1 00:00:00,235 --> 00:00:02,205 - Prepare to dive into the forefront 2 00:00:02,225 --> 00:00:05,525 of healthcare innovation at our 14th annual meeting coming 3 00:00:05,545 --> 00:00:06,645 up on April 8th 4 00:00:06,645 --> 00:00:10,765 through 11th at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago, with thousands 5 00:00:10,765 --> 00:00:13,965 of industry leaders converging over four dynamic days 6 00:00:13,985 --> 00:00:16,805 of discussions on crucial topics from health IT 7 00:00:17,185 --> 00:00:18,685 to executive leadership. 8 00:00:18,995 --> 00:00:21,325 It's where the future of healthcare takes shape. 9 00:00:21,865 --> 00:00:24,085 We can't wait to connect with you in person 10 00:00:24,305 --> 00:00:26,685 and engage in these important conversations. 11 00:00:27,755 --> 00:00:30,165 - This is Laura Dedo with the Becker's Healthcare Podcast. 12 00:00:30,745 --> 00:00:32,205 I'm thrilled today to be joined by Dr. 13 00:00:32,235 --> 00:00:34,125 John Barro, chief Medical Officer 14 00:00:34,265 --> 00:00:36,205 and vice President of Ambulatory Services at 15 00:00:36,445 --> 00:00:37,565 Bergen New Bridge Medical Center. 16 00:00:38,025 --> 00:00:40,365 Dr, it's a pleasure to have you on the podcast today. 17 00:00:41,715 --> 00:00:42,925 - It's a pleasure to be here, Laura. 18 00:00:44,155 --> 00:00:45,655 - Now I know we have a lot to talk about, 19 00:00:45,715 --> 00:00:47,575 and I'm looking forward to catching up on just some 20 00:00:47,575 --> 00:00:49,575 of the great things that you're doing at Bergen New Bridge. 21 00:00:49,645 --> 00:00:50,895 It's certainly, you know, 22 00:00:50,895 --> 00:00:52,455 a fascinating time in healthcare right now 23 00:00:52,455 --> 00:00:54,855 and a lot of, uh, um, interesting in, 24 00:00:54,855 --> 00:00:56,375 in exciting changes happening. 25 00:00:56,475 --> 00:00:58,335 But before we dive into that discussion, 26 00:00:58,355 --> 00:00:59,295 can you tell me a little bit more 27 00:00:59,295 --> 00:01:00,495 about yourself and your background? 28 00:01:01,715 --> 00:01:04,485 - Sure. So I'm an internal medicine doctor by training. 29 00:01:04,745 --> 00:01:07,245 I'm, but most of my career as a hospitalist. 30 00:01:07,365 --> 00:01:08,925 I was one of the early hospitalists 31 00:01:09,145 --> 00:01:12,365 and eventually transitioned into, uh, leadership. 32 00:01:12,665 --> 00:01:16,805 Uh, I've been a Chief Medical officer, uh, now 33 00:01:16,865 --> 00:01:18,325 for almost nine years. 34 00:01:18,505 --> 00:01:21,125 The last six plus have been here at Bergen New Bridge 35 00:01:21,125 --> 00:01:22,485 Medical Center and for the last year 36 00:01:22,485 --> 00:01:23,885 and a half have been the vice president 37 00:01:23,885 --> 00:01:25,645 of ambulatory services here as well. 38 00:01:28,225 --> 00:01:29,395 - Well, that's great to hear and, 39 00:01:29,415 --> 00:01:32,475 and definitely, you know, such a, an important role, um, 40 00:01:32,475 --> 00:01:35,275 especially as more services and, 41 00:01:35,295 --> 00:01:38,155 and, um, procedures are going on at the hospital 42 00:01:38,155 --> 00:01:39,275 into the inventory setting. 43 00:01:39,625 --> 00:01:40,715 When you look at, you know, 44 00:01:40,745 --> 00:01:42,235 what you've done there at Bergen New Bridge, 45 00:01:42,265 --> 00:01:44,595 what is one change that you've made in the last year 46 00:01:44,595 --> 00:01:46,035 or so that's had some great results? 47 00:01:47,715 --> 00:01:49,435 - I mean, there's been a whole bunch of them. 48 00:01:49,495 --> 00:01:52,275 You know, the, the big thing I think we try to do, we we're, 49 00:01:52,275 --> 00:01:54,035 so, Bergen New Bridge is a safety net 50 00:01:54,555 --> 00:01:55,715 hospital here in North Jersey. 