Join Working Healthcare’s Meredith Hirsh and Mike Chavez as they confront the drastic drop in physician-owned practices and the consolidation that drives costs higher. Meet revenue-cycle rebel Preston Alexander, founder of Forward Slash / Health and author of the “Healthcare Breakdown” newsletter, who dubs himself the “Taylor Swift of LinkedIn healthcare writing.” He argues progress comes from three bold levers: legislation; direct-pay and membership models that bypass middlemen. Preston hammers succession planning, warning that without affordable junior partner buy-ins, independence dies with founders. Meredith and Mike press on practical education, asking where the business of medicine fits in packed curricula and how to track the earliest cash-flow vital signs before a clinic suffocates. Find out which specialty is at the lowest percentage and which reigns the ruler of independent medicine and why. What are the first questions to ask when private equity flashes a fat check. Listen, question and act to reclaim the craft of medicine.

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Hit play to hear how a rock-and-roll project manager became the founder trying to fix everyday healthcare chaos. Join Working Healthcare’s Meredith Hirsh as Steve Lewis recounts Bowe’s premature arrival at 34 weeks and the binder that sparked Nabu, a patient-controlled record built to unite scattered data. We dig into why 80% of information is forgotten between the exam room and the parking lot and how that fog fuels 1.5 million ER visits a year for medication-related injuries. Steve explains how Nabu’s early pilots in Australia help families coordinate care across clinicians, crises and borders while keeping privacy at the center. You’ll also hear why he believes American incentives still power health care innovation and where AI can finally connect the dots for caregivers who spend endless hours a week coordinating care and say paperwork and portal hopping is their top stressor. From working with entertainment legends Aerosmith, Lenny Kravitz and Tony Hawk to building tools for patients and parents, Steve brings candid lessons, setbacks and hope. Take action for the people you care for—listen, learn and share this Working Healthcare episode.

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Tune into this episode of Working Healthcare to learn how the One Big Beautiful Bill Act could reshape rural health care as Meredith Hirsh and Mike Chavez interview policy leader Carly Salamone. With a dozen years in rural hospital care, Carly is now President of Vantage Healthcare of Ohio where is leads policy for several member hospitals. She breaks down the bill’s proposals, its impact on hospital payments and Medicaid, and what it means when the nearest ER is 60 miles away. We examine maternity care after Dobbs, why labor units are often first to close and how Medicaid’s role in births strains thin margins. The conversation demystifies site-neutral payments in the 2026 proposed Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and tests whether they level the field or push services to the brink. You’ll hear candid stories about coverage gaps during job changes, hospitals acting like subprime lenders for high deductibles and the power of regional collaboration. Press play to understand what’s at stake for rural and urban communities.

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Hit play to hear how one nurse shattered ceilings on her way to the c-suite. In this episode of Working Healthcare, Meredith Hirsh and Mike Chavez sit down with Heather Woolf, Vice President of Operations at the Hospital for Special Surgery, for a powerful conversation on gender equity in healthcare leadership. Heather shares her bold journey from the bedside to the boardroom, revealing the systemic barriers that still hold women back—despite making up nearly 80% of the healthcare workforce. Together, they unpack why only 30% of hospital CEOs are women, how outdated systems fuel burnout and what needs to change to build more inclusive leadership pipelines. Heather offers real-world strategies for navigating bias, advocating for yourself and staying resilient in the face of pressure. Whether you’re just starting your career or leading a healthcare system, this episode delivers inspiring insights and real-world solutions to advance gender equity in healthcare leadership. Listen, share and be part of the movement to elevate women in healthcare.

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Discover how smart strategies and bold decisions are transforming independent healthcare. In this episode of Working Healthcare, Meredith Hirsh and Mike Chavez sit down in the studio with Sean Travers, a seasoned healthcare expert dedicated to helping practices achieve sustainable, service-driven growth. Together, with over 60 years of combined healthcare business experience, they explore the power of ancillary services—like in-house labs, imaging and infusions—and reveal how vertical integration enhances patient care while giving physicians greater control, financial stability and profitability. Sean exposes the most common pitfalls practices face when expanding and shares what high-performing teams do differently to scale successfully without compromising quality. They also unpack why culture isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a vital business strategy that fuels staff retention, team alignment and long-term success. Plus, learn how adopting a startup mindset can help independent clinics outpace hospital systems in today’s competitive landscape. Don’t just survive—tune in and learn how to lead your practice with confidence and clarity.

