Category: PODCAST

Dr. Washington is a prominent figure in healthcare transformation serving in the capacity of thought-leader, advocate, researcher and performance improvement expert who has worked with healthcare systems, U.S. government agencies and numerous policymaker groups to ensure that patient-centered and equitable approaches are at the heart of healthcare redesign. Dr. Washington founded and serves as President & CEO of ATW Health Solutions, a management consulting and research firm based in Chicago and board member for National Quality Forum (Washington DC). Shaped by her passion and belief in social justice, Knitasha has earned recognition nationally for her work in quality improvement, patient and family engagement, health equity and patient safety.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

· Hear about the latest innovative trends in person and family engagement

· Understanding how research findings tell the story of past successes in patient safety outcomes

· Lessons learned and best practices in stakeholder engagement

· The importance of accountability to sustain meaningful PFE

In this episode…

Dr. Knitasha Washington discusses the current state of person, family, and stakeholder engagement. She elevates the innovation and impact of patient safety research and outcomes. The importance of elevating diverse and underrepresented community partners such as Indigenous Lifeways to drive change is discussed. You will be inspired and empowered into action.

Jayanti Bandyopadhyay is a Health Researcher at Mathematica who currently serves as the Measure Development Task Lead on the Electronic Clinical Quality Measures Development and Maintenance for Eligible Clinicians (EC-ECQM) project. She formerly worked as a Healthcare Administrator for a rural health center in Cape Cod, where she learned firsthand how clinical quality measures drive improvements in care delivery.

Christine Holland has served as Senior Health Researcher at Mathematica for over ten years. In her experience, she has supported and led multi-faceted, large-scale team projects that develop, test, and maintain quality measures across hospital settings. She leads as Project Director on the EC-ECQM project. Beyond project tasks, Christine advances the work via recruitment, proposal support, and increasing documentation and lessons learned to guide company efforts. She earned her master’s from the University of California, Berkeley.

Emma Bickel is a Health Analyst at Mathematica. She currently serves as the Measures Development and Technical Expert Panel Coordinator on the EC-ECQM project. She has supported quality measure development projects for about three years in her role.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

· The roles of measurement and measures development in care delivery

· The importance of engaging patients in measures development processes

· The impact that patients have had on Mathematica’s measurement projects

· The future of patient-centered measurement in health care systems from Mathematica’s perspective

In this episode…

At some point, everyone will be a patient, caregiver, or someone in relation to them. Thus, care delivery is essential for all, and measures keep health systems accountable for ensuring that patients receive quality care. Specifically, clinical quality measures help us understand if a provider completely and safely delivers clinical services appropriate for the patient and in the right timeframe. With this information, we know what happens to patients when they are under care and how to approach making improvements.

Throughout measures development processes, developers must hold the patient voice at the forefront of the discussion. In Mathematica’s project experience, bringing the patient’s perspective into every phase advances healthcare transformation. Since patients interact with every aspect of the health system, they offer insights on the quality of care in clinical work that may be unknown to the measure developers. The result is more efficient care and better health outcomes.

In this episode of the Patient Partner Innovation Community podcast, Desiree Bradley is joined by Jayanti Bandyopadhyay, Christine Holland, and Emma Bickel from Mathematica to discuss the importance of using patient lived experience in measures development.

Lisa Sloane is the Founder and CEO of More Inclusive Healthcare (MIH), a social enterprise that helps healthcare organizations provide more culturally responsive care. Through training and consultation, MIH is working to deliver equitable healthcare for all patients — no matter their race, gender, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

In addition to this, Lisa chairs the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee for The Ohio State University’s Health Services Management & Policy Alumni Society. She is also a member of the Queen City Chapter of The Links, Incorporated.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

• Why Dr. Knitasha Washington and Desiree Bradley started their journey in patient-centered healthcare
• What are the flaws within the healthcare system, and how can we begin to improve it?
• How ATW Health Solutions is helping organizations develop strategies and integrate the precepts of equity
• The organizations Dr. Washington and Desiree have worked with — and what they learned from these partnerships
• Where to learn more about ATW Health Solutions’ work

In this episode…

The healthcare system has its limitations, including the inability to focus on eliminating health disparities. On top of that, funding is the primary driver of power in healthcare. So, how can we work towards change and put the focus on patients, families, and their communities?

