Are you ready to rethink what health really means—and what it takes for us to achieve it? Welcome to the “More Health. Less Healthcare” Podcast, your front-row seat to a revolution in American healthcare, inspired by the game-changing book by Peter Boland. Healthcare doesn’t have to be defined by endless bills, mounting debt, and a system that prioritizes profits over people. What if there’s a better way that means more health for everyone, fewer unnecessary costs, and a renewed sense of fairness in how care is delivered? The “More Health. Less Healthcare” podcast takes you inside the heart of a growing movement: one that values equity, transparency, collaboration, and, above all, real outcomes for real people. Hosted by thought leaders committed to making a difference, each episode starts with a bold question: Are we ready to do the right thing, for the right reasons, at the right price? Drawing from over 100 real-life case examples and interviews, this podcast isn’t just another critique of what’s broken. It’s your practical playbook for solutions that work—proof of concept that eradicating health disparities and cutting out waste can lead to healthier communities, a stronger economy, and a more ethical society. Learn how the hidden cost of inequity in American healthcare is draining hundreds of billions of dollars from our economy every year, and how millions of Americans endure the crushing burden of medical debt. Discover why up to a third of all healthcare spending in the U.S.—a staggering $1.4 trillion each year—has no benefit for patients and only adds to the harm. The “More Health. Less Healthcare” podcast uncovers these hard truths and turns them into a call for accountability and courage. We face a crucial choice: keep overspending on sickness care or rebalance our priorities to invest in real health creation. COVID-19 revealed the glaring gaps in our system and the disproportionate impact on minority communities, bringing discrimination and broken incentives to the forefront. The podcast tackles these issues head-on, with stories and strategies from those leading the way on public health, end-to-end care coordination, and the rebuilding of trust in our healthcare institutions. Why do traditional healthcare financing models fail us? How can we redirect wasted resources to programs that create health? What can individuals, practitioners, and policymakers do right now to drive systemic change, eliminate unnecessary care, and refocus on community-based solutions? Each episode is a masterclass in what it means to be accountable for the health of our communities. We draw on the wisdom of healthcare’s past, rooted in Hippocrates’ timeless principle—first do no harm, then try to prevent it—and update it for the 21st century. Our guests bring you groundbreaking ideas and proven methods to advance equity, commit to health creation, and embrace transparency and fairness as the guiding values of a new era. Don’t miss the conversations that matter from how to slash 26-46% of healthcare waste, to making public health programs robust statewide and nationwide, to amplifying voices that have turned health equity from an ideal into a reality. Whether you’re a patient, a clinician, a policymaker, or someone who simply cares about the future of health in America, “More Health. Less Healthcare” is your go-to resource for hope, honest dialogue, and practical steps toward a fairer, healthier tomorrow. Subscribe now and join the national conversation about how we value health, the urgent reforms we need, and how—with the right leadership and commitment—we can all experience more health and less healthcare.
How Employers Can Use Their Buying Power to Change Healthcare for Good
In our latest episode, Peter Boland explores a transformative question: What if employers used their full leverage to reshape employee healthcare — and invested the savings back into their communities? Most U.S. employers have enormous purchasing power and a unique relationship with their workforce, yet often act as passive consumers of traditional insurance products. Peter Boland argues that this status quo is not inevitable — and shares examples of what’s possible when employers become proactive health investors instead. Peter Boland breaks down the Health Rosetta model, built around eight core components: Transparent networks with known prices and outcomes Individualized health stewardship Advanced primary care with aligned incentives Active, independent plan management Transparency in pharmacy benefits Rigorous oversight of major and outlier cases High-performance plan design Transparent, aligned relationships with benefits advisors In short: Remove conflicts of interest, align incentives, and focus on actual outcomes. With proven models and compelling results, Peter Boland challenges employers to stop being passive purchasers. The tools and blueprints are already here; what’s needed is a proactive choice at the board level to invest wisely—and reinvest dividends back into the community.
