1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,480 Welcome to Beckwith Healthcare Podcast. I'm Chris Sosa, 2 00:00:02,480 --> 00:00:04,000 your host. And I'm going to be joined 3 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:06,240 today by Eric Hammond. He's president and CEO 4 00:00:06,240 --> 00:00:08,500 of Driscoll Children's Hospital in Texas. 5 00:00:09,039 --> 00:00:11,039 Eric, thank you for joining us today. Thank 6 00:00:11,039 --> 00:00:13,139 you. Glad to be here. Appreciate it. 7 00:00:13,455 --> 00:00:15,054 Awesome. Thank you, Eric. So for those who 8 00:00:15,054 --> 00:00:17,375 are maybe not familiar with yourself and Driscoll 9 00:00:17,375 --> 00:00:19,074 Children's, could you please introduce, 10 00:00:19,695 --> 00:00:21,135 yourself and let us know a little bit 11 00:00:21,135 --> 00:00:21,875 about it? 12 00:00:22,654 --> 00:00:25,855 Sure. I'd be happy to. Again, Eric Hammond, 13 00:00:25,855 --> 00:00:26,355 system 14 00:00:26,960 --> 00:00:30,099 CEO for Driscoll Health System since 2018 15 00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:32,719 and have been with Driscoll now going on 16 00:00:32,719 --> 00:00:35,199 thirty three years. Started when I was five 17 00:00:35,199 --> 00:00:35,859 years old. 18 00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:38,659 The, the the story of Driscoll, 19 00:00:39,094 --> 00:00:41,174 you know, I'd I'm gonna start with the 20 00:00:41,174 --> 00:00:43,494 the will of our founder, Claire Driscoll. In 21 00:00:43,494 --> 00:00:44,314 '45, 22 00:00:44,375 --> 00:00:45,414 1945, 23 00:00:45,414 --> 00:00:47,274 she left her entire estate 24 00:00:47,734 --> 00:00:49,515 to the children of South Texas 25 00:00:49,975 --> 00:00:52,109 with the stipulation that it would be used 26 00:00:52,190 --> 00:00:54,690 for for those kids of South Texas regardless 27 00:00:54,750 --> 00:00:56,289 of their ability to pay. 28 00:00:56,909 --> 00:00:59,390 And couple years later, about eight years later 29 00:00:59,390 --> 00:01:00,929 in 1953, 30 00:01:01,469 --> 00:01:03,469 we opened a 25 bed, 31 00:01:04,030 --> 00:01:06,049 hospital in Corpus Christi 32 00:01:06,424 --> 00:01:09,704 and have expanded that now to 377 33 00:01:09,704 --> 00:01:10,185 beds, 34 00:01:10,584 --> 00:01:12,204 as of 2026 35 00:01:12,424 --> 00:01:13,805 and continue to grow. 36 00:01:14,745 --> 00:01:15,564 Our market, 37 00:01:15,944 --> 00:01:17,465 you know, I I wanna say it's like 38 00:01:17,465 --> 00:01:19,704 a it's like a triangle from Port Lavaca, 39 00:01:19,704 --> 00:01:23,189 Texas just south of, Port Lavaca to Eagle 40 00:01:23,189 --> 00:01:23,689 Pass 41 00:01:24,229 --> 00:01:25,289 down to Brownsville 42 00:01:25,590 --> 00:01:27,209 at the tip of South Texas. 43 00:01:27,909 --> 00:01:29,590 It's about 33,000 44 00:01:29,590 --> 00:01:32,250 square miles literally in that footprint. 45 00:01:32,789 --> 00:01:34,409 You can fit South Carolina. 46 00:01:34,834 --> 00:01:36,194 And so that's the market, 47 00:01:36,515 --> 00:01:40,354 that we've been serving since 1953 48 00:01:40,354 --> 00:01:42,134 and and continue to grow. 49 00:01:42,754 --> 00:01:44,935 But big picture, that's what we serve. 