Radio Advisory

Hosted by Advisory Board

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Episodes

335

Latest episode

Sep 2026

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EN-US

About the show

A top podcast for healthcare leaders, with over two million downloads, Radio Advisory is your weekly download on how to untangle the industry's most pressing challenges to help leaders like you make the best business decisions for your organization. From unpacking major trends in care delivery—like site-of-care shifts and the rise of high-cost drugs—to demystifying stakeholder dynamics, to shining a spotlight on priorities that may get overlooked, we're here to help. Our hosts and seasoned researchers talk with industry experts to equip you with knowledge to confront today's unanswered questions in healthcare. New episodes drop every Tuesday. | www.advisory.com

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60 recent

September 29, 202624 min

314: Where health plans are placing their AI bets

While most health plans have at least begun testing AI tools to improve operational efficiency, a far smaller number have moved beyond pilot stage. The challenge is not merely adopting AI – it is deciding which processes to reimagine and which solutions merit investment; doing the work of embedding solutions in end-to-end workflows; measuring success; and, crucially, establishing the organizational alignment needed to generate value at scale. In this episode, host Rae Woods sits down with Troy Anderson, Vice President of Payer Solutions at Optum.ai, and Sally Kim, Advisory Board health plan expert. They talk about why payment integrity and member experience are rising to the top of health plans’ priority list for deploying AI, and how regional plans can learn from larger organizations, focus on proven value, and avoid costly mistakes in the early stages of investment and deployment. We’re here to help: Expert Insight | How health plans can tackle rising administrative costs Webinar | How health plans are using AI to deliver a better member experience Webinar | The AI arms race: How health plans are responding in payment integrity Episode | Ep. 313: Inside Sutter Health's playbook for scaling AI Episode | Ep. 228: Avoiding ‘pilot purgatory’ in remote patient monitoring Research | AI in healthcare: Evaluating promising use cases Research | Health plan strategy Get in touch | Simplifying healthcare with AI | Optum Playbook | Your playbook for developing an AI governance strategy Ready-to-Use Resource| How to take a problem-first approach to AI Playlist | Explore Radio Advisory’s Tech & AI playlist for expert insights on innovation and the future of healthcare A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.

September 22, 202631 min

313: Inside Sutter Health's playbook for scaling AI

Healthcare organizations may be investing in AI, but many struggle to advance use cases beyond a single specialty, site, or workflow. At Sutter Health, leaders approached AI not as a series of technology pilots, but as a systemwide operational challenge. They set out to ensure that investments in AI centered on supporting clinicians across the enterprise before, during, and after patient visits. Today, more than 6,000 clinicians use ambient listening technology, generating more than five million clinical notes. Reaching that level of adoption required much more than selecting the right tool. In this episode, host Rachel (Rae) Woods speaks with Dr. Veena Jones, Chief Medical Informatics Officer at Sutter Health, about what it takes to move beyond siloed experimentation and actually scale AI across an enterprise. They explore how thoughtful governance, meaningful multistakeholder feedback loops, and a “good enough to scale” mindset can turn promising technology into a sustainable capability that supports clinicians and patients. We’re here to help: Case Study | How Sutter Health scaled AI to support clinicians system-wide Episode | Ep. 228: Avoiding ‘pilot purgatory’ in remote patient monitoring Playbook | Your playbook for developing an AI governance strategy Research | AI in healthcare: Evaluating promising use cases Ready-to-Use Resource | How to take a problem-first approach to AI Subscribe to The Daily Briefing , a must-read newsletter for thousands of healthcare executives across the nation. A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.

September 15, 202634 min

312: Are declining hospital volumes the new normal?

Health systems across the country started calling Advisory Board with the same question: Why are our volumes down? In this episode, Abby Burns, Clare Wirth, and Vidal Seegobin walk through what happened after our research team dug into the data to find out whether those concerns were isolated incidents or part of a broader national trend. What they found raises a much bigger question than whether volumes are down today: What if they're not coming back the way we've assumed they would? Together, they debate the forces reshaping demand, from affordability pressures and coverage losses to site-of-care shifts and changing patient behavior. They also explore what the findings mean for health system growth strategies and why organizations may need to shift their focus from capturing volume to competing on access. We’re here to help: Podcast | 303: The hard truths behind the fight for commercial volumes Playlist | Provider Strategy and Financial Outlook Expert insight | What’s really behind the drop in hospital volumes? Report | Which services are most at risk of leaving the hospital? Research | Market trends and growth strategy Tools | Get in touch with a representative to learn more about Advisory Board's Market Intelligence tool Sponsor link: Webinar | Building financial sustainability in specialty pharmacy A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.

September 8, 202630 min

311: The biggest ASC trend isn't growth. It's strategic variation.