Housing as Healthcare: When Communities Decide Where Investments Go
Peter Boland dives deep into the transformative power of community-driven housing investments and how shifting incentives—and power—can radically improve health equity. Featured Discussions Healthy Homes Des Moines Tackling childhood asthma and allergies at the source, this program goes directly into homes, identifies environmental triggers, and provides meaningful repairs and supplies. The lesson? Fix the environment, not just the patient. The SPARC Initiative in Oakland Through collective action from over 500 local stakeholders, SPARC is moving affordable housing and anti-displacement efforts forward by putting decisions in the hands of residents. Real systemic change: the City of Oakland now rewards developers who partner with the community. Bon Secours' Audacious Shift in Baltimore In one of the boldest moves yet, Bon Secours sold its century-old hospital and reinvested funds to build stable housing, educational spaces, and job opportunities. Their philosophy: work for the community, not just with it. Key Takeaways Community is the True Unit of Intervention . Programs deliver better results when residents decide what's needed and where investment goes. Structural Change Beats Status Quo . Changing local government and health system policies shifts real power to those most affected. Tangible Returns . Investments in stable housing yield social returns that rival, if not outperform, traditional financial instruments—and improve health in the process. Empowering communities isn’t just a theory—it’s happening now, and it’s changing lives. Be sure to catch Peter Boland's insightful analysis and real-world examples by listening to the full podcast.
Treating Neighborhoods as Patients: Hospital-Led Housing Initiatives
Welcome back to More Health, Less Healthcare with Peter Boland. In this, we dive into why housing is far more than just a place to live—it's a clinical intervention that can shape the health of entire communities. Key Takeaways Treating Neighborhoods as the Patient: Peter Boland explores how Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus redefined its mission, tackling intergenerational poverty by viewing the community itself as the patient. Investing in housing revitalization led to a 20.8% drop in ER visits and a 12.7% reduction in hospital admissions in targeted neighborhoods. Institutional Investment Over Charity: Both Nationwide Children’s and Boston Medical Center demonstrate the power of allocating real capital—not just charitable donations—toward social infrastructure. Boston Medical Center devoted its entire $6.6 million Determination of Need fund to housing initiatives, securing long-term stability for patients with chronic health issues. Integration as Prevention: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota’s Center of Prevention illustrates how scaling institutional efforts—integrating affordable housing, food access, and tobacco cessation—can transform both health outcomes and communities. Why It Matters Short-term thinking doesn’t move the needle on health equity or chronic disease. As Peter Boland puts it, “Institutions need to change, not people.” Long-term, strategic investments in housing create real and measurable health improvements.
What If They Got The Incentives Right? How Medically Tailored Food Programs Outperform Drugs in Clinical Outcomes
In our latest episode, Peter Boland dives deep into the fascinating and urgent topic of Food as Medicine —a movement proving that changing what's on our plates can save both lives and dollars. Key Takeaways Geisinger Fresh Food Pharmacy Peter Boland highlights that Geisinger’s program for type 2 diabetes achieved an 80% reduction in healthcare costs —dropping from $240,000 to just $48,000 per patient. Patients also saw improved HbA1c, lower BMI and blood pressure, and 10–50 pounds in weight loss. Boston Medical Center’s Comprehensive Approach The first hospital in the U.S. to fully integrate food as medicine, Boston Medical Center serves 7,000 people monthly—including a robust food pantry, rooftop farm, and teaching kitchen. Their efforts go further by embedding legal assistance to help patients with housing, utilities, and benefits issues. Cleveland Clinic’s Group Appointments Using shared medical appointments, patients support each other through lifestyle changes addressing root causes of chronic disease. Not only does this model increase efficiency, but the social reinforcement leads to better outcomes and reduced hospitalizations. “Food is medicine and the industry’s continued reluctance to treat it that way is costing money and lives at the same time.” — Peter Boland
What If Healthcare Incentives Were Right? Insights from Pathways, Houston Methodist, and Blue Cross
In our latest episode of More Health, Less Healthcare, Peter Boland tackles a fundamental question: What if the healthcare industry got the incentives right? Drawing from insights in the comprehensive Health Equity Case Studies Handbook, Peter Boland summarizes game-changing models and the powerful results that emerged when organizations shifted to pay-for-outcomes. Key Takeaways from the Episode Pay for Outcomes, Not Activities: Most healthcare payments go toward procedures and visits, not true health improvements. Peter Boland challenges us to consider: What if we tied payment to real results, just like we do in other industries? Success Stories Highlighted: Pathways Community Hub: Community health workers are paid when problems are solved, not just for showing up. This model led to a dramatic increase in healthy birth weights and better prenatal outcomes. Houston Methodist: Giving doctors access to monthly, personalized data on their practice resulted in lowered hospital admissions, fewer readmissions, and millions in shared savings. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts: Their alternative quality contract ties provider payments to patient outcomes and equity—not just volume. This approach slowed spending and improved care for all populations. Measuring What Matters: Across the board, organizations that “measure what matters and tell the truth about it” saw behavior change and improved results. Despite abundant evidence, Peter Boland asks why the industry hasn’t widely adopted these models. The answer: it’s not a lack of information—the missing ingredient is institutional will.