50 00:01:45,234 --> 00:01:47,715 In addition to that, health care, we also 51 00:01:47,715 --> 00:01:49,254 have an insurance product, 52 00:01:49,659 --> 00:01:52,140 Driscoll Health Plan, where we manage, 53 00:01:52,540 --> 00:01:55,980 Medicaid lives, just under 200 Medicaid lives in 54 00:01:55,980 --> 00:01:58,479 that, in that footprint as well. 55 00:01:59,420 --> 00:02:01,900 And, you know, we we, basically do all 56 00:02:01,900 --> 00:02:04,640 the pediatric specialties that a children's hospital, 57 00:02:05,415 --> 00:02:08,375 would provide. And we are the only stand 58 00:02:08,375 --> 00:02:09,834 alone children's hospital 59 00:02:10,215 --> 00:02:11,435 South Of San Antonio 60 00:02:12,294 --> 00:02:12,694 and, 61 00:02:13,094 --> 00:02:15,754 Houston, and the only level four NICU. 62 00:02:16,455 --> 00:02:18,375 In addition to that, what we do is 63 00:02:18,375 --> 00:02:20,395 in that footprint that I just described, 64 00:02:21,010 --> 00:02:22,389 we we operationally 65 00:02:22,689 --> 00:02:23,510 have responsibility 66 00:02:24,050 --> 00:02:25,590 for 250 67 00:02:25,650 --> 00:02:26,550 NICU beds. 68 00:02:26,849 --> 00:02:29,670 So we manage NICU beds in Victoria, Texas, 69 00:02:29,810 --> 00:02:30,310 Laredo, 70 00:02:31,170 --> 00:02:31,670 Brownsville, 71 00:02:32,129 --> 00:02:32,629 Harlingen, 72 00:02:33,250 --> 00:02:35,430 McAllen, and Corpus Christi. So, 73 00:02:35,955 --> 00:02:38,115 we really have our footprint in a lot 74 00:02:38,115 --> 00:02:39,735 of the cities that we serve. 75 00:02:40,514 --> 00:02:42,194 Thank you for sharing that, Eric. It's certainly 76 00:02:42,194 --> 00:02:44,995 an immense footprint that Driscoll Children's is working 77 00:02:44,995 --> 00:02:46,514 on. And we're gonna get into a little 78 00:02:46,514 --> 00:02:49,210 bit about how you go about covering all 79 00:02:49,210 --> 00:02:50,889 those children in the area a little bit. 80 00:02:51,129 --> 00:02:53,229 But I do wanna talk about, the Driscoll 81 00:02:53,449 --> 00:02:53,949 Children's 82 00:02:54,330 --> 00:02:57,129 Hospital Rio Grande Valley and how that evolved 83 00:02:57,129 --> 00:02:59,530 and and how it enhances care access since 84 00:02:59,530 --> 00:03:01,229 you opened it in 2024. 85 00:03:01,985 --> 00:03:02,884 Well, it started, 86 00:03:03,185 --> 00:03:05,664 you know, a little bit before 2018 before 87 00:03:05,664 --> 00:03:08,084 I became CEO. But what we were noticing 88 00:03:08,384 --> 00:03:10,784 from the Lower Rio Grande Valley and Upper 89 00:03:10,784 --> 00:03:11,925 Rio Grande Valley 90 00:03:12,305 --> 00:03:14,784 was the families and the burden that they 91 00:03:14,784 --> 00:03:16,919 were having for having to drive up from 92 00:03:16,919 --> 00:03:18,379 Brownsville or McGowan 93 00:03:18,840 --> 00:03:19,659 or Edinburgh. 94 00:03:20,360 --> 00:03:22,060 It's about a two and a half hour, 95 00:03:22,439 --> 00:03:24,360 drive to Corpus and two and a half 96 00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:25,740 back, so it's five hours. 97 00:03:26,200 --> 00:03:29,099 And it was really difficult for families. 