For years, the story of ambulatory surgery centers was all about moving care out of the hospital. But the most important ASC trend today isn't growth. It's variation. Organizations are using ambulatory surgery centers to pursue very different goals. Some view ASCs as a way to relieve inpatient capacity. Others are trying to lower costs, protect market share, recruit physicians, expand access, or create room for more complex hospital care. And those strategies can vary dramatically depending on the service line, ownership model, market dynamics, and state policy environment. In this episode, host Rae Woods talks with Advisory Board researchers Nick Hula, Gaby Marmolejos, and Rachael Peroutky about why no two ASC strategies look exactly alike, and how healthcare leaders can determine the right role for ASCs in their market. We’re here to help: Webinar | How to design an ASC-specific commercial strategy Report | Site-of-care shifts 2026: Inside the latest trends and data Report | Which services are most at risk of leaving the hospital? Quick Guide | Guide to today's top orthopedic trends Report | Supplier playbook for developing an ASC commercial strategy Episode | 291: If you build it, will they buy it? The new rules for proving value in life sciences Sponsor link: Webinar | Value-based care demystified Sponsor link: Report | 4 ways health systems are pursuing lab growth A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.

September 1, 202632 min

310: Finding margin in providers' new policy reality

Protecting provider margins has never been easy. But today’s combination of policy shifts, reimbursement changes, labor pressures, and evolving care models is forcing health systems to rethink where margin comes from and how to sustain it. In this episode, Abby Burns sits down with Optum Advisory’s Samantha Wyld and Jess Garber to explore how both sweeping policy changes and smaller regulatory updates are reshaping margin management. Through real-world examples, they unpack three areas of opportunity: pricing strategy, clinical documentation and coding, and capturing economies of scale many organizations have yet to realize. Together, they explain why yesterday’s margin playbook is no longer enough and what it takes to take a more strategic approach to financial performance. We’re here to help: Expert Insight | 5 assumptions executives make about revenue cycle (and what to do instead)a> Expert Insight | 6 strategies to improve your operating margins and financial resiliencea> Ready-to-Use Resource | Mapping AI’s real role in the revenue cyclea> E-book | 5 Provider Strategies to Help Improve Your Margins | Optuma> Podcast | 303: The hard truths behind the fight for commercial volumesa> Podcast | [Encore] How data savvy strategic planners will define the next era of health system growth Get in Touch | Optum Advisory: Healthcare Consulting Services Sponsor link: Quick Guide | Rethinking iodine contrast use: A stewardship maturity model A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.

August 25, 202636 min

[Encore] How Rush University Medical Center is closing the 'death gap'

(This episode originally aired on February 10, 2026. Dr. Omar Lateef has since announced his intention to retire from Rush Health in June 2027.) As financial pressure mounts and the healthcare safety net continues to strain, academic medical centers are drawing on their culture of innovation to pursue better outcomes — and narrow life expectancy gaps in the communities they serve. In this episode of Radio Advisory, host Rae Woods sits down with leaders from Rush University Medical Center to explore how health systems can stay focused on results amid tightening margins, political scrutiny, and ongoing uncertainty in grant funding. Dr. Omar Lateef, President and CEO of Rush, and Dr. David Ansell, Senior Vice President for Community Health Equity, describe how Rush treats gap-reduction as a long-term operating strategy rather than a moral or messaging exercise. They share practical examples of how local partnerships, targeted investments, and day-to-day operational choices can improve outcomes while still making financial sense — and why avoiding battles over language helps keep the focus squarely on results. We’re here to help: How Rush University Medical Center is addressing the root causes of social determinants of health 264: Research funding is being slashed. What’s the real industry impact? How research funding cuts are impacting healthcare (and how to respond) 12 things CEOs need to know in 2026 Tool: How policy changes will impact your bottom line Who gets the chance to be healthy? | Rush The Rush Center for Community Well-Being at Sankofa Wellness Village | Rush Health disparities in Chicago and the work to solve them with Rush University Medical Center (AMA) The Anchor Strategy — A Place-Based Business Approach for Health Equity | New England Journal of Medicine Rush Signs on as First Partner for Local Laundry Service | Rush David Ansell Books – New: The Death Gap Sponsor link: Preserving iodine, protecting imaging

August 18, 202635 min

[Encore] Why all providers should be watching what’s happening in pediatrics

(This episode originally aired on February 3, 2026. Stay tuned towards the end of the conversation for an update on the state of pediatric hospitals midway through 2026.) Pediatric hospitals are one of the most important segments in the industry to watch right now. Although children’s hospitals make up only 5% of total hospital market share, more than 40% of U.S. children rely on Medicaid, leaving pediatric organizations disproportionately exposed as the Medicaid-related provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act take effect. The pressures inside pediatric care were mounting even before this moment. After years of outperforming adult hospitals, children’s hospitals have seen margins fall from double digits to just 1% last year. Rising bad debt, higher supply and labor costs, a rapid shift toward lower margin outpatient care, and emerging challenges like declining birth rates and vaccine policy upheaval have created a perfect financial storm. While some of these dynamics are unique to pediatrics, the sector also offers an early warning signal for the rest of healthcare — and an opportunity to translate lessons across both worlds. In this episode, host Abby Burns and Advisory Board expert Vidal Seegobin break down why pediatric leaders must simultaneously manage immediate-term margin pressure, prepare for a more ambulatory-dominant model, and futureproof their organizations amid shifting demographics. Vidal also shares actionable steps leaders can take now, along with the critical lessons pediatric hospitals offer the wider healthcare ecosystem. We’re here to help: 5 insights on the state of pediatric hospitals today 12 things CEOs need to know in 2026 The State of the Healthcare Industry in 2026 Read Advisory Board's 2026 research agenda 3 trends shaping healthcare in 2026 (and how to respond) 278: Dr. Emily Oster on fighting misinformation and rebuilding trust in healthcare 277: Patient distrust is costing you. Here’s how to rebuild it. Learn how outpatient shifts can impact your organization by using Advisory Board’s Market Scenario Planner tool. Sponsor link: Q&A: How e-prescribing for vaccines may help close patient care gaps