Redefining Maternal Health: Coverage, Access, and Accountability
In this episode, Peter Boland zooms out to examine why maternal health outcomes in the U.S. are a direct result of the systems and policies we build, not random chance. Too often, policy treats pregnancy as a brief event—missing the reality that maternal health is a long-term continuum stretching from pre-pregnancy, through birth, and into the year after. It’s not enough to offer coverage on paper or just measure outcomes— someone has to be responsible for improving them . Tying incentives, contracts, and regulations to real results is key. Listen to the episode for the full story on how smarter policy can save lives and deliver real value—financially and in human well-being.
The Hidden Tax on Motherhood: Unseen Costs and Community Impact
In our latest episode of More Health, Less Healthcare , Peter Boland uncovers a crucial and often overlooked issue: the “hidden tax” on motherhood. Unlike the taxes you see on receipts, this one is paid in hospital bills, lost wages, and missed life chances — with the biggest burden falling on those who can least afford it. These costs may be invisible, but their impact is real — affecting hospital bills, lost wages, long-term health, and community stability . As Peter points out at, the system’s shortcomings disproportionately affect families with fewer resources, stretching gaps in care into dangerous and expensive hazards. We all pay the price for a failing maternal health system, but not equally. Whether you’re a healthcare leader, employer, or policymaker, Peter calls for leadership and accountability: Make maternal care essential Prioritize prevention in benefits and policies Track and address outcome disparities As Peter closes, the real question is whether we keep ignoring this hidden tax — or decide, as a community and society, to change it.
The Hidden Costs of Motherhood and the Need for Systemic Change in Maternal Care
In this thought-provoking episode of Author Podcasts, Peter Boland introduces the "More Health, Less Healthcare" series by asking a bold question: What if our healthcare system isn't truly designed to create health, but rather to respond to illness? Using maternal health as a lens, Peter Boland explores the disconnect between what we claim to value and what our system actually delivers. A Shortage of Health, Not Medical Care: Despite leading the world in healthcare spending, the U.S. continues to struggle with outcomes in life expectancy, chronic disease, and especially maternal health. Maternal Health as a Mirror: Our approach to maternal health reveals what our society truly values and exposes gaps in investment and design. We Know What Works: Stable housing, nutritious food, consistent maternity care, mental health support, and reliable primary care are proven solutions, yet often treated as optional rather than essential. A System Built for Sickness: The U.S. pays generously for complications and crisis interventions, but invests only cautiously in prevention and early, continuous support. The Hidden Tax on Motherhood: Many costs and stresses facing mothers and families are embedded in how we design coverage and assign accountability—not just "bad luck," but predictable outcomes of the system. Changing Incentives Is Key: Real change requires revisiting payment models, benefit design, and the deep incentives embedded in our health care organizations. From Pilots to Practice: It's not enough to run small experiments—maternal health needs to be central to the mission, operations, and leadership accountability. Peter Boland closes with an invitation: If we can’t organize our healthcare system around something as fundamental as maternal health, how can we claim to be serious about health in any other area?