51 00:01:55,895 --> 00:01:59,475 And, and more importantly, even in the story of it is, uh, 52 00:02:00,375 --> 00:02:02,955 it had been grossly mismanaged for decades 53 00:02:03,405 --> 00:02:06,155 until 2017 when there was a, the, 54 00:02:06,175 --> 00:02:09,835 the county basically initiated a massive leadership change. 55 00:02:10,295 --> 00:02:13,595 Uh, I came here three months, uh, after that change. 56 00:02:14,495 --> 00:02:17,715 And so we had a bunch of different challenges here, 57 00:02:17,775 --> 00:02:19,075 you know, and then of course we had a 58 00:02:19,275 --> 00:02:20,395 pandemic two years into it. 59 00:02:20,735 --> 00:02:22,795 Um, but, uh, we had a number 60 00:02:22,815 --> 00:02:24,795 of different challenges when we were starting out, 61 00:02:25,125 --> 00:02:27,035 which was we had to rebuild everything. 62 00:02:27,135 --> 00:02:30,155 We had to build a quality infrastructure and infrastructure 63 00:02:30,215 --> 00:02:33,155 and relationships with our medical staff and, and so forth. 64 00:02:34,395 --> 00:02:38,735 And we also are surrounded by four other major hospitals, 65 00:02:38,735 --> 00:02:40,055 and we're very close to New York City, 66 00:02:40,115 --> 00:02:41,495 so there's a lot of competition. 67 00:02:41,555 --> 00:02:46,095 So we were in a hospital where we were behind everybody. 68 00:02:46,515 --> 00:02:48,935 We had a bad reputation, uh, 69 00:02:49,035 --> 00:02:51,295 and we didn't have a ton of resources. 70 00:02:51,755 --> 00:02:54,255 So, you know, that's obviously very challenging, 71 00:02:54,275 --> 00:02:55,775 but it also can be very freeing. 72 00:02:55,795 --> 00:02:59,485 And in the last year we've really seen a lot of, uh, changes 73 00:02:59,585 --> 00:03:01,005 and, and things coming to fruition. 74 00:03:01,345 --> 00:03:02,405 The big thing we've done, 75 00:03:03,025 --> 00:03:05,725 and we've built a few services on this model now, is, 76 00:03:06,575 --> 00:03:11,085 you know, I, I spent at least 15 years going to conferences 77 00:03:11,085 --> 00:03:13,445 where people talked about population health 78 00:03:13,505 --> 00:03:14,725 and integrated medical care, 79 00:03:14,825 --> 00:03:16,925 and everybody kind of does the same things 80 00:03:16,945 --> 00:03:18,005 and they check a box, 81 00:03:18,305 --> 00:03:20,765 but they don't really put their money where their mouth is 82 00:03:20,785 --> 00:03:22,005 for, for lack of a better term. 83 00:03:22,105 --> 00:03:26,165 And we did, what we did was we, uh, kind of democratized, 84 00:03:26,585 --> 00:03:27,965 uh, concierge medicine. 85 00:03:27,985 --> 00:03:30,285 We created a, a series of navigators 86 00:03:30,285 --> 00:03:32,045 that's basically like a concierge service 87 00:03:32,105 --> 00:03:33,605 and concierge medicines usually 88 00:03:33,705 --> 00:03:35,165 for, for people with a lot of money. 89 00:03:35,625 --> 00:03:38,325 And this was basically for everybody. 90 00:03:38,825 --> 00:03:39,885 And we were able to, 91 00:03:39,945 --> 00:03:42,445 and we also did it by getting primary care physicians 92 00:03:42,465 --> 00:03:43,525 who were multi-talented. 93 00:03:43,795 --> 00:03:46,965 When I trained, I, I sound old when I say this, I'm, 94 00:03:46,985 --> 00:03:48,245 I'm middle aged, but not old. 95 00:03:48,245 --> 00:03:49,525 Yeah, hopefully. Um, 96 00:03:49,585 --> 00:03:52,445 but, um, when I trained, the way that I was trained 97 00:03:52,505 --> 00:03:55,605 as an internist was that as a, as a physician, 98 00:03:55,625 --> 00:03:58,245 you would handle everything until it got very severe, 99 00:03:58,265 --> 00:04:01,845 you know, some people practice by consulting everybody. 