miniVHAN
In the newest episode of the miniVHAN podcast, we sit down with Terrell Smith, MSN, RN, the recently retired senior director of Patient and Family Engagement at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. With over five decades of experience, Terrell shares heartfelt anecdotes and insights into the challenges caregivers face daily. We shine a spotlight on these unsung heroes, exploring the emotional and physical toll of caregiving and the vital importance of community support. This episode addresses caregiving as a significant public health issue, emphasizing the need for greater awareness and...
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This episode of the miniVHAN spotlights the work of Interfaith Dental, a Middle Tennessee nonprofit that helps vulnerable populations achieve and sustain a healthy smile. Rhonda Switzer-Nadasdi, DMD, the organization’s visionary CEO, walks us through Interfaith Dental’s modest beginnings in 1995 and evolution into a cornerstone community resource that has rapidly adapted to break down barriers in health care. Our conversation shows how the organization has expanded services to patients of all ages and addressed social determinants of health through innovative solutions like teledentistry,...
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In this episode, we explore the Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) model with our guest, Liz Pierce, MD, pediatric regional medical director for the Vanderbilt Health Affiliated Network. With over 30 years of experience in pediatrics, Dr. Pierce shares her invaluable insights into how this physician-led, team-based care model can enhance patient outcomes. The PCMH model, rooted in the principles of coordinated and comprehensive care, seeks to centralize the patient's medical journey and make health care more accessible and effective. Because implementing the model can be a...
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We’re hitting the road with Elizabeth Randolph, MD, from Green Hills Pediatric Associates, to explore the growing problem of antibiotic resistance and how it’s making infections harder to treat. Discover why antibiotic stewardship is vital to decrease the risk of disease spread and severe illness. We’ll tackle the challenges of managing patient and family expectations when it comes to antibiotic use and share strategies for reassuring parents about non-antibiotic treatments for common ailments. We’ll also discuss many of the risks involved in overprescribing. Learn...
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Join us as we welcome Paul Augustyniak, board chair for the Tennessee chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). Paul highlights the organization's mission to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide through research, advocacy, education and healing initiatives. With 1,200 Tennesseans lost to suicide last year and the state ranked 22nd in the nation for suicide rates, increasing awareness and encouraging open conversations are crucial for prevention. Our discussion also underscores the need to expand mental health resources, particularly in...
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With close to 90% of health outcomes affected by patients’ conditions outside of the clinic walls, the intersection of medical care and community health plays a vital role in meeting people where they are. Joining the miniVHAN to share about the social determinants of health is Amy Richardson, Chief Community Health Officer at Siloam Health, a nonprofit organization that provides whole-person care to Middle Tennessee’s underserved populations. Richardson spotlights the benefits of like-minded organizations partnering to promote health equity, explaining how Siloam Health has built...
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Join us in the miniVHAN as we welcome Cecelia Theobald, MD, Chief of Staff for Corporate Clinical Affairs at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Dr. Theobald, an internist, is also the attending physician at the student-run Shade Tree Clinic, which provides free health care to uninsured individuals. She has witnessed patients taking a more active role in their care—and explains why that’s such a positive development for providers and health care as a whole. Dr. Theobald underscores the importance of trust and clear communication within patient care teams, highlighting how that...
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Can employers really transform health care quality and costs? Join us in the miniVHAN for an eye-opening conversation with Michael Kobernick, MD, Senior Medical Director at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, as he unpacks the evolving roles of employers and brokers in the health care ecosystem. Dr. Kobernick draws upon his experience both in the practice of medicine and in critical health care leadership to imagine how employers can more successfully collaborate with provider organizations. Tune in to understand how value-based care models can lead to healthier communities by removing...
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Imagine a world where health care is as personalized and easy to use as your favorite streaming service. That’s the vision of CJ Stimson, MD, urological surgeon, Executive Vice President of Population Health and Chief Medical Officer for the Employee Health Plan at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. In this episode, he hops in the miniVHAN to share how his personal experience and time as senior advisor at the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation have fueled his passion for value-based care – an approach he believes can revolutionize patient outcomes and increase provider...
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Coding is an often overlooked but critical aspect of health care. Dr. Victor Legner, a geriatrician with a wealth of knowledge in clinical documentation and coding integrity, unravels the intricate web of ICD-10 codes, hierarchical condition categories and risk adjustment factor scores, spotlighting how accurate coding is key to ensuring providers are adequately funded. Dr. Legner underscores the need to regularly update patients’ records to ensure all providers have up-to-date information about their patients’ conditions. The episode also discusses areas where coding mistakes are...
info_outlinePharmacy-led programs are critical to improving chronic conditions, reducing unnecessary utilization and lowering the total cost of care—all while keeping patient goals top of mind. Join us in the miniVHAN as we discuss the importance of antibiotic stewardship, practical ideas for developing a program in your organization, and key clinical and patient engagement opportunities to consider.
Have ideas to share or want to be a guest on the miniVHAN podcast? Contact us anytime at [email protected].
Guests this episode: Montgomery Green, PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist and Vaccines Medical Science Liaison at GSK | Danny Truelove, PharmD, BCPS, BCACP, AAHIVP, Director of Pharmacy for University Health Network at University of Tennessee Medical Center | Jacky Bradley, PharmD, MBA, Clinical pharmacist, Vanderbilt Health Affiliated Network