Redefining Health: Moving Beyond Sickness Care in America
Welcome back to the More Health, Less Healthcare podcast! In Episode 29, Peter Boland delivers a compelling exploration of the fundamental flaws in our current health care system—and a roadmap for a healthier, more equitable future. He challenges us all to consider: Can health care in America shift from profiting off sickness to truly creating value from health? Can leaders build systems that invest in the conditions for people to thrive? “The real measure of success is whether people and communities are better off as a result of all our efforts.” — Peter Boland Stay tuned for more transformative discussions and solutions as we continue our journey for More Health, Less Healthcare.
Stop Doing This! Where is Your Organization “Weathering” People?
This week on More Health, Less Healthcare , Peter Boland shines a spotlight on a concept that rarely appears in our benefit dashboards but shapes the lives of our patients, members, and colleagues daily: weathering. What is Weathering? As Peter Boland defines, weathering is what happens when people spend years inside systems—healthcare, employment, social services—that treat their bodies as expendable while blaming them for poor outcomes. It’s the cumulative, grinding effect of: Racism, sexism, and poverty Chronic stress and bureaucratic hurdles Unstable housing and low-wage work You see it in the 35-year-old who looks 50, in the Medicaid member labeled ‘non-compliant’ after years of navigating prior authorizations. This isn’t just a sad coincidence. As Peter Boland reminds us, weathering is a product of how our systems are built and run. This weekend, wherever you work, notice one place where your organization is weathering people—a policy, a denial pattern, even a tone of voice. In your next meeting, ask: What would it take to stop ? Not to pilot around it or build a workaround, but to actually stop. It’s an uncomfortable conversation, but one that matches the stories we say about equity and health. If you’re having these conversations—or struggling to start—I’d love to hear from you. Forward this episode to someone who sits in the rooms where decisions are made. Let’s move from “normal collateral damage” to “completely unacceptable.”
Understanding Weathering: The Hidden Cost of Chronic Stress on Maternal Health and Birth Equity
This week on More Health, Less Healthcare , Peter explored a concept that fundamentally reshapes how we think about health, equity, and the responsibilities of systems: Weathering . What is Weathering? Once you hear the term, you can’t unhear it. Weathering isn’t just about stress or burnout — it’s the biological and societal toll that chronic stress, racism, economic instability, and bureaucratic barriers take on the body, particularly for women, long before they enter a clinic or hospital. Over time, these stressors literally age organs, increase risk of diseases, and set the stage for complications — especially in pregnancy and birth. Weathering is more than a buzzword — it’s a call for accountability. Will we keep treating symptoms, or redesign systems so that simply living and working isn’t biologically expensive ? Thank you for listening. We’ll be diving deeper into these issues in upcoming episodes. If this conversation resonates with you, let it spark new questions at your workplace, clinic, or community.
Weathering Explained: How Constant Stress and Systemic Injustice Impacts Our Health
We’re thrilled to feature Arlene, acclaimed author and professor at the School of Public Health in Michigan, recently honored by the National Academy of Medicine for her groundbreaking discovery of “weathering.” In this powerful conversation, Arlene unpacks the toll that chronic social stressors and systemic injustice have on physical health, regardless of individual habits or genetics.
Scaling Impact: What Health Plans Can Learn from UPMC's Investment Framework
We’ve just dropped a brand new episode of More Health, Less Healthcare that zeroes in on a question at the heart of American healthcare: Can nonprofit health plans truly serve their communities while operating inside a system designed to profit from sickness? This time, Speaker A breaks down the paradox, using Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina as a case study and sharing actionable insights for boards, leaders, and anyone who cares about healthier communities. What You’ll Learn in This Episode Here are 5 big takeaways listeners will scoop up this week: The Nonprofit Paradox: Why nonprofit health plans are mission-driven on paper, but financially plugged into an extractive system. What Blue Cross NC Gets Right: Community investments in food security, housing, and rural care—and why it’s still not enough. How to Move from Charity to Core Strategy: The next steps nonprofits can take to tie community health directly to their business models. Accountability Starts at the Top: How boards can rewrite the “scorecard” and link executive pay to real-world community health improvements. Sharing Power for Real Change: Why giving up board seats and bringing in new voices is critical for mission-driven transformation. Fun Fact from the Episode Did you know that Speaker A suggests tying up to 30% of CEO and C-suite bonuses to measurable community health metrics—like increasing life expectancy or reducing food insecurity? That’s flipping incentives in a big way!
