MGMA Podcasts

On this episode of the MGMA Insights Podcast, host and senior editor Daniel Williams sits down with Sarah Waters, PhD, founder of 50 West and a behavioral scientist trained at the London School of Economics. They explore how behavioral science can reshape patient engagement, reduce no-shows, improve medication adherence, and drive meaningful change in clinical outcomes. Sarah shares practical strategies for identifying patient barriers, reframing communication, and designing systems that help both patients and care teams follow through.Key Takeaways:Knowing isn’t enough — design for doing: Patients (and clinicians) often know what they should do, but behavior change requires intentional system design, not just more information or reminders.No-shows are predictable — and preventable: Long scheduling lead times increase no-show risk. Practices can reduce this by tightening scheduling windows, analyzing patterns by day/time, and proactively addressing barriers at booking.Ask better questions upfront: Instead of asking “When are you available?”, ask “What days don’t work for you?” — this subtle shift prompts patients to consider real-life constraints earlier.Move beyond “corporate nagging”: Repetitive reminders without context lead to disengagement. Understanding why a patient isn’t showing up (transportation, fear, misunderstanding) enables more effective, targeted outreach.Small barriers become big obstacles: Minor uncertainties — like not knowing what a procedure involves — can feel overwhelming. Address emotional and logistical friction early to prevent dropout.Stories outperform statistics: Data may inform, but narratives stick. Sharing relatable patient experiences can help demystify procedures like colonoscopies and mammograms.Habit formation drives long-term outcomes: Programs that reduce ER visits and hospitalizations focus upstream — building simple, repeatable behaviors (e.g., daily monitoring) that compound over time.Medication adherence needs systems, not willpower: Pair medications with existing routines (like brushing teeth) and create backup plans for disruptions to improve consistency.Resources:Connect with Sarah Waters, PhD, on LinkedIn50 West ConsultingMGMA Insights Podcast Network "Patient no-shows in 2025: What’s changing and what to do about it" (MGMA Stat article)MGMA Events: Conferences and Webinars Register for the MGMA Annual Conference (September 27-30, 2026 | San Antonio, TX)Email us at dwilliams@mgma.com if you would like to appear on an episode. If you have a question about your practice that you would like us to answer, send an email to advisor@mgma.com. Don't forget to subscribe to our network wherever you get your podcasts! Sponsors:Your staff is buried in phone calls. Patients are frustrated. And you're losing revenue to no-shows. There's a better way. GoTo Connect for Healthcare is a unified, AI-powered communication platform built to support your HIPAA compliance, streamline scheduling, reduce staff burden, and help your team do more with less. Because when communication works, care works. Learn more and get a personalized demo.Allied Medical Waste is the premier medical waste and document shredding company for medical groups all over the United States. On average, Allied helps medical groups save up to 50% on their monthly costs. Allied is known for their great service and impeccable response times. Reach out today for a free quote! Allied has a special offer for all MGMA members: the first 2 months FREE of charge! Connect with us at sales@alliedusa.net or call (801) 328-8581.

