Inside a 51-Hospital System's Agentic AI Playbook | Mark Townsend, Chief Clinical Digital Ventures Officer, BSMH

Can Dental Practices Prevent the Next Hospitalization? Daniel Burke, Chief Enterprise Strategy Officer, PDS Health

Summary How PDS Health is linking dental care, oral-systemic health, Epic data sharing, and value-based care to improve whole-person outcomes. In this episode of Analyzing Healthcare, Jason Schifman speaks with Daniel Burke, Chief Enterprise Strategy Officer at PDS Health, about dental-medical integration and the mouth-body connection. Daniel explains how PDS grew through de novo expansion, dentist ownership, and innovation, while using Epic data sharing to connect oral health with broader medical outcomes. The conversation explores periodontal disease, diabetes, payer interest, value-based care, and how dental practices can support whole-person, preventive healthcare. What You’ll Learn ✅ Why PDS Health built through de novo growth ✅ How dentist ownership supports alignment ✅ Why oral health matters in chronic disease ✅ How Epic enables dental-medical collaboration ✅ Why payers are watching integrated care ✅ How PDS Health structures innovation at scale  Key Timestamps (00:02) Introduction to Daniel Burke and PDS Health (01:52) Pacific Dental’s history and founder-led culture (04:14) Owner-doc model, alignment, and dentist-level accountability (05:20) Why PDS stayed independent and invested in innovation (09:13) De novo growth, under-leverage, and financial discipline (14:59) Why PDS views healthcare as relational, not transactional (22:53) Why PDS moved into integrated dental-medical care (23:27) The science behind the mouth-body connection (25:35) Gum disease, diabetes, and medical cost reduction (29:28) Epic, data sharing, and virtual collaboration (31:15) Partnership models with medical groups (33:40) Why co-located medical and dental care improves follow-through (40:30) Patient reception to integrated care (41:32) Why payers are interested in dental-medical integration (43:25) Value-based care and risk-sharing opportunities (44:35) A1C testing in dental practices (48:23) Physician fee schedule and oral health referral incentives (51:35) How PDS structures innovation at scale (55:16) Final takeaway: oral health as better healthcare  Key Takeaways 💎 PDS Health grew through dentist ownership, de novo expansion, and long-term alignment. 💎 Oral health should not be separated from medical care. 💎 Periodontal disease can affect chronic conditions and medical utilization. 💎 Epic helps connect dental and medical teams through shared data. 💎 Payers see oral health as a lever for better outcomes and lower costs. 💎 Integrated care may scale through co-location, partnerships, data sharing, and value-based reimbursement. 💎 Innovation at PDS Health is supported by dedicated teams, structure, and disciplined testing.  Guest Bio Daniel Burke is Chief Enterprise Strategy Officer at PDS Health, where he helps lead enterprise strategy across one of the country’s most innovative dental and integrated care platforms. PDS Health, formerly PDS, supports more than 1,000 dental practices and is advancing a model that connects oral health, medical care, data sharing, and whole-person outcomes. Daniel’s work focuses on growth strategy, dental-medical integration, payer engagement, innovation, and building scalable care models that support better patient health. Resource Links Guest: Daniel Burke – Chief Enterprise Strategy Officer, PDS HealthHost: Jason Schifman – President & Co-Founder, SCALE HealthcarePodcast: Analyzing Healthcare by SCALE CommunitySCALE Community: https://www.scale-community.com [https://www.scale-community.com] SEO Keywords PDS Health, PDS, Daniel Burke, Roy Bejarano, SCALE Healthcare, SCALE Community, Dental-Medical Integration, DSO, Dental Support Organization, Integrated Care, Oral Health, Mouth-Body Connection, Periodontal Disease, Diabetes Care, Epic Healthcare, Value-Based Care, Healthcare Innovation, Preventive Care, Payer Strategy, Dental Practices, Healthcare Strategy, Healthcare Podcast

Are Nurses the Missing Link in Prevention, Access, and Value-Based Care? Beverly Malone, CEO, NLN