100 00:04:02,275 --> 00:04:04,245 What we did was we got primary care physicians 101 00:04:04,305 --> 00:04:06,365 who could do a lot of different things 102 00:04:06,425 --> 00:04:08,005 and use them as the center of it. 103 00:04:08,065 --> 00:04:12,005 And that has born grapefruit in a couple of services. 104 00:04:12,065 --> 00:04:13,605 We have our addiction medicine service. 105 00:04:13,865 --> 00:04:16,165 We do stuff that nobody else in the country does, 106 00:04:16,165 --> 00:04:18,245 where it really is a comprehensive service 107 00:04:18,245 --> 00:04:20,725 where the patients get, um, full care. 108 00:04:20,985 --> 00:04:24,205 And, you know, I think people now realize how important 109 00:04:24,205 --> 00:04:27,485 that service is, and it's really an underserved population. 110 00:04:27,945 --> 00:04:31,765 Uh, we also created an lgbtq plus healthcare program 111 00:04:32,665 --> 00:04:35,565 that's exploded in the last year. 112 00:04:35,745 --> 00:04:38,205 Um, in the last year, the, um, number 113 00:04:38,205 --> 00:04:41,525 of patients in the program has increased by over 10 times. 114 00:04:42,385 --> 00:04:45,125 And unlike our normal payer mix, as I mentioned, 115 00:04:45,125 --> 00:04:46,805 we're Charity Care Hospital, where we have a large amount 116 00:04:46,805 --> 00:04:48,325 of charity care and, and Medicaid. 117 00:04:48,835 --> 00:04:51,925 This service is 65% commercially insured, and, 118 00:04:51,925 --> 00:04:53,805 and the rest of the patients have some other 119 00:04:53,805 --> 00:04:54,885 government payer source. 120 00:04:54,985 --> 00:04:57,485 So, uh, it's very different for us, 121 00:04:57,485 --> 00:04:59,445 and it's brought other patients in contact with us 122 00:04:59,465 --> 00:05:01,565 and starting to see what we can do 123 00:05:01,585 --> 00:05:02,685 and how we can provide service 124 00:05:02,705 --> 00:05:04,005 for them at a really high quality. 125 00:05:04,585 --> 00:05:08,085 And so the last year has really been refining those things 126 00:05:08,085 --> 00:05:10,405 and getting the word out, and now trying to take that model 127 00:05:10,505 --> 00:05:12,565 and expand it into other services as well. 128 00:05:15,475 --> 00:05:16,845 - Well, that's fascinating to hear 129 00:05:16,905 --> 00:05:20,005 and just really cool to see, you know, those types 130 00:05:20,005 --> 00:05:22,925 of programs that are not only great for the community in, 131 00:05:22,925 --> 00:05:27,245 in something that, you know, um, is great for your, um, 132 00:05:27,605 --> 00:05:29,965 hospital to provide, but then too to, to see, uh, 133 00:05:29,975 --> 00:05:32,525 those additional, as you mentioned, the commercial, um, 134 00:05:32,525 --> 00:05:33,765 patient with commercial insurance 135 00:05:33,765 --> 00:05:36,045 and a different patient population coming in, um, 136 00:05:36,185 --> 00:05:37,725 and really experiencing the great 137 00:05:37,725 --> 00:05:38,885 care that you can provide there. 138 00:05:39,185 --> 00:05:41,005 Um, I can imagine that's really rewarding 139 00:05:41,065 --> 00:05:42,325 for yourself and your teams. 140 00:05:43,825 --> 00:05:44,845 - Oh, absolutely. And, 141 00:05:44,845 --> 00:05:47,525 and you know, the other nice thing is in the last year 142 00:05:48,135 --> 00:05:50,325 we've brought in and expanded our team greatly. 143 00:05:50,325 --> 00:05:51,365 We've brought in a lot, and 144 00:05:51,365 --> 00:05:54,045 that's obviously such an important thing in healthcare right 145 00:05:54,045 --> 00:05:56,325 now, is recruiting and maintaining 146 00:05:56,325 --> 00:05:58,125 and developing good talent, right? 