In this solo episode, host Erik Sunset explores two critical studies, the first on physician burnout and the second on practical solutions for ASC leaders. Discover how dedicating just one 20-30 minute appointment slot per day for administrative work reduced after-hours EHR use by 53 minutes and cut physician burnout by 81%. 

Erik also digs into CHG Healthcare's latest findings showing only 18% of physicians are highly engaged at work, and why leadership trust remains a key driver of satisfaction. 

Plus, get reflections from the recent CASCA conference panel on data utilization and challenging the "status quo" in surgery centers. If you're looking to improve physician engagement and operational efficiency heading into 2025, this episode is packed with actionable insights.

Links from the show:

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2842168

https://chghealthcare.com/blog/physicians-engaged-new-study

In this episode, host Erik sits down with Phil Sayles, CEO of Summate Technologies, to discuss a critical yet overlooked problem in healthcare: the analog documentation process for surgical implants.

Drawing on his 16 years as a device rep for Synthes, Phil explains why operating rooms still rely on pen, paper, and sticky notes to track millions of dollars in medical implants. From missing implant data in patient records to week long revenue cycles at ambulatory surgery centers, the current manual system is inefficient, error prone, and potentially unsafe.

Phil walks through Summate's Velocity solution, which automates surgical documentation at the point of use, eliminating data entry burdens on nurses, accelerating revenue cycles for ASCs, improving patient safety through FDA recall checks, and helping device manufacturers better manage their field inventory.

The conversation also tackles the cultural resistance to automation in healthcare, the parallels to retail's 20-year journey to adopt barcode scanning, and why this technology benefits every stakeholder, from patients and nurses to surgeons and device reps.

Whether you're in healthcare IT, surgery center operations, or medical device sales, this episode offers a fascinating look at how automation can finally solve the "final mile" problem in surgical care.

Links from the episode:

https://www.scanimplants.com/

https://www.summate.net/

We're three weeks into a government shutdown with no end in sight, and the healthcare industry is caught in the crossfire. Marc Ryan, Chief Solutions Officer at Lilac Software and author of The Healthcare Labyrinth, joins host Erik Sunset to break down what's really at stake as Democrats and Republicans dig in their heels over ACA subsidy extensions and healthcare cuts.

From the $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid and exchanges in the "One Big Beautiful Bill" to the ongoing Medicare physician payment crisis, Marc explains why these aren't just Washington politics—they're existential threats to independent physicians, FQHCs, and patient access to care. Discover why Marc argues these are "dumb cuts" and what smarter alternatives like site-neutral payments could accomplish instead.

Plus: Are Trump's drug pricing deals too good to be true? Marc warns that Big Pharma may be hoodwinking the administration with cosmetic concessions while avoiding real price reform. And with Medicare Advantage in financial turmoil and benefits contracting for 2025-2026, what should consumers expect during this year's open enrollment?

If you want the unvarnished truth about what's happening in healthcare policy right now, this episode delivers.

See Marc's work at Lilac Software and at The Healthcare Labyrinth.

As always, be sure to follow DocBuddy on LinkedIn.

#governmentshutdown #healthcare #healthcarepodcast #healthITpodcast 

In this episode, we explore 2025's healthcare IT investment landscape and what it means for overwhelmed providers. Learn which technologies are getting funded, why workflow integration matters more than flashy features, and how to evaluate solutions that actually save time.

Special thanks to KLAS Research and Bain & Company for their report.

#HealthIT #HealthcarePodcast #HealthITPodcast

Join DocBuddy Journal hosts Erik Sunset and Kiera Helms as they dive into the real-world experience of implementing new healthcare technology in ambulatory surgery centers. Kiera, one of DocBuddy's account managers, shares stories from her recent field implementations, revealing how surgery centers are moving from legacy systems to modern solutions like Op Note.

