Mapping Healthcare: Healthcare improvement lessons from around the world

Dr. Ulfat Shaikh

Mapping Healthcare is a radio show and podcast where a medic with a map explores ways in which people around the globe improve the world of healthcare and what we can learn from them. The show was awarded the 2025 University of California Davis Global Learning Expansion Grant which aims to foster globally engaged, innovative teaching methods. About your host: Dr. Ulfat Shaikh is a physician, medical educator, and researcher who leads programs to help health systems deliver high-quality healthcare. She is a pediatrician and professor at the University of California Davis, past Chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics' Council on Quality Improvement and Patient Safety, and a board member of the International Society for Quality in Healthcare. Dr. Shaikh has been a practicing pediatrician for over 25 years and has a Doctor of Medicine, master’s in public health, master’s in clinical research, and is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

  1. 1d ago

    39. A Labor of Love: Delivering Free Maternity Care in Kenya

    Explore the transformative journey of Kenya’s free maternity care policy. We trace the policy’s evolution from the historic 2013 presidential directive to the modern Linda Jamii program. Why did hospital deliveries surge by nearly 100% while frontline clinicians and healthcare staff faced near collapse conditions? From delays in hospital reimbursements to the hard reality of bed-sharing, Lydia Okutoyi and I discuss the implementation gaps behind the well-meaning promise. Our look at maternal health and Universal Health Coverage has lessons for policymakers, healthcare leaders, and the public. References: Lang’at E, Mwanri L, Temmerman M. Effects of implementing free maternity service policy in Kenya: an interrupted time series analysis. BMC Health Serv Res. 2019;19:645. doi:10.1186/s12913-019-4462-xMusee CM, Mweu JM, Okutoyi L. Perceptions of Healthcare Providers on Quality of Services and Their Satisfaction During Implementation of Free Maternity Services Policy in a National Referral Hospital, Kenya. East Afr J Health Sci. 2025;8(2):134-148. doi:10.37284/eajhs.8.2.3306Orangi S, Kairu A, Malla L, et al. Impact of free maternity policies in Kenya: an interrupted time-series analysis. BMJ Glob Health. 2021;6(6):e003649. doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2020-003649Oyugi B, Audi-Poquillon Z, Kendall S, Peckham S. Examining the quality of care across the continuum of maternal care (antenatal, perinatal and postnatal care) under the expanded free maternity policy (Linda Mama Policy) in Kenya: a mixed-methods study. BMJ Open. 2024;14(5):e082011. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2023-082011Oyugi B, Audi-Poquillon Z, Kendall S, Peckham S, Barasa E. Policy formulation and actor roles in the expanded Kenyan free maternity policy (Linda Mama): A policy analysis. PLOS Glob Public Health. 2024;4(11):e0002796. doi:10.1371/journal.pgph.0002796Pyone T, Smith H, van den Broek N. Implementation of the free maternity services policy and its implications for health system governance in Kenya. BMJ Glob Health. 2017;2(4):e000249. doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2016-000249Tama E, Molyneux S, Waweru E, et al. Examining the implementation of the free maternity services policy in Kenya: a mixed methods process evaluation. Int J Health Policy Manag. 2018;7(7):603-613. doi:10.15171/ijhpm.2017.135

