The HealthBiz podcast is moving to the CareTalk: Healthcare Unfiltered Channel. From now on, when you want to listen to HealthBiz, head over to one of these links:

Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/2GTYhbNnvDHriDp7Xo9s6Z

Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/caretalk-healthcare-unfiltered/id1532402352

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@CareTalkPodcast

CareTalk website https://www.caretalkpodcast.com/

I launched the Health Business Blog exactly 20 years ago, on March 1, 2005 to provide my perspectives on healthcare business and policy. I wrote thousands of posts and started sprinkling in audio interviews with healthcare CEOs in 2007 –long before the podcast boom.

My blog became very popular and as a result I even switched the name of my healthcare consulting firm to Health Business Group to take advantage of the blog’s brand equity.

The biggest podcast highlight of that era came in 2014, when I interviewed all 9 candidates for Governor of Massachusetts about their plans for healthcare. It was my goal to help elevate the political debate.

In 2017, I started co-hosting the CareTalk podcast with John Driscoll, then CEO of CareCentrix and now Chairman of the UConn Health System. We recorded monthly, in-person and experimented with a variety of formats.

When the pandemic arrived, John and I switched to remote recording and began taping weekly. There was so much to discuss about COVID-19 and we made the most of it. Our producer, Vincent Grippi masterfully built up our show to one of the top few on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

Meanwhile, I also shifted the Health Business Blog to an all-podcast format in September 2020, about six months into the pandemic, with Dafna Williams taking over as producer. I called it the HealthBiz podcast and we released a new episode every week on all the major audio channels plus YouTube. We’re now well over 200 episodes.

In 2024, we tested out the idea of melding HealthBiz and CareTalk by adding HealthBiz Briefs to the CareTalk channel. The experiment was a success, generating substantial engagement.

In 2025, we’re going all the way by moving all of HealthBiz over to CareTalk. You can listen or subscribe using the links in the show notes.

You’ll now have the chance to experience HealthBiz along with a bunch of great CareTalk content, including one -on-one shows with John and me, plus John’s own interviews with executives and policy leaders.

So that’s it for the first 20 years of the Health Business Blog and HealthBiz Podcast. I’d like to thank you, my listeners and viewers, and my producer, Dafna Williams.

I’m looking forward to the next podcast chapter. I hope you’ll join me for it.

Meet me on CareTalk! https://www.caretalkpodcast.com/

As of March 2025 HealthBiz is part of CareTalk. Healthcare. Unfiltered and can be found at the following links:

• Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/2GTYhbNnvDHriDp7Xo9s6Z
• Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/caretalk-healthcare-unfiltered/id1532402352
• YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@CareTalkPodcast
• CareTalk website https://www.caretalkpodcast.com/

Host David E. Williams is president of healthcare strategy consulting firm Health Business Group.

Episodes through March 2025 were produced by Dafna Williams.

Dougal Hawes, Group CEO of Smartbox Assistive Technology shares his inspiring journey from growing up in the English countryside to leading a company that empowers people with communication disabilities. Dougal's story is deeply intertwined with his father's dedication to empowering the disabled, a passion that began with a chance encounter in a hospital and evolved into a lifelong commitment. This familial influence not only shaped Dougal's understanding and empathy but also paved the way for his career in creating innovative communication devices for those with speech difficulties.

Explore the evolution of communication technology for disabilities, from the early days of personal computing to today's sophisticated augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems. Discover how companies like Smartbox have leveraged advancements in consumer technology to create comprehensive tools tailored to the unique needs of individuals with communication challenges. The conversation highlights the critical role of software and hardware integration, offering insights into the complexity and necessity of providing personalized communication solutions for people with diverse requirements, whether from birth or due to acquired disabilities.

Gain insight into the global landscape of AAC technology, as we discuss the significant need for these solutions and the efforts to expand accessibility worldwide. We examine the transformative impact of technologies such as eye-tracking for individuals with conditions like ALS, and how AI and voice cloning are poised to revolutionize the field further. The episode underscores the importance of combining technology with expertise and training, addressing distribution challenges, and the potential for AAC to be integrated as essential medical devices. Hear about the ripple effect of increased visibility in AAC, encouraging more people to recognize its benefits, and the role major tech firms play in advancing accessibility features.

As of March 2025 HealthBiz is part of CareTalk. Healthcare. Unfiltered and can be found at the following links:

• Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/2GTYhbNnvDHriDp7Xo9s6Z
• Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/caretalk-healthcare-unfiltered/id1532402352
• YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@CareTalkPodcast
• CareTalk website https://www.caretalkpodcast.com/

Host David E. Williams is president of healthcare strategy consulting firm Health Business Group.

Episodes through March 2025 were produced by Dafna Williams.

DexCare CEO Derek Streat shares how his early experiences in a small industrial town and the challenges of growing up in a single-parent household instilled a strong work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit. These formative years paved the way for his commitment to making a significant impact in healthcare, a commitment deepened by personal experiences, such as his daughter's serious illness and subsequent kidney transplant. Derek's dedication is further highlighted by his involvement in non-profit initiatives like PEDSnet and IROC, which focus on improving outcomes for children and kidney transplant patients through data-driven solutions.

Listen in as we uncover the origins and evolution of DexCare, a platform initially developed by Providence Health to enhance healthcare accessibility through a unified care experience. Derek discusses the transformative role of former Amazon employees in adopting an "Amazon-style" approach to healthcare, aiming to make services more discoverable and bookable. We address the persistent challenge of untapped capacity within health systems, debunking the myth of hospitals always being at full capacity. Derek explains how better data management and transparency can unlock these resources, enhancing the efficiency and reach of healthcare services.

Finally, we explore the future of healthcare delivery in a post-pandemic world, where virtual and hybrid care models are increasingly prominent. Derek discusses the potential of asynchronous and AI-driven care, especially for low-acuity conditions, and the evolving role of patients as active participants in their healthcare journeys. We also consider how Gen AI can empower patients to make informed decisions and how healthcare systems can optimize capacity and resources by leveraging a broader range of care providers. This episode promises a thought-provoking look at the innovations shaping the future of healthcare.

As of March 2025 HealthBiz is part of CareTalk. Healthcare. Unfiltered and can be found at the following links:

• Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/2GTYhbNnvDHriDp7Xo9s6Z
• Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/caretalk-healthcare-unfiltered/id1532402352
• YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@CareTalkPodcast
• CareTalk website https://www.caretalkpodcast.com/

Host David E. Williams is president of healthcare strategy consulting firm Health Business Group.

Episodes through March 2025 were produced by Dafna Williams.