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Empowering Communities to Own Their Health—featuring Kristen Cerf

How do you inspire a community to take ownership of their health? If you ask Kristen Cerf, the secret lies in hiring staff from the community you serve and connecting people with the resources they need to improve their health. Kristen is President and CEO of <a href="https://www.blueshieldca.com/en/bsp" target="_blank">Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan</a>, where she is responsible for ensuring access to quality care for Blue Shield Promise’s 530,000 Medi-Cal members in Los Angeles and San Diego counties. Under Kristen’s guidance, Blue Shield Promise has delivered several initiatives improving access to and availability of person-centered care to California&#39;s underinsured, low income and medically underserved populations. On this episode of HLTH Matters, Kristen joins host Dr. Jessica Shepherd to discuss the future of grassroots efforts to promote health care in the community. Kristen explains how Blue Shield Promise helps members navigate the complexities of the Medi-Cal system, leveraging community health advocates to build health literacy and improve patient outcomes. Listen in for insight using data to provide support based on need and learn how Kristen’s team works with providers, community-based organizations and other nonprofits to better serve Blue Shield Promise members. Topics Covered<ul><li>How being a nonprofit organization benefits Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan</li><li>Why a grassroots approach inspires communities to take ownership of their health</li><li>How Blue Shield Promise helps members navigate the complexities of the Medi-Cal system</li><li>How Blue Shield Promise’s community health advocates work with providers to improve outcomes</li><li>Why so few grassroots community health programs exist in the US</li><li>How Kristen’s team uses data to deliver support based on need</li><li>How Kristen thinks about translating information obtained from Blue Shield Promise members into data </li><li>How Kristen’s team gets feedback from providers re: Blue Shield Promise patient outcomes</li><li>Why Kristen sites the Blue Shield Promise street medicine program among her greatest accomplishments</li></ul> Connect with Kristen Cerf<ul><li><a href="https://www.blueshieldca.com/en/bsp" target="_blank">Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan</a></li><li>Kristen on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristencerf/" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a></li></ul>Connect with Dr. Jessica Shepherd &amp; Dr. Gautam Gulati<ul><li><a href="https://www.hlth.com/" target="_blank">HLTH</a></li><li>Dr. Shepherd on <a href="https://twitter.com/JShepherd_MD" target="_blank">X</a></li><li>Dr. Shepherd on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-shepherd-md-mba-5ba9ab66/" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a></li><li>Dr. Gulati on <a href="https://twitter.com/drgautamgulati" target="_blank">X</a></li><li>Dr. Gulati on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/gautamgulati/" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a></li></ul>Resources<ul><li><a href="https://cheac.org/california-advancing-innovating-medi-cal-calaim/" target="_blank">California Advancing &amp;amp; Innovating Medi-Cal</a></li><li><a href="https://www.cpca.org/" target="_blank">California Primary Care Association Annual Conference</a></li><li><a href="https://promisenews.blueshieldca.com/our-community/community-resource-centers" target="_blank">Blue Shield Promise Community Health Centers</a></li></ul>

S4 E39: Empowering Communities to Own Their Health—featuring Kristen Cerf

President and Chief Executive Officer

Leveraging Tech to Apply New Biomedical Discoveries — featuring Lloyd Minor of S

S1 Ep4: Leveraging Tech to Apply New Biomedical Discoveries — featuring Lloyd Minor of Stanford Medicine