How Nonprofit Health Plans Can Prioritize Community Health Over Profits
We just launched a powerful new episode of the More Health, Less healthcare podcast—and trust us, you don’t want to miss this one! Peter Boland takes us deep into the world of nonprofit healthcare to reveal the surprising contradictions that shape the system, using Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina as a live case study. If you’ve ever wondered why “nonprofit” doesn’t necessarily mean “mission accomplished,” this conversation will challenge your assumptions and spark new ideas about what true impact looks like in community health. What You’ll Learn: The 5 Essential Keys The Nonprofit Paradox Explained – Discover why nonprofit health plans, even with noble intentions, often remain tied to a model that benefits more from illness than wellness. What Blue Cross North Carolina Is Doing Right – Explore inspiring real-world initiatives, from multimillion-dollar investments in housing and primary care to long-term commitments through foundation work. How Nonprofit Plans Could Level Up – Hear bold strategies for building lasting change, like integrating social health services directly into benefits rather than treating them as side projects. Bringing Community Voices Into the Boardroom – Learn how health organizations can shift power by including local voices in decision-making—and even offering board seats to those most affected by poor health. What Real Accountability Could Look Like – Understand what happens when executive incentives and public reporting align with tangible community health outcomes. Fun Fact of the Episode 🥳 Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina invested $10 million over ten years to help communities tackle the root causes of poor health—empowering residents to define what improvement truly means for them. That’s not just philanthropy; it’s community-driven innovation in action!
How Blue Cross Used Tobacco Settlement Funds to Drive Health Equity in Minnesota
We're excited to share the latest episode of "More Health, Less Healthcare," where Peter Boland dives deep into the powerful (and complicated!) story of how Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota turned tobacco lawsuit money into community transformation. This one really asks the big question: Are health insurers doing enough to change the game, or is it just a smarter form of PR? 5 Keys You'll Learn in This Episode The Historic Lawsuit Rewind Learn how Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota used a $241 million tobacco settlement to launch the Center for Prevention and make a real impact in communities. What Real Systems Change Looks Like See how moving beyond one-off projects toward policy, systems, and environmental change isn’t just about “good optics,” but about changing the rules of the game itself. How a Health Plan Can Target Equity Find out what “targeted universalism” means—and how it drives focused investments in the communities hit hardest by health inequities. If It’s All Enough Join Speaker A in the debate: Is this deep, structural-impact work, or are there limits when a health plan is still rooted in an extractive profit model? What the Next Chapter of Health Equity Could Be Get a glimpse of how benefit design (think premiums, co-pays, and real access) could become the make-or-break frontier for true equity. Fun Fact from the Episode Did you know tobacco prevention in Minnesota isn’t just about banning ads or funding quitlines? The Center for Prevention even backed a huge youth campaign called "Behind the Haze" and worked to make bikes a core part of daily transportation for everyone—not just weekend warriors. That’s systems change in action!
The Health Plan Paradox: What BCBSMA Learned From Listening Deeply To Customers Focus Groups
We’ve just dropped a brand new episode you won’t want to miss: “More Health, Less Healthcare: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Part 2.” Hosted by Peter Boland, this episode dives deep into what happens after a health plan truly listens to its community—and why good intentions alone might not bend the cost curve for everyday families. 🌟 Here are 5 keys you’ll learn in this episode: 1. The Power of Real Listening: Why Blue Cross MA sat down with factory workers, teachers, union stewards, and more—and what they discovered that actuarial tables miss. 2. Beyond “Business as Usual”: How Dr. Tom Hawkins is using data (and heart) to pinpoint and close health gaps, and why insurance data just isn’t enough. 3. Equity vs. Cost: The surprising truth about why plan premiums keep rising even as equity programs get stronger—and what needs to change for both to win. 4. Partnerships that Work: How cross-sector collaboration (health plans, employers, hospitals, civic groups, community members) could transform the whole equation. 5. The Moral (and Financial) Equation: Why doing the right thing for the right reason isn’t enough if the price isn’t right, and how to realign dollars and ethics for true impact. 🎉 Fun Fact from the Episode: Did you know the community voices—teachers holding off on prescriptions, single moms managing on the edge, and union stewards juggling bills—aren’t just “data points”? Peter Boland reveals they’re the “focus group” shaping the Health Care Handbook! Their lived experiences are at the heart of real health solutions.