For Dr. Knitasha Washington and Desiree Bradley, equity is their top priority. And according to Dr. Washington, every single organization can make a meaningful impact towards a more equitable system. But where do you begin? Dr. Washington, Desiree Bradley, and the team at ATW Health Solutions can point you in the right direction.

In this episode of the Patient Partner Innovation Community Podcast, Rise25 Co-founder Dr. Jeremy Weisz speaks with Co-hosts Dr. Knitasha Washington and Desiree Bradley about their approach toward a patient-centered healthcare system. They discuss the disparities within the system, how they help other organizations develop strategies for change, and how they’re working to create a system that is meaningful to providers, patients, and caregivers. Stay tuned!

Resources Mentioned in this episode

• ATW Health Solutions
• Dr. Knitasha Washington on LinkedIn
• Theory of Change for an Equitable, Patient-Centered Measurement Ecosystem That Supports an Advanced Healthcare System by Knitasha V. Washington, DHA, MHA, FACHE, Ellen Schultz, MS, Desiree Bradley Hala Durrah, MTA, and Karen Frazier, PhD
• American Institutes for Research (AIR)
• Dr. Jeremy Weisz on LinkedIn
• Rise25

Sponsor for this episode…

This episode is brought to you by ATW Health Solutions.

ATW Health Solutions is a Chicago-based healthcare advisory and consulting firm that has gained national recognition for transforming healthcare delivery systems from ordinary to best-in-class. 

At ATW Health Solutions, we use a data-driven, evidence-based approach to make healthcare better by focusing on improving quality, safety, and health equity in organizations and government agencies. 

Simply put, we create and implement innovative solutions for the right problems and the right people. 

So, what are you waiting for?

To learn more, visit our website today or contact us by email at info@atwhealth.com.

Precious McCowan is a National PFE, which is a Personal Family Engagement champion. Precious is a two-time kidney transplant recipient, and since 2015, has been a patient advocate for End-Stage Renal Disease at the ESRD Network 14. In 2020, she became a member at large for the Kidney Transplant Committee, and she takes part in the eGFR workgroup.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

• Precious McCowan talks about why she joined the ESRD Network 14
• Precious’ diagnosis and how that motivated her to take control of her health
• The handwashing campaign’s impact on dialysis patients
• Precious’ advice to help patients become more engaged

In this episode…

Receiving a diagnosis can be disheartening. Precious McCowan had graduated college, started a new career, and began a family when she was diagnosed with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). She’s here to share how she motivated herself and became a shining light for those with ESRD.

Precious began dialysis without understanding the process, and she became out of tune with her health. After slipping into depression, Precious decided that she was going to turn her mindset around. She researched her illness, directed questions toward her healthcare providers, and became an advocate for herself. Now, she’s helping others do the same.

In this episode of Patient Partner Innovation Community Podcast, Desiree Bradley sits down with Precious McCowan, National Personal Family Engagement champion, to discuss her journey through End-Stage Renal Disease. Precious talks about patient advocacy, the mentorship programs and campaigns she’s created, her advice to those coping with an illness, and more. You don’t want to miss this insightful episode!

Resources Mentioned in this episode

• ATW Health Solutions
• ESRD Network 14
• Transforming Clinical Practice Initiative (TCPI)
• CMS Quality Conference

Sponsor for this episode…

This episode is brought to you by ATW Health Solutions.

ATW Health Solutions is a Chicago-based healthcare advisory and consulting firm that has gained national recognition for transforming healthcare delivery systems from ordinary to best-in-class. 

At ATW Health Solutions, we use a data-driven, evidence-based approach to make healthcare better by focusing on improving quality, safety, and health equity in organizations and government agencies. 