147 00:05:58,265 --> 00:06:00,605 And so we've been able, we've been very fortunate 148 00:06:00,605 --> 00:06:02,685 that we've been able to do that, and, 149 00:06:03,185 --> 00:06:04,485 and it's just very rewarding. 150 00:06:04,565 --> 00:06:07,205 I think that the other thing is that that 151 00:06:07,795 --> 00:06:10,205 best in these types of things begets more success, right? 152 00:06:10,265 --> 00:06:13,485 So we do something, we pull it off, 153 00:06:13,995 --> 00:06:17,165 then other good people wanna come be a part of it, right? 154 00:06:17,305 --> 00:06:19,965 So as we've built up some of these programs 155 00:06:19,965 --> 00:06:21,085 that they've gotten some attention, 156 00:06:21,615 --> 00:06:24,165 we've actually had really talented people reach out to us 157 00:06:24,225 --> 00:06:25,725 and ask if they could be part of it, 158 00:06:25,735 --> 00:06:28,725 which is really something you don't normally see. 159 00:06:28,905 --> 00:06:30,965 And again, I think it's just by engaging people 160 00:06:30,965 --> 00:06:33,285 and having them be excited to do something different 161 00:06:33,825 --> 00:06:35,645 has been where we've been able to find success. 162 00:06:35,645 --> 00:06:38,325 We, we kind of didn't have a choice , um, you know, 163 00:06:38,345 --> 00:06:40,485 but to be different because if we tried to do 164 00:06:40,485 --> 00:06:42,765 what everybody else did, uh, we would've gotten slaughtered. 165 00:06:43,145 --> 00:06:44,925 But, uh, but by doing it and, 166 00:06:44,925 --> 00:06:46,725 and figuring out a way to make it work, uh, 167 00:06:46,755 --> 00:06:47,845 it's really drawn in people 168 00:06:47,845 --> 00:06:49,565 and it's been very exciting for the talent 169 00:06:49,565 --> 00:06:51,365 and that it's people more engaged 170 00:06:51,425 --> 00:06:54,085 and they wanna do more things and they become more involved. 171 00:06:54,145 --> 00:06:57,365 And, and it's really great to also see, you know, the, 172 00:06:57,505 --> 00:07:00,725 the younger people or sometimes people who aren't younger, 173 00:07:00,785 --> 00:07:02,965 but who are newer to being in a leadership capacity 174 00:07:02,965 --> 00:07:04,125 really blossom into the roles. 175 00:07:06,225 --> 00:07:08,125 - That's amazing to hear. And just 176 00:07:08,125 --> 00:07:11,525 what a great opportunity all the way around now, you know, 177 00:07:11,655 --> 00:07:13,045 broadening out one bit. 178 00:07:13,115 --> 00:07:14,205 What are some of the top trends 179 00:07:14,205 --> 00:07:15,325 that you're following in healthcare? 180 00:07:15,425 --> 00:07:17,885 What's really something you have your eye on in, 181 00:07:17,945 --> 00:07:19,365 um, top of mind for you? 182 00:07:21,815 --> 00:07:24,295 - I think there's a bunch of them that are, I think, 183 00:07:24,295 --> 00:07:26,295 very important that we're, that I'm kind of watching. 184 00:07:26,875 --> 00:07:30,095 One has been, again, this movement of services more 185 00:07:30,095 --> 00:07:32,335 to the ambulatory setting that we've kind of tried 186 00:07:32,335 --> 00:07:34,255 to hone in on with some of those programs. 187 00:07:34,715 --> 00:07:37,335 Uh, in particular, you know, I kind 188 00:07:37,335 --> 00:07:38,495 of mentioned population health. 189 00:07:38,495 --> 00:07:39,735 We've been hearing about it for years, 190 00:07:39,835 --> 00:07:42,695 and I know that there's a, a push towards, um, 191 00:07:42,695 --> 00:07:43,975 value-based payments. 192 00:07:44,555 --> 00:07:47,215 Um, you know, I don't know if that's the going 193 00:07:47,215 --> 00:07:48,255 to solve everything, 194 00:07:48,395 --> 00:07:50,935 but I do think that it's going to be necessary 195 00:07:50,935 --> 00:07:54,335 because, you know, the, the one thing I had in doing that, 196 00:07:54,335 --> 00:07:57,775 that a lot of other places don't have is that 197 00:07:57,775 --> 00:08:00,415 because I didn't have the reputation, I couldn't poach 198 00:08:00,415 --> 00:08:01,535 for my inpatient services. 