Nursing leadership, workforce shortages, nurse education, COVID’s impact, pay equity, licensure, prevention, and AI- Dr. Beverly Malone and Roy Bejarano unpack the future of nursing and its central role in U.S. healthcare. In this episode of Analyzing Healthcare, Roy Bejarano, CEO at SCALE Healthcare, speaks with Dr. Beverly Malone, CEO of the National League for Nursing, former President of the American Nurses Association, former Deputy Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of Health, and former General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing in the UK. Dr. Malone reflects on decades of nursing leadership, discussing the profession's evolution, COVID's impact, workforce challenges, advanced practice, and how prevention and technology are shaping the future of nursing. What You’ll Learn ✅ Why nurses remain one of the most trusted professional groups ✅ How COVID reshaped the nursing workforce emotionally and operationally ✅ Why nurse practitioners and advanced practice nurses are critical to access ✅ Why nurse pay is often misunderstood in healthcare inflation debates ✅ What global nurse recruitment means for both U.S. care and source countries ✅ Why licensure compacts could improve workforce mobility across states ✅ How prevention, research, AI, and virtual care could expand nursing’s impact Key Timestamps * (00:01) Introduction to Dr. Beverly Malone and her leadership background * (03:33) What has stayed constant in nursing * (05:05) Trust, appreciation, and nurses as healthcare leaders * (09:09) How COVID impacted nurses and the healthcare workforce * (13:02) Nurse practitioners, CRNAs, and filling access gaps * (19:08) International nurse recruitment and ethical workforce strategy * (24:10) Nurse educator shortages and funding challenges * (33:15) Nurse pay, hospital inflation, and undervalued care * (39:30) Why nurses do not take strikes lightly * (44:57) What nurses are most excited about next * (47:42) Multistate licensure compacts and workforce mobility * (50:57) AI, technology, and more hands-on nursing care Key Takeaways * 💎 Nursing is rooted in caring, integrity, inclusion, excellence, and patient trust. * 💎 COVID deeply affected nurses because they could not provide care in the human way they were trained to deliver it. * 💎 Nurse practitioners, CRNAs, and advanced practice nurses are essential to closing access gaps. * 💎 The nursing shortage is also a nurse educator shortage. * 💎 Nurses are not the main driver of hospital inflation, yet their value is often under-recognized economically. * 💎 Ethical global recruitment should support both receiving countries and source countries. * 💎 Licensure flexibility can help nurses deliver care across state lines. * 💎 AI should reduce hands-off work so nurses can deliver more hands-on care. Guest Bio Dr. Beverly Malone is CEO of the National League for Nursing, one of the leading organizations advancing nursing education and workforce development in the U.S. She previously served as President of the American Nurses Association, Deputy Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of Health, and General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing in the UK. Her leadership spans nursing policy, education, workforce advocacy, global nursing, equity, and the future of patient-centered care. Resource Links Guest: Dr. Beverly Malone – CEO, National League for Nursing Host: Roy Bejarano – CEO & Co-Founder, SCALE Healthcare Podcast: Analyzing Healthcare by SCALE Community SCALE Community: https://www.scale-community.com [https://www.scale-community.com/] SEO Keywords Nursing, Beverly Malone, National League for Nursing, NLN, Roy Bejarano, SCALE Healthcare, SCALE Community, Nursing Workforce, Nurse Shortage, Nurse Education, Nurse Educators, Healthcare Workforce, Nurse Practitioners, CRNA, COVID Healthcare Impact, Nurse Pay, Healthcare Inflation, Nursing Leadership, Health Equity, Preventive Care, AI in Nursing, Virtual Care, Healthcare Podcast

Can Maryland’s All-Payer Model Fix Health System Economics? Mark Shaver, Chief Strategy Officer, University of Maryland Medical System