Discover what it's really like on the ground from surgeon adoption to revenue cycle impacts that save facilities thousands in denied claims. Hear about the staffing challenges ASCs face, how administrators are jumping between roles, and why the healthcare technology landscape is finally shifting toward solutions that actually delight users.

Follow DocBuddy on LinkedIn

#ASC #ambulatorysurgery #surgerycenter #healthIT #healthITpodcast #healthcarepodcast

Join host Erik Sunset, DocBuddy's Chief Revenue Officer, as he sits down with Greg DeConciliis, Administrator of Boston Outpatient Surgical Suites, to explore the winning strategies behind one of New England's most successful ambulatory surgery centers. From humble beginnings in 2004 as a 3-OR facility to their upcoming expansion to an 8-OR, state-of-the-art center, Greg shares the blueprint for sustainable ASC growth.

Greg also pulls back the curtain on everything from managing surgeon preferences and turnover times to creating patient experiences that drive word-of-mouth referrals. Whether you're an ASC administrator, physician owner, or healthcare leader, this conversation offers practical, actionable insights for building a thriving surgery center.

Get more information and register for the upcoming MAASC Annual Conference

Connect with Greg on LinkedIn

Follow DocBuddy on LinkedIn

#ASC #surgerycenter #AI #healthcarepodcast #healthcareIT

All of us at DocBuddy wish you a happy National ASC Month!

In this episode, we covered resources to help you celebrate + advocate on behalf of your surgery center and the industry at large.  Visit our good friends at ASCA to get their resources and learn how you can participate in National Advocacy Day in Washington DC using this link.

We also discussed user feedback from a recent DocBuddy Op Note go live.  Finally, we shared where you can see DocBuddy in person through the month of September.

#ASCA #outpatientsurgery #ambulatorysurgery #surgerycenter #healthIT #healthITpodcast #healthcarepodcast.

ASCs are losing money every single day through poor block time utilization, but it doesn't have to be this way. In this episode, Erik Sunset, DocBuddy's Chief Revenue Officer and host of the DocBuddy Journal, breaks down the Becker's article that's got the industry talking about underutilized ORs, scheduling inefficiencies, and the anesthesia shortage crisis. Erik shares game changing strategies that are actionable to maximize your OR capacity, from analytics-driven scheduling to collaborative approaches with referring clinics. 2025 might be the year ASCs finally embrace meaningful technology solutions like DocBuddy's own solution in Op Note.

Take a look at the article here.

Follow DocBuddy on LinkedIn.

In this episode of the DocBuddy Journal, host Erik Sunset sits down with Jessica Bush, founder and CEO of Real Change RN, to explore what separates great healthcare leaders from managers.

Jessica shares powerful insights on building authentic relationships, establishing trust through vulnerability, and creating a culture where teams want to follow rather than just comply. Drawing from her personal experience as both a healthcare professional and a patient advocate for her daughter, she reveals the three critical questions team members ask about their leaders: Can you help me? Do you care about me? Can I trust you?

Connect with Jessica Bush on LinkedIn.

Follow DocBuddy on LinkedIn.

#ASC #Leadership #Culture

Join host Erik and Marc Ryan, Chief Solutions Officer of Lilac Software, as they dissect the latest congressional budget reconciliation drama and the "Big Beautiful Bill's" impact on healthcare. With razor-thin margins in both chambers, Republicans are pushing through nearly $1 trillion in healthcare cuts while Trump launches a drug pricing reform campaign. From Medicaid work requirements to Medicare physician payment fixes, discover what's really happening behind the political rhetoric.

Together, Erik and Marc break down the real impact of Congress's budget reconciliation battle while examining Trump's pivot on drug pricing reform. Is this dollars-and-cents budgeting or a stealth attack on healthcare coverage? Get the unvarnished truth about what's actually happening in Washington and what it means for patients, providers, and the future of American healthcare.

