For the Better

In this episode…

With a focus on bridging departmental divides, organizations must optimize their digital infrastructure to meet evolving patient demands. So, what strategies are essential for future-proofing websites amidst the ever-changing healthcare technology landscape?

Stephen Barry, Product Manager at Lee Health, leverages his design and development background to improve the website and patient experience for the company’s patient-facing website, bridging the gap between departments. He highlights the benefits of a dedicated product owner role, particularly in emphasizing web infrastructure, and highlights the evolution of his role from a hybrid marketing and IT position to a clearly defined product role. According to him, continuous website improvement through incremental change is crucial to addressing the disruptions in the healthcare industry. Stephen emphasizes the importance of staying on top of industry trends and future-proofing your website with solid fundamental elements. 

In this episode of For the Better podcast, Ben Cash hosts Stephen Barry, the Product Manager of Lee Health, to discuss the role of product owners in future-proofing healthcare websites. Stephen explains how product managers bridge marketing and IT departments, the importance of continuous website improvement, the foundational elements of a winning website, and how to enhance efficiency in small teams.

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Artificial intelligence (AI) has been a game changer in healthcare marketing. Whether looking to improve patient engagement, optimize digital marketing efforts, or better track and analyze data, AI can help achieve your goals more effectively and efficiently. However, what key strategies and priorities should healthcare marketing teams consider when implementing AI in marketing plans?

Aaron Mauck, former Harvard faculty and the Vice President and Executive Partner at Advisory Board, leverages his extensive healthcare background to support digital initiatives by generating strategic and operational insights to tackle the core challenges impacting performance. Highlighting the challenges marketing teams face in keeping up with the rapid evolution of AI-powered health marketing, Aaron emphasizes an understanding of the evolving consumer landscape to shape loyalty and drive success. Marketers should prioritize a task-oriented design, simplifying the customer journey instead of introducing new technologies that increase friction. In addition, while generative AI can help streamline content creation and improve UX, it’s crucial to acknowledge the need for human oversight to ensure quality.

In this episode of For the Better, Ben Cash once again hosts Aaron Mauck, the Vice President and Executive Partner at Advisory Board, to discuss the challenges of AI implementation in healthcare marketing. Aaron highlights the potential of generative AI to simplify content creation and improve UX, explains the importance of a task-oriented UX design, and dissects the 70/20/10 rule in digital road mapping.

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Technology has revolutionized the way we live, work, and interact with each other. And the healthcare industry is no exception. Digital transformation has made it possible to deliver healthcare innovatively, from virtual consultations to remote monitoring of patients. However, this transformation is not without its challenges. How can healthcare organizations fully realize the value of digital innovation?

Aaron Mauck, former Harvard faculty and the Vice President and Executive Partner at Advisory Board, leverages his extensive healthcare background to support digital initiatives by generating strategic and operational insights to tackle the core challenges impacting performance. According to him, prioritization and pragmatism are crucial to success in digital health, as overambitious goals can lead to decreased productivity. He emphasizes the importance of reducing friction in the digital healthcare experience, particularly on the consumer side and restructuring data management systems to enable AI to make a meaningful impact. In addition, organizations must embrace a cost-conscious approach to digital transformation, integrating new technologies while being mindful of investment strategy and financial constraints. 

In this episode of For the Better, Ben Cash chats with Aaron Mauck, Vice President and Executive Partner at Advisory Board, to explore the challenges and opportunities of digital transformation in healthcare. Aaron highlights minimizing friction in healthcare delivery, adopting a cost-conscious approach to digital transformation, and improving AI’s impact through effective data management. He provides valuable insights on leading strategic initiatives and fostering growth in retail healthcare.

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Let’s face it: people in the healthcare industry are busy, with many physicians and surgeons working long shifts, not to mention on-call hours. Yet, they need to keep up with trends in the field through informative discussions, expert interviews, and thought-provoking content. Can podcasting be an effective platform for creating content and building a community for healthcare professionals?

Rachel Baker, the Director of Communications at Stanford University School of Medicine, leverages podcasting to educate faculty members on various topics and to keep the university’s Department of Surgery members up-to-date on relevant research work through conversations with the authors. According to her, one of the best parts about podcasts is that professionals can choose to listen on their own time. Besides serving as a communication and community-building tool, the podcast has become an onboarding resource for the team, enlightening new resident doctors on what to expect during their residency. Now, she shares her tips and tricks for improving podcast engagement.