98 00:03:29,525 --> 00:03:31,925 And so we met our administrative team met 99 00:03:31,925 --> 00:03:34,185 with our board in 2018 100 00:03:34,245 --> 00:03:36,185 and said, you know what? We believe 101 00:03:36,724 --> 00:03:38,665 that health care is local, 102 00:03:39,365 --> 00:03:42,085 and we wanna take a quality product to 103 00:03:42,085 --> 00:03:44,105 the McAllen Edinburgh market, 104 00:03:44,639 --> 00:03:46,719 and provide the care to the kids closer 105 00:03:46,719 --> 00:03:49,280 to home. So that's really was a driving 106 00:03:49,280 --> 00:03:50,560 point in 2018 107 00:03:50,560 --> 00:03:51,620 was to really 108 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:54,579 provide a quality product in the McAllen, 109 00:03:54,879 --> 00:03:56,579 Edinburg area where those families 110 00:03:56,895 --> 00:03:58,194 did not have to travel 111 00:03:58,735 --> 00:04:01,134 five hours and and it's for a really 112 00:04:01,134 --> 00:04:03,294 sick kid. Think about it this way. If 113 00:04:03,294 --> 00:04:05,134 you've got a really sick kid that has 114 00:04:05,134 --> 00:04:06,514 to spend time in the hospital 115 00:04:07,215 --> 00:04:10,014 for five days, third for in some cases, 116 00:04:10,014 --> 00:04:12,500 thirty days, how difficult that is for a 117 00:04:12,500 --> 00:04:14,439 family to have to leave home 118 00:04:14,740 --> 00:04:16,040 for thirty plus days. 119 00:04:16,420 --> 00:04:18,660 And we just wanted to to bring that 120 00:04:18,660 --> 00:04:20,680 health care to them closer to home. 121 00:04:21,459 --> 00:04:23,540 Makes perfect sense. Thank you, Eric. So now 122 00:04:23,540 --> 00:04:25,639 that the hospital's been open a few years, 123 00:04:25,745 --> 00:04:27,105 in what ways do you expect it to 124 00:04:27,105 --> 00:04:27,605 grow? 125 00:04:28,384 --> 00:04:30,545 You know, we're gonna grow all of our 126 00:04:30,545 --> 00:04:33,605 markets. You know, number one, DCH RGV, 127 00:04:34,225 --> 00:04:37,444 we're we're in the process of expanding 15 128 00:04:38,149 --> 00:04:39,209 ICU beds. 129 00:04:39,589 --> 00:04:42,149 So just a little less than two years, 130 00:04:42,149 --> 00:04:45,430 we're already adding 15 ICU beds to that 131 00:04:45,430 --> 00:04:45,930 market. 132 00:04:46,389 --> 00:04:47,110 The first, 133 00:04:47,589 --> 00:04:50,250 eighteen months, we added 60 specialists. 134 00:04:50,935 --> 00:04:52,935 That's planning on growing over the next twelve 135 00:04:52,935 --> 00:04:55,654 months. We're gonna add another 20 to 25 136 00:04:55,654 --> 00:04:56,154 specialists. 137 00:04:56,615 --> 00:04:59,014 So two things. We're gonna add beds, and 138 00:04:59,014 --> 00:05:01,754 then we're gonna add depth to our already 139 00:05:01,894 --> 00:05:05,879 existing pediatric subspecialty care in that market. And 140 00:05:05,879 --> 00:05:08,860 we're also looking at some outpatient locations 141 00:05:09,480 --> 00:05:10,540 within the McGowan, 142 00:05:11,240 --> 00:05:11,740 Edinburg, 143 00:05:12,280 --> 00:05:13,020 West Laco, 144 00:05:13,400 --> 00:05:14,620 Brownsville areas. 