Welcome to another episode of The Healthcare STARcast! In this episode, host Subbu Ramalingam is joined by two incredible guests: Dr. Heidi Syropoulos, a seasoned geriatrician with a rich background in family engagement and care quality, and Shara Cohen, CEO of Carallel and a passionate advocate for family caregivers within the healthcare system.

Together, they dig deep into the often misunderstood world of caregiving - a workforce of over 63 million people providing an estimated $3-600 billion in unpaid care annually. Is caregiving merely helping out, or is it the essential, yet undervalued infrastructure that keeps our healthcare system running? The conversation unpacks common misconceptions, the invisible labor and emotional toll on caregivers, and the huge opportunities - both economic and quality-of-care related - that come from better supporting this crucial group.

We’ll also dive into the unique challenges of dementia caregiving, strategies for health plans and providers to identify and support caregivers, and the tangible links between caregiver support, patient outcomes, and cost savings. Whether you’re a clinician, health plan leader, or someone personally connected to caregiving, this episode offers fresh perspectives, practical insights, and a powerful call to action.

Tune in for a compelling discussion shedding light on the backbone of healthcare: our caregivers.

Timestamps:
00:00 "Caregiving: Key to Health Improvement"

05:19 "Drawn to Geriatric Caregiving"

08:52 "Empowering Family Caregivers in Healthcare"

13:31 "Caregiving: Undervalued and Overlooked"

17:25 "Caregiving Misconceptions and Realities"

21:49 Shifts in Caregiving and Healthcare

25:14 "Addressing Caregiver Burden Challenges"

26:30 "Rethinking Support for Caregivers"

32:51 "Understanding Dementia's Behavioral Symptoms"

35:00 "Dementia Caregiver Challenges & Support"

37:58 Caregivers' Role in Reducing Readmissions

42:34 Caregivers Prevent Hospital Readmissions

44:54 Caregiver Impact on CAHPS Surveys

47:58 Caregiving Tips for Early Preparation

53:05 Caregiver Burden Stratification Approach

56:36 "Prioritizing Caregiver Engagement ROI"

57:51 "Future of Caregiving Innovation"

Show Website - https://healthcarestarcast.com/

Subbu Ramalingam - Show Host - Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/subburamalingam/

FloWise Leadership - https://flowiseleadership.com/

ViVega Business Services - https://www.vivega.co/

ATTAC Consulting Group - https://www.attacconsulting.com/

Media Partner - TopHealth - https://tophealth.care/

“Disclaimer: Informational only. Not medical advice. Consult your doctor for guidance.”

Welcome to The Healthcare STARcast! In this episode, host Subbu Ramalingam sits down with Kempton Presley, CEO of Adhere Health, to dive deep into one of healthcare’s most persistent and costly challenges: medication adherence. Affecting half of all Americans with chronic conditions and costing the system over $500 billion annually, medication nonadherence is more than just a public health problem, it’s a personal and global issue that directly shapes Medicare Advantage Star Ratings and the competitive landscape for health plans.

Together, Subbu Ramalingam and Kempton Presley explore why adherence remains so elusive, the complex web of stakeholders involved, and the real-world impact on patient outcomes and plan economics. They discuss the evolving regulatory environment, the importance of aligning incentives, and how emerging behavioral science and data-driven solutions are making measurable improvements. If you want to understand what’s at stake, how health plans can bend the cost curve, and what the future of medication adherence could look like, especially as AI and predictive analytics enter the mix, this conversation is for you.

Tune in for practical insights, plan success stories, and an honest look at how healthcare leaders can drive momentum and lasting change in medication adherence.

Timestamps:

00:00 Medicare, Medicaid & Adhere Leadership

04:23 "Healthcare Innovation and Human Behavior"

08:32 Medication Adherence Impacts Healthcare Ratings

12:27 Patient-Pharmacy Communication Challenges

16:28 Medication Management Impacts Over Time

17:57 Bending Industry Cost Curve

21:41 "Behavioral Science & Medication Adherence"

25:22 "Personalized Member Connection Strategies"

30:27 "Connecting and Engaging with Members"

32:45 Improving Healthcare Outcomes Together

37:05 "AI, Teamwork, and Human Connection"

41:14 "Adapting to Market Shifts"

42:01 "Future of Care and Technology"

45:20 RISE Conference & Networking Plans

Show Website - https://healthcarestarcast.com/

Subbu Ramalingam - Show Host - Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/subburamalingam/

FloWise Leadership - https://flowiseleadership.com/

ViVega Business Services - https://www.vivega.co/

ATTAC Consulting Group - https://www.attacconsulting.com/

Media Partner - TopHealth - https://tophealth.care/

“Disclaimer: Informational only. Not medical advice. Consult your doctor for guidance.”

Welcome to Episode 7 of The Healthcare STARcast! In this insightful conversation, host Subbu Ramalingam is joined by Dr. Pierantonio Russo, Chief Medical Officer at Eversana, a renowned cardiac surgeon, and global pioneer in predictive analytics for cardiovascular health.

Together, they dive into the critical intersections of cardiovascular disease prevention, machine learning, and the quest to bend the cost curve while improving patient outcomes both in the US and globally. You’ll hear firsthand how Dr. Pierantonio Russo transitioned from leading heart surgery programs in Italy and the United States to advancing value-based care through data science and AI-driven risk stratification at major health plans.

Discover why obesity and visceral fat are at the heart of the cardio-kidney-metabolic syndrome, how modern predictive models are helping identify high-risk patients before costly complications hit, and why multidisciplinary care teams, supported by clinical and social determinants of health, are essential for effective interventions.

This episode also explores how machine learning is bridging the gap between accuracy and clinical trust, the real-world impact of remote patient monitoring, and lessons learned from healthcare innovation in India’s private hospital sector. Plus, Dr. Russo shares personal stories from his work in pediatric heart surgery and offers practical advice for maintaining health and longevity.

Whether you’re a physician, health plan leader, or just passionate about healthcare’s future, this episode is packed with fresh perspectives, actionable insights, and a glimpse into the hospital of the future. Tune in and get inspired by the possibilities at the intersection of technology, data, and compassionate care!

Timestamps:

00:00 Managing Rising Heart Failure Costs

05:55 "Advancing Predictive Analytics in Healthcare"

07:38 "Improving Care with Predictive Analytics"

13:13 Cardiac-Kidney-Metabolic Syndrome Advances

16:27 Managing Heart Failure Costs Efficiently

18:32 "Heart Failure Cost Drivers Analysis"

24:07 AI in Healthcare Collaboration

27:29 AI-Assisted Learning for Physicians

29:45 Predictive Model Impact on Healthcare

33:03 Reducing Costs and Improving Outcomes

36:34 Precision Medicine for Heart Failure

40:04 Hospital Operations: Three Core Areas

43:56 Healthcare Costs and Low Value Care

47:55 "Life-Saving Aid for Children"

50:32 "Parking Guard's Unexpected Connection"

53:35 Innovation, AI, and Mediterranean Diet

56:11 Grateful for the Invitation

Show Website - https://healthcarestarcast.com/

Subbu Ramalingam - Show Host - Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/subburamalingam/

FloWise Leadership - https://flowiseleadership.com/

ViVega Business Services - https://www.vivega.co/

ATTAC Consulting Group - https://www.attacconsulting.com/

Media Partner - TopHealth - https://tophealth.care/

“Disclaimer: Informational only. Not medical advice. Consult your doctor for guidance.”