199 00:08:01,755 --> 00:08:04,295 You know, a lot of people, if they built a program like I 200 00:08:04,295 --> 00:08:06,055 did, they would decrease the services 201 00:08:06,055 --> 00:08:08,135 that actually create a lot of their revenue, right? 202 00:08:08,535 --> 00:08:10,535 'cause it prevents patients from getting hospitalized. 203 00:08:11,115 --> 00:08:12,655 Um, so having value-based 204 00:08:12,655 --> 00:08:13,855 payments, I think will be important. 205 00:08:14,395 --> 00:08:15,855 So I think it's been really interesting 206 00:08:15,855 --> 00:08:17,175 to see what's been happening in 207 00:08:17,175 --> 00:08:20,615 that space over the last year, both in terms of 208 00:08:21,285 --> 00:08:25,935 some hospitals or health systems buying, um, buying payers 209 00:08:26,595 --> 00:08:31,135 and reverse payers, buying, um, medical practices 210 00:08:31,835 --> 00:08:34,135 and trying to get into the space themselves. 211 00:08:34,395 --> 00:08:37,415 Um, and then the, the movement of a lot 212 00:08:37,415 --> 00:08:38,855 of IT companies into the area, 213 00:08:39,395 --> 00:08:41,855 but then watching them have trouble trying to, uh, 214 00:08:41,875 --> 00:08:43,655 adjust has been very interesting. 215 00:08:43,715 --> 00:08:47,535 The other mega trend is, you know, 216 00:08:47,795 --> 00:08:48,815 it sounds like a cliche, 217 00:08:48,815 --> 00:08:52,215 but it's ai, you know, I think everybody's kind 218 00:08:52,215 --> 00:08:53,935 of excited about where it could be and also scared, 219 00:08:55,055 --> 00:08:58,715 but right now it's very kind of superficial, for lack 220 00:08:58,715 --> 00:09:00,955 of a better word, because it's a new technology 221 00:09:00,955 --> 00:09:02,515 and people are figuring out what they could do with it. 222 00:09:02,515 --> 00:09:06,195 But I, I can imagine dozens upon dozens 223 00:09:06,295 --> 00:09:08,475 of different applications if you did them right. 224 00:09:08,475 --> 00:09:10,955 But obviously they're going to take, um, a lot 225 00:09:10,955 --> 00:09:13,075 of refinement, a lot of computing power, 226 00:09:13,095 --> 00:09:16,315 and a lot of security, um, being built around it. 227 00:09:18,785 --> 00:09:20,505 - Absolutely. I think both are such great points, 228 00:09:20,555 --> 00:09:24,385 especially, you know, it is just fascinating to 229 00:09:24,405 --> 00:09:25,945 to think about, you know, 230 00:09:25,945 --> 00:09:27,385 when you were first talking about moving 231 00:09:27,385 --> 00:09:28,545 to the ambulatory space 232 00:09:28,565 --> 00:09:31,185 and, um, looking at population health as well 233 00:09:31,185 --> 00:09:33,705 as value-based payments, um, those types of things, 234 00:09:33,765 --> 00:09:36,065 how they really challenge the traditional models 235 00:09:36,085 --> 00:09:38,905 of healthcare in, you know, in some ways a push 236 00:09:38,905 --> 00:09:42,465 and pull between, um, the, the traditional way 237 00:09:42,525 --> 00:09:44,625 of looking at, um, performance and, 238 00:09:44,625 --> 00:09:46,425 and metrics within the hospital system, 239 00:09:46,445 --> 00:09:50,185 and then to, um, you know, where healthcare is headed 240 00:09:50,245 --> 00:09:52,905 and how to kind of transform those things. 241 00:09:52,965 --> 00:09:57,025 It seems like, um, you know, a very much a challenge, 242 00:09:57,345 --> 00:10:00,665 I think for many organizations, um, to figure out, you know, 243 00:10:00,665 --> 00:10:02,225 how to make that transition smoothly. 