August 11, 202627 min

[Encore] How data‑savvy strategic planners will define the next era of health system growth

(This episode originally aired on March 17, 2026.) As health systems pursue growth beyond traditional avenues, the role of the strategic planner is becoming increasingly complex. High level directional data is no longer enough — achieving meaningful, differentiated growth now requires leveraging granular, sophisticated data to inform investment decisions. In this episode, host Rachel Woods sits down with Advisory Board experts Sebastian Beckman and Ellie Wiles to explore how health systems can rethink strategic planning for 2026 and beyond. Together, they unpack what it should actually look like to democratize data, why data governance matters just as much as data access, and how service line leaders can partner with planners to make faster, more precise, margin savvy decisions. We’re here to help: Tools | Get in touch with a representative to learn more about Advisory Board's Market Intelligence tool Podcast | 289: What are health systems doing in 2026? Results from our survey are in. Playlist | Radio Advisory Provider Strategy and Financial Outlook Playlist Case Study | How UT Southwestern closed genomic testing gaps in prostate cancer care Sponsor link: How UCHealth lowered population-level obesity rates in their region

August 4, 202634 min

309: Regional health plans attempt a financial turnaround

For years, regional health plans benefited from powerful tailwinds: Medicare Advantage growth, Medicaid expansion, and a prospering ACA marketplace. But many of those growth engines have stalled, just as new pressures emerged: rising utilization, runaway spend, pricing uncertainty and more scrutiny from patients and policy makers. The result is a dramatically different financial reality for health plans. In 2024, only eight of 33 Blues plans reported positive operating margins. In this episode, host Rae Woods sits down with Jared Landis, Vice President of Advisory Board's Health Plan Research practice, to unpack how regional plans got here and the three-year turnaround strategy regional and Blues plans are now pursuing. Together, they explore the market forces that upended the payer playbook, the operational and pricing changes plans are making to stabilize performance, and how AI-enabled transformation could reshape the future of the insurance business. Stay tuned to the end of the episode for an update on the Rural Health Transformation Program, including a key deadline this fall. We’re here to help: Episode | Ep. 257: Paul Markovich on new builds, breakups, and bold healthcare bets Episode | 305: “The work isn’t easy, but it’s clear”: How healthcare leaders are responding to the market Episode | 302: CMS announced the 2027 MA final rate. What do payers and providers need to know? Playlist | Radio Advisory Provider Strategy and Financial Outlook playlist Expert Insight | Can health plans turn their MA business around this year? Research | Health plan strategy Report | Rural health transformation funds: Where they're really going Ready-to-Use Slides | Health Plan Market Explorer Webinar | Understanding health plan decision-makers Sponsor link: Precision in motion: How digital tools support diabetes care providers A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.

July 28, 202626 min

308: How digital health innovation is centering the patient, with Rock Health

In this episode, Abby Burns welcomes back Megan Zweig, CEO of Rock Health Advisory, to answer audience questions submitted during Advisory Board's Research Summit in Carlsbad, California. Together, they explore how health systems are engaging with the explosion in consumer-generated data, the role of medtech and pharma in AI-enabled innovation, and why AI enablement may be able to unlock personalized care for a wider range of patients. We’re here to help: Episode | 304: Boom, bust, or bubble? Rock Health weighs in on digital health funding in 2026 Playlist | Radio Advisory Tech and AI playlist Playlist | Radio Advisory Provider Strategy and Financial Outlook playlist Research | AI in healthcare: Evaluating promising use cases Research | Truly personalized care is possible. Here's how to make it a reality. Rock Health H1 2026 funding and market overview: Durable roots, shifting routes | Rock Health Want to see a live recording of Radio Advisory? Register for an Advisory Board summit and get the insights your organization needs to navigate uncertainty and build lasting resilience. Advisory Board members: Action requested! Help shape Advisory Board’s next research agenda by taking our quick survey — share your priorities and challenges to ensure our research reflects what matters most to healthcare leaders like you. Nearly 70% of adults ages 65 and over skipped the latest COVID vaccine. Learn how health systems can treat vaccine uncertainty as a routine care gap — not patient resistance — by reading Advisory Board’s expert insight . A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.