Connect with Marc Ryan on LinkedIn

Follow DocBuddy on LinkedIn

#healthcarepodcast #healthcareitpodcast

America's surgery centers are caught in a perfect storm: physician shortages that have tripled anesthesia costs, a vanishing workforce of surgical technicians, and Medicare policies so out of alignment that patients pay more for outpatient surgery than hospital procedures. We sat down with Rena Courtay, VP of Ambulatory Surgery at Trinity Health and ASCA Board officer, to unpack the physician and anesthesia shortage, why some surgery centers are scrambling to fill sterile processing jobs, and how legislators are working to modernize Medicare's copay structure. 

Major insurers like United are finally pushing procedures out of expensive hospitals and into surgery centers. Plus, AI is about to revolutionize medical billing and coding in ways that could save the industry billions.

Connect with Rena on LinkedIn.

Follow DocBuddy on LinkedIn.

#ASC #Anesthesia #SurgeryCenters

Host Erik Sunset returns after a brief hiatus to discuss DocBuddy's innovative Op Note app, which transforms how ambulatory surgery centers handle operative reports. 

Erik also shared key insights from McDermott Will and Emery's HealthEx event in Nashville, highlighting key takeaways from the C-Suite panel featuring leaders from Surgery Partners, SCA Health, Regent Surgical, and AMSURG. 

Learn how DocBuddy's technology is addressing the critical need for tech adoption in ASCs by eliminating transcription delays, enabling instant operative reports, and dramatically accelerating the revenue cycle. 

Erik also announced upcoming events where you can see DocBuddy in action, including Gulf State's Excellence, Becker's Spine and Pain, Arizona ASCA, Texas ASC Society (TASCS), and Florida Society of ASCs (FSASC).

#healthex #outpatientsurgery #ambulatorysurgery #surgerycenter

In this eye-opening episode of The DocBuddy Journal, host Erik welcomes Shannen Aguayo and Nyleen Flores, hosts of the rapidly growing Credentialing Chronicles podcast. They dive deep into the often opaque world of medical credentialing and enrollment, exploring best practices and alarming stories from the front lines.

The conversation covers crucial recommendations for medical providers managing their credentialing documents, the bureaucratic challenges of getting insurance panel approval, and shocking examples of how credentialing failures can impact patient safety. Shannen and Nyleen don't hold back as they discuss the ethical dilemmas facing healthcare facilities when revenue needs clash with credentialing standards.

The trio also examines the evolving role of AI in healthcare documentation, the frustrations of dealing with insurance company policies, and why greater transparency is desperately needed throughout the credentialing process. 

Listen to Credentialing Chronicles.

Connect with Shannen and Nyleen on LinkedIn.

Follow DocBuddy on LinkedIn.

#medicalcredentialing #credentialingchronicles #spillthetea #spillingthetea

In this inspiring episode of The DocBuddy Journal, host Kiera Helms interviews Dr. Peter Daly, an orthopedic surgeon, and his wife Lulu Daly, a pediatric nurse, about their remarkable journey founding One World Surgery. What began as a single act of compassion for a young Honduran girl named Angela has blossomed into a global nonprofit that serves over 27,000 patients annually across Honduras and the Dominican Republic.

The Dalys share how their family-centered approach to medical missions created a sustainable model for delivering high-quality surgical care to those most in need. Through permanent facilities staffed by local medical professionals and supported by international volunteers, One World Surgery has pioneered an ethical approach to addressing the "neglected stepchild of public health" - surgical care in underserved regions.

Listeners will discover how these medical missions not only transform the lives of patients but also reignite the passion and purpose of healthcare providers experiencing burnout. The Dalys explain how anyone—regardless of medical background—can contribute to their mission, and share their vision for expanding education and deepening their impact in the communities they serve.

Learn more about One World Surgery.
Apply to join a One World Surgery mission trip.
Donate to One World Surgery.

