Honey Health

What’s the most impactful innovation in diabetes care? According to Dr. Stephen Ponder, it’s real-time glucose data. In the latest episode of The Hard Things About Healthcare, Stephen Ponder, MD (Baylor College of Medicine and Author of Sugar Surfing) joins Matt Faustman and Ginger Vieira to discuss how successful diabetes management relies on recognizing patterns. “Sugar surfing is all about pattern recognition. Is it going up? Is it going sideways? Is it going down? You’re coupling that with what you know you’re doing and what you just did in the last 10-15 minutes… Do we act? Do we not act? Do we hold tight?” This approach helps families stay ahead of highs and lows, improving time-in-range and outcomes. ?? Watch the full conversation here: [https://lnkd.in/gx2rC_-i]

Managing inboxes isn’t just about answering clinical questions—it’s a flood of refills, document requests, and non-medical inquiries. Endocrinologists, in particular, are feeling the weight of administrative burdens. They rank #2 among all specialties for the highest EHR time, averaging 1.2 hours of inbox work per eight hours of patient care (AMA). The impact: ?? Time Consumption: Physicians spend over five hours a week managing inbox messages. ??Refill Requests: These account for 20 percent of all inbox traffic. ?? Message Volume: The average primary care doctor receives 50 or more patient messages per day, often unrelated to medical care. ?? Burnout Risk: Administrative tasks contribute significantly to physician burnout, with 57 percent of family physicians reporting burnout due to administrative burdens. Every minute spent on administrative tasks is time taken away from patient care. Implementing smart automation and streamlined communication tools can reduce inbox volume by 40 percent and cut physician burnout risk by 25 percent. Centralized messaging systems can decrease response times by 30 percent, allowing physicians to focus on higher-priority cases. Establishing clear triage protocols helps prioritize urgent messages, ensuring critical patient needs are addressed promptly while reducing unnecessary back-and-forth. Are you experiencing inbox fatigue in your practice? What strategies have helped you streamline the load?

Developing an AI-powered tool is just the start. Actually implementing it in a busy clinic requires leadership buy-in, pilot programs, and streamlined workflows. In the latest episode of The Hard Things About Healthcare, Dr. Nestoras Mathioudakis reveals how The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine is tackling real-world barriers with Matt Faustman and Ginger Vieira. Research shows that while 90% of healthcare executives see AI as critical to their future success, only 35% have successfully deployed AI at scale (MIT Sloan & BCG, 2023). Yet, the potential is huge—AI can reduce administrative burdens by up to 70%, optimize clinical decision-making, and improve patient engagement (McKinsey, 2023). But success hinges on getting the nuts-and-bolts integration right. ?? Watch the discussion here: https://lnkd.in/gWW-8PEW

Healthcare is changing—outcomes now matter more than volume. Value-based care (VBC) is reshaping healthcare, and organizations like Kaiser Permanente and Oak Street Health are leading the way. By streamlining care coordination, Kaiser has reduced hospitalizations and emergency visits, ensuring patients get the right care when they need it. With a focus on underserved communities, Oak Street Health delivers comprehensive care that improves chronic disease management and reduces hospital admissions. Why this approach works: - ACOs in VBC models have achieved 15-20% reductions in hospital readmissions (American Journal of Managed Care). - Medicare Advantage programs, key to VBC, report a 30% lower hospitalization rate compared to traditional Medicare (CMS). - Clinics adopting VBC see measurable success, including 10-15% revenue growth from performance-based incentives and shared savings (Health Care Payment Learning & Action Network). The bigger picture: VBC is delivering better care while addressing disparities and improving equity. It’s an approach that benefits both patients and providers by emphasizing prevention, coordination, and outcomes. Who do you see leading in value-based care?

We’re excited to announce our partnership with DFW Endocrinology in their mission to enhance diabetes and endocrinology care through AI-driven solutions. With two locations supporting the Fort Worth and Flower Mound communities, DFW Endocrinology is taking a bold step toward streamlining chronic care management through AI, enabling their team to focus on what matters most—their patients—while also strengthening their practice. This is just the beginning of an exciting journey, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with Dr. Prasanthi Tondapu, the entire DFW Endocrinology team, and their patients.

