and you know, when
you're looking at standing
up something like that,

101
00:06:02,060 --> 00:06:06,880
it, it certainly, um, takes a lot of
effort and, and energy and resources.

102
00:06:07,060 --> 00:06:07,740
Uh,

103
00:06:07,740 --> 00:06:10,840
so what are you seeing as being kind of
the most cost-effective way to go about

104
00:06:10,840 --> 00:06:12,840
that? Is it really, you know,

105
00:06:13,520 --> 00:06:16,920
I guess how do you figure out what
patients are right for it and then, um,

106
00:06:17,300 --> 00:06:21,240
making sure they've got the services
they need in, in when they are at home?

107
00:06:22,880 --> 00:06:24,060
You know, that's the beauty of,

108
00:06:24,120 --> 00:06:27,980
of Lee Health and the team that I'm
blessed to work with every day here.

109
00:06:28,720 --> 00:06:33,220
We have executives that have
a wide array of experiences

110
00:06:33,760 --> 00:06:36,700
and really a high level of intellect.

111
00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:41,420
And so I look to my partners who have
either worked on projects like this

112
00:06:42,080 --> 00:06:42,760
at times,

113
00:06:42,760 --> 00:06:47,590
we engage external help to learn from

114
00:06:47,620 --> 00:06:51,590
best practices nationally
and then, you know,

115
00:06:51,590 --> 00:06:56,430
we partner with the state and we partner
with our funders and our regulators

116
00:06:57,210 --> 00:07:01,430
to make sure that the things that we
are doing or are planning to do are the

117
00:07:01,430 --> 00:07:06,030
right things for our patients and will
yield the outcomes that we're going to

118
00:07:06,030 --> 00:07:07,910
hold ourselves and our
teams accountable to.

119
00:07:08,610 --> 00:07:11,950
And so there's no need to
necessarily reinvent the wheel,

120
00:07:13,150 --> 00:07:17,850
but to learn from others' best
practices and then innovate our own

121
00:07:18,380 --> 00:07:21,650
style and approach to the
hospital at home model.

122
00:07:24,140 --> 00:07:28,180
Absolutely. That's great
to hear and awesome to have
those types of leaders and,

123
00:07:28,180 --> 00:07:32,540
and connections across the industry to
really bring the best of what exists and

124
00:07:32,700 --> 00:07:35,900
then build upon it and iterate
on it for your community. Now,

125
00:07:35,900 --> 00:07:37,340
before we wrap up our conversation,

126
00:07:37,580 --> 00:07:40,660
I was wondering if you could share one
change that you or your team has made

127
00:07:40,660 --> 00:07:43,460
over the last year or so that's
really yielded great results.

128
00:07:44,770 --> 00:07:45,660
Yeah, happy to.

129
00:07:46,040 --> 00:07:50,380
One of the areas that falls within my
purview is perioperative services for the

130
00:07:50,380 --> 00:07:54,620
health system. And it's a large
responsibility with 76 ORs.

131
00:07:55,320 --> 00:07:58,970
And about two years ago or so,

132
00:07:59,750 --> 00:08:03,770
the team and I set out to
create a robotic service line.

133
00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:09,510
And at the time we had two robots in two

134
00:08:09,510 --> 00:08:14,360
of our acute care hospitals
and we recently acquired

135
00:08:14,460 --> 00:08:19,360
our 29th robot. And we have
built an incredibly robust,

136
00:08:20,030 --> 00:08:21,480
safe, effective,

137
00:08:21,540 --> 00:08:26,280
and efficient robotic service
line that is creating incredible

138
00:08:26,420 --> 00:08:27,760
access for our patients.

139
00:08:28,430 --> 00:08:33,240
It's serving as a recruitment tool
for surgeons coming out of training,

140
00:08:33,980 --> 00:08:38,000
and it really is elevating the
care here in southwest Florida.

141
00:08:38,900 --> 00:08:41,120
As I think back over the
past couple of years,

142
00:08:42,020 --> 00:08:45,400
beyond managing through the
pandemic and beyond managing post

143
00:08:46,650 --> 00:08:47,483
hurricane,

144
00:08:48,160 --> 00:08:53,100
the thing that I'm truly most proud of
for myself and for our team is really

145
00:08:53,100 --> 00:08:55,020
what we've done in perioperative services.

146
00:08:57,070 --> 00:08:57,310
Absolutely.

147
00:08:57,310 --> 00:09:01,670
And that's such an important aspect of
healthcare in making sure that people

148
00:09:01,930 --> 00:09:05,230
are, are able to get the treatments
they need and, and really, um,

149
00:09:05,230 --> 00:09:08,710
being in a space where they're
able to cover appropriately. Uh,

150
00:09:08,710 --> 00:09:10,990
thank you so much Armando for
joining us on the podcast today.

151
00:09:11,020 --> 00:09:13,870
This has been such a fun and interesting
discussion and I look forward to

152
00:09:14,070 --> 00:09:15,150
connecting with you again soon.

153
00:09:16,340 --> 00:09:17,800
Thanks, Laura, I really appreciate it.

154
00:09:17,840 --> 00:09:19,800
I hope you have a wonderful day
and thanks for having me on.

155
00:09:24,350 --> 00:09:27,600
It's so important for leaders at the
top of organizations to keep learning,

156
00:09:27,750 --> 00:09:29,360
stay sharp, grow their networks,

157
00:09:29,750 --> 00:09:32,840
help our audience better do this
in a more simplified, personalized,

158
00:09:32,840 --> 00:09:37,040
and meaningful way. Becker's
Healthcare has launched my B h c,

159
00:09:37,510 --> 00:09:40,520
it's your trusted Becker's healthcare
experience and more with content,

160
00:09:40,590 --> 00:09:42,800
connections, events and
learning opportunities.

161
00:09:43,510 --> 00:09:48,240
Join the community free of
charge@www.my dot becker's hospital

162
00:09:48,240 --> 00:09:50,040
review.com and we'll see you there.