145 00:05:15,160 --> 00:05:17,020 And then if you head a little bit, 146 00:05:17,894 --> 00:05:19,115 west to Laredo, 147 00:05:19,574 --> 00:05:21,095 which is about an hour and a half, 148 00:05:21,415 --> 00:05:23,654 away, we're gonna build a new facility about 149 00:05:23,654 --> 00:05:24,774 a 75,000 150 00:05:24,774 --> 00:05:25,834 square foot clinic 151 00:05:26,294 --> 00:05:27,115 in Laredo, 152 00:05:27,415 --> 00:05:30,055 and we're gonna add another 25,000 153 00:05:30,055 --> 00:05:31,814 in Brownsville, Texas that's, 154 00:05:32,629 --> 00:05:33,529 call it Southeast 155 00:05:33,990 --> 00:05:37,110 of McAllen, Edinburg. So really, in our markets 156 00:05:37,110 --> 00:05:38,310 with 200,000 157 00:05:38,310 --> 00:05:40,550 or more including Corpus Christi, we're really gonna 158 00:05:40,550 --> 00:05:41,050 grow. 159 00:05:42,149 --> 00:05:43,990 That's a crazy amount of growth, it sounds 160 00:05:43,990 --> 00:05:46,069 like to me, Eric. What would you say 161 00:05:46,069 --> 00:05:47,050 that you've learned 162 00:05:47,394 --> 00:05:49,574 as a system and as a leader 163 00:05:50,194 --> 00:05:52,534 in working on these projects? Because 164 00:05:52,834 --> 00:05:55,334 it's just a lot, but, obviously, they're worthwhile. 165 00:05:56,115 --> 00:05:58,034 Well, we we, you know, we learn something 166 00:05:58,034 --> 00:06:00,514 every day, and and what we learn in 167 00:06:00,514 --> 00:06:03,300 our our desire is the delivery of care 168 00:06:03,300 --> 00:06:05,459 that we provide is just never good enough. 169 00:06:05,459 --> 00:06:07,160 We have a strong appetite 170 00:06:07,620 --> 00:06:09,399 to continue to always grow, 171 00:06:10,259 --> 00:06:11,480 and and do better. 172 00:06:11,860 --> 00:06:12,680 And so 173 00:06:13,060 --> 00:06:15,540 what we think we're gonna do is just 174 00:06:15,540 --> 00:06:17,540 continue to provide the care that we do 175 00:06:17,540 --> 00:06:20,084 for these kids, knowing that tomorrow, we wanna 176 00:06:20,084 --> 00:06:21,625 do better than what we did today. 177 00:06:22,485 --> 00:06:24,564 That's a worthwhile goal, certainly, Eric. And and, 178 00:06:24,564 --> 00:06:26,084 hopefully, you guys are well on your way 179 00:06:26,084 --> 00:06:27,925 to achieving that even though, as you said, 180 00:06:27,925 --> 00:06:29,464 it's never good enough. Right? 181 00:06:30,084 --> 00:06:31,384 So one aspect, 182 00:06:31,764 --> 00:06:33,899 it was fascinating to learn about this, Eric, 183 00:06:34,459 --> 00:06:36,540 that sets traditional children apart is you have 184 00:06:36,540 --> 00:06:37,600 a fleet of planes, 185 00:06:37,979 --> 00:06:38,720 and it allows 186 00:06:39,500 --> 00:06:40,879 physicians to treat children 187 00:06:41,259 --> 00:06:43,339 in all sorts of areas. You said your 188 00:06:43,339 --> 00:06:45,259 footprint is about the size of South Carolina. 189 00:06:45,259 --> 00:06:47,839 That's just immense. So can you please share 190 00:06:48,875 --> 00:06:50,634 as much as you like about how this 191 00:06:50,634 --> 00:06:52,875 initiative evolved and what makes it stand out 192 00:06:52,875 --> 00:06:53,535 to you? 193 00:06:54,235 --> 00:06:56,555 Sure. And so in in the spirit of 194 00:06:56,555 --> 00:06:58,475 the, you know, the the will that I 195 00:06:58,475 --> 00:07:00,795 talked about with Clara Drysgaard, our founder, was 196 00:07:00,795 --> 00:07:02,254 that