It’s easy to assume that the latest technology always leads to the best outcomes. However, patient motivation can be just as critical—if not more so. In the latest episode of The Hard Things About Healthcare, Dr. Stephen Ponder (Baylor College of Medicine and Author of Sugar Surfing) joins Matt Faustman and Ginger Vieira to explore the balance between advanced technology and patient engagement in diabetes care. Dr. Ponder shared a compelling case: Out of four pediatric patients with diabetes—three using hybrid closed-loop systems and one using injections—the best-managed patient was on injections. Why? She used her data effectively and was deeply invested in her care. While hybrid closed-loop systems are proven to improve time-in-range and reduce A1C, studies show that only 5-10% of patients exhibit the intrinsic motivation to excel without relying on advanced devices. Technology is a game-changer, but personalized care and patient investment remain the foundation of diabetes management. Combine motivated patients with the right tools, and you have the recipe for optimal outcomes. ?? Watch the full conversation here: [https://lnkd.in/gx2rC_-i]

We’re thrilled to announce our partnership with Advanced Metabolic Care + Research (AMCR)—one of the largest independent clinics in Southern California, with two locations serving thousands of patients. AMCR is embarking on a new path toward improved chronic care through AI, allowing staff to concentrate on patients while improving the practice’s financial strength. This is just the start of an exciting journey, and we are thankful for the opportunity to collaborate with AMCR, their staff, and patients. A special thank you to Dr. Timothy Bailey and the team at AMCR for their dedication and commitment to transforming care for their patients.

Forget clunky, one-size-fits-all apps. Today’s AI tools monitor everything from blood sugars to sleep, adapting in real time to you. The result? Hyper-personalized insights that adapt in real time to each patient’s unique physiology. In fact, the global AI in healthcare market—which was valued at around $15.4 billion in 2022—is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 37.5% from 2023 to 2030, reaching nearly $188 billion by 2030. In diabetes care specifically, AI-powered decision support tools have been shown to reduce hypoglycemia events by up to 44% and improve time-in-range by 20-30%, leading to better long-term outcomes and fewer emergency interventions. In the latest episode of The Hard Things About Healthcare, Nestoras Mathioudakis, MD, Endocrinologist and Co-Medical Director of The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Diabetes Prevention & Education Program explains how these next-generation tools are harnessing continuous streams of data to offer specific, actionable advice with Matt Faustman and Ginger Vieira. ?? Watch the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/gWW-8PEW

Physicians spend 13 hours per week on prior authorizations—equal to one full workday lost. The real cost: Delayed Care: 94% of physicians say prior auth causes delays in care. Adverse Events: 33% of doctors report that a patient has experienced a serious adverse event due to delays. Increasing Burden: 88% say the burden has increased over the past five years. These delays can lead to deteriorating health outcomes, increased stress, and higher long-term costs for patients and payers alike. What’s next? The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is proposing to require certain payers, including Medicare Advantage organizations, to implement electronic prior authorization and to send decisions within 72 hours for expedited requests and seven days for nonurgent requests. Implementing electronic prior authorization (ePA) can significantly reduce the time between a request and a decision, leading to faster patient care and easier administrative processes for providers. More efficiency means less frustration, better outcomes, and more time for patients. How is your practice tackling the prior authorization challenge?

Remote diabetes care has come a long way - from the early days of telehealth experiments to the Jetsons-like capabilities we see today. Telemedicine visits for chronic conditions like diabetes have increased by over 200% in recent years, highlighting the growing adoption of remote care solutions. Additionally, studies show that continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) combined with remote care can reduce A1C levels by up to 1.5%, improving outcomes for people with diabetes. But with this progress come trade-offs. In the latest episode of The Hard Things About Healthcare, Stephen Ponder, MD (Baylor College of Medicine and Author of Sugar Surfing) discusses the benefits and challenges of remote care with Matt Faustman and Ginger Vieira. ?? Watch the full conversation here: [https://lnkd.in/gx2rC_-i]