244 00:10:02,825 --> 00:10:05,625 I think when you look at, um, being able to kind 245 00:10:05,625 --> 00:10:08,945 of thread the needle there with having the, these programs 246 00:10:08,945 --> 00:10:12,905 that are clearly, um, you know, essential to the community, 247 00:10:13,045 --> 00:10:14,945 um, how do you, I, I guess, 248 00:10:15,215 --> 00:10:16,625 what do those discussions look like 249 00:10:16,645 --> 00:10:19,185 for you when you're working with, you know, trying 250 00:10:19,185 --> 00:10:20,825 to make sure you have the right resources 251 00:10:20,825 --> 00:10:23,745 to build out these programs that, um, can be really valuable 252 00:10:23,745 --> 00:10:25,465 and useful, especially considering 253 00:10:25,465 --> 00:10:29,105 where healthcare is headed with technology, um, in, in, 254 00:10:29,205 --> 00:10:30,465 in just the landscape in general, 255 00:10:30,465 --> 00:10:31,825 pushing things more outpatient 256 00:10:32,205 --> 00:10:33,465 and in the ambulatory setting? 257 00:10:35,305 --> 00:10:37,795 - Yeah, I mean, fortunately I think our, 258 00:10:37,975 --> 00:10:40,475 our senior team here is kind of on the same page 259 00:10:40,475 --> 00:10:41,995 that we think that that's where things are going. 260 00:10:42,295 --> 00:10:43,355 But, you know, 261 00:10:43,365 --> 00:10:45,395 we're obviously very involved in the community. 262 00:10:45,395 --> 00:10:48,355 Again, we're a safety net hospital, so we kind of have 263 00:10:48,355 --> 00:10:51,315 to be, and you know, uh, healthcare equity and, 264 00:10:51,315 --> 00:10:53,315 and social determinants of health are kind of part 265 00:10:53,315 --> 00:10:54,635 of our, our mission statement. 266 00:10:54,795 --> 00:10:57,915 A you know, we, we have, uh, what we call our pillars 267 00:10:58,335 --> 00:11:00,515 and there, there's, there are, uh, five 268 00:11:00,515 --> 00:11:03,835 or six of them, uh, that kind of guide what we do here. 269 00:11:03,855 --> 00:11:05,235 And one of them is access to care. 270 00:11:05,575 --> 00:11:07,515 And so that's a huge, uh, deal 271 00:11:07,535 --> 00:11:09,635 for us in terms of planning it. 272 00:11:09,795 --> 00:11:11,035 I mean, we have to be careful 273 00:11:11,035 --> 00:11:13,635 because, you know, um, unfortunately for us, we, 274 00:11:13,725 --> 00:11:17,115 while we've been doing well financially, uh, compared 275 00:11:17,115 --> 00:11:18,115 to a lot of other places, 276 00:11:18,225 --> 00:11:20,075 like we don't have the big endowment or, 277 00:11:20,095 --> 00:11:22,675 or the big starting amount of, of funds that other people do 278 00:11:22,675 --> 00:11:24,675 because we started as a, a safety net. 279 00:11:24,735 --> 00:11:28,235 So, you know, we have to really pick 280 00:11:28,255 --> 00:11:31,275 and choose where we grow things into, you know, 281 00:11:31,275 --> 00:11:34,515 if I had a magic wand, I would do about 282 00:11:35,665 --> 00:11:38,225 17 different things right now, but, you know, I can't 283 00:11:38,225 --> 00:11:39,545 because I have to pick and say, okay, 284 00:11:40,525 --> 00:11:42,625 I'm gonna do these three programs right now. 285 00:11:43,405 --> 00:11:46,865 I'm gonna take this much cash up front to do 286 00:11:47,485 --> 00:11:50,505 and we'll start them and, you know, suck that up. 287 00:11:50,645 --> 00:11:52,305 And then when they start generating them, 288 00:11:52,305 --> 00:11:53,445 we'll move on to the next ones. 289 00:11:53,445 --> 00:11:54,525 And sometimes that's frustrating 290 00:11:54,645 --> 00:11:56,565 'cause you have people who are really raring to go 291 00:11:56,945 --> 00:11:59,285 and wanna do something new, but you kind of have to choose 292 00:11:59,385 --> 00:12:00,645 and how do we choose? 