    39. A Labor of Love: Delivering Free Maternity Care in Kenya

  2. Jul 25

    38. The Words We Wear: Clarifying Professional Identity in Healthcare from Vermont

    Is your job title just a label or a signal of trust? In this episode, we go beyond the word "provider" to explore the ethics of naming in modern medicine. From the 1965 Medicare origins of the "P-word" to the complex journey of Professional Identity Formation, we discuss how titles like Physician, Nurse Practitioner, and Physician Assistant shape team-based care and the therapeutic relationship. Jan Carney tells us how the ethics of names and labels can change healthcare from a commercial transaction back into a human calling. Discover why clarity is a form of kindness for patients and why reclaiming professional identities is vital for clinician wellbeing and resilience. References: Beasley JW, Roberts RG, Goroll AH. Promoting trust and morale by changing how the word provider is used: encouraging specificity and transparency. JAMA. 2021;325(23):2343-2344.Sulmasy LS, Carney JK; ACP Ethics, Professionalism and Human Rights Committee. Physicians are not providers: the ethical significance of names in health care: a policy paper from the American College of Physicians. Ann Intern Med. 2026;179:556-558.Cornett M, Palermo C, Ash S. Professional identity research in the health professions—a scoping review. Adv Health Sci Educ Theory Pract. 2023;28:589-642.Cruess RL, Cruess SR, Boudreau JD, Snell L, Steinert Y. Reframing medical education to support professional identity formation. Acad Med. 2014;89(11):1446-1451.Goroll AH. Eliminating the term primary care “provider”: consequences of language for the future of primary care. JAMA. 2016;315(17):1833-1834. doi:10.1001/jama.2016.2329Mangione S, Mandell BF, Post SG. The language game: we are physicians, not providers. Am J Med. 2021;134(12):1444-1446.Mayer M, Newton D. Primary care “provider” and professional identity [letter]. JAMA. 2016;316(13):1411-1412.Monrouxe LV. Identity, identification and medical education: why should we care? Med Educ. 2010;44(1):40-49.Sternszus R, Steinert Y, Razack S, et al. Being, becoming, and belonging: reconceptualizing professional identity formation in medicine. Front Med (Lausanne). 2024;11:1438082.Wald HS. Professional identity (trans)formation in medical education: reflection, relationship, resilience. Acad Med. 2015;90(6):701-706.

    38. The Words We Wear: Clarifying Professional Identity in Healthcare from Vermont

  3. Jul 11

    37. Minding the Leadership Communication Gap in Healthcare from São Paulo

    We invest millions in health technology, redesign workflows, and publish protocols grounded in the best available evidence. Yet many healthcare improvement efforts stall or never fully take hold. Not because the idea was wrong, but because the message didn’t land. Camilla Covello shares how somewhere between the boardroom and the bedside, communication breaks down and frontline teams are left to interpret change on their own. We explore communication gaps in healthcare leadership, what the evidence tells us about why healthcare improvement fails, and how we can get it right. References: Edmondson AC. Psychological Safety and Learning Behavior in Work Teams. Admin Sci Q. 1999;44(2):350-383.Frankel A, Graydon-Baker E, Neppl C, et al. Patient Safety Leadership WalkRounds. Jt Comm J Qual Saf. 2003;29(1):16-26.Ginsburg L, Easterbrook A, Geerts A, et al. ‘We listened and supported and depended on each other’: a qualitative study of how leadership influences implementation of QI interventions. BMJ Qual Saf. 2025;34(2):146-156.Singh A, Yeravdekar R, Jadhav S. Investigating the influence of selected leadership styles on patient safety and quality of care: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Leader. 2024;8(4):208-214.Tawfik DS, Adair KC, Palassof S, et al. Leadership Behavior Associations with Domains of Safety Culture, Engagement, and Health Care Worker Well-Being. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf. 2023;49(3):156-165.

    37. Minding the Leadership Communication Gap in Healthcare from São Paulo

  4. Jun 27

    36. The Cost of Caring: Keeping Healthcare Workers Safe in Thailand

    Remember those clanging pots for healthcare heroes? The gratitude has faded but the dangers are louder than ever. In this episode, we explore five hazards - biological, sharps, ergonomic, violent, and psychological - threatening those who care for us. There are two million needle stick injuries each year and 60% of healthcare staff face workplace violence. Piyawan Limpanyalert and I look at solutions from motorized lifts to save backs to streamlining paperwork to save minds. We move beyond resilience to see what health systems can do to ensure healthcare worker safety. References: Bouya S, Balouchi A, Rafiemanesh H, et al. Global Prevalence and Device Related Causes of Needle Stick Injuries among Health Care Workers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Ann Glob Health. 2020;86(1):35, 1–8.Abdul Halim NSS, Ripin ZM, Ridzwan MIZ. Efficacy of Interventions in Reducing the Risks of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Healthcare Workers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Workplace Health Saf. 2023;71(12):575-587.Harrell M, Selvaraj SA, Edgar M. DANGER! Crisis Health Workers at Risk. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(15):5270.Jacquier-Bret J, Gorce P. Prevalence of Body Area Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders among Healthcare Professionals: A Systematic Review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023;20(1):841.Krishnanmoorthy G, Rampal S, Karuthan SR, Baharudin F, Krishna R. Effectiveness of Participatory Ergonomic Interventions on Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders, Sick Absenteeism, and Work Performance Among Nurses: Systematic Review. JMIR Hum Factors. 2025;12:e68522.Liu J, Gan Y, Jiang H, et al. Prevalence of workplace violence against healthcare workers: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Occup Environ Med. 2019;76(12):927-937.Mohr DC, Elnahal S, Marks ML, Derickson R, Osatuke K. Burnout Trends Among US Health Care Workers. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(4):e255954.Murthy VH. Confronting Health Worker Burnout and Well-Being. N Engl J Med. 2022;387(7):577-579.O’Brien CJ, van Zundert AAJ, Barach PR. The growing burden of workplace violence against healthcare workers: trends in prevalence, risk factors, consequences, and prevention – a narrative review. eClinicalMedicine. 2024;72:102641.Ugonabo N, Shah P, Adotama P, Zampella JG. Needlestick and Sharps Injuries Among Resident Physicians. JAMA Surg. 2021;156(1):96-97.