Simply put, we create and implement innovative solutions for the right problems and the right people. 

So, what are you waiting for?

To learn more, visit our website today or contact us by email at info@atwhealth.com.

Danielle Jones is the Director of Diversity and Health Equity at the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). AAFP is a national membership organization that represents family doctors. It helps promote, support, and advance patient and community health.

Danielle is a diversity, equity, and inclusion professional with skills in policy development and evaluation, strategic planning, public speaking, and project management and training. She possesses a track record of managing complex cross-functional projects in various environments. Danielle Jones holds a Ph.D. in Health Policy & Management from the University of Kansas Medical Center and a Master’s of Public Health from the University of West Florida.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

• Danielle Jones explains what the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) is and talks about her role in the organization
• How the AAFP promotes diversity and inclusion through The EveryONE Project
• Where to get information about The EveryONE Project
• The feedback that the AAFP has received from healthcare providers
• Danielle’s advice on how to make diversity in the medical field a priority

In this episode…

The medical field has a diverse workforce in terms of gender, race, sexual orientation, ethnicity, and geographical distribution. It also provides healthcare services to patients from diverse backgrounds and with different social statuses. Therefore, there is a need to provide as much education and training as possible about diversity and inclusion.

In a bid to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the medical community, the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) advocates for healthy policies all over the country. They help support healthy lifestyles by providing education and practice tools to both healthcare practitioners and local communities. They also promote interdisciplinary collaboration and organize events to provide better medical education to the community.

In this episode of the Patient Partner Innovation Community podcast, Desiree Bradley is joined by Danielle Jones, the Director of Diversity and Health Equity at the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), to talk about the organization’s work in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the medical community. They also discuss AAFP’s EveryONE Project, FMX event, and the EveryONE Project Neighborhood Navigator tool.

Resources Mentioned in this episode

• ATW Health Solutions
• Dr. Knitasha Washington on LinkedIn
• American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)
• Danielle Jones on LInkedIn
• Family Medicine Experience (FMX)
• The EveryONE Project
• The EveryONE Project Neighborhood Navigator

Sponsor for this episode…

This episode is brought to you by ATW Health Solutions.

ATW Health Solutions is a Chicago-based healthcare advisory and consulting firm that has gained national recognition for transforming healthcare delivery systems from ordinary to best-in-class. 

At ATW Health Solutions, we use a data-driven, evidence-based approach to make healthcare better by focusing on improving quality, safety, and health equity in organizations and government agencies. 

Simply put, we create and implement innovative solutions for the right problems and the right people. 

So, what are you waiting for?

To learn more, visit our website today or contact us by email at info@atwhealth.com.

Kiva Harper is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Clinical Director of Harper Counseling and Consulting Services, PLLC, in Arlington, Texas. Kiva is passionate about dispelling community stigma and offering highly personalized treatment to clients as a trauma-focused therapist. Her supporting specialties include depression and anxiety, conflict resolution, stress management, and career-related issues.

Kiva also serves as an Associate Professor in Practice in the School of Social Work at the University of Texas at Arlington, where she earned her MSSW.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

• The prevalence of mental illness and stigma within the Black community
• The rise of Black youth suicide completion
• Impact of COVID-19 on Black youth and mental health resource usage
• The necessity of diverse representation in mental health care
• Mistrust towards health systems historically made to operate against Black populations

In this episode…

Black populations are disproportionately incarcerated and likely to live below poverty lines. Similarly, Black people are disproportionately affected by mental health issues.

During the pandemic, many people have been experiencing isolation, loss, grief, anxiety, and financial stress. Children of the current generation operate under a heavy load as they cope with personal COVID-19 impact and attend school with limited academic and social development access.

 

Here and now, there is a dire need to turn to mental health resources and dispel stigma. Notably, however, Black populations’ already limited access to healthcare has been further hindered by obstacles resulting from COVID-19. Historically, systems have not been designed to cater to Black people, and in many ways, this contributes to hesitancy around seeking mental health support.

