Behavioral Health Sustainability in Rural Markets with Dr. Zachary McGeorge, Director of Behavioral Health at AdventHealth in Manchester, Kentucky

The warm handoff model in behavioral health has proven to dramatically increase patient retention and improve access to care in rural communities. In this episode, Dr. Zachary McGeorge, Director of Behavioral Health at AdventHealth in Manchester, Kentucky, shares his journey into social work and the unique challenges rural hospitals face. He highlights transportation barriers and innovative strategies such as telehealth outpost clinics, mobile units that deliver care to patients’ homes, and a warm handoff approach that has driven an 88% therapy retention rate. Dr. McGeorge addresses the difficulty of recruiting and retaining providers in rural areas, stressing persistence, authenticity, and a deep emotional connection to the mission. He also talks about the value of integrated care, provider well-being, and balanced living, along with practical advice for emerging leaders on managing change and engaging stakeholders throughout reforms. Tune in and learn how rural healthcare leaders are innovating to close gaps in behavioral health access and build stronger, more resilient communities! Resources: Connect with and follow Dr. Zachary McGeorge on LinkedIn. Follow AdventHealth on LinkedIn and explore their website.

This podcast is brought to you by Outcomes Rocket, your exclusive healthcare marketing agency. Learn how to accelerate your growth by going to⁠ outcomesrocket.com Solving big healthcare problems isn’t enough. You need to fit solutions into budgets and build the right partnerships. In this episode, Dr. Ido Zamberg, Co-founder and Chief Medical Officer at C8 Health, shares his journey from software engineering to medicine and how he combined both disciplines to transform healthcare delivery. Confronted with the challenge of accessing institutional knowledge as a physician, he built a platform that consolidates best practices, protocols, and operational data into one accurate, actionable system. Now used in more than 100 hospitals, the platform improves clinician efficiency, enhances patient outcomes, and enables collaboration across departments and health systems. Dr. Zamberg reflects on lessons learned, stressing the importance of navigating budgets creatively, finding champions to drive adoption, and encouraging leaders to partner with startups that specialize in solving these complex problems. Tune in and learn how innovation, persistence, and partnership can redefine care at every level of the health system! Resources: - Connect with and follow Dr. Ido Zamberg on LinkedIn. - Learn more about C8 Health on their LinkedIn and website.

Behavioral health was left out of the digital revolution in healthcare; now a $20 million federal initiative is changing that story. In this episode, Talisha Searcy, Senior Advisor within the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy, and Kacie Kelly, Chief Innovation Officer at the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, discuss the Behavioral Health Information Technology Initiative. Talisha explained that BHIT is a $20 million partnership between ASTP and SAMHSA focused on standardizing behavioral health data, advancing EHR adoption, and improving integration with physical health. Kacie highlighted that behavioral health was left out of the HITECH Act, creating long-standing gaps in infrastructure, funding, and data standards that BHIT now aims to address. Talisha emphasized the importance of interoperability and the USCDI+ for behavioral health, with pilots testing real-world data exchange and toolkits to help providers adopt these standards. Both emphasized the importance of collaboration across federal agencies to ensure alignment, as well as opportunities for innovators and the private sector to engage in shaping policies, particularly in areas such as interoperability and AI. Locally, Talisha noted how technology like telehealth is already improving access and care coordination in communities, despite workforce shortages. Tune in to hear from national leaders on how BHIT is setting new standards, driving innovation, and opening doors for providers and innovators in the behavioral health field! Resources: Connect with and follow Talisha Searcy on LinkedIn. Follow the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy on LinkedIn and visit their website.  Connect with and follow Kacie Kelly on LinkedIn. Follow the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute on LinkedIn and visit their website. Learn more about the HeadsUp service here.

