Ep 42: Patient management challenges with Eve Cunningham, MD, of Providence

Key Takeaways

• Patient management complexities include referral dysfunctions and the rapid increase in medical knowledge impacting clinicians.
• MedPearl is presented as a solution to improve clinician efficiency and referral quality, addressing access and burnout issues.
• Clinician-centric technology and clinician involvement are crucial for developing effective healthcare solutions.
• Future plans for MedPearl focus on expansion and further implementation to enhance healthcare delivery.

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Medical Economics Editorial Director Chris Mazzolini and Eve Cunningham, MD, chief of virtual health and digital care at Providence and founder of MedPearl, discuss challenges with patient management and workflow.

Check out our previous episodes about malpractice, payer negotiations, and physician reimbursement.

Music Credits: POSITIVE HAPPY RNB (FUNK NATION) NO MEL by Yummy Tunes - stock.adobe.com
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Editor's note: Episode timestamps and transcript produced using AI tools.
Access Challenges in Healthcare (00:00:00)
Discussion on the growing access challenges in healthcare if not addressed.

Introduction to the Podcast (00:00:18)
Keith Reynolds introduces the podcast and its focus on healthcare challenges.

Guest Introduction (00:00:50)
Dr. Eve Cunningham is welcomed to discuss patient management and workflow challenges.

Challenges in Patient Management (00:01:23)
Dr. Cunningham outlines the complexities of patient management and referral decisions for primary care physicians.

Overwhelming Medical Knowledge (00:01:27)
Discussion on the rapid increase of medical knowledge and its impact on clinicians.

Referral Dysfunction Issues (00:02:31)
Exploration of common referral dysfunctions and the need for optimized transitions.

Examples of Referral Issues (00:03:41)
Real-life examples illustrating the frequent misdirection in patient referrals.

Access to Care and Burnout (00:04:48)
Highlighting the shortage of doctors and its effect on access to care and clinician burnout.

Introduction to MedPearl (00:06:19)
Overview of MedPearl as a solution to the challenges faced by doctors.

Genesis of MedPearl (00:06:38)
Dr. Cunningham shares the story behind the development of MedPearl.

Communication Gaps in Healthcare (00:07:13)
Discussion on the knowledge-sharing gap between primary care and specialists.

Need for Clinician-Centric Technology (00:08:13)
Emphasis on creating technology that supports primary care clinicians effectively.

Med Pearl's Features (00:09:31)
Description of MedPearl's capabilities and how it aids clinicians at the point of care.

Case Study in NEJM Catalyst (00:11:35)
Discussion on a case study highlighting the impact of MedPearl in clinical settings.

Pilot Program Results (00:12:45)
Review of pilot results demonstrating Med Pearl's effectiveness in referrals and patient care.

Scaling MedPearl (00:13:58)
Description of MedPearl's scaling process and its growing user base.

Improving Referral Value (00:15:10)
Discussion on enhancing referral quality and outcomes through MedPearl.

Burnout and Clinician Efficiency (00:15:10)
Exploration of how MedPearl addresses clinician burnout and improves efficiency.

Importance of Clinician Involvement (00:17:02)
Discussion on why clinician input is essential in developing effective healthcare solutions.

Future Plans for Med Pearl (00:19:40)
Dr. Cunningham shares upcoming implementations and goals for MedPearl.