Best Labor Shortage Explained Podcasts (2025)

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272: How leaders need to rethink their approach to philanthropy 34:37

Play Pause

4h ago34:37

34:37

To make philanthropy a reliable revenue stream, health systems need more than just generous donors—they need strategy, structure, and sustained investment. In this episode, Abby Burns speaks with Advisory Board philanthropy expert and founder of Twin Point Insights, Erin Lanahan, about how not-for-profit health systems can build high-performing fun…

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271: Inside Ochsner Health's strategy for successful VBC 35:22

7d ago35:22

35:22

Ochsner Health has been pushing the envelope on value-based care for decades. The New Orleans-based system has succeeded in driving significant cost savings—while improving quality— states that traditionally rank lower in America's Health Rankings The question is: how do they do it? This week, host Abby Burns invites Ochsner Health Network’s Eric G…

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270: Service line snapshot: What every health leader needs to know 29:38

14d ago29:38

29:38

By Advisory Board

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269: The government shutdown, and what rural executives need to know before Nov. 5 4:05

19d ago4:05

4:05

In this special episode of Radio Advisory, recorded at 9:30 a.m. ET on Oct. 1, 2025, host Rae Woods walks through two major healthcare policy disruptions: the federal government shutdown and the Rural Health Transformation Program. Rae explains the immediate implications for care delivery and funding as Medicare telehealth and Hospital-at-Home waiv…

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268: Create an ambulatory care network that’s smarter — not just bigger 28:26

21d ago28:26

28:26

For years, health systems have approached ambulatory care as a pipeline for inpatient volumes. But today’s health care environment calls for a new mindset—one that prioritizes ambulatory capabilities designed to drive enterprise-wide success. Challenging this longstanding approach is just the first step. In this episode, host Rachel (Rae) Woods wel…

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267: Care variation reduction: A $100B opportunity 22:17

28d ago22:17

22:17

Health systems know they need to pull out all the stops when it comes to improving operational efficiency, given their financial climate. That doesn’t necessarily mean they need entirely new strategies — but they do need to make the most of the tried-and-true tactics. Care variation reduction (CVR) has been part of the operational excellence playbo…

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266: Your EHR can do more for you. Here’s how. 30:45

1M ago30:45

30:45

Making the most of the electronic health record (EHR) is not just a win for the CIO—it’s a non-negotiable for sustaining your business, supporting your workforce and serving your patients effectively. The EHR is a mainstay of our digital healthcare infrastructure. It’s a massive ongoing investment with the potential for enormous operational and str…

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265: A quick look at what's happening with vaccines 9:18

1M ago9:18

9:18

In this special episode of Radio Advisory, recorded on September 10th, 2025, host Rae Woods explains how recent federal actions led by HHS Secretary RFK Jr. are shaping vaccine policy and public health infrastructure. As she unpacks what’s happened so far, Rae outlines the implications for vaccine access, public trust, and hospital readiness. She a…

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264: Research funding is being slashed. What’s the real industry impact? 28:11

1M ago28:11

28:11

In the past several months, the Trump administration has frozen, cancelled, or rescinded millions—even billions—of dollars in federal funding for scientific and clinical research. This is funding that flows directly from bodies like the NIH to universities, academic medical centers, and others to facilitate basic science research, translational res…

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[Encore] How hospitals and post-acute providers can rebuild their relationships (and why they need to) 29:47

2M ago29:47

29:47

This episode originally aired on April 15, 2025. In times of uncertainty, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by what’s out of your control. That’s why over the next few weeks we’re revisiting three powerful conversations that remind us where to focus: on operational excellence, on what is within your control, and on the urgency to act now. Whether you'r…

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[Encore] Hospitals are at capacity. What can we actually do about it? 25:13

2M ago25:13

25:13

(This episode originally aired on February 25, 2025.) In times of uncertainty, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by what’s out of your control. That’s why over the next few weeks we’re revisiting three powerful conversations that remind us where to focus: on operational excellence, on what is within your control, and on the urgency to act now. Whether …

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[Encore] The $400M referral problem (and steps to fixing it) 25:01

2M ago25:01

25:01

(This episode originally aired on October 1, 2024.) In times of uncertainty, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by what’s out of your control. That’s why over the next few weeks we’re revisiting three powerful conversations that remind us where to focus: on operational excellence, on what is within your control, and on the urgency to act now. Whether yo…

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263: What 130+ healthcare leaders are saying about Trump’s big, beautiful bill 38:24

2M ago38:24

38:24

Healthcare organizations have always faced operational, financial, and strategic pressures—but in 2025, those challenges are intensifying. A wave of current and anticipated policy changes is reshaping the industry, leaving leaders to navigate an increasingly complex and uncertain landscape. To better understand how executives are preparing for what…

