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EP460: Rushika Fernandopulle, MD’s Theory of Change Starts With Status Quo Healthcare

Relentless Health Value

Release Date: 01/09/2025

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In this Relentless Health Value episode, Dr. Rushika Fernandopulle discusses with Stacey Richter his four-prong theory of change for transforming the American healthcare system. Key topics include the necessity of new payment models, process innovation, employing a relational technology infrastructure, shifting the cultural mindset towards team-based care, and emphasizing the importance of long-term partnerships. The conversation underscores the urgent need to move away from the current status quo to ensure better health outcomes and affordable care for all Americans.

This is one of those episodes where we consider top-line strategic imperatives and key drivers. There was no better person to do this with than Rushika Fernandopulle, MD, who, in case you were unaware, was the founder of Iora Health, an advanced primary care group that was sold to One Medical and then to Amazon. 

They discusses his four-prong theory and as Stacey says, "I can’t leave well enough alone, so I plucked one more prong from our conversation and stuck it on the end." For a summary of this 5 prong approach, visit the show notes page where we also list all of the links mentioned in the episode.

=== LINKS ===
🔗  Show Notes with all mentioned links:  
https://cc-lnk.com/EP460

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06:39 How Dr. Rushika Fernandopulle found himself where he is now.

08:06 Dr. Fernandopulle’s conversation with Kenny Cole, MD.

10:33 Why is it important to have new payment models?

12:21 EP453 with Claire Brockbank.

14:50 EP455 with Beau Raymond, MD.

16:19 Why it makes sense to change as quickly as possible.

19:55 How to be proactive and not be reactive and achieve value-based reimbursement for good care.

21:41 Why team-based care is so important for change.

23:37 Why is it important to have a different set of technology tools?

24:38 EP391 with Scott Conard, MD.

25:24 Why changing the culture is important.

27:01 “Getting doctors to do things they don’t like is a waste of time.”

33:22 “Healthcare is local.”

35:31 EP364 with David Muhlestein, PhD, JD.

35:43 Study by Zack Cooper, PhD.

36:53 EP404 with Suhas Gondi, MD, MBA.

39:04 Why long-term partnerships are the only way to make things better.