In this episode of For the Better, Ben Cash hosts Rachel Baker, the Director of Communications at Stanford University School of Medicine, to discuss podcasts as a medium of communication for the healthcare industry and the secrets to a successful podcast. Rachel reflects on how Stanford Surgery reaches new audiences and facilitates community building through its podcast. She also provides podcasting strategies, listener engagement tips, and what you should know about HIPAA compliance as a podcast host.

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As the demand for self-service continues to grow across industries, self-scheduling has become a patient expectation in the health sector. Online self-scheduling allows patients to find and book healthcare appointments at their convenience. This service model saves tremendous time and resources for hospitals that have previously relied on staff to schedule appointments. However, not all patient scheduling solutions are equal. How can stakeholders create a dynamic scheduling system that prioritizes patients?

Christina Valls is the Associate Director of Product and Enablement at Cedars-Sinai, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit pioneering innovative patient care. She stresses the importance of a defined strategy in achieving the benefits of the self-scheduling initiative she led. Christina and the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center team pivoted by tackling the entire patient journey while maintaining the business imperative of the project. As a result of this strategy, the hospital has seen a record-breaking increase in appointments and new patients, with a 14% drop in average daily call volumes.

In this episode of For the Better, host Ben Cash welcomes Christina Valls, Associate Director, Product and Enablement at Cedars-Sinai, to discuss Cedars-Sinai’s breakout results with self-scheduling. Christina highlights the importance of a consumer-centric approach to self-scheduling initiatives, navigating the challenges of digital health transformation, her team’s plan for the future, and the value of change management principles in a healthcare setting.

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A shortage in healthcare providers in an overcrowded pool of patients has created a gap in access, increasing the need for more convenient and accessible care options. To fill the void, healthcare organizations rely on a network of partnerships and the implementation of digital patient engagement tools. These engagement tools are convenient communication platforms that allow patients to manage their care using electronic devices. But how do digital engagement services compare to traditional service lines?

Richard Baldwin, a digital marketing veteran, uses his 14-plus years of experience to lead a team of digital engagement service professionals at Prisma Health, South Carolina’s largest healthcare system. Under his tutelage, his team has created convenient and consumer-friendly tools, including the Care Finder. Using the Care Finder allows patients to enter their symptoms, answer a series of questions, and make a selection from a list of recommended care options. Consumer engagement services are more efficient, unlike multi-step service lines that require additional navigation that lead to patient frustration.  

In this episode of For the Better, Ben Cash interviews Richard Baldwin, Manager of Digital Engagement Services at Prisma Health, to discuss digital engagement services and its impact on healthcare efficacy. Richard explains the shift towards consumerization in healthcare, how the pandemic impacted digital engagement services, and how AI and other innovative technologies can revolutionize the healthcare system. 

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Have you ever considered how much of your data is used for analytics and personalization? Knowing how your data is collected is essential for preserving your identity and privacy. However, recent regulations have raised concerns about the lack of transparency surrounding widespread online tracking technologies.

Adam Kruse is the Director of Technology at Eruptr, one of the largest healthcare-focused digital media risk assessment companies. Christy Jones is the Director of Marketing and Optimization at Reason One, a full-service digital strategy agency. They convene to discuss the challenge of maintaining HIPAA-compliant analytics while preserving user-targeted optimization and personalization strategies. Christy’s expert advice on the topic surrounds the changes in the current marketing climate from an analytic standpoint. Meanwhile, Adam shares how companies had to adjust their advertising solutions to meet regulations and how Eruptr’s Privacy Defender achieves those standards.

In this episode of For the Better, Ben Cash and co-host Lauren Minors welcome Adam Kruse, Director of Technology at Eruptr, and Christy Jones, Director of Marketing and Optimization at Reason One, to discuss one of the biggest challenges in the optimization of analytics and advertising solutions — data privacy. They share their expert opinion on the impact of the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) tracking guidance on personalization strategies, the future of data privacy, why Google Analytics is not HIPAA-compliant, and the legal considerations surrounding marketing solutions.

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Generosity is capable of creating profound change in the world. Imagine how our posture towards generosity would grow if nonprofits prioritized their relationship with us, furthering our desire to give to organizations and charities. What steps can nonprofits take to create personal relationships with their donors? 

Gabe Cooper, the Founder and CEO of Virtuous, is passionate about creating market-defining software that helps nonprofits reimagine generosity. Virtuous is currently the only responsive fundraising platform designed to assist nonprofit teams in building better donor relationships and increasing their impact. Gabe encourages nonprofits to incorporate personalized communication into their fundraising tactics and observe the effects on donor retention and monetary gifts.