In this episode of The DocBuddy Journal, Marc Ryan, Chief Solutions Officer of Lilac Software, provides an in-depth analysis of the current U.S. healthcare landscape. From the complexities of drug pricing and Medicare reimbursement to the challenges facing healthcare providers, Marc offers expert insights into the critical issues affecting patients, providers, and the healthcare system as a whole. 

Discover the potential for systemic reform and the key factors shaping the future of healthcare delivery and affordability.

Connect with Marc on LinkedIn
Follow Liliac Software on LinkedIn
Get Marc's content: The Healthcare Labyrinth

Be sure to follow DocBuddy on LinkedIn!

#healthcare #healthcarepolicy #healthcarepolicyreform #healthcarepodcast #healthITpodcast

In this powerful episode of The DocBuddy Journal, host Kiera Helms welcomes Dr. Stefanie Simmons, Chief Medical Officer of The Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes' Foundation. Dr. Simmons shares the foundation's origin story, born from tragedy when emergency physician Dr. Lorna Breen died by suicide during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic after expressing fears about seeking mental health support.

The conversation explores the foundation's three-pronged approach to healthcare worker well-being: advocacy, advancing collaboration, and accelerating solutions. Dr. Simmons discusses their successful efforts to pass federal legislation supporting healthcare worker mental health, their work to eliminate stigmatizing mental health questions from medical licensing applications across states, and their "All In Caring for Caregivers" program.

As an emergency physician herself, Dr. Simmons brings valuable perspective on the unique challenges healthcare workers face when prioritizing their own mental health. The episode highlights the importance of addressing both individual support through coaching and peer programs and tackling systemic issues like administrative burden and EHR optimization. Listeners will learn about concrete resources available through the foundation and ways to get involved in this critical mission to destigmatize mental healthcare for those who care for others.

Links from this show:

• Impact Wellbeing Guide: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/healthcare/impactwellbeingguide/index.html
• Ambassador Application: https://drlornabreen.org/become-an-ambassador/
• Licensing Board Advocacy: https://drlornabreen.org/contact-boards/
• Credentialing Toolkit: https://drlornabreen.org/removebarriers/
• Donate: https://drlornabreen.org/donate/

In this eye-opening episode of the DocBuddy Journal, host Erik Sunset sits down with John Williamson, founder and CEO of Lockbox AI, to explore the frustrating state of healthcare technology and the revolutionary potential of AI solutions. 

John shares his candid perspective on why EHRs have stagnated despite billions in government incentives, the staffing crisis gripping healthcare organizations, and why the future belongs to integrated AI solutions that deliver outcomes rather than more tools. 

Discover why healthcare needs to embrace the "service as software" approach, how AI can unify fragmented data systems, and why John predicts an iPhone-like revolution that will finally transform healthcare technology by decade's end.

Whether you're a healthcare provider drowning in administrative work or a technology leader seeking better solutions, this conversation offers both validation and a vision for a more efficient future.

Learn more about John's work at LockboxAI
Follow LockboxAI on LinkedIn
Email John john@lockboxai.com

Be sure to follow DocBuddy on LinkedIn!

#healthcarepodcast #healthitpodcast #aiinhealthcare

In this episode, host Erik welcomes back Bill Prentice, President of the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA). Bill shares exciting updates on ASCA's initiatives, including their decision to make all virtual education free for members. 

The conversation explores ASCA's key priorities for 2025, including advocating for expanded Medicare-approved procedures, refining quality reporting measures, and improving reimbursement rates that better reflect the value ASCs provide to the healthcare system. Bill also discusses how the new Trump administration presents fresh opportunities for ASC advocacy and cost-efficient healthcare delivery. 

Learn more about and register for the 2025 ASCA Annual Conference taking place in Denver, CO from April 30 - May 3.

In this episode of The DocBuddy Journal, host Erik Sunset sits down with Eric Passon, founder and CEO of Ancore Health. They discuss the evolving landscape of healthcare in 2025, exploring how medical groups can thrive amid fee schedule cuts, staffing challenges, and cultural shifts. 