we wanted to provide 197 00:07:03,339 --> 00:07:06,379 access to quality health care to all children 198 00:07:06,379 --> 00:07:08,879 of South Texas. Right? And so, 199 00:07:09,259 --> 00:07:11,740 you know, it's very difficult for families, whether 200 00:07:11,740 --> 00:07:14,560 they're in Laredo, Brownsville, Harland, and McAllen 201 00:07:15,115 --> 00:07:17,754 to take time away from work for a 202 00:07:17,754 --> 00:07:19,134 thirty minute visit 203 00:07:19,514 --> 00:07:22,314 in Corpus Christi, Texas. So we were seeing 204 00:07:22,314 --> 00:07:24,954 that. So either, a, they wouldn't go or 205 00:07:24,954 --> 00:07:27,354 they wouldn't have access to that care. So 206 00:07:27,354 --> 00:07:28,814 we came up with a plan 207 00:07:29,310 --> 00:07:31,550 about ten years ago with how can we 208 00:07:31,550 --> 00:07:32,050 provide 209 00:07:32,670 --> 00:07:35,009 care to these kids in our market 210 00:07:35,389 --> 00:07:37,949 so that they they don't miss their, clinic 211 00:07:37,949 --> 00:07:40,589 visits. And so we work with a local 212 00:07:40,589 --> 00:07:41,970 partner, a nonprofit, 213 00:07:42,774 --> 00:07:45,254 and we've got six planes who are every 214 00:07:45,254 --> 00:07:46,235 single morning, 215 00:07:46,774 --> 00:07:47,274 physicians, 216 00:07:47,894 --> 00:07:49,194 nurses, equipment 217 00:07:49,495 --> 00:07:51,354 physically leave Corpus Christi 218 00:07:51,654 --> 00:07:53,654 and go to those markets that you're talking 219 00:07:53,654 --> 00:07:55,914 about, Laredo, Brownsville, Victoria, 220 00:07:56,560 --> 00:07:57,060 Harlingen. 221 00:07:57,680 --> 00:07:59,600 And we take the product to those, 222 00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:02,100 moms and dads and the kids because 223 00:08:02,560 --> 00:08:04,959 it's much easier on them. They can then 224 00:08:04,959 --> 00:08:06,560 go to the clinic and then go back 225 00:08:06,560 --> 00:08:08,399 to school or go to school and then 226 00:08:08,399 --> 00:08:10,979 the clinic. And so what we found is 227 00:08:11,334 --> 00:08:14,534 there is a significantly higher probability that if 228 00:08:14,534 --> 00:08:16,774 you take that product to them, they're gonna 229 00:08:16,774 --> 00:08:19,414 they're gonna get that preventive care and stay 230 00:08:19,414 --> 00:08:21,414 out of the emergency room. So it's a 231 00:08:21,414 --> 00:08:24,154 better quality of care, better access, 232 00:08:24,560 --> 00:08:27,759 and it also reduces cost because these kids 233 00:08:27,759 --> 00:08:30,000 are getting that preventive care and they're not 234 00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:32,000 having to end up in the ED. Of 235 00:08:32,000 --> 00:08:33,940 course, we still have emergency, 236 00:08:34,639 --> 00:08:35,139 visits, 237 00:08:35,600 --> 00:08:37,934 but this is one of those products where 238 00:08:37,934 --> 00:08:40,495 there's no doubt that it's reduced the number 239 00:08:40,495 --> 00:08:42,975 of emergency room visits because we've been able 240 00:08:42,975 --> 00:08:45,875 to access these kids at an early stage. 