In this episode of The Back Office Show with Steve, we sit down with Dr. Jennifer Azen an Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Washington. She has been a longstanding member and attending physician of the University's PALTC team. For the past several years she is also the Medical Director of the Addiction Medicine Service at the University of Washington. Dr. Azen also practices in the outpatient setting in one of the UW outpatient clinics.

We dig into the prevalence of addiction and substance use disorders in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), the real-world issues these challenges create for residents and staff, and practical advice for healthcare leadership. She also discusses a study she is currently conducting on the use of GLP-1 medications to help address substance use disorder (SUD).

The conversation wraps with a light game-show segment on her famous metaphors, and ends with a message to providers to take a chance on patients they normally wouldn't.

Tune in for an honest, insightful discussion on senior care, addiction, and the future of healthcare.

*The Back Office Show x Meir Kay: Creating Transformation in yourself and Transformational Experiences for others*

Meir Kay needs no introduction , but you don't know the half of it.

You know him from his viral videos that brought millions of people closer to their humanity. High-fiving commuters, hosting Super Bowl parties for the homeless, or stopping strangers on the street to make them smile.

Today, Meir Kay creates something much deeper: transformational experiences for CEOs, teams, couples, and men who want to show up more powerfully in work and life.

In this episode of *The BOSS Podcast* Steve sits down with Meir to talk about his 10-year journey from content creator to experience creator, why play is the fastest path to trust, and how healthcare leaders can build real connection in a world of burnout and defense mechanisms.

If you lead a team, run a practice, or just want to understand why people do what they do, this one is for you.

*About Our Guest:*

*Meir Kay* is a speaker, facilitator and creator of transformational experiences. After building a global following with his viral videos centered on human connection, he now leads men's retreats, couples retreats, and corporate offsites and workshops that help people build deeper connection and trust. His work combines experiential learning, behavioral psychology, and play.

Want to be a guest or suggest a topic? Reach out to Steve at steveshain@gmail.com

The latest episode of the LTC BOSS Podcast is here, featuring Brian Perry, VP of Government Affairs at Direct Supply.

Brian brings a candid, thoughtful perspective on what advocacy really looks like in long-term care and why the most important work often happens long before there is a crisis.

Here is a sneak peak at what you can look forward to in this episode:

-Finding his way into advocacy: Brian shares how an early interest in politics, hands-on experience with Indiana Healthcare Reimbursement, and even a background in performance arts shaped the way he represents the industry today.

-Playing the long game: He emphasizes that advocacy is about planting seeds, building understanding and trust with policymakers so the groundwork is in place when decisions need to be made.

-The art of hearing "no": Brian explains why a clear no can be valuable, how a maybe can stall progress, and why burning bridges is never worth it in public policy.

-Changing the narrative through storytelling: He talks about the importance of sharing the real, human moments in long-term care that rarely make the headlines.

-The next 10-year challenge: With more decisions shifting to the states, Brian explains that the real work ahead is with legislators and governors making the case for why investing in seniors has to stay a priority over the next decade.

If you are curious about what happens behind the scenes in advocacy, this is a conversation worth hearing.