Becker’s Healthcare Podcast: In-Depth Summary of Episode Featuring Amy Linson, EVP and Chief Human Resources Officer at Prisma Health

Release Date: June 19, 2025

Introduction

In this insightful episode of the Becker's Healthcare Podcast, host Molly Gamble engages in a comprehensive discussion with Amy Linson, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) at Prisma Health. Amy brings a wealth of experience from her six-year tenure at the largest healthcare system in South Carolina, providing listeners with valuable perspectives on leadership, trust, and change management within the healthcare sector.

Understanding Prisma Health and Amy Linson

Amy Linson begins by offering an overview of Prisma Health, highlighting its significant presence and impact:

• Organizational Scope: "We are located in Greenville, South Carolina. We're a not-for-profit healthcare system and the largest healthcare system in South Carolina" (00:30).

• Growth and Scale: Since its formation in 2018 through the merger of two smaller organizations, Prisma Health has expanded its footprint to include a partnership in Tennessee, now boasting 32,000 team members, $6 billion in revenue, 19 acute and specialty hospitals, and serving approximately 1.6 million unique patients annually.

Current Trends Affecting Healthcare Leadership

Trust and Hostile Activism

A central theme of the conversation revolves around the erosion of trust in leadership, a concern underscored by recent studies:

• Edelman Trust Barometer: Amy references the Edelman study, noting, "we are at an all-time low for trust in leadership" (01:28).

• Hostile Activism: She elaborates on a troubling trend identified in the survey: "hostile activism... is being increasingly seen as a legitimate way to drive change" (02:05). This includes actions like attacking individuals online and spreading disinformation, with 40% of respondents agreeing with such behaviors.

Molly Gamble emphasizes the gravity of this issue in healthcare settings, stating, "health systems are places of healing, of treatment, of care. I can't imagine a way of driving change that is more across purposes with the mission of health systems than hostile activism" (04:03).

Economic Uncertainty and Financial Guidance

Amy discusses the broader economic challenges impacting healthcare:

• Financial Volatility: "There has been a lot of uncertainty, especially in the for-profit sector," she notes, referencing companies revising or withdrawing their 2025 financial guidance due to factors like tariffs (02:30).

• Medicaid and Medicare Spend: The fluctuating expenditures in Medicaid and Medicare are additional uncertainties affecting Prisma Health's financial planning (02:45).

Maintaining Trust and Safety in Healthcare

Psychological and Physical Safety

Amy underscores the importance of maintaining both psychological and