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Press play on a real conversation about staying independent in a system built for giants. In this episode of Working Healthcare, Meredith Hirsh and Mike Chavez sit down with Dr. Matthew Mundwiler, a private practice rheumatologist from Columbus, Ohio, to talk about what it really takes to survive—and thrive—outside of corporate healthcare. With operational costs up, physician autonomy shrinking and insurance denials on the rise, Matt shares why he’s doubling down on independence and patient-centered care. From the financial realities of private practice to the emotional toll and unexpected rewards, this is an unfiltered, yet optimistic, look at the frontline of medicine today. Whether you're a physician, policymaker or just curious about how your care is delivered, this conversation pulls back the curtain. Learn what’s at stake—and what’s still possible—in the fight to preserve independent medicine. Subscribe now and join the movement to protect the future of care.

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Join hosts Meredith Hirsh and Mike Chavez for a high-impact episode of Working Healthcare as they tackle one of the most urgent challenges in U.S. healthcare: the physician shortage. In this future-focused conversation, Dr. Daniel Solomon—a Harvard rheumatologist and health systems researcher—and Mark Elfers, a former Marine and now CEO of GreenCape Health, share how digital innovation is reshaping chronic care. Together, they unpack how MPro Health, a mobile platform now integrated with Epic and Athena EHRs, is cutting wait times, boosting medication adherence and improving patient-reported outcomes in rheumatology practices. Listeners will discover the power of Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM)—a Medicare-reimbursable care model that helps physicians generate new revenue streams while enhancing chronic disease management. Mark breaks down how GreenCape Health bridges the gap between clinical care and scalable technology, making real-world implementation both practical and profitable. With compliance rates exceeding 60% and proven clinical impact, MPro Health offers a promising strategy to fight provider burnout and expand access to care. If you're a healthcare provider, practice leader, policymaker, or digital health innovator—this is your playbook for scaling care delivery through smart tech and reimbursement. Tune in now. 

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Tune in to a powerful, solutions-driven conversation about youth mental health, education, and the growing physician shortage. Join host Meredith Hirsh for an in-studio Working Healthcare interview with Ali Kaufman—founder of Space of Mind and the Community Classroom Project—as they explore how America’s mental health crisis is impacting kids where it hurts most: inside the classroom. With fewer than one child psychiatrist for every 10,000 children in the U.S., teachers are being thrust into the role of mental health first responders—often without training or resources. Ali shares how she’s transforming schools into healing-centered environments that meet students emotionally, academically, and creatively. Together, they connect the dots between moral injury, systemic healthcare failures, and what’s being asked of our education system today. This episode dives deep into the intersection of healthcare and education—and why solving the youth mental health crisis starts far beyond the exam room. Listen now to learn how you can be part of the change.

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Join host Meredith Hirsh, co-host Mike Chavez and psychiatrist Dr. Wendy Dean for a powerful episode of Working Healthcare that exposes the deeper crisis behind physician burnout: moral injury. Dr. Dean—author, podcaster and co-founder of the nonprofit Moral Injury of Healthcare—explains why so many clinicians are not just exhausted but ethically broken. Moral injury happens when healthcare professionals know the right course of action for their patients but are blocked by profit-driven systems, limited resources and institutional constraints.Together, they unpack how today’s healthcare system prioritizes billing, productivity and bottom lines over patient care and physician well-being—leading to betrayal, disillusionment and a loss of purpose across the profession. Dr. Dean reframes burnout as only part of the story and positions moral injury as a widespread ethical crisis impacting providers at every level. Listeners will learn how moral injury contributes to the physician shortage, drives providers away from clinical practice and compromises patient outcomes. This episode is essential for clinicians, health system leaders and policymakers ready to confront the ethical cost of modern medicine. Tune in now to help reclaim the heart and soul of healthcare. 

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Private equity in healthcare is booming—and few people understand its impact like Dr. Robert Colton. In this remote episode of Working Healthcare, host Meredith Hirsh and co-host Mike Chavez connect with Colton—physician, entrepreneur and founder of MDVIP—from his base between Boca Raton and the mountains of North Carolina to unpack how private capital is transforming the way care is delivered. With experience scaling dermatology groups, digital health startups and deals worth hundreds of millions, Colton brings a bold and unfiltered perspective on physician autonomy, practice consolidation and the future of medicine. The conversation covers the promises and pitfalls of private equity in healthcare, from new revenue models to ethical concerns about patient care. Fair warning: Rob has a lot to say—so we close the episode with a lightning round, where he answers big questions in five words or less. Tune in to hear how investment is reshaping the medical landscape and what it means for providers navigating today’s evolving system.