Passon shares his expertise on building high-performing medical groups through strong physician leadership, transparent performance metrics, and alignment between financial sustainability and organizational mission. 

The conversation covers the transition from RVU-based incentives to purpose-driven operations, the impact of AI on healthcare efficiency, and practical strategies for navigating uncertainty in the new year. Essential listening for healthcare leaders seeking to balance robust fundamentals with transformative purpose.

Follow Ancore Health on LinkedIn.

As always, be sure you're following DocBuddy on LinkedIn, too!

#healthcarepodcast #healthit #healthitpodcast

As an orthopaedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist, Dr. Steven Gorin, DO, is passionate about helping his patients of all ages at the Institute of Sports Medicine & Orthopaedics maintain active and healthy lives.

In this wide ranging conversation we covered topics like:

• Overcoming payer denials and issues
• Fixing reimbursement
• The importance of independent physicians
• Driving positive culture
• AI in healthcare

Connect with Dr. Gorin:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Facebook
• X (Twitter) 

Be sure to follow DocBuddy on LinkedIn as well.

#healthcarepodcast #orthopedics #orthopedicsurgeon #HealthIT #MedicalSoftware

Dr. John Yaft is a board-certified internal medicine physician that is currently the Chief Medical Officer for the Baylor Scott and White Irving Campus. Dr. Yaft also serves as medical director of Utilization review and holds an adjunct clinical associate professor of medicine for Texas A&M working with residents at the flagship campus, Baylor University Medical Center. 

Dr. Yaft joined the show to discuss big picture ways to fix healthcare in the US, ways to alleviate feelings of burnout, and the provider's experience with Health IT and medical software.

Connect with Dr. Yaft on LinkedIn.

As always, be sure to follow DocBuddy on LinkedIn as well.

#providerburnout #physicianburnout #HealthIT #MedicalSoftware

Mark Schroeder is the VP of Growth at Aroris Healthcare.  Aroris improves the viability of private practices and health systems by closing the gap between the value they provide and the revenue they earn.

Get insights into ways your healthcare organization can increase reimbursement through strategic contract negotiations in this episode of the show.

Connect with Mark on LinkedIn.  Follow Aroris on LinkedIn.  Get in touch with Aroris on their website.

As always, be sure to follow DocBuddy on LinkedIn as well.

#healthcarepodcast #healthcare #healthIT #insurance #insurancereimbursement #payernegotiation

In this episode we tackled two main topics:

1. Inflation and ASCs in 5 Numbers via Becker's ASC.
2. The Hidden Cost of ASC Transcription Services which is a new blog on docbuddy.com.

Follow DocBuddy on LinkedIn to get our latest news and updates.

#ASC #outpatientsurgery #ambulatorysurgery #surgerycenter #inflation

Dr. Alex Zusman is Chief Medical Officer at The Clinician where he oversees medical governance, develops clinical policies, and collaborates with product teams to ensure safety and compliance.  He’s also a board certified Pediatrician who has provided care at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals, John Muir Health, and Kaiser Permanente.

Dr. Zusman joined us to discuss the THA/TKA PRO-PM situation that is unfolding for ambulatory surgery centers.

Learn more about Dr. Zusman's work at The Clinician and connect with him on LinkedIn.

Follow DocBuddy on LinkedIn to get our latest news and updates.

#ASC #outpatientsurgery #ambulatorysurgery #surgerycenter #PRO-PM #THA/TKAPROPM

The inimitable Scott Becker joined this episode of the show to cover a wide array of topics including:

• AI in healthcare
• The outlook for 2025
• How to overcome the physician shortage

Get all of the latest healthcare news from the Becker's Healthcare portfolio of sites.
Connect with Scott on LinkedIn.
You can also text Scott at  (773) 766-5322.

Follow DocBuddy on LinkedIn to get our latest news and updates.

#physicianburnout #providerburnout #healthcarepodcast #healthit #aiinhealthcare