293 00:12:01,555 --> 00:12:03,125 Some of it is analysis, 294 00:12:03,185 --> 00:12:06,165 and some of it's a little bit by by feel of kind 295 00:12:06,165 --> 00:12:07,845 of getting involved with the community 296 00:12:07,865 --> 00:12:09,325 and knowing what's really needed. 297 00:12:09,665 --> 00:12:11,845 Um, you know, we're very active 298 00:12:11,905 --> 00:12:13,445 and involved a lot 299 00:12:13,445 --> 00:12:15,125 of community groups and we kind of get out there. 300 00:12:15,445 --> 00:12:17,685 I live in the area too, so, you know, 301 00:12:17,725 --> 00:12:18,845 I think a bunch of us do. 302 00:12:18,905 --> 00:12:22,485 So it's, it makes it easier to kind of get a read and, 303 00:12:22,485 --> 00:12:24,925 and just being, you know, empathetic towards 304 00:12:25,865 --> 00:12:28,085 the people in the area and figuring out what they need. 305 00:12:28,625 --> 00:12:31,645 Um, but like I said, we do use a bunch of analysis. 306 00:12:31,715 --> 00:12:34,605 It's not just totally guessing blind, um, to try 307 00:12:34,605 --> 00:12:36,965 to figure out if, if something has a market or not. 308 00:12:38,325 --> 00:12:39,735 - That makes a lot of sense, you know, 309 00:12:39,795 --> 00:12:41,455 and, um, really great to hear 310 00:12:41,515 --> 00:12:44,855 and kind of get a one bit more inside look at how you, um, 311 00:12:45,275 --> 00:12:48,255 can, can really, like you mentioned, um, select the, 312 00:12:48,275 --> 00:12:50,295 the things that you're gonna move on, um, 313 00:12:50,315 --> 00:12:52,335 and then do that quickly and be able to, 314 00:12:52,355 --> 00:12:53,615 to serve the community better. 315 00:12:54,115 --> 00:12:56,415 Now, before we wrap up here, I'm wondering, uh, 316 00:12:56,495 --> 00:12:57,535 I wanted to look into the future. 317 00:12:57,795 --> 00:12:59,695 How are you thinking about growth in the next 12 318 00:12:59,695 --> 00:13:00,855 to 24 months or so? 319 00:13:02,815 --> 00:13:05,635 - Uh, I think for us it's going to be doing a lot 320 00:13:05,635 --> 00:13:08,195 of similar things to what we're doing currently. 321 00:13:08,775 --> 00:13:10,155 Um, you know, I, 322 00:13:10,275 --> 00:13:12,555 I think I've mentioned it the last time I was on, 323 00:13:12,575 --> 00:13:16,895 but the other thing I'm trying to really move to is on 324 00:13:16,895 --> 00:13:19,495 that ambulatory side, I mentioned already centering, uh, 325 00:13:19,495 --> 00:13:22,695 primary care, but giving people more frequent 326 00:13:22,715 --> 00:13:26,775 but shorter visits, um, I think is a really important, um, 327 00:13:27,035 --> 00:13:30,735 for patients both for patient engagement, um, you know, 328 00:13:30,785 --> 00:13:33,415 which will lead to better satisfaction, also, 329 00:13:33,415 --> 00:13:34,895 them coming back and staying with you. 330 00:13:35,355 --> 00:13:38,335 Um, you know, and just having a little bit more of 331 00:13:38,335 --> 00:13:40,975 that high touch, uh, feel to how we're providing care. 332 00:13:41,135 --> 00:13:44,215 I think, you know, with my pet peeves in healthcare has 333 00:13:44,215 --> 00:13:47,295 always been that we call patients in, we have a visit 334 00:13:47,295 --> 00:13:49,535 with them, we give them a list of, you know, 11 things 335 00:13:49,535 --> 00:13:53,175 to do, and then we have 'em come back in, you know, four 336 00:13:53,175 --> 00:13:55,055 to six months and nobody can do that. 337 00:13:55,055 --> 00:13:57,095 And then they have to take time off from work to come 338 00:13:57,155 --> 00:13:58,215 and, and all of that. 339 00:13:58,525 --> 00:14:00,935 Whereas, you know, with technology and, 340 00:14:00,935 --> 00:14:03,715 and with the pandemic, you know, we saw 341 00:14:03,805 --> 00:14:05,155 where you can use telemedicine. 