241 00:08:47,134 --> 00:08:49,934 Eric, certainly, there are many hospital systems that 242 00:08:49,934 --> 00:08:50,429 have, 243 00:08:51,070 --> 00:08:53,710 remote care, but they do not involve airplanes 244 00:08:53,710 --> 00:08:55,549 as far as I know. Have you heard 245 00:08:55,549 --> 00:08:57,789 of any other such system putting together this 246 00:08:57,789 --> 00:08:58,529 sort of, 247 00:08:59,070 --> 00:08:59,570 initiative? 248 00:09:00,750 --> 00:09:02,990 You know, I it's I I really have 249 00:09:02,990 --> 00:09:03,490 not, 250 00:09:04,355 --> 00:09:06,115 you know, with my colleagues, got a lot 251 00:09:06,115 --> 00:09:08,674 of great college in Texas and across this 252 00:09:08,674 --> 00:09:09,174 country, 253 00:09:09,554 --> 00:09:11,495 but I'm not aware of any 254 00:09:11,955 --> 00:09:14,274 that have that kind of footprint where they're 255 00:09:14,274 --> 00:09:14,774 actually, 256 00:09:15,394 --> 00:09:16,375 taking physicians 257 00:09:16,835 --> 00:09:17,575 and nurses 258 00:09:18,240 --> 00:09:18,980 and equipment, 259 00:09:19,360 --> 00:09:20,980 to the markets that they serve. 260 00:09:21,440 --> 00:09:23,200 And we're gonna do we're gonna continue to 261 00:09:23,200 --> 00:09:26,159 do this, in the foreseeable future. Now what 262 00:09:26,159 --> 00:09:29,039 we're also doing is we will continue with 263 00:09:29,039 --> 00:09:31,139 these flights, and we're also 264 00:09:31,519 --> 00:09:32,019 simultaneously, 265 00:09:33,754 --> 00:09:37,035 invested in these communities, Laredo, Brownsville, Harlingen, where 266 00:09:37,035 --> 00:09:38,495 we're recruiting physicians 267 00:09:39,195 --> 00:09:41,434 to those markets as well. So it's a 268 00:09:41,434 --> 00:09:44,735 combination of recruitment of the physicians and nurses 269 00:09:45,035 --> 00:09:47,595 as well as the continued flights to those 270 00:09:47,595 --> 00:09:48,095 markets. 271 00:09:49,250 --> 00:09:50,929 Eric, as best you can tell, is is 272 00:09:50,929 --> 00:09:52,389 there ever a possibility 273 00:09:52,769 --> 00:09:53,269 where 274 00:09:54,049 --> 00:09:54,629 your footprints 275 00:09:55,730 --> 00:09:58,769 physical footprint will be large enough that these 276 00:09:58,769 --> 00:10:00,850 planes will no longer be necessary, or is 277 00:10:00,850 --> 00:10:02,789 this something that you plan to keep on 278 00:10:02,850 --> 00:10:04,215 on using as far as 279 00:10:04,695 --> 00:10:06,075 in in the future as you can tell? 280 00:10:06,774 --> 00:10:08,215 You know, I would you know, if I 281 00:10:08,215 --> 00:10:10,535 had to forecast over the next five to 282 00:10:10,535 --> 00:10:12,535 ten years, which in health care, that's like 283 00:10:12,535 --> 00:10:13,035 50, 284 00:10:14,055 --> 00:10:15,754 in in dog years. But, 285 00:10:16,215 --> 00:10:18,134 I would say that we're gonna continue to 286 00:10:18,134 --> 00:10:18,634 fly, 287 00:10:19,240 --> 00:10:22,620 to those markets. We wanna develop the markets 288 00:10:22,680 --> 00:10:23,820 and add physicians, 289 00:10:24,200 --> 00:10:26,620 but I think that flights are gonna continue 290 00:10:26,759 --> 00:10:28,220 for the foreseeable future. 