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262: The price of policy: How tariffs are reshaping purchasing 33:24

3M ago33:24

33:24

For health system leaders, managing the cost of purchased goods is no longer just a budgeting exercise—it’s a strategic necessity. As margins tighten and supply chain disruptions persist, health systems are rethinking everything from vendor relationships to value analysis. In this episode of Radio Advisory, host Rachel (Rae) Woods welcomes Advisory…

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261: Maven Clinic on how holistic women's health is the key to reducing cost and engaging employees 40:05

3M ago40:05

40:05

For health care purchasers, women’s health is no longer a niche offering—it’s a strategic imperative. In this episode of Radio Advisory, host Rachel (Rae) Woods welcomes Dr. Neel Shah, Chief Medical Officer at Maven Clinic—the world’s largest virtual clinic for women’s and family health—to unpack the clinical, financial, and operational benefits of…

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260: What does progress in behavioral healthcare look like? Three leaders weigh in 48:48

3M ago48:48

48:48

To make progress on delivering behavioral healthcare at scale, we have to hold up examples of what progress looks like—and unpack how we achieve it. That was the goal of our live panel discussion at the Advisory Board Summit in Washington, D.C., moderated by Radio Advisory co-host Abby Burns. In today’s episode of Radio Advisory, hear Abby’s conver…

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259: Our expensive new normal: why traditional drug cost controls are obsolete 32:19

3M ago32:19

32:19

Treatments like cell and gene therapies (CGTs) and GLP-1s are transforming care, but with double-digit growth in drug spend year over year, this transformation comes with an unsustainable price tag. And it’s putting pressure on every part of the healthcare ecosystem, from patients and providers to employers and health plans. The strategies that pur…

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258: The ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill Act’: What’s changing, who’s affected, and what to do now 6:12

4M ago6:12

6:12

On July 4th, 2025, President Donald Trump signed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” into law. In this “minisode,” host Rachel (Rae) Woods unpacks the sweeping implications of the most significant healthcare legislation since the Affordable Care Act. From enhanced subsidies expiring to major cuts to Medicaid and ACA marketplace coverage on the horizon…

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257: Paul Markovich on new builds, breakups, and bold healthcare bets 46:12

4M ago46:12

46:12

In this special live episode from the 2025 Advisory Board Summit, host Rachel (Rae) Woods sits down with a leader well-versed in bold transformation: Paul Markovich. After more than a decade as President and CEO of Blue Shield of California, Paul now leads Ascendiun—a new nonprofit parent company that includes Blue Shield of California, its clinica…

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256: How you can prepare for the financial impacts of Trump-era policies 31:07

4M ago31:07

31:07

Healthcare executives are closely watching legislative activity in Congress—anticipating shifts in government-funded insurance, new economic headwinds, and regulatory changes. And while change is certainly coming, what remains uncertain is how these forces will shape market dynamics and organizational finances. To help hospitals and health systems …

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255: Is healthcare really recession-proof? 39:50

4M ago39:50

39:50

When experts warn that the economy could be headed for a recession, people working across different corners of the economy get nervous. People working in healthcare, maybe less so. That’s because of a longstanding idea that healthcare is impervious to recession. Okay, maybe that’s overstating it. Healthcare is less susceptible than other industries…

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254: Stop searching for the “perfect” AI product and do this instead 29:31

4M ago29:31

29:31

Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to generate excitement across healthcare, promising to reduce clinician burnout, fuel innovation, and ease financial pressures. But despite the hype, AI is far from a “plug-and-play” solution—and simply investing in AI won’t guarantee success. This week, host Rachel (Rae) Woods is joined by Advisory Board AI e…

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253: A new way to measure patient access 29:05

5M ago29:05

29:05

Stay tuned to the end of the episode for a policy update on the bill containing Medicaid cuts that is making its way through Congress, and the recent MAHA Commission Report. If you were to ask any healthcare leader what the top challenges in our industry are, it’s a fair bet that “improving patient access to care” would be on the list. There have b…

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252: Contain, extract, recover: Inside the Ardent Health cyberattack 41:08

5M ago41:08

41:08

In this special live episode from the 2025 Advisory Board Summit, Ardent Health Services President & CEO Marty Bonick and Chief Digital and Transformation Officer Anika Gardenhire recount the harrowing story of a ransomware attack that brought their 30-hospital system to a standstill on Thanksgiving Day 2023. Cyberattacks on healthcare systems are …

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251: Former HHS leaders weigh in on navigating Trump 2.0 (and answer your questions) 40:25

5M ago40:25

40:25

5/22 Update: The House early Thursday narrowly passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a budget bill that includes a number of healthcare provisions that could have a significant impact on Medicaid, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act. It has been over 100 days since President Donald Trump began his second term. During that time, Radio Advisory ha…

