Best Labor Shortage Explained Podcasts (2025)

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

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1h 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In the past several months, the Trump administration has frozen, cancelled, or rescinded millions—even billions—of dollars in federal funding for scientific and clinical research.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

7d 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

14d 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

21d 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

28d 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

1M 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

1M 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

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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

3M 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

3M 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

3M 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

3M 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

4M 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

4M 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

4M 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

4M 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

4M 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

5M 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

5M 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

5M 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

5M 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

6M 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

6M 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

6M 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

6M 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

7M 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

7M 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

7M 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

7M 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

8M 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

8M 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

8M 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

8M 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

9M 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

10M 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

10M 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

10M 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

10M 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

11M 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…

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227: The changing tide of Medicare Advantage 20:29

11M ago20:29

20:29

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 started to change. And if you’ve been paying attention …

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226: It’s time to double down on operational excellence: Live from Advisory Board’s Strategy Summit 41:03

11M ago41:03

41:03

As care delivery becomes more complex and new disruptors join the scene, one thing has become clear: operational excellence is now table stakes in ensuring your organization’s financial sustainability and winning patients. In this episode, recorded live from Advisory Board’s 2024 Strategy Summit, guest host and Managing Director of Physician and Me…

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225: Patients are back – so why aren't hospital margins? 26:18

11M ago26:18

26:18

For years, health systems have been holding their breath to see if patient volumes would finally return to pre-pandemic levels. Because—per conventional wisdom--if volumes return, then so will operating margins. Right? Not so fast. In this episode, host Abby Burns invites Advisory Board experts Sebastian Beckmann and Elizabeth Orr to explore why wi…

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224: The $400M referral problem (and steps to fixing it) 24:56

11M ago24:56

24:56

Two weeks ago on Radio Advisory, we told our listeners that the number one area of focus for health system growth is operational excellence, and a major part of that is capturing all of the revenue on the table from your medical group. Healthcare organizations have spent the last decade buying up medical groups and physicians, in part because of th…

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223: What would it take for home-based care to take off? With Medically Home's Dr. Matt Richards 29:55

12M ago29:55

29:55

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid services released the Acute Hospital Care at Home payment waiver. The action was expected to usher in a new era of home-based care. But while it’s certainly grown in recent years, frankly, that massive shift hasn’t happened. The question is, why? This week, host Abby Burns i…

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[Encore] What the industry is (still) getting wrong about value-based care 27:25

12M ago27:25

27:25

(This episode originally aired on September 26, 2023.) Value-based care has been dominating industry conversations in recent years. Here on Radio Advisory, we talk a lot about best practices, how to make the right investments, and how to best prepare leaders for the future of value-based care. But given all this momentum, we want to spend time aski…

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222: It's not just GLP-1s; here's what comprehensive weight management looks like 25:45

1y ago25:45

25:45

In the last few years, all eyes have turned to GLP-1s as an industry-altering answer to obesity treatment and weight management. But the fact is, these drugs can’t – and shouldn’t – work in a vacuum. There is a fear that attention on GLP-1s may even blind leaders to the other services that go into providing effective obesity care. So, what should l…

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221: How will health system growth look different in 2025 and beyond? 25:12

1y ago25:12

25:12

When we talk about “health systems,” it can sound like we’re talking about a monolith. But in reality, the $1.4 trillion dollar health system sector is made up of a diverse range of players. Academics and safety nets; urban and rural systems; 1,000-bed systems and 25-bed critical access hospitals. The question is, especially as systems emerge from …