On this episode of the MGMA Insights Podcast — Business Solutions, Sr. Editor and host Daniel Williams sits down with Casey Benefield, Senior Director of National Account Sales at MGMA BestPrice, and Christy Farrow, Director of Channel Partnerships at HealthTrust.Together, they unpack how MGMA BestPrice, MGMA’s exclusive group purchasing organization (GPO), helps medical practices of all sizes reduce supply and service costs — often by double digits — without disrupting existing workflows or vendor relationships. From understanding what a GPO actually is to exploring real savings opportunities across clinical and non‑clinical categories, this conversation is designed to help medical practice leaders facing rising costs and shrinking margins make smarter purchasing decisions.Key Takeaways [02:19] What MGMA BestPrice is — and why it matters to medical practices MGMA BestPrice is MGMA’s exclusive GPO, powered by HealthTrust, giving MGMA members access to health‑system–level pricing on medical supplies, pharmaceuticals, and services.[03:09] What a GPO does and how it solves a real operational problem Group purchasing organizations leverage collective buying power so practices can save thousands annually on everyday essentials — without negotiating individual contracts.[03:58] Who MGMA BestPrice is designed for (hint: it’s not just large groups)Independent practices, multi‑site groups, ambulatory surgery centers, long‑term care, FQHCs, and specialty practices all benefit — regardless of size or spend.[08:59] Where practices see the greatest savings — beyond medical supplies Members save up to 20% across categories including medical supplies, pharmaceuticals, office supplies, IT, waste management, freight, travel, equipment repair, and more.[09:30] The biggest misconception about GPOs — and why it costs practices money Many practices think their distributor is their GPO. In reality, MGMA BestPrice negotiates contracts across distributors, unlocking savings without changing reps, vendors, or ordering systems.[12:03] Why MGMA BestPrice is different from other national GPOs MGMA BestPrice uses a committed, sole‑source model and is backed by HealthTrust — the only top‑three GPO owned and operated by seven health systems.[14:30] How to validate savings before committingPractices can request a free cost analysis comparing their actual 12‑month spend against MGMA BestPrice contracts, showing exact‑match and conversion savings.[20:10] Real‑world impact: $25.3 million saved in one year In 2025 alone, MGMA BestPrice helped more than 4,500 MGMA members save over $25.3 million.ResourcesMGMA BestPrice (enrollment & cost analysis)MGMA BestPrice Phone Number 📞 844‑234‑66462(Enrollment is free and takes approximately two minutes. A dedicated account manager supports members throughout onboarding and beyond.) Sponsors:Your staff is buried in phone calls. Patients are frustrated. And you're losing revenue to no-shows. There's a better way. GoTo Connect for Healthcare is a unified, AI-powered communication platform built to support your HIPAA compliance, streamline scheduling, reduce staff burden, and help your team do more with less. Because when communication works, care works. Learn more and get a personalized demo.Allied Medical Waste is the premier medical waste and document shredding company for medical groups all over the United States. On average, Allied helps medical groups save up to 50% on their monthly costs. Allied is known for their great service and impeccable response times. Reach out today for a free quote! Allied has a special offer for all MGMA members: the first 2 months FREE of charge! Connect with us at sales@alliedusa.net or call (801) 328-8581.

On this episode of the MGMA Insights Podcast, Sr. Editor and host Daniel Williams sits down with returning guest Amy Lafko — MGMA consultant, speaker, creator of the People First Method, and author of People First. Amy shares practical, immediately usable strategies for medical practice leaders navigating 2026’s rapidly shifting regulatory landscape, workforce challenges, and rising emotional strain within healthcare teams.From strengthening adaptability to reinventing onboarding, Amy delivers a toolkit that helps leaders build environments where teams feel supported, patients receive better care, and organizations thrive.KEY TAKEAWAYS (00:53) Amy’s healthcare leadership background shapes her "people first" philosophy — Beginning as a physical therapist and later serving in rehab, hospital, urgent care, and medical group leadership roles, Amy’s firsthand failures and successes inform her mission to help leaders avoid burnout and build thriving teams. (02:00) Adaptability is the #1 leadership skill for 2026 — With regulatory uncertainty and fast‑changing payer environments, leaders must intentionally build their “capacity to adapt.” Adaptability is learnable and essential.(03:36) Productive conflict should be trained at all levels, not just leadership — Teaching frontline staff to resolve issues reduces managerial burden and increases team cohesion. Practices that invest here see faster self‑resolution and fewer escalations.(05:20) Rising frustration is being mistaken for “more conflict” — Most conflicts aren’t actually new; people’s emotional set point is simply higher due to uncertainty. Leaders must help teams regulate emotions to reduce escalations. (08:03) The People First Method flips the traditional patient‑first mindset — Leaders shouldn’t bypass their teams to “get to the patient.” Supporting the team is what ensures outstanding patient care. (10:19) Onboarding must shift from task‑checking to “alignment and inspiration” — Traditional onboarding (e.g., first‑day EMR videos) disconnects new hires. People‑First onboarding welcomes, aligns with values, personalizes training, and boosts long‑term retention.(12:26) Weekly check‑ins using five simple questions transform new‑hire success — Quick meetings built around consistent reflection and support help new hires feel connected, confident, and aligned from day one.(13:53) People‑first cultures start with one deceptively simple factor: willingness — Willingness to invest time up front, to be consistent, and to level‑set leaders across the organization.RESOURCES Amy LafkoAmy Lafko's websitePeople First: A Method for Developing Leadership and Team Culture - bookMGMAMedical Practice Staffing Solutions PlaybookMedical Practice Staff Onboarding PlaybookHuman Resources Management CertificateHuman Resources resources Sponsors:Your staff is buried in phone calls. Patients are frustrated. And you're losing revenue to no-shows. There's a better way. GoTo Connect for Healthcare is a unified, AI-powered communication platform built to support your HIPAA compliance, streamline scheduling, reduce staff burden, and help your team do more with less. Because when communication works, care works. Learn more and get a personalized demo.Allied Medical Waste is the premier medical waste and document shredding company for medical groups all over the United States. On average, Allied helps medical groups save up to 50% on their monthly costs. Allied is known for their great service and impeccable response times. Reach out today for a free quote! Allied has a special offer for all MGMA members: the first 2 months FREE of charge! Connect with us at sales@alliedusa.net or call (801) 328-8581.