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250: VBC success is possible. Here's how Advocate Health does it. 34:16

5M ago34:16

34:16

Believe it or not, 60% of healthcare payments in the US are tied to value. But it’s still surprisingly hard to find examples of health systems that have been doing VBC at scale, successfully, over time. So that’s what Advisory Board researchers set out to do. And across 66 conversations with 44 systems, we found four systems with approaches worth e…

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[Encore] The changing tide of Medicare Advantage 21:46

6M ago21:46

21:46

(This episode originally aired on October 22, 2024.) For years, the best word to describe Medicare Advantage (MA) was “untouchable.” Hugely popular among seniors, profitable for health plans—the hybrid public-private payment model grew to the point that it now covers more seniors than traditional Medicare. But in the past few years, the tide has st…

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249: What is 340B, and why is it in the hot seat 32:15

6M ago32:15

32:15

The federal drug purchasing program known as 340B was created in 1992 to help select provider organizations stretch scarce resources to care for patients. More than three decades later, health systems of all shapes and sizes have come to rely on 340B for their financial sustainability. But the program has come under criticism. And in recent years, …

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248: Drugs, surgeries, and shortages: the state of obesity care in 2025 35:19

6M ago35:19

35:19

In 2025, 6% of US adults are taking a GLP-1. But the popularity of weight-loss drugs isn’t the only thing changing the obesity care landscape. On Radio Advisory, we’ve talked about what comprehensive obesity care looks like, the reality of weight bias, and the strain high-cost drugs like GLP-1s are having on employers and plans. But we haven’t done…

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247: How hospitals and post-acute providers can rebuild their relationships (and why they need to) 28:49

6M ago28:49

28:49

Let’s face it: Hospitals and post-acute providers can find themselves at odds. Post-acute is an area of the industry that is often misunderstood and sometimes villainized. But when post-acute care struggles, it directly impacts hospital operations. The industry needs a solution. It starts with understanding that the post-acute space is not a monoli…

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246: Plans have trust and cost problems. Here's how to manage both. 35:55

7M ago35:55

35:55

Every stakeholder in healthcare is getting squeezed by mounting financial pressures, and health plans are no exception. Higher utilization and rising treatment costs are hitting plans hard. At the same time, plans are facing heightened public scrutiny. It may seem like the wrong time for plans to focus on cost management, but the combination of mar…

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245: Headcount might not explain your labor challenges. What will? 32:31

7M ago32:31

32:31

It feels like only yesterday that workforce challenges were the biggest problem facing the healthcare industry. While COVID-19-related staffing shortages may have declined, an inefficient workforce can still threaten health system operations and finances. Often, systems turn to staffing ratios or benchmarks to determine whether they need more cuts …

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244: What’s happened in Washington (so far) and what policy changes we’re bracing for 47:05

7M ago47:05

47:05

In the first two months of the Trump administration, the political and regulatory environment have shifted considerably. Since the inauguration, we’ve fielded dozens of questions about the slew of executive orders, cuts to research funding, HHS layoffs, tariffs, and an unstable economic outlook. All of that is coupled with the potential for major p…

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243: What’s now and what’s next in value-based care 34:06

7M ago34:06

34:06

There is a lot happening in federal policy that may affect healthcare payment transformation and care delivery. But we’ve said it before: healthcare leaders can’t afford to focus on fighting near-term fires at the expense of driving long-term success and sustainability. Amidst the uncertainty, it’s more important than ever to push forward conversat…

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242: How you should rethink your life sciences-health system partnerships 25:21

7M ago25:21

25:21

Partnerships between health systems and life sciences play a critical role in giving patients access to the best data, therapies, and technologies available in the market. However, these partnerships can be less fulfilling if both sides don’t align on purpose and expectations. This week, host Rachel (Rae) Woods invites Advisory Board expert Fanta C…

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241: When disaster strikes: Evacuating Unicoi hospital 33:37

8M ago33:37

33:37

On September 27, 2024, Ballad Health was forced to evacuate Unicoi Hospital in rural Tennessee due to a freak flash flood caused by Hurricane Helene. After two failed rescue attempts, an aerial operation managed to successfully airlift all 70 people who were trapped on the rooftop of the small community hospital. In an era where extreme climate eve…

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240: Hospitals are at capacity. What can we actually do about it? 24:13

8M ago24:13

24:13

We’ve said it before on Radio Advisory: hospital volumes are back. But leaders know this isn’t necessarily a sigh of relief. With a lot of hospitals at—or even over—capacity, hospital leaders need to find ways to improve patient throughput and reduce length of stay. And trust me, they’ve been trying. The question is, why is it so hard to address ca…