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Join Meredith Hirsh and co-host Mike Chavez for an inspiring conversation with Christa Eitel, Executive Director of Finance and Operations at The Hirsh Center, as she opens up about navigating bold career shifts and finding courage in the chaos of working motherhood. In this episode of Working Healthcare, Christa shares how she transitioned from a career in higher education to the fast-paced world of private medical practice—learning to lead, adapt and grow in an unfamiliar industry. The discussion dives into overcoming imposter syndrome, saying yes to new challenges and balancing ambition with the demands of family life. Whether you're contemplating a career move, stepping into a new role or simply trying to juggle it all, Christa's story offers practical wisdom and inspiration. Tune in for a real-world conversation about career reinvention, personal growth and showing up with purpose—even when the path forward isn’t perfectly clear.

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Before Jeff Scott escapes the Florida Capitol’s legislative madness for some well-earned peace and quiet on a boat, he sits down with Meredith Hirsh and Mike Chavez to make sense of the chaos. In this episode of Working Healthcare, we dive into what the 2025 Florida legislative session means for everyone in the healthcare space—what passed, what didn’t, and why it matters far beyond state lines. From supermajorities to Medicaid battles, we’re pulling back the curtain on how state policy really gets made (and sometimes derailed). Jeff brings decades of experience—and just enough political scars—to explain how these decisions impact your work, your livelihood, and the care your organization can deliver. Meredith brings the policy passion; Mike keeps her from quoting too many obscure statutes. Whether you're in Florida, Texas, or just trying to survive budget season, this episode is your roadmap to understanding the state-level forces shaping medicine. Grab your stethoscope—or your sunscreen—and tune in.

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Meredith Hirsh kicks off a new chapter of Working Healthcare with occasional co-host (and self-proclaimed sidekick) Mike Chavez. In this stand-alone episode, they take on everything from burnout and broken business models to why healthcare leadership sometimes feels like herding cats with a stethoscope. Mike’s testing the waters as co-host material—think of it as an on-air audition with fewer jazz hands and more talk about the business side of healthcare. Together, they unpack the big issues with sharp insight, a few laughs, and zero tolerance for buzzword bingo. Will Mike make the cut? Will Meredith regret this immediately? Tune in to find out—and maybe even learn something useful along the way. Get your popcorn ready!

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Join Meredith Hirsh in a special one-year anniversary episode of Working Healthcare! Today, we celebrate 52 episodes of exploring the American healthcare system and dive deep into the future of healthcare with a powerful, insightful discussion featuring the voices of Gen Z. From aspiring healthcare professionals to future leaders, these students share their unique perspectives on what healthcare means to them, how it needs to evolve, and the changes they want to see in the system. With insights from Jake Stevens (Vanderbilt), Carly Blum (University of Florida), Matthew McGarry (Florida State), Julia Fuller (Emory University), Chloe Blackington (UNC Chapel Hill), and Meredith's own son, Benjamin Hirsh (Duke), Meredith gets a peek into how this new generation is tackling the challenges of our healthcare system—and they’re not afraid to ask tough questions. As Gen Z shows us, they’re ready to fix what’s broken and lead the charge forward. Get ready for a hopeful, thought-provoking conversation that proves the future of healthcare is in good hands. As our GenZ friends say, "Tap in!"

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Listen in as Dr. Damian Caraballo—an emergency physician, health policy leader, and tireless advocate for healthcare reform—sits down with Meredith Hirsh after returning from a lobbying trip to Washington, DC. Damian breaks down how decades of policy shifts have tilted power toward insurance companies, sidelined physicians, and left patients buried under rising costs and limited access. He walks through pivotal moments in healthcare history and explains how we ended up with a system that often feels more corporate than compassionate. And here’s a tip: if the government gives a new rule an acronym, doctors know it’s probably not good news—just more red tape. Damian shares what it’s really like to speak with lawmakers like Senator Rick Scott, makes a compelling case for why physicians must reclaim their influence in shaping healthcare policy and provides tips on how physicians can get involved. This passionate episode reflects years of on-the-ground advocacy and a deep commitment to building a better system. Speak up, get involved, and help create change—listen now.

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