 

In this episode of the Patient Partner Innovation Community podcast, Desiree Bradley is joined by Kiva Harper, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Clinical Director of Harper Counseling and Consulting Services, PLLC, in Arlington, Texas, to discuss the prevalence of mental health disparities amongst the Black community.

Resources Mentioned in this episode

Traumatic grief training will be led by Kiva Harper and introduced to social media on September 30th.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kiva-harper-lcsw-s-she-her-8a7b7057

https://instagram.com/kivatharper?utm_medium=copy_link

Sponsor for this episode…

This episode is brought to you by ATW Health Solutions.

ATW Health Solutions is a Chicago-based healthcare advisory and consulting firm that has gained national recognition for transforming healthcare delivery systems from ordinary to best-in-class. 

At ATW Health Solutions, we use a data-driven, evidence-based approach to make healthcare better by focusing on improving quality, safety, and health equity in organizations and government agencies. 

Simply put, we create and implement innovative solutions for the right problems and the right people. 

So, what are you waiting for?

To learn more, visit our website today or contact us by email at info@atwhealth.com.

Deirdre Gilberts is a patient’s rights advocate, author, entrepreneur, and writer. She serves as founder and National Director of the National Medical Malpractice Advocacy Association, created in 2011 due to her daughter Jocelyn’s death by medical error. Deirdre activates high standards of ethics and morality to ensure non-abuse of the powers entrusted to the medical profession by the American people.

The repeated refusal to take constitutional safeguards that protect individuals from immoral equality has been the defining reason for her running for Governor of Texas. Born and raised in Houston, she has earned her M.A. in Educational Administration and B.S. in Political Science and Mass Communication from Prairie View A&M University.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

• Development and charge of the National Medical Malpractice Advocacy Association
• Beloved Jocelyn Y. Dickson’s story of medical error
• Misinformation of the Tort Reform bill
• Advice to patients and families who are victims of medical error
• Advice to providers to engage patients and address medical negligence

In this episode…

The National Medical Malpractice Advocacy Association (NMMAA) is a nonprofit organization whose work centers around education and activism throughout the US. NMMAA was created for citizens of the state, beginning in Texas, who were harmed by medical error. Before its development, there was no organization anywhere on behalf of the patient.

Deirdre shares the story of perseverance that kept her daughter with CHARGE Syndrome alive for 22 years and the tragedy that took her life as written in her memoir “Momma Please Help Me,” entitled with Jocelyn’s final words. To date, not enough attention has been brought to the issue of medical error and negligence. Practitioners are urged to do no harm and to speak out against systemic and individual incidents of negligence.

In this episode of the Patient Partner Innovation Community podcast, Desiree Bradley is joined by Deirdre Gilbert, National Director of the NMMAA in Missouri City, TX, to discuss her personal and professional insights into the prevalence of medical error and negligence.

Resources Mentioned in this episode

• National Medical Malpractice Advocacy Association – https://www.nmmaa.org/
• Consumer Watchdog – https://www.consumerwatchdog.org/
• Jocelyn Y. Dickson Foundation – https://www.jocelyndickson.com/about_us

Sponsor for this episode…

This episode is brought to you by ATW Health Solutions.

ATW Health Solutions is a Chicago-based healthcare advisory and consulting firm that has gained national recognition for transforming healthcare delivery systems from ordinary to best-in-class. 

At ATW Health Solutions, we use a data-driven, evidence-based approach to make healthcare better by focusing on improving quality, safety, and health equity in organizations and government agencies. 

Simply put, we create and implement innovative solutions for the right problems and the right people. 

So, what are you waiting for?

To learn more, visit our website today or contact us by email at info@atwhealth.com.

Deirdre Gilberts is a patient’s rights advocate, author, entrepreneur, and writer. She serves as founder and National Director of the National Medical Malpractice Advocacy Association, created in 2011 due to her daughter Jocelyn’s death by medical error. Deirdre activates high standards of ethics and morality to ensure non-abuse of the powers entrusted to the medical profession by the American people.