On this episode of the MGMA Insights Podcast, Sr. Editor and Host Daniel Williams welcomes Christy Bray, MHA, CPRP‑DEI, Chief Customer Officer at PracticeLink and host of the Workforce Wisdom podcast. As MGMA kicks off 2026 with a month‑long focus on workforce issues — recruitment, retention, culture, and onboarding — Christy brings decades of experience in physician and provider recruitment to share what’s changed, what’s trending, and what today’s medical practice leaders must do to stay competitive.From early‑career job search behavior and shrinking talent pools to recruitment marketing, job board strategy, DEI’s role in matching candidates to communities, and the impact of technology and AI, Christy offers tactical and strategic insights that can immediately help MGMA members strengthen their workforce pipelines.KEY TAKEAWAYS“Recruitment finds you.” – Christy Bray on her path into the field[01:56] Christy shares her origins in orthopedics, sports medicine, and hospital leadership — and why most recruiters arrive via nontraditional paths.The biggest change: Candidates commit much earlier[03:26] Residents and fellows now begin searching 12–18 months before completion — and some even sign on match day, cutting traditional recruitment windows dramatically.Why every job must be posted — and posted correctly[08:50] Christy explains why job visibility, keyword optimization, and clear role descriptions are essential for search engines and AI‑driven job discovery.Targeted outreach beats the “shotgun approach”[09:58] Mass‑messaging “10,000 people” leads to unsubscribes. Christy outlines how to curate small, qualified candidate pools — and measure success through open rate, CTR, and text‑to‑contact options.Recruitment is a long game — and budget fears slow down patient access[10:56] With the talent pool “shrinking rapidly,” practices must prepare for longer vacancies and avoid hesitating on locums support.Essential 2026 trends: uncertainty, reduced teams, and tech‑forward recruiting[12:40] Hiring teams are “stretched,” some dismantled entirely. Geo‑targeting, small high‑ROI advertising tactics, and hybrid old/new recruitment strategies (postcards + digital ads) are key.Strategic plans start with a workforce inventory[14:44] Christy’s pantry analogy: Practices must know their provider counts, ages, FTE loads, and retirement risks. Many older clinicians work at “1.5 to 2.5 FTE,” meaning replacement calculations require multiplying needs.DEI certification isn’t performative — it’s about fit and retention[24:13] Christy explains the CPRP‑DEI credential and why diversity and representation matter in recruitment: “Access to care is limited if somebody doesn’t speak your language or doesn’t look like you.”RESOURCES MENTIONEDChristy Bray on LinkedInPracticeLinkAssociation for Advancing Physician & Provider Recruitment (AAPPR)(CPRP‑DEI certification organization)Christy Bray's Podcasts:Workforce Wisdom with Christy Bray (Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts)Surviving and Thriving in Residency Sponsors:Your staff is buried in phone calls. Patients are frustrated. And you're losing revenue to no-shows. There's a better way. GoTo Connect for Healthcare is a unified, AI-powered communication platform built to support your HIPAA compliance, streamline scheduling, reduce staff burden, and help your team do more with less. Because when communication works, care works. Learn more and get a personalized demo.Allied Medical Waste is the premier medical waste and document shredding company for medical groups all over the United States. On average, Allied helps medical groups save up to 50% on their monthly costs. Allied is known for their great service and impeccable response times. Reach out today for a free quote! Allied has a special offer for all MGMA members: the first 2 months FREE of charge! Connect with us at sales@alliedusa.net or call (801) 328-8581.