342 00:14:05,155 --> 00:14:07,075 I think some people overuse it, 343 00:14:07,495 --> 00:14:09,435 but I think if you use it really intelligently, 344 00:14:09,435 --> 00:14:11,075 you can really use it to supplement things. 345 00:14:11,075 --> 00:14:13,275 Just people can easily take a five to 10 minute break 346 00:14:13,275 --> 00:14:15,995 and jump on a call with their, with their provider 347 00:14:16,055 --> 00:14:18,315 or provider in the group, you know, a a mid-level or, 348 00:14:18,315 --> 00:14:20,435 or somebody, uh, of that nature. 349 00:14:21,135 --> 00:14:24,235 So that's one, uh, thing I think will be important 350 00:14:24,235 --> 00:14:25,515 for us for, for growth. 351 00:14:26,175 --> 00:14:30,905 Um, the others are, again, just getting, 352 00:14:31,085 --> 00:14:35,505 um, getting a little bit more of that, uh, engagement 353 00:14:35,505 --> 00:14:37,465 with the community and reading what, 354 00:14:37,695 --> 00:14:39,545 what services we really need to bring on. 355 00:14:39,565 --> 00:14:41,465 And then it's also recruiting talent. 356 00:14:42,045 --> 00:14:43,985 Um, that's really the biggest thing right now. 357 00:14:44,005 --> 00:14:45,985 The last several months I've spent a lot of time trying 358 00:14:45,985 --> 00:14:47,345 to bring in some new providers 359 00:14:47,345 --> 00:14:48,745 to fill in some of these new services. 360 00:14:49,725 --> 00:14:52,485 And then last but not least I also mentioned is the 361 00:14:52,485 --> 00:14:53,765 technology end to it. 362 00:14:54,105 --> 00:14:57,925 Um, you know, we start off behind people, so we really have 363 00:14:57,925 --> 00:15:00,045 to build up our technology to make things easier for people. 364 00:15:00,185 --> 00:15:02,765 So making it easy for them 365 00:15:02,765 --> 00:15:04,445 to schedule appointments and come in. 366 00:15:04,445 --> 00:15:05,805 A lot of people have done this already. 367 00:15:06,265 --> 00:15:09,125 Um, but just finding ways to make it a little more appealing 368 00:15:09,125 --> 00:15:11,885 to patients so that they, they feel very involved 369 00:15:11,885 --> 00:15:14,365 with their providers to become attached to 'em, 370 00:15:14,365 --> 00:15:15,365 I think is really important. 371 00:15:15,795 --> 00:15:18,165 Both for the patient's care, the quality of the care, 372 00:15:18,305 --> 00:15:21,365 and for the, the, the, the business strategy. 373 00:15:21,505 --> 00:15:22,505 And of 374 00:15:23,425 --> 00:15:24,425 - That makes a lot of sense. 375 00:15:24,455 --> 00:15:26,435 And you know, I really appreciate your time today, Dr. 376 00:15:26,435 --> 00:15:28,915 Barbara, and looking at so many different aspects 377 00:15:28,915 --> 00:15:31,635 of healthcare, in particular, what you've been able 378 00:15:31,635 --> 00:15:33,395 to do at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center. 379 00:15:33,875 --> 00:15:35,075 I appreciate your time today 380 00:15:35,175 --> 00:15:36,995 and look forward to having you, um, 381 00:15:36,995 --> 00:15:38,795 speak at our April annual meeting 382 00:15:38,815 --> 00:15:41,475 and then again at our C-E-O-C-F-O Roundtable in November. 383 00:15:41,935 --> 00:15:43,755 Um, it's just such a pleasure listening to you and, 384 00:15:43,755 --> 00:15:45,475 and hearing your perspective on healthcare 385 00:15:45,615 --> 00:15:47,995 and looking forward to seeing you in person at both 386 00:15:47,995 --> 00:15:50,435 of those spaces and continuing the conversation. 387 00:15:51,895 --> 00:15:53,405 - Thank you so much, Laura. 388 00:15:53,405 --> 00:15:54,405 It's a pleasure to be here 389 00:15:54,405 --> 00:15:56,125 and it's always a pleasure to speak with you as well.