291 00:10:29,080 --> 00:10:31,559 Gotcha. Thanks for sharing that, Eric. Again, that's 292 00:10:31,559 --> 00:10:32,860 a program that just 293 00:10:33,584 --> 00:10:35,105 blows my mind, and this is something that 294 00:10:35,105 --> 00:10:36,944 a health system is able to do. But, 295 00:10:36,944 --> 00:10:39,424 you know, obviously, it's a huge benefit to 296 00:10:39,424 --> 00:10:40,084 your patients. 297 00:10:40,544 --> 00:10:42,225 And I was just gonna say, you know 298 00:10:42,225 --> 00:10:43,904 you know, we're we're proud of a lot 299 00:10:43,904 --> 00:10:46,544 of things, but the this program, we're very 300 00:10:46,544 --> 00:10:48,324 proud of because we know 301 00:10:48,720 --> 00:10:51,519 that if we didn't do it, then these 302 00:10:51,519 --> 00:10:54,179 kids either wouldn't get the care, 303 00:10:55,039 --> 00:10:57,519 or end up in emergency room. So we 304 00:10:57,519 --> 00:10:59,539 believe that it's just a it's a great, 305 00:11:00,320 --> 00:11:02,740 community service for these kids and the families. 306 00:11:03,884 --> 00:11:05,404 On that note, let me ask you this. 307 00:11:05,404 --> 00:11:05,904 So 308 00:11:06,924 --> 00:11:08,225 it's been ten years 309 00:11:08,924 --> 00:11:11,164 in the making more or less. You've it's 310 00:11:11,164 --> 00:11:12,945 been going on ten years, I should say. 311 00:11:13,164 --> 00:11:14,204 So how 312 00:11:14,924 --> 00:11:16,625 what was the process of getting 313 00:11:17,389 --> 00:11:20,450 everyone on board to forgive a terrible pun 314 00:11:20,830 --> 00:11:22,210 in in doing this program? 315 00:11:23,070 --> 00:11:25,149 You know, it was it was really at 316 00:11:25,149 --> 00:11:26,289 the end of the day, 317 00:11:26,669 --> 00:11:29,250 it was it was all about the patient 318 00:11:30,384 --> 00:11:32,785 and taking care of the kid. And so 319 00:11:32,785 --> 00:11:35,764 our governing board and our administrative team, 320 00:11:36,384 --> 00:11:37,745 when we get up in the morning and 321 00:11:37,745 --> 00:11:38,725 we show up, 322 00:11:39,184 --> 00:11:41,664 we are all rowing together. And we know 323 00:11:41,664 --> 00:11:44,144 that the only reason we show up every 324 00:11:44,144 --> 00:11:46,120 single morning, every single day is for the 325 00:11:46,120 --> 00:11:46,620 kids. 326 00:11:47,079 --> 00:11:49,720 And when you think about the program that 327 00:11:49,720 --> 00:11:51,740 we started ten plus years ago 328 00:11:52,120 --> 00:11:54,059 is there's no downside 329 00:11:54,519 --> 00:11:56,199 to getting up in the morning, getting on 330 00:11:56,199 --> 00:11:58,279 a plane, and go deliver care to kids 331 00:11:58,279 --> 00:11:59,179 in our market. 332 00:11:59,975 --> 00:12:01,815 Got it. Thank you so much again, Eric. 333 00:12:01,815 --> 00:12:03,995 So the last question I wanna ask you 334 00:12:04,054 --> 00:12:06,134 today is simply, what is one aspect of 335 00:12:06,134 --> 00:12:08,855 children's health care that deserves a brighter spotlight 336 00:12:08,855 --> 00:12:09,754 in your mind? 337 00:12:10,134 --> 00:12:11,894 You know, if if if I had to 338 00:12:11,894 --> 00:12:12,634 be simplistic, 339 00:12:13,014 --> 00:12:13,995 I would say, 340 00:12:14,850 --> 00:12:16,950 across the country or at Driscoll, 341 00:12:17,570 --> 00:12:18,070 invest 342 00:12:18,769 --> 00:12:21,409 in health care for the kids today. Think 343 00:12:21,409 --> 00:12:23,649 about it. You make the right investments zero 344 00:12:23,649 --> 00:12:24,389 to 18. 