This podcast is brought to you by Outcomes Rocket, your exclusive healthcare marketing agency. Learn how to accelerate your growth by going to⁠ outcomesrocket.com Aligning provider buy-in, leadership priorities, and patient-centered strategies is key to closing the ACO engagement gap. In this episode, Dr. Lauren Fore, Chief Medical Officer at IRCCO, shares how provider engagement is key to motivating patients to follow through with preventive care and wellness visits. Todd Searls, Executive Director of IRCCO ACO, underscores the role of leadership in setting priorities, addressing burnout, and supporting care teams to sustain patient engagement. Kathryn Anderton, Vice President of Clinical Services at ThoroughCare, highlights the importance of care management, motivational interviewing, and trust-building through consistent monthly touchpoints. Together, they discuss the unique challenges of rural communities, the power of partnerships, and the value of combining digital tools with human connection for sustainable outcomes. Tune in and learn how thoughtful provider engagement, leadership support, and innovative partnerships can close the engagement gap and transform ACO success! Resources: Connect with and follow Dr. Lauren Fore on LinkedIn. Follow and connect with Todd Searls on LinkedIn. Learn more about IRCCO on their LinkedIn and website. Connect with and follow Kathryn Anderton on LinkedIn. - Discover more about ThoroughCare on their LinkedIn and explore their website.

The strongest organizations aren’t just scaling services; they’re scaling leadership. In this episode, Stacy DiStefano, CEO and founder of Consulting For Human Services, discusses the unique challenges and opportunities facing nonprofit behavioral health organizations. She explains how her team supports providers with strategic planning, growth strategies, technology adoption, and mergers & acquisitions (M&A) to ensure sustainability, while highlighting why boutique consultancies often deliver more value than large firms through lived experience and community ties. Stacy also explores the real issues keeping leaders up at night, from immigration policies impacting workforce stability to uncertainty in federal priorities and the accelerating wave of nonprofit consolidations, while outlining common pitfalls in M&A such as ego, resistance, and board misalignment. Looking ahead, she stresses the need for CEOs to educate boards, prepare the next generation of leaders, integrate technology across organizations, and embrace disruption as an opportunity rather than a threat. Tune in and learn how nonprofit leaders can future-proof their organizations through resilience, growth, and mission-driven strategy! Resources: Connect with and follow Stacy DiStefano on LinkedIn. Follow Consulting For Human Services on LinkedIn and explore their website.

Summary: The healthcare industry is resilient, and even in times of financial pressure and policy uncertainty, new opportunities for growth and innovation emerge. In this episode, Dan Czech, VP of Insights at KLAS Research, shares findings from a survey of 169 healthcare delivery organizations (HDOs) on how they are adapting to federal policy shifts and the “Big Beautiful Bill.” Many HDOs report they have yet to recover to pre-COVID margins, with narrow margins, staffing shortages, and rising costs compounded by the uncertainty of rapidly changing regulations. Lacking clear direction, organizations are acting now with multiple contingency strategies, workforce adjustments, and careful protection of patient-facing roles. Despite financial strain, IT and AI remain top investment priorities to offset workforce reductions and reduce clinician burnout, though many remain stuck in pilot programs. Dan notes that providers are reevaluating payer contracts, rural systems are leaning on federal programs, and the industry’s resilience points to long-term progress. Tune in and learn how organizations are adapting to change and preparing for the future! Resources: Connect with and follow Dan Czech on LinkedIn. Follow KLAS Research on LinkedIn and visit their website! Read the Navigating the Uncertainty of Federal Policy 2025 Report here. Email Dan directly here.