Maryland’s all-payer model, value-based reimbursement, health system scale, AI, rural care, and health equity- Mark Shaver and Roy Bejarano unpack what makes the University of Maryland Medical System one of the most unique healthcare platforms in the U.S. In this episode of Analyzing Healthcare, Roy Bejarano, CEO at SCALE Healthcare, speaks with Mark Shaver, Chief Strategy Officer at the University of Maryland Medical System, about how Maryland’s regulated reimbursement model changes the economics, strategy, and mission of care delivery. A strategic conversation for healthcare veterans, payors, investors, health system leaders, and U.S. healthcare enthusiasts interested in what sustainable care delivery could look like beyond traditional fee-for-service economics. What You’ll Learn ✅ Why Maryland’s all-payer model is unlike any other state healthcare market ✅ How global budgets change hospital margin, growth, and access strategy ✅ Why value-based care is built into Maryland’s reimbursement structure ✅ Why Medicare Advantage adoption is much lower in Maryland ✅ How UMMS balances public-private partnerships, mission, and scale ✅ Why advanced therapies must also address health equity ✅ How AI and virtual care are moving from hype to practical systemwide use ✅ Why rural workforce development is central to healthcare transformation Key Timestamps • (00:03) Introduction to Mark Shaver and UMMS • (01:42) “For-profit mindset and nonprofit heart” • (03:41) Why nonprofit healthcare needs business discipline • (06:36) Maryland’s all-payer reimbursement model • (08:53) Value-based care built into the system • (12:39) Global budget: stability vs. innovation capital • (22:30) Low Medicare Advantage adoption • (40:22) Specialty care closer to the community • (45:42) CAR-T therapy, multiple myeloma, and health equity • (48:03) AI, virtual care, and workflow value • (50:04) Rural workforce development Key Takeaways • 💎 Maryland’s all-payer model changes how hospitals think about margin, access, and growth. • 💎 Value-based care in Maryland is not a pilot—it is built into reimbursement. • 💎 Global budgets create stability but can limit surplus capital for innovation. • 💎 Low Medicare Advantage adoption changes primary care and payer strategy. • 💎 UMMS is focused on bringing specialty and advanced care closer to communities. • 💎 AI and virtual care are becoming practical tools, but leaders must separate hype from real workflow value. • 💎 Workforce development is a major lever for rural healthcare transformation. Guest Bio Mark Shaver is Chief Strategy Officer at the University of Maryland Medical System, where he leads enterprise strategy across one of Maryland’s most important healthcare platforms. With experience across nonprofit health systems, Welltower, Johns Hopkins, and earlier Wall Street roles, Mark brings a unique mix of growth strategy, operating discipline, and mission-driven leadership. His work spans systemness, ambulatory strategy, rural transformation, academic partnerships, AI, virtual care, and care delivery innovation across Maryland’s all-payer healthcare environment. Resource Links Guest: Mark Shaver – Chief Strategy Officer, University of Maryland Medical System Host: Roy Bejarano – CEO & Co-Founder, SCALE Healthcare Podcast: Analyzing Healthcare by SCALE Community SCALE Community: https://www.scale-community.com [https://www.scale-community.com] SEO Keywords Healthcare Strategy, University of Maryland Medical System, UMMS, Mark Shaver, Roy Bejarano, SCALE Healthcare, SCALE Community, Maryland Healthcare, All-Payer Model, Value-Based Care, Global Budget Healthcare, Medicare Advantage, Rural Healthcare, Healthcare AI, Virtual Care, Telemedicine, Ambulatory Strategy, Academic Medical Center, Health Equity, Healthcare Leadership, Healthcare Podcast

Stamford Health’s Strategy for Growth Beyond the Hospital, Ben Wade, SVP, Chief Strategy Officer

How can independent health systems compete in a consolidating market? Ben Wade shares strategies for outpatient growth, partnerships, and community access. Hospital strategy, outpatient growth, healthcare partnerships, and community access are becoming critical priorities for independent health systems. In this episode of Analyzing Healthcare Jason Schifman, President at SCALE Healthcare, sits down with Ben Wade, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at Stamford Health, to discuss how independent providers can compete in increasingly consolidated markets. Ben shares why Stamford Health has prioritized ambulatory care, physician alignment, strategic partnerships, and consumer-focused access, with outpatient services now accounting for nearly 70% of revenue. The conversation explores partnerships with HSS and Dana-Farber/Brigham, the role of ambulatory surgery centers, and the growing impact of Medicaid eligibility changes on community health systems. Ben also explains why cultural alignment is often the deciding factor behind successful healthcare partnerships. What You'll Learn ✅ How Stamford Health competes as an independent health system ✅ Why outpatient services drive nearly 70% of revenue ✅ The role of physician alignment in long-term growth ✅ What makes healthcare partnerships successful ✅ Why cultural fit matters as much as economics ✅ How ambulatory surgery centers improve access and affordability ✅ The impact of Medicaid eligibility changes on community care ✅ Strategies for protecting access amid rising uncompensated care Key Timestamps * (00:01) Introduction to Ben Wade and Stamford Health * (00:56) Market position and uncompensated care challenges * (04:11) Stamford Health's strategic framework * (06:50) Why outpatient care drives growth * (10:26) Ambulatory surgery centers and physician alignment * (12:33) Stakeholder response to outpatient expansion * (14:53) Partnerships with HSS and Dana-Farber/Brigham * (19:48) Why cultural fit matters in partnerships * (23:02) PE-backed physician groups as partners * (25:15) Medicaid eligibility changes and community access Key Takeaways * 💎 Independent systems can stay competitive through focused strategy and local relevance * 💎 Outpatient care is central to health system sustainability * 💎 Successful partnerships require meaningful integration, not just branding * 💎 Ambulatory investments can strengthen access, affordability, and physician relationships * 💎 Cultural alignment is a major predictor of partnership success * 💎 Community health systems must prepare for coverage disruptions and rising uncompensated care Guest Bio Ben Wade is Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at Stamford Health, where he leads strategy, ambulatory growth, partnership development, and market positioning. His work focuses on helping independent health systems remain competitive through physician alignment, outpatient expansion, and community-centered innovation. Resource Links Guest: Ben Wade Host: Jason Schifman Podcast: Analyzing Healthcare by SCALE Community SCALE Community:www.scale-community.com SEO Keywords Healthcare Strategy, Hospital Strategy, Outpatient Growth, Ambulatory Care, Health System Partnerships, Stamford Health, Ben Wade, Jason Schifman, Independent Health Systems, Physician Alignment, Ambulatory Surgery Centers, Medicaid Eligibility, Community Health, Healthcare Leadership, Healthcare Innovation, Hospital Growth Strategy, Healthcare Podcast, Healthcare Industry Insights, SCALE Healthcare, SCALE Community.

