HealthTalk Insights

Unmasking Drug Diversion: Safeguarding ASCs and Hospitals

Matt Cordio is the President and Chair of MedServe, a healthcare technology company providing digital narcotic management solutions for ambulatory surgery centers and outpatient clinics. He acquired the company through Tomorrow River Ventures, which he founded and continues to serve as the managing partner. As a serial entrepreneur, Matt co-founded the Wisconsin Startup Coalition, an advocacy voice of Wisconsin's startup founders, and founded Skills Pipeline, where he serves as a partner and advisor. Alex Yampolsky, PharmD, MBA, is the CEO of MedServe. Before joining MedServe in 2022, he co-founded Vytal Health, a telemedicine startup focused on integrative medicine, and held leadership roles at TelePharm and Aurora Health Care. In this episode… Drug diversion poses a serious threat to healthcare facilities, particularly ambulatory surgery centers, where vulnerabilities in medication management can have devastating consequences. The misuse or theft of narcotics endangers patient safety and exposes facilities to legal, financial, and reputational risks. How can healthcare leaders safeguard their organizations against this pervasive issue? Clinical pharmacist Alex Yampolsky and business leader Matt Cordio have developed a system for mitigating drug diversion in outpatient settings. Alex emphasizes the importance of implementing robust policies, conducting regular audits, and recognizing behavioral red flags among staff, such as frequent disappearances or discrepancies in narcotic usage. Matt also suggests transitioning from paper logs to digital narcotic management systems to improve traceability and accountability. Taking proactive measures like mock diversion drills, strong company culture, and clear reporting processes fosters safer healthcare environments. In this episode of HealthTalk Insights, Danilo D'Aprile interviews Matt Cordio and Alex Yampolsky of MedServe, about addressing drug diversion in healthcare. Together, they discuss the risks of outdated medication management, DEA audit challenges, and cost-effective prevention strategies.

Scaling Ambulatory Care: Mount Sinai Ventures' Strategic ASC Partnership

Brent Stackhouse is the Managing Director of Mount Sinai Ventures, the venture investment arm of the Mount Sinai Health System. In his role, he diversifies strategic investment portfolios to enhance Mount Sinai's transition to population health management. With experience in public health and health information technology, Brent serves on Mount Sinai's telehealth strategy committee and is a mentor for the Blueprint Health technology incubator. In this episode… As healthcare continues to evolve, organizations must find innovative ways to expand access and improve patient outcomes while maintaining financial sustainability. How are leading institutions leveraging strategic partnerships to achieve these goals? Health technology expert Brent Stackhouse shares insights into his organization's approach to transforming ambulatory surgery centers through joint ventures. He highlights the importance of aligning strategic goals with operational efficiency, physician engagement, and financial sustainability. Brent also emphasizes the value of long-term partnerships that foster growth, innovation, and a patient-centered approach to care. In this episode of HealthTalk Insights, Brent Stackhouse, the Managing Director of Mount Sinai Ventures, joins host Danilo D'Aprile to discuss Mount Sinai's journey in expanding its ASC portfolio. Brent explores the evolution of its partnership with Merritt Healthcare, the challenges of physician ownership, and the critical role of strategic alignment.

Surgical Precision: Lowering Costs and Elevating Care

Matt Searles is the CEO and Managing Partner of Merritt Healthcare Advisors, one of the largest privately held surgery center companies in the US. As an owner-operated, industry-leading firm, Merritt Healthcare has developed, managed, and advised 24 ambulatory surgery centers. In his role, Matt has managed Merritt's investment banking business, acting as a seller-side advisor on over $3 billion in transactions involving surgery centers, surgical hospitals, and physician practices. In this episode… With the healthcare system in flux, it's more important than ever to identify value-driven, safe, and cost-effective care. How are leading healthcare centers cutting costs without compromising on patient care? Investment banker Matt Searles recognized an opportunity to transform healthcare by developing ambulatory surgery centers with a strategic, patient-driven approach that prioritizes clinical quality over short-term financial gain. He emphasizes fostering strong, collaborative relationships with key partners and physicians to enable independence and patient satisfaction. Focusing on quality healthcare ensures long-term success and high value. Welcome to the first episode of HealthTalk Insights, where Matt Searles, the CEO and Managing Partner of Merritt Healthcare Advisors, is interviewed by guest host Chad Franzen of Rise25. Together, they discuss Merritt Healthcare's trajectory in developing ASCs. Matt also describes how the firm adopts a personalized approach to healthcare, how Merritt capitalized on growth opportunities, and its commitment to clinically led, quality-focused services.