    36. The Cost of Caring: Keeping Healthcare Workers Safe in Thailand

  5. Jun 13

    35. Healthcare in the Air: Retrieval Medicine in Remote Australia

    How would you survive a critical emergency hundreds of miles from civilization? Retrieval medicine is a high-stakes flying ICU that brings medical expertise directly to a patient’s side. In this episode we trace the evolution of care in the air, from 1870s mail balloons to modern jets that fight the laws of physics. Shannon Nott from the Royal Flying Doctor Service tells us about delivering lifesaving care across vast distances in the Australian Outback. From the hidden danger of expanding gases at altitude and how aviation-style safety checklists keep teams and patients alive, we hear why your geography shouldn't be your destiny. References: Shirley PJ, Hearns S. Retrieval medicine: a review and guide for UK practitioners. Part 1: Clinical guidelines and evidence base. Emerg Med J. 2006;23(12):937-942. doi:10.1136/emj.2006.036897Hearns S, Shirley PJ. Retrieval medicine: a review and guide for UK practitioners. Part 2: safety in patient retrieval systems. Emerg Med J. 2006;23(12):943-947. doi:10.1136/emj.2006.038075Laverty C, Tien H, Beckett A, et al. Primary aeromedical retrieval crew composition: Do different teams impact clinical outcomes? A descriptive systematic review. CJEM. 2020;22(S2):S89-S103. doi:10.1017/cem.2020.404Muyambi K, Gardiner F, Sollid S, et al. Aeromedical retrieval services characteristics globally: a scoping review. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med. 2022;30(1):71. doi:10.1186/s13049-022-01053-xParrino C, Galvagno SM Jr. Aeromedical transport for critically ill patients. Crit Care Clin. 2024;40(3):481-495. doi:10.1016/j.ccc.2024.03.004

    35. Healthcare in the Air: Retrieval Medicine in Remote Australia

  6. May 30

    34. Preventing Maternal Deaths During Childbirth in Ethiopia

    A mother dies from preventable causes related to pregnancy or childbirth every two minutes. We have the medical knowledge about what works to prevent these avoidable deaths. So why do they still occur? Explore the global maternal mortality crisis and the three delays that turn a joyful event into a tragedy. Abebe Alene tells us how Dessie Hospital in Ethiopia halved its maternal deaths. We talk about simplifying birthing workflows in hospitals, standardizing lifesaving medical procedures, the life-saving power of midwives, and the role of paid maternity leave policies. References: Gunja MZ, et al. Insights into the U.S. Maternal Mortality Crisis: An International Comparison. Commonwealth Fund. June 4, 2024. doi:10.26099/cthn-st75Davidson KW, Terry MB, Braveman P, et al. Maternal mortality: a National Institutes of Health Pathways to Prevention panel report. Obstet Gynecol. 2024;143(3):e78-e85. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000005488Ekwuazi EK, Chigbu CO, Ngene NC. Reducing maternal mortality in low- and middle-income countries. Case Rep Womens Health. 2023;39:e00542. doi:10.1016/j.crwh.2023.e00542Langlois EV, Reid A, Khosla R. Mothers deserve better: evidence-based strategies to address maternal mortality. Lancet Glob Health*. Published online April 8, 2025. doi:10.1016/S2214-109X(25)00149-4Nassar AH, Usta I. Factors contributing to the reduction of the global maternal mortality ratio. Lancet Glob Health. 2026.World Health Organization. Maternal mortality. 2025. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/maternal-mortality