Dean

Normalizing Mental Health for Better Health—featuring Suzanne Kunis

It’s okay not to be okay; this is a reminder that mental health is a part of your health. In this episode, Suzanne Kunis, Founder, President, and CEO of NovaWell and VP of Behavioral Health Solutions for Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey, talks about her career’s work to integrate physical and behavioral health and the battle against stigma in mental care issues. She thoroughly explains how NovaWell and Horizon are trying various innovative approaches to behavioral health as they improve access and high-quality care. Suzanne also discusses how addressing stigma and normalizing mental health care would result in better outcomes for so many patients.  Tune in and listen to Suzanne’s take on behavioral health to learn about the work she’s doing to make it better and more accessible for those in need! About Suzanne Kunis:Suzanne Kunis is the Founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer of NovaWell, an affiliate of Horizon Healthcare Services, Inc. She also serves as Vice President of Behavioral Health Solutions for Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey. She brings over 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry with a significant focus on behavioral health. Suzanne is a registered nurse and moved from care delivery to healthcare management early in her career.   Suzanne is a nationally recognized industry expert and leads NovaWell, an organization born out of her success at Horizon. She was recruited to Horizon in March 2017 to develop and lead Horizon’s first-ever internal Behavioral Health strategy and team. Suzanne is responsible for all behavioral health strategic development and execution including the organization’s commitment to the integration of physical and behavioral health. Suzanne led the successful insourcing of behavioral health and a cultural and philosophical shift and commitment of integration within Horizon. NovaWell will be helping other health plans to achieve similar results. Suzanne is the ultimate behavioral health champion – the opioid crisis and continued battle to eliminate mental health stigma are priority items on her agenda and she works tirelessly to drive the message that “mental health is health” nationwide.    Prior to joining Horizon BCBSNJ, Suzanne served for 22 years as Senior Vice President of Behavioral Health Services for Magellan Health Services. She was the business owner for Magellan’s health plan (Commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid) and employer-client relationships. She was responsible for oversight and management of nationwide service delivery including member services, clinical operations, network development and management, quality, sales, EAP, and finance. During her tenure with Magellan, Suzanne developed a deep understanding of the behavioral health care issues facing our country and the long overdue recognition of the impact of behavioral health issues on comorbid medical conditions.   Suzanne also served as Senior Vice President of Account Management and Implementations for ComplexCare Solutions (CCS). CCS provided in-home risk adjustment assessments and care management services for its health plan clients.  After graduating from Thomas Jefferson University, College of Allied Health Sciences in Philadelphia, Suzanne began her nursing career at the East Orange Veterans Administration Hospital. She then began a 12-year career journey with which was then Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey where she served many roles including Vice President of the Individual Market segment. Things You’ll Learn:<ul><li>NovaWell and Horizon’s alliance seeks solutions to help people access behavioral healthcare when, where, and how they need it.</li><li>Behavioral health can impact more than 20% of the total medical cost, which is why treatments should also include a behavioral health perspective.</li><li>Horizon developed a platform with tools available like educational research, podcasts, a provider directory, and assessments, among others.</li><li>Horizon established a program centered around identifying patients that need different care options. </li><li>This program works with a community mental health provider that can refer them to get them the care they need.</li><li>Between 40 and 50% of adults have a diagnosable mood disorder.</li><li>67% of people needing mental health care don’t seek it out because of stigma.</li><li>Stigma has historically prevented patients from accessing care. </li><li>It doesn’t matter the condition a patient comes in with, we need to view it through a behavioral health lens. </li></ul> Resources:<ul><li>Connect with and follow Suzanne Kunis on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/suzanne-kunis-2631ba8/" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a>.</li><li>Follow NovaWell on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/novawell-health/" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a>.</li><li>Follow Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/horizonbcbsnj/" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a>.</li><li>Discover the NovaWell <a href="https://www.novawell.com/" target="_blank">Website</a>!</li><li>Visit the Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey <a href="https://www.horizonblue.com/" target="_blank">Website</a>!</li></ul>

S3 Ep38: Normalizing Mental Health for Better Health—featuring Suzanne Kunis

VP, Behavioral Health Solutions

The Beat: Navigating Healthcare with Microsoft

Envision a platform dedicated to upholding the highest standards to ensure the security and privacy of the customers&#39; data. In this episode, Kathleen Mitford, Corporate Vice President of Industry at Microsoft, shares insights on Microsoft&#39;s commitment to solving healthcare industry challenges through the use of their cloud technology. Kathleen discusses real-world examples of how Microsoft&#39;s solutions have driven tangible impact in healthcare organizations. She also explores the differentiating factors of Microsoft&#39;s tools and technologies in the healthcare industry and emphasizes the importance of building trust and strong relationships with customers. She dives into the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare, the role of data strategy, and responsible AI implementation.  Tune in to gain valuable insights into the intersection of technology and healthcare from a Microsoft industry leader. About Kathleen Mitford:Kathleen Mitford spent her career crafting strategies and empowering employees to ensure top-notch customer experiences. As the CVP of Global Industry Marketing at Microsoft, she’s proud to work alongside their partner ecosystem to help customers in all industries create the future with solutions across the Microsoft Cloud designed to solve their industry&#39;s unique challenges and unlock opportunities. Microsoft’s mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more aligns with her own purpose, and she’s thrilled to be part of a company that values inclusivity, empathy, and a growth mindset. She’s a passionate advocate for advancing diversity and equity and promoting greater inclusion of women in science and technology by encouraging diverse perspectives, embracing our differences, and supporting a sense of belonging for all. In her free time, you’ll find her gardening, running, and adventuring with her husband and two kids. Things You’ll Learn:<ul><li>Microsoft is focused on empowering healthcare organizations with the tools and technologies to unlock the potential of their data and harness the power of AI to drive better operational insights and patient care.</li><li>Microsoft stands apart through its foundation of trust with customers. </li><li>By prioritizing customer data ownership, security, and privacy, and offering comprehensive solutions, Microsoft is committed to being a trusted advisor in healthcare transformation.</li><li>Microsoft emphasizes responsible AI practices and supports customers in developing a strong data strategy, foundation, and responsible AI implementation. </li><li>The power of data in healthcare is unparalleled. Kathleen Mitford highlights how Microsoft&#39;s cloud and AI solutions are driving operational insights and improving patient experiences. </li></ul>Resources:<ul><li>Connect with and follow Kathleen Mitford on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kmitford/" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a>.</li><li>Follow Microsoft on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/microsoft/" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a> and visit their <a href="https://news.microsoft.com/source/" target="_blank">website</a>.</li></ul>

S1 E10: The Beat: Navigating Healthcare with Microsoft

CVP, Industry Marketing

Podcast

S4 E39: Empowering Communities to Own Their Health—featuring Kristen Cerf

FEATURING