The Strategy of Health

The American Journal of Healthcare Strategy

Join us as we dive deep into the evolving world of healthcare. Each episode features leading experts discussing the latest trends, innovations, and strategies driving healthcare forward. Our mission is to provide insights and practical advice for healthcare professionals, policymakers, and anyone interested in the dynamics of healthcare systems and their improvement. Whether we're exploring patient engagement techniques, dissecting policy changes, or forecasting the impacts of technological advances, our goal is to arm you with the knowledge needed to navigate and excel in today's complex healthcare landscape. Tune in to stay at the forefront of healthcare strategy and policy.

  1. 12/12/2025

    How Systems Engineering Can Transform Healthcare

    Welcome to Strategy of Health by the American Journal of Healthcare Strategy! In this episode, host Cole Lyons sits down with Dr. Matthew Montoya—professor of Systems Engineering at Johns Hopkins and veteran systems thinker—to discuss:-What “systems engineering” really means in healthcare-Dr. Montoya’s career path: from math and engineering to health systems and executive leadership at Johns Hopkins-How systems thinking brings clarity to organizational chaos—and why that matters for patient outcomes-Real-world examples: orchestrating complex projects at scale (like defense, national security, and multi-stakeholder healthcare efforts)-Where AI fits (and doesn’t fit) in system-based problem solving-How healthcare professionals and executives can “get started” with systems engineering or infuse systems thinking into their organizations-Plus: book recommendations like The Fifth Discipline by Peter Senge, and practical tips on education and training for healthcare leaders seeking to implement systems approaches.About Dr. Matthew Montoya:Dr. Montoya serves as professor and mentor at Johns Hopkins University’s Systems Engineering and Healthcare Systems Engineering programs, with over 35 years at Johns Hopkins and national recognition as an outstanding instructor and principal chief engineer. His work applies engineering, systems science, and business acumen to tackle complex problems across industries—from healthcare delivery to national security.​0:00 – Introduction1:24 – Dr. Montoya’s career, background, and role at Johns Hopkins5:32 – Why systems engineering?9:50 – Clarifying chaos: applying systems thinking in practice15:10 – Case study: large-scale defense health project19:00 – Project management vs. systems engineering in healthcare22:45 – Building “pilot” efforts and measuring outcomes28:00 – The impact of AI tools in systems engineering35:40 – Practical advice for healthcare organizations40:55 – Getting started: mindset, books, and educational resources44:00 – Closing thoughts

    30 min
  2. 11/18/2025

    From ICU Nurse to Healthcare Tech CEO: Angela Adams RN on Solving Missed Follow-Ups with AI

    Angela Adams, RN, CEO of Inflo Health, joins the Strategy of Health podcast to share her journey from critical care nursing at Duke University Medical Center to founding a groundbreaking healthcare technology company. Angela discusses her experience in intensive care, her shift into medical-legal consulting and medical device startups, and how personal tragedy inspired her mission: solving the epidemic of missed radiology follow-ups in health systems.She explains how Inflo Health leverages AI and automation to ensure no actionable patient result is lost in the chaos of healthcare workflows, closing care gaps and relieving staff burden. Angela details her team's innovative platform, the impact on patient outcomes, and advice for clinicians and executives seeking to implement systems thinking and technology in their organizations.Learn about the real-world challenges Angela faced, the broken processes she witnessed, and how Inflo Health is reshaping clinical follow-up—empowering providers, supporting staff, and delivering better patient care.00:00 Introduction to the Strategy of Health Podcast00:42 Angela Adams' Journey from Nurse to CEO01:34 Transitioning to Medical-Legal Consulting and Medical Devices02:19 Entering the Startup World and Embracing Technology03:36 The Birth of Inflow Health04:59 The Personal Story Behind Inflow Health07:37 Challenges in Healthcare Follow-Up Systems09:22 Inflow Health's Innovative Solutions18:42 Building a Radiology-Specific Language Model23:12 Partnerships and Implementation Strategies28:32 Future Directions for Inflow Health31:46 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

    32 min
  3. 09/09/2025

    Why Rep. Arvind Venkat Says Clinicians Must Lead the Fight for Better Care

    In this powerful and timely episode, we sit down with Rep. Arvind Venkat, emergency physician and Pennsylvania State Representative for the 30th Legislative District, to explore the growing need for healthcare professionals in political leadership. Drawing from his dual roles in medicine and policy, Rep. Venkat discusses why frontline clinicians are uniquely positioned to drive healthcare reform—especially in areas of access, affordability, and system-level accountability.Topics include unionization among residents and fellows, the impact of healthcare consolidation, flaws in the current reimbursement model, and policy threats to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. Rep. Venkat also shares his personal motivations for running for office, his experience navigating clinical and legislative responsibilities, and advice for early-career physicians who want to make a difference.If you're a healthcare strategist, policy advocate, or clinician interested in value-based care, physician advocacy, or healthcare leadership, this episode offers critical insights from someone who bridges all three worlds.00:00 Introduction and Importance of Coalition Building00:30 Meet Representative Venki01:48 Serving the Community: A Dual Role06:18 Challenges in Healthcare Post-COVID08:19 Addressing Healthcare Access and Affordability14:13 Legislative Actions and Future Outlook18:12 Encouraging Clinician Involvement in Politics24:33 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

    25 min
  4. 08/04/2025

    Urgent Care Reinvented: Eliminating Handoffs with Clinical Concierge and Lean Design

    In this episode of The American Journal of Healthcare Strategy podcast, we sit down with Brandon J. Robertson, Founder and CEO of UCP Merchant Medicine and in Televisit Solutions, to explore how clinical concierge models and lean design principles are transforming urgent care delivery at scale.Brandon shares how his team applied operational science—including queuing theory, the Theory of Constraints, and AI-driven clinical decision tools—to eliminate handoffs, slash visit times, and achieve an average Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 94. You’ll learn why traditional urgent care models fail, how AI-enhanced standing orders drive diagnostic consistency, and what it takes to create financially sustainable urgent care operations—even in low-reimbursement environments.We also cover the three-phase ROI model Brandon uses to help health systems justify investment in urgent care, including short-term profitability, mid-term referral capture, and long-term lifetime value. Whether you're a healthcare executive, strategist, or operations leader, this conversation is a masterclass in urgent care innovation and system-wide impact.00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction01:17 Brandon's Career Journey02:58 Founding UCP Merchant Medicine03:14 Theory of Constraints in Healthcare04:20 Reducing Urgent Care Door-to-Door Time05:05 Queuing Theory and Process Optimization08:03 Clinical Concierge Model16:30 AI in Urgent Care18:53 Economic Impact and Scalability21:21 Long-term Value of Urgent Care28:46 Customized Models and Data Science34:46 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

    37 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Join us as we dive deep into the evolving world of healthcare. Each episode features leading experts discussing the latest trends, innovations, and strategies driving healthcare forward. Our mission is to provide insights and practical advice for healthcare professionals, policymakers, and anyone interested in the dynamics of healthcare systems and their improvement. Whether we're exploring patient engagement techniques, dissecting policy changes, or forecasting the impacts of technological advances, our goal is to arm you with the knowledge needed to navigate and excel in today's complex healthcare landscape. Tune in to stay at the forefront of healthcare strategy and policy.