How to Improve SDOH Screening Why Quality is More Important Than Quantity
We’re excited to share a brand new episode of "More Health, Less Healthcare" with you! This week, host Peter Boland sits down with two incredible voices from the SIREN group: Andy Quiñones-Rivera and Danielle Hessler Jones. If you care about what makes social care truly effective (it’s more than just paperwork), this episode is a must-listen. Episode Sneak Peek: What You’ll Learn We packed this episode with actionable insights—here are 5 keys you’ll take away: The True Mission of SIREN SIREN stands for Social Intervention Research Evaluation Network—get the inside scoop on how they’re reshaping the way we think about social determinants of health. It’s Not Just the Data—It’s the Interaction Andy Quiñones-Rivera shares why the way social needs screenings are conducted can be as important—sometimes more important—than what’s actually asked. Patient Experience: More Than a Number Diving into real patient interviews, you’ll hear what makes social care a positive or negative experience, and why just checking a box isn’t enough. Racism and Stigma in Social Care The team bravely discusses how issues of race and stigma shape patient trust and engagement, with powerful patient quotes to bring these realities to life. New Tools for Real Change Danielle Hessler Jones unveils a new patient experience measure—designed not just to count how many screenings happen, but to help improve the quality of care across the board. Fun Fact from the Episode! Even when patients received material help (like a referral or resource), many said the feeling of the interaction—whether they were listened to, respected, and approached with cultural sensitivity—sometimes mattered even more than the help itself! Listen & Be Inspired This conversation is a reminder: social care is not about ticking boxes, but about making real, human connections that have the power to heal and build trust. Whether you’re a healthcare pro, patient, or just passionate about health equity, you’ll come away with practical ideas on how to make a difference. Your Turn! Ready to dive deeper? 🎧 Check out the episode and explore the full slide deck available in our show notes for even more insight. After listening, reply to this email and let us know your biggest takeaway—or tell us how YOU think we can improve social care! Dr. Andy Quiñones-Rivera is an emergency medicine physician and the Medical Director of Acute Care Outcomes at Alameda Health System. Their work is focused on health care quality, population health, and social determinants of health. Dr. Quiñones-Rivera earned their medical degree from the UCSF School of Medicine (UCSF PRIME-US) and completed their emergency medicine residency at the Los Angeles County–University of Southern California Medical Center. Dr. Hessler Jones is co-Director of the Social Interventions Research and Evaluation Network (SIREN) and a Professor and Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. Her research focuses on social care delivery in the health care sector; including understanding the impact and implementation of programs aimed at screening and addressing social risks alongside programs that seek to adjust care to fit an individual’s social context. As a health psychologist Dr. Hessler Jones also brings experience in health behaviors and engagement and intersections with mental health.
Making Chronic Illness Visible: Reflections on Accountability and Building Trust After COVID-19
We’re excited to announce the release of Part 2 of our conversation with Jason Gale on the More Health, Less Healthcare podcast! This episode is packed with honest insights, global perspectives, and a healthy dose of optimism for tackling the chronic aftermath of COVID-19 and future pandemics. Introduction In this episode, Peter Boland welcomes back Jason Gale, a Bloomberg News journalist with decades of experience in pandemic preparedness. Together, they dive into the controversial and often overlooked realities of Long COVID, chronic illness, and how we can build better systems (and trust!) for the future. 5 Keys You’ll Learn: 1. Who’s Been Seen—and Who’s Been Invisible: Discover how essential workers, nursing home residents, and communities with health inequalities were disproportionately impacted, and why chronic illness still flies under the radar. 2. Why Chronic Conditions Remain in the Shadows: Learn the surprising reasons chronic care doesn’t get the funding, media, or public interest it deserves—even as it grows. 3. The Importance of Trust in Public Health: See how fractured trust in institutions and science became a major roadblock, and explore inspiring examples from Denmark and grassroots messengers. 4. Lessons from Around the World: What did other countries do right? Understand Jason’s take on countries like South Korea, Denmark, and Vietnam, and why separating politics from science matters. 5. What’s Next? Preparing for Future Pandemics: Hear Jason’s candid thoughts on why another pandemic is inevitable—and what actionable steps we can take to respond smarter, measure chronic impacts, and build unified, consistent public health funding. Fun Fact from the Episode Did you know the trusted messenger for health information might be your hair salon—not your clinic? Peter Boland and Jason Gale discuss how trust can be found in unexpected places, and how grassroots communication makes all the difference!