345 00:12:25,009 --> 00:12:26,149 When these kids 346 00:12:26,610 --> 00:12:29,350 are 35, 45, 65, 347 00:12:29,684 --> 00:12:32,245 how much better they will be off when 348 00:12:32,245 --> 00:12:33,465 they're when they're older, 349 00:12:34,164 --> 00:12:36,985 adults. So make the investments today 350 00:12:37,524 --> 00:12:39,605 so that you don't have to make those 351 00:12:39,605 --> 00:12:42,725 difficult investments when when they get older. And 352 00:12:42,725 --> 00:12:44,664 then the other one is more financial, 353 00:12:45,600 --> 00:12:47,600 that I think that I'd like to place 354 00:12:47,600 --> 00:12:49,059 a spotlight on is 355 00:12:49,600 --> 00:12:50,100 Medicaid 356 00:12:51,279 --> 00:12:54,740 is paid about 30 percent less than Medicare. 357 00:12:55,120 --> 00:12:57,779 Pick your specialty, whether it's cardiology, pulmonology, 358 00:12:59,254 --> 00:12:59,754 radiology. 359 00:13:00,375 --> 00:13:02,875 If you go to an adult doctor, 360 00:13:03,654 --> 00:13:05,514 they're paid 30% 361 00:13:05,575 --> 00:13:08,075 higher for every specialty than Medicaid. 362 00:13:08,455 --> 00:13:11,095 And at some point, I think we're gonna 363 00:13:11,095 --> 00:13:12,934 all have to figure out that we wanna 364 00:13:12,934 --> 00:13:14,980 have some parity between Medicaid 365 00:13:15,360 --> 00:13:18,159 and Medicare for these doctors because that's one 366 00:13:18,159 --> 00:13:18,659 reason 367 00:13:19,120 --> 00:13:20,340 why there's a shortage 368 00:13:20,879 --> 00:13:23,919 of pediatric specialists in this country is because 369 00:13:23,919 --> 00:13:24,659 the payment 370 00:13:24,960 --> 00:13:25,460 for 371 00:13:26,144 --> 00:13:29,105 pediatrics is 30% less than adults. So I 372 00:13:29,105 --> 00:13:31,105 think we're gonna have to figure that out 373 00:13:31,105 --> 00:13:33,745 as a country moving forward. Otherwise, we're gonna 374 00:13:33,745 --> 00:13:35,125 continue to have the shortages. 375 00:13:35,504 --> 00:13:37,585 And so if you make those investments now, 376 00:13:37,585 --> 00:13:39,764 they're gonna be healthier when they're 45. 377 00:13:40,700 --> 00:13:42,379 Eric, it's been wonderful having you on the 378 00:13:42,379 --> 00:13:43,360 podcast today. 379 00:13:43,899 --> 00:13:45,500 We love all the insights you've been able 380 00:13:45,500 --> 00:13:46,940 to share. Hopefully, you'll be able to share 381 00:13:46,940 --> 00:13:48,860 them, not only with our audience, but any 382 00:13:48,860 --> 00:13:50,539 number of your colleagues in the very near 383 00:13:50,539 --> 00:13:51,039 future. 384 00:13:51,419 --> 00:13:53,659 Yeah. We can't wait to, the next time 385 00:13:53,659 --> 00:13:54,799 our paths cross. 386 00:13:55,674 --> 00:13:57,595 I can't wait. Thank you for having me. 387 00:13:57,595 --> 00:13:59,274 I look forward to maybe doing it again. 388 00:13:59,274 --> 00:14:01,595 And anytime if you're in the South Texas 389 00:14:01,595 --> 00:14:02,254 or Corpus, 390 00:14:03,674 --> 00:14:06,095 consider at home. Come by and visit us.