How URAC Is Setting Standards for AI, Telehealth, and Healthcare Trust | Shawn Griffin

Healthcare accreditation, telehealth accreditation, AI governance, and healthcare quality are reshaping modern care delivery. In this episode of Analyzing Healthcare, Roy Bejarano, CEO of SCALE Healthcare, speaks with Shawn Griffin, MD, CEO of URAC, about how accreditation builds trust, improves quality, and supports accountability across healthcare. Shawn discusses URAC’s evolution from utilization review into a leading accreditation organization with programs spanning telehealth, specialty pharmacy, credentialing, health plans, and AI. The conversation explores what makes accreditation meaningful, how quality standards are developed, and why consistent oversight matters. They also examine telehealth quality, global access challenges, and the growing need to distinguish credible healthcare organizations from poor performers. The episode concludes with a discussion on healthcare AI, including privacy, bias, governance, and accountability, and why URAC launched one of the industry's first AI accreditation programs. What You'll Learn ✅ How URAC fits into the healthcare accreditation landscape ✅ Why accreditation matters for trust, quality, and credibility ✅ How URAC differs from facility-based accreditors ✅ The role of reviewer consistency in accreditation outcomes ✅ What telehealth accreditation evaluates ✅ Why telehealth quality standards matter globally ✅ How URAC approaches healthcare AI accreditation ✅ Key AI governance considerations, including privacy and bias ✅ How accreditation can become a strategic differentiator ✅ Why quality standards may grow in importance as innovation accelerates Timestamps • {00:00} Introduction to Shawn Griffin and URAC • {00:45} URAC and the accreditation ecosystem • {02:18} Origins in utilization review and governance • {04:09} How accreditation programs are developed • {06:14} URAC's scale and reviewer model • {13:28} Reviewer independence and conflict avoidance • {15:24} How URAC differs from other accreditors • {22:20} Telehealth, access, and quality assurance • {35:00} Why URAC launched AI accreditation • {38:10} Evaluating AI developers and users • {41:27} AI oversight in patient care • {50:54} The practical realities of AI accreditation Key Takeaways • 💎 Accreditation creates trust where risk and complexity are high • 💎 Quality oversight goes beyond basic compliance requirements • 💎 Consistent review processes strengthen accreditation outcomes • 💎 Telehealth growth increases the need for trusted standards • 💎 AI adoption requires governance, oversight, and accountability • 💎 Demonstrating best practices is more valuable than simply claiming them • 💎 Accreditation can help distinguish credible organizations from opportunistic ones • 💎 Standards may become increasingly influential as healthcare innovation accelerates Guest Bio Shawn Griffin, MD, is the CEO of URAC, a leading independent healthcare accreditation organization. A physician executive with experience in clinical practice, hospital leadership, health information technology, and healthcare quality, Dr. Griffin has dedicated his career to improving patient outcomes through accountability and innovation. Under his leadership, URAC has expanded its accreditation programs across telehealth, specialty pharmacy, credentialing, digital health, and artificial intelligence, helping healthcare organizations demonstrate quality, trust, and operational excellence. Guest: Shawn Griffin, MD – CEO, URAC Host: Roy Bejarano – CEO, SCALE Healthcare Podcast: Analyzing Healthcare by SCALE Community SEO Keywords: Healthcare accreditation, URAC, Shawn Griffin, Roy Bejarano, telehealth accreditation, healthcare quality, healthcare AI, AI governance, utilization review, healthcare standards, credentialing, specialty pharmacy, patient safety, digital health, healthcare trust, healthcare oversight, healthcare podcast, SCALE Healthcare.