Generational Consequences of Long COVID and Why Our Healthcare System Is Unprepared
We’re excited to share our latest episode from More Health, Less Healthcare , and this is one you don’t want to miss. We had the absolute pleasure of hosting the award-winning journalist and senior Bloomberg News editor, Jason Gale, who’s here to talk about his new book, “After COVID: Health Impacts That Last Generations.” In this first part of our two-part series, Peter Boland and Jason Gale dive deep into the generational consequences of COVID, exploring how the story isn’t just about the acute crisis, but the long tail — Long COVID and its ripple effects on health systems and everyday lives. Here are 5 key takeaways you’ll learn from this episode: 1. Long COVID is a Global Challenge: No country has truly “solved” the Long COVID problem. Most health systems, from the US to Australia, are struggling to provide coordinated, effective care (Peter Boland, Jackie Lapin, and Jason Gale agree—patients are often left being their own care quarterbacks!). 2. The Data We Don’t See: While dashboards during the pandemic tracked deaths and hospitalizations, we’re behind on tracking long-term disability, organ damage, and chronic symptoms — the “hidden pandemic” that continues for millions (Peter Boland). 3. Mental Health & Misunderstanding: Long COVID has significant behavioral and psychiatric impacts. Many patients are wrongly told “it’s all in your head”—even though the data says otherwise! 4. Staggering Numbers: Recent CDC estimates suggest about 7% of US adults (that’s around 18-19 million people!) may be living with Long COVID. And that number can fluctuate as definitions of Long COVID evolve. 5. Vaccines Help, But Aren’t a Cure-All: Vaccination reduces the risk of developing Long COVID, but it’s not a silver bullet. Preventing infection remains crucial, and even vaccinated folks can experience persistent symptoms. Fun Fact from the Episode: Did you know some of the most insightful research about COVID’s lingering effects comes from the US Veterans Affairs Health System? Jason Gale mentions how scientists like Ziyad Al-Ali are digging through VA databases to uncover links between COVID and chronic diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular problems—sometimes even years after infection!
What Hospitals Can Learn from Boston Medical Center’s Social Care Innovations
We just dropped a fresh episode you won’t want to miss! This week, Peter Boland spotlights the groundbreaking work at Boston Medical Center (BMC) —a national leader in social care and health equity. If you think hospitals are just about prescriptions and checkups, think again! BMC is rewriting the playbook for what community healthcare can be. Here’s what you’ll discover in this episode: Food as Medicine: Learn how a simple food pantry sparked a full-fledged movement—BMC now distributes over a million pounds of healthy food each year and even grows fresh produce on its rooftop farm. Whole-Family Care: See how real health care means supporting the entire family, from free cooking classes for moms like Martha to programs that boost kids’ health and well-being. Connecting Social Needs to Medical Care: Explore how the Thrive Screener helps patients get assistance with housing, food, and even legal aid—right from their clinic visit. Empowering Clinicians & Leaders: Get practical takeaways for doctors and health leaders on how to make equity an everyday practice, not just a mission statement. Transforming Communities: Discover how hospitals can work hand-in-hand with local neighborhoods to create affordable housing, good jobs, and lasting change—not just patch up problems in the ER. Fun Fact: BMC’s first “food program” was literally a few cans of vegetables tucked in a doctor’s desk drawer. Fast-forward a few years, and they now run a 2,700-square-foot rooftop farm and the nation’s first hospital teaching kitchen. Talk about a major “grow up” story! Would you like me to adapt this version for a social media caption or podcast show notes format next?