In this episode of For the Better, host Ben Cash sits down with Gabe Cooper, Founder and CEO of Virtuous, to discuss responsive fundraising and how to implement it in nonprofits. Gabe highlights the importance of innovating processes, executing innovative strategies in smaller organizations, embracing failure, and finding the right next step. Listeners will gain valuable insights on how to make their fundraising efforts more effective and impactful.

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Given the innate desire of humans to be understood by their peers and society, it is no wonder that anthropologists, sociologists, and psychologists dedicate themselves to researching cultures, societies, and individuals to better understand human behavior and reasoning. But how can businesses leverage this knowledge of human nature to enhance their reach in the marketplace?

Dean Browell, Chief Behavioral Officer at Feedback, discovered his passion for digital ethnography — the study of human behavior through online mediums — while pursuing his PhD in education. Applying ethnographic methods to social platforms helps Dean’s clients understand their target audiences' online routines and trends. Implementing digital ethnography in your company can provide insight into your customers’ engagement, how they share your brand within their community, and what determines their decision to purchase your product.

In this episode of For the Better, host Ben Cash welcomes Dean Browell, Chief Behavioral Officer at Feedback, to discuss digital ethnography and its importance and impact on the marketplace. Dean shares how digital ethnography compares to other mediums of research and data research methods, how we can use social listening to reach consumers through multiple channels, and the importance of creating and maintaining your brand’s persona.

There’s nothing as certain in life as change. Fight as you may, the waves of change will come to everyone regardless of age, circumstance, or readiness. What can you do when the changes seem to mount higher than you can handle? 

Ben Cash recommends embracing the change. Or better yet — creating change. Ben is a Founding Partner of Reason One, a full-service digital agency. His team of change-makers helps those who do good, do better. Ben’s 20-plus years of experience in the web services industry has given him a depth of knowledge that helps clients achieve measurable results. Now he helps healthcare, nonprofit, and other mission-driven organizations change the world — one web strategy at a time. 

In this episode, Host Chad Franzen is joined by Ben Cash, Founding Partner of Reason One, to discuss how he learned to embrace — and create — change. Ben talks about the circumstances that led to his career change, how to handle multiple big changes simultaneously, and how Reason One is changing communities for the better. 

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Joel Sadler and Allyson Sutton are the Co-founders of Sightsee Global LLC. Through its coffee bar and retail shop, Sightsee creates a sense of fun, community, and social advocacy in Charleston, South Carolina. 

Being a business owner comes with its perks, but it also comes with many challenges. You must work hard to promote your business and keep your loyal customers. What do you need to do to remain competitive in the modern business world? How can you keep your audience engaged with your brand? It’s also hard to balance business life while being a force for positive social change.

In this episode of the For the Better podcast, Ben Cash sits down with Joel and Allyson to discuss valuable insights on running a business. They discuss building a solid connection with your customers and positioning your brand's value to the community. If you want to thrive as an entrepreneur, there are several things you can do to set yourself apart from the crowd. Discover strategies to keep your customers loyal today. Stay tuned!

In this episode…

There’s a chilling reality that children go hungry, and they are losing even more meals they depend on from the effects of the pandemic. 

Feeding children who do not have access to healthy resources is the heart of Michelle Tunno’s work — it’s why she created the buy one, feed one fund within her organization. As the Founder and CEO of Bella Tunno, a personality-filled baby and parent accessory brand, Michelle is doing her part to eliminate hunger, racism, and cultivate an environment of diversity, empowerment, and education. Her personality-driven products are sustainable and functional — with just the right splash of fun and humor. So, how can you leave a legacy through your brand that impacts the next generation? 

In this episode of For the Better, host Ben Cash is joined by Michelle Tunno, Founder and CEO of Bella Tunno, to discuss innovative ways to give back with each product sold. Michelle talks about the mission and meaning behind Bella Tunno, success during uncertain times, and producing sustainable and practical products. 

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Reason One is a full-service digital agency devoted to making life better for the brands and people they work with, providing services such as digital marketing, content strategy, digital strategy, website design, development, accessibility, and more. Nadia Rasul is a Senior Front-End Developer and Accessibility Lead for the Reason One Accessibility Team (r1at). She is leading the charge for web accessibility to help brands build more inclusive websites that everyone can navigate.

What is web accessibility? In short, web accessibility is the usability and navigability of websites for people with diverse abilities and disabilities. It is much like how the ADA requires brick and mortar businesses to be accessible through accommodations like ramps or minimum aisle spacing. Websites also have requirements to ensure that people with impairments have equal access to services and content. Nadia and the Reason One Accessibility Team work with their partners to help them be compliant. 