    34. Preventing Maternal Deaths During Childbirth in Ethiopia

  7. May 9

    33. The Rural Community Pharmacy: A Lifeline on Catalina Island

    In rural counties most pharmacies are independently owned. When these rural pharmacies close, they don’t just leave a gap in healthcare, they affect a region's economy. Because who wants to move to a town where you can’t get a prescription filled for 40 miles? Hear the audio story that I created at the Transom Story Workshop on Catalina Island about Sue Ponce, the sole pharmacist on Catalina Island’s only drug store for three decades. When I arrived at the workshop I thought I was there to learn some audio technical skills. What I didn’t expect was to also rethink how stories work and their place in healthcare. References: Berenbrok LA, Tang S, Gabriel N, et al. Access to community pharmacies: A nationwide geographic information systems cross-sectional analysis.J Am Pharm Assoc. 2022;62(6):1816-1822.e2.Catalano G, Khan MMM, Chatzipanagiotou OP, Pawlik TM. Pharmacy Accessibility and Social Vulnerability.JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(8):e2429755. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.29755.DiStefano MJ, Chen NC, Asche CV, Anderson KE, Mattingly II TJ.“The crux of the community”: A qualitative focus group study of the impact of community pharmacy closures in Colorado and Utah.J Am Pharm Assoc. 2026;66:102940. doi:10.1016/j.japh.2025.102940.Gravlee E, Ramachandran S, Qato D.Critical Access Pharmacy Designations Could Strengthen Access. Health Affairs Forefront. December 19, 2025. doi:10.1377/forefront.20251216.325474.Kono M, Deller S. Rural Pharmacies an Overlooked Piece of the Rural Health Care Milieu.Choices. 2023;34(4).Luchen GG, Hall KK, Hough KR. The Role of Community Pharmacists in Patient Safety.PSNet. October 25, 2021. Accessed May 7, 2026. https://psnet.ahrq.gov/perspective/role-community-pharmacists-patient-safety.Moodley S. Rethinking Community Pharmacy: A Path To A Sustainable Model.Health Affairs Forefront. July 28, 2025. doi:10.1377/forefront.20250724.565622.

    33. The Rural Community Pharmacy: A Lifeline on Catalina Island

  8. Apr 25

    32. What Matters to You: A Simple Question That Transforms Care in Switzerland

    In healthcare, we’re trained to move fast, to diagnose, treat, and fix. But what happens when we slow down just enough to ask a different question: What matters to you? In this episode, we reflect on how one simple question can transform not just clinical decisions, but relationships, trust, and meaning for patients, families, and clinicians. Christian von Plessen shares what happens when we stop asking “What’s the matter?” and start asking “What matters to you?”. Whether you're wearing a stethoscope or the hospital gown, this seemingly simple question is a reminder of why connection matters. References: von Plessen C, Vasserot K, Bonnevie L, Coelho V, Dell'Eva E, Piazza V, Staines A. “What matters to you ?” From campaign to daily practice. Rev Med Suisse. 2025 Jun 4;21(921):1192-1196. French. doi: 10.53738/REVMED.2025.21.921.47318.Barry MJ, Edgman-Levitan S. Shared decision making — the pinnacle of patient-centered care. N Engl J Med. 2012;366(9):780-781. doi:10.1056/NEJMp1109283.Staines A, Laroussi-Libeault L, Coelho V, Pomey MP. “What matters to you?”: a powerful question to unlocking partnership in care. Int J Qual Health Care. 2025;37(1):mzaf007. doi:10.1093/intqhc/mzaf007.Barry M. Ask “what matters to you?” when it matters most. Institute for Healthcare Improvement Blog. September 17, 2019. Accessed April 11, 2026.Janerka C, Hooper AR, Sanders B, Gallagher O. How has ‘what matters to you’ been used for patient care? A scoping review. Health Expect. 2025;28:e14300. doi:10.1111/hex.14300.Kebede S. Ask patients “what matters to you?” rather than “what’s the matter?”. BMJ. 2016;354:i4045. doi:10.1136/bmj.i4045.

    32. What Matters to You: A Simple Question That Transforms Care in Switzerland
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About

Mapping Healthcare is a radio show and podcast where a medic with a map explores ways in which people around the globe improve the world of healthcare and what we can learn from them. The show was awarded the 2025 University of California Davis Global Learning Expansion Grant which aims to foster globally engaged, innovative teaching methods. About your host: Dr. Ulfat Shaikh is a physician, medical educator, and researcher who leads programs to help health systems deliver high-quality healthcare. She is a pediatrician and professor at the University of California Davis, past Chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics' Council on Quality Improvement and Patient Safety, and a board member of the International Society for Quality in Healthcare. Dr. Shaikh has been a practicing pediatrician for over 25 years and has a Doctor of Medicine, master’s in public health, master’s in clinical research, and is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

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