The pain of youth must always be seen alongside its power. In this episode, Rich Havard, Director of the Decolonizing Wealth Project’s Youth Mental Health Fund, shares his journey from a closeted gay kid in rural Mississippi to leading a $20 million initiative supporting BIPOC and LGBTQ youth. He reflects on formative church experiences, both healing and harmful, that shaped his commitment to creating inclusive spaces, as well as his years as a pastor witnessing the struggles and resilience of young people. Rich underscores the urgent need for philanthropy to fund culturally responsive care and elevate youth voices as true decision-makers shaping solutions. Ultimately, he reframes youth mental health as an issue of both justice and connection. Tune in and learn how integrating culture, storytelling, and justice can transform youth mental healthcare! Resources: Connect with and follow Rich Havard on LinkedIn. Follow the Decolonizing Wealth Project on their LinkedIn and Instagram, and explore their website. Learn more about the Youth Mental Health Fund here. Contact the Decolonizing Wealth Project team here. Read Decolonizing Wealth Project CEO and Founder, Edgar Villanueva's book, Decolonizing Wealth, here. Discover more about Dr. Alfiee’s The AAKOMA Project here.

Having the right tools in place the first time can make all the difference for patients and families navigating behavioral health. In this episode, Janelle Bierdeman, a nationally certified school psychologist and the Manager of the Healthcare Solutions Group at MHS (Multi-Health Systems), shares her journey from direct care with children and families to driving systems-level transformation in behavioral health. She reflects on the risks of poor assessments, outdated systems, and the importance of rigorous tools to ensure providers deliver the right care from the start. Drawing on her perspective as both a professional and a parent of neurodivergent children, Janelle emphasizes the need for tailored assessments, clinician involvement in digital tools, and cross-cultural insights from North America and Europe. She also highlights a UK success story scaling patient assessments from 25 to 2,500 per month, and sees AI as a powerful way to reduce administrative burdens and free providers to spend more time with patients. Tune in and learn how technology, when done right, can truly expand access to quality behavioral health care! Resources: Connect with and follow Janelle Bierdeman on LinkedIn. Follow MHS on LinkedIn and explore their website.

This podcast is brought to you by Outcomes Rocket, your exclusive healthcare marketing agency. Learn how to accelerate your growth by going to outcomesrocket.com Far too many women veterans are overlooked, leading to gaps in care, resources, and recognition. In this episode brought to you by Luminary Labs, Wanda Wright, Director of the Office for Veteran and Military Academic Engagement at Arizona State University, shares her mission to advocate for women veterans and improve access to resources. She explains that many women do not recognize themselves as veterans, which, combined with cultural bias and lack of awareness, leads to higher rates of suicide and homelessness compared to men. Director Wright highlights the importance of asking “Have you served?” in healthcare settings and stresses that collaboration among the VA, state agencies, nonprofits, and local groups is essential to provide effective support, especially in rural areas. While progress has been made with more women joining the military and rising to leadership, she emphasizes that continued advocacy and community involvement are crucial to breaking down barriers and saving lives. Tune in as Wanda Wright shares her powerful journey and insights on breaking barriers, advocating for women veterans, and building stronger systems of support! Resources: Connect with and follow Wanda Wright on LinkedIn. Follow the Arizona State University on LinkedIn and visit their Office for Veteran and Military Academic Engagement website. Check out Wanda Wright’s paper, The Social Determinants of Suicide among Female Service Members and Veterans: Running Title: Social Determinants of Suicide, here.

This podcast is brought to you by Outcomes Rocket, your exclusive healthcare marketing agency. Learn how to accelerate your growth by going to⁠ outcomesrocket.com Peace of mind in healthcare is just as important as access to care itself. In this episode, Dr. David Berg, Founder and CEO of Redirect Health, contrasts his experiences with Canadian and U.S. healthcare, noting that while America offers world-class medical care, it often leaves patients without confidence or peace of mind. He explains that uncertainty about affordability and access creates anxiety long before patients enter the system. Redirect Health addresses this by offering a free entry point into care through technology, virtual access, and advocacy, while focusing on logistics, how, and where care is delivered, as the key to lowering costs. David stresses that the U.S. doesn’t lack funding; it must redirect resources toward delivering real value and peace of mind. Tune in and learn how healthcare logistics and advocacy can transform both cost and access! Resources: Connect with and follow Dr. David Berg on LinkedIn. Follow Redirect Health on LinkedIn and visit their website! Listen to David’s previous interview on our podcast here! Email David directly here.