In this episode of For the Better, host Ben Cash sits down with Nadia Rasul to discuss how and why websites need to be accessible and inclusive and why it is so much more than just compliance. Nadia talks about some of the most common and visible accessibility tools, as well as some less obvious opportunities. She unfolds many of the misconceptions about web accessibility and breaks down what brands can do and how Reason One can help.

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Everything can change. Places that once held a dark history can turn into centers of education and inclusion — even a center of slave trade. 

Shockoe Bottom is a neighborhood in Richmond, Virginia. During the 1800s, it was the second-largest slave-trading corridor outside of New Orleans. But rather than focus on the dark side of its history, Ricky Parker set out to make “Shockoe” mean something celebratory — by starting a new brand of wine. Shockoe Wine is on a mission to educate people about African American History and bring them together through good wine. Plus, they support the community by raising money for scholarships to give to graduating high school seniors. So, how did it all get started? 

In this episode of For the Better, host Ben Cash is joined by Ricky Parker, Co-founder of Shockoe Wine, to discuss how he is using wine to educate the community. Ricky talks about the mission of Shockoe Wine, how he found his way into the world of wine and spirits, and the partnerships that helped make his dream a reality. 

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Living a sustainable life is for hippies and tree huggers. It’s too much work for the average person to make any real difference. 

Thankfully, both those statements are false. Taking care of the planet is for everybody. Of course, sustainability is a journey, not a destination. The important thing is that you start trying in whatever way you can. For some people, that means switching to a reusable coffee cup instead of using plastic or picking up a few pieces of litter on your way to work every day. 

For Eric Henry, President of TS Designs, it meant becoming North Carolina’s first B Corp and provider of high-quality printed apparel using a domestic transparent and trackable supply chain. Eric is also heavily involved in downtown revitalization efforts in his hometown of Burlington, North Carolina. He has founded organizations like the Burlington Biodiesel Coop and Burlington Beerworks. Additionally, Eric is developing a permaculture plan for his 12-acre farm and is converting his house into a net-zero energy home. Whatever your efforts look like — sustainability begins with you. 

In this episode, Host Ben Cash sits down with Eric Henry, President of TS Designs, to discuss his passion for sustainability. Eric talks about his journey to become a B Corp business, how he creates a green culture among employees, and ways you can start making a difference today. 

In this episode…

When people think of saving the planet, they tend to start with physical products. They talk about recycling, carpooling to save gas, or conserving water. But do they think about websites? 

Tom and Vineeta Greenwood, Co-founders of Wholegrain Digital, are stirring up the conversation about sustainable web design. They realized that most people don’t recognize the carbon footprint of a single website. If there’s nothing to throw away or waste, it must not be a problem. But it turns out that websites use a lot more energy than you think. 

The internet lives in giant data centers around the world. Whenever you turn on your phone, stream a show on your TV, or Google something on your computer, the information has to get from the data center to you and back again. Broadband networks use electricity to transmit the data. An individual data center uses roughly the same amount of electricity as a medium-sized town. So, is there any way to conserve energy when we all need to use the internet?

In this episode, Host Ben Cash joins Tom and Vineeta Greenwood, Co-founders of Wholegrain Digital, to discuss how they are making the world a greener place, one website at a time. They talk about their passion for sustainability, why the internet has a bigger carbon footprint than most people realize, and how they find employees and clients aligned with their mission. 

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The Green Heart Project builds garden-based, experiential learning projects and school garden programs to educate students, connect people, and cultivate community through growing, eating, and celebrating food. As Executive Director of The Green Heart Project, Jesse Blom provides overall leadership of the Green Heart Project strategy, staff, programs, administration, and finances to ensure the successful execution of the organization's mission.

Schools often have programs to keep kids off the streets and into something more constructive. How about moving them from the street into the dirt? 

Not for sandcastles — for planting gardens. Jesse and The Green Heart Project build school gardens as outdoor classrooms. Kids master the process of growing good food and connect it to what they’re teaching in classrooms. They learn how to harvest and cook the food, so they're involved in the growing process from seed to plate. But that’s not all — these students become community members who know and care about their health and the environment. They know how to work together to accomplish something positive. In the end, they’re not just growing gardens — they’re growing minds and hearts. 

In this episode, host Ben Cash sits down with Jesse to discuss how he is changing schools one garden at a time. Jesse talks about discovering a passion for urban agriculture, life skills children learn from gardening, and shares success stories from The Green Heart Project.