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239: UNC Health: The care variation reduction story you need to hear 42:53

8M ago42:53

42:53

The cost and quality of care can vary dramatically—even within the same health system. This has real ramifications for patients and clinicians, not to mention system outcomes. But reducing unwarranted variation in clinical care is much easier said than done. In 2019, UNC Health launched a care redesign office to take on the job. They identified 24 …

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238: Is your ambulatory strategy stuck in 2015? 30:38

8M ago30:38

30:38

As hospitals face mounting financial pressure in 2025, health systems are reckoning with the fragility of their legacy business models. Ambulatory networks have long been considered an opportunity for growth, but legacy thinking still focuses on how ambulatory sites could drive inpatient volumes. That strategy is no longer working (and perhaps, nev…

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237: “Being digital”: How to assess health systems’ digital maturity 43:05

9M ago43:05

43:05

Back in December, we discussed why leaders should re-envision their approach to digital change management. But to truly implement digital change, health systems must understand their organization’s success (or failure) to date. However, assessing digital progress is not a simple task. While models exist that measure digital maturity in other indust…

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236: What CEOs need to know in 2025 (Part 2) 24:52

9M ago24:52

24:52

Advisory Board experts Natalie Trebes and Max Hakanson rejoin host Abby Burns for part two of our conversation digging into the trends and challenges healthcare leaders need to pay attention to in 2025. Last week, our experts covered evolving power dynamics around network design, drug cost/spend, and cyber threats. This week, the group shifts their…

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235: What CEOs need to know in 2025 (Part 1) 27:41

9M ago27:41

27:41

While the new year often feels like a time to reset and regroup, 2025 has started off in a sprint. As pressures continue to grow across all sectors of the industry, it’s no secret that leaders need to think and act differently in order to succeed in the new year. With so many swirling changes, it can be hard to sort through the most important topic…

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234: A preview of Advisory Board’s 2025 research 17:39

9M ago17:39

17:39

2024 was filled with upswings and downswings in the healthcare industry. Whether it was unprecedented cyberattacks, the continued rise of GLP-1 therapies, or the return of hospital volumes, healthcare leaders stayed busy. And things aren’t expected to slow down in 2025. To give you a preview of where we may be headed, this week, hosts Rachel (Rae) …

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This year on Radio Advisory... 2:02

10M ago2:02

2:02

A top podcast for healthcare leaders, with over one 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 drug…

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233: Your digital strategy needs more than “change management” 29:59

11M ago29:59

29:59

The healthcare industry talks a lot about “change management,” the idea that through careful stewardship, the process of change can be made a little bit easier. The problem is, it’s a lot easier to talk about change than it is to manage it well. This is especially difficult when it comes to digital transformation, a space that is evolving almost to…

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232: The rise of ICHRAs: Why some employers are turning to the individual market 31:02

11M ago31:02

31:02

Employers have been saying for years that they can’t absorb any more cost growth for health insurance; health plans feel like they’ve squeezed about as much juice as possible out of traditional cost mitigation levers. Both are looking for creative alternatives to curb rising health costs. Enter ICHRAs. Usually, when we talk about the health insuran…

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231: Big deal, little deal, or no deal? A 2024 health policy retrospective 40:52

11M ago40:52

40:52

Last week on Radio Advisory, we broke down what healthcare leaders need to know for 2025 and beyond following the recent elections. But before we move on from 2024 completely, we have to acknowledge that there’s been a lot moving in the policy space this year, and frankly, there have probably been a few important policy areas on your radar that we …

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230: Elections results are in: What healthcare leaders need to know 45:10

11M ago45:10

45:10

(Note: This episode was recorded on November 7, 2024) The results of the 2024 elections are in: Donald Trump will be the 47th President of the United States, and we are all but certain to have a Republican trifecta at the federal level. Admittedly, there’s a lot we don’t know about what healthcare will look like under a second Trump administration—…

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229: Live from HLTH: What Can’t GLP-1s Do? 41:36

12M ago41:36

41:36

Conversations around GLP-1s in today’s healthcare market are mixed. Some stakeholders are thrilled with their potential, while others are filled with questions and even anxiety about how these powerful and popular drugs will impact their business. Many in the industry have been asking for months: “What can GLP-1s do?” But maybe this is the wrong qu…

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228: Avoiding ‘pilot purgatory’ in remote patient monitoring 23:30

12M ago23:30

23:30

Remote patient monitoring (RPM) has a surprisingly long history in healthcare. As technology improves, RPM can expand physician capacity, better manage complex patients, and improve total cost of care. Despite RPM’s potential, leaders often struggle to root RPM in a clear business case, or they underinvest in implementation, never fully integrating…