The repeated refusal to take constitutional safeguards that protect individuals from immoral equality has been the defining reason for Deirdre’s running for Governor of Texas. Born and raised in Houston, she has earned her M.A. in Educational Administration and B.S. in Political Science and Mass Communication from Prairie View A&M University.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

• Deirdre’s motivations for running for Governor of Texas
• The relationship between health policy and government to healthcare
• How patients can become more involved in health policy
• The Greater National Advocates resource founded by L. Bradley Schwartz
• Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act and limitations on health systems’ legal liability during the COVID-19 pandemic

In this episode…

The United States has no constitutional safeguards that protect individuals from immoral equality in healthcare systems. Many healthcare policies support systemic racism and have lasting effects on medical injustices. Thus, who is elected to office and the decisions they make directly affect healthcare outcomes. Deirdre shares that she is running for Governor of Texas in honor of her daughter Jocelyn and ensuring accountability for medical negligence.

Having the informed consent of our health keeps us healthy, and community partnerships with hospitals are pivotal for holding health systems accountable. Given that medical injustices come about when patients’ medical records are inaccessible, patients are encouraged to converse with legislative leaders, ask physicians questions, and educate themselves with available information.

In this episode of the Patient Partner Innovation Community podcast, Desiree Bradley is joined by Deirdre Gilberts, National Director of the NMMAA in Missouri City, TX, to discuss efforts to defend safeguards that prevent harm from medical error.

Resources Mentioned in this episode

• National Medical Malpractice Advocacy Association – https://www.nmmaa.org/
• The Greater National Advocates – https://www.gnanow.org/
• Congressional Research Service’s report on the Prep Act – https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/LSB/LSB10443
• Prep Act – https://www.congress.gov/109/plaws/publ148/PLAW-109publ148.pdf#page=140

Sponsor for this episode…

This episode is brought to you by ATW Health Solutions.

ATW Health Solutions is a Chicago-based healthcare advisory and consulting firm that has gained national recognition for transforming healthcare delivery systems from ordinary to best-in-class. 

At ATW Health Solutions, we use a data-driven, evidence-based approach to make healthcare better by focusing on improving quality, safety, and health equity in organizations and government agencies. 

Simply put, we create and implement innovative solutions for the right problems and the right people. 

So, what are you waiting for?

To learn more, visit our website today or contact us by email at info@atwhealth.com.

Geri Lynn Baumblatt, MA, has worked in health literacy, patient education, technology, and patient, family, and clinician experience for over 20 years. She co-founded the Difference Collaborative & Difference Collaborative Alliance, which supports family caregivers. Geri serves as the Chief Engagement Officer at Docola, a social good health tech company with a free patient education and communication platform. She also serves on the Patient Experience Policy Forum, the American Telemedicine Assoc ORCHA team, and was recently appointed to PCORI’s Patient Engagement Advisory Panel. 

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

·         The importance of raising awareness on difficult experiences of caregiving

·         How employers and health professionals can support individuals who serve as caregivers

·         The understated issues related to equity for caregivers

·         Resources available to patients and caregivers on the Docola website

In this episode…

Geri shares her expertise in patient advocacy, engagement, and education, as well as her personal experience as a caregiver for her beloved father.

 

Family members who serve as caregivers often do not recognize the heaviness of this role. As a result, they may not identify the need or know how to ask for help. With most of one’s time spent at work, employers need to be proactive in cultivating a culture of support. Moreover, clinicians should consider the impact of caregiving on their patients’ wellbeing.

 

Complex circumstances surrounding caregiving presents the issue of inequity. It is imperative that patients and caregivers can access resources to improve engagement and build relationships with health providers.

 

In this episode of the Patient Partner Innovation Community podcast, Desiree Bradley is joined by Geri Lynn Baumblatt, Chief Engagement Officer at Docola, to raise awareness on the difficulties of providing hands-on care for loved ones.

 

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Difference Collaborative – A non-profit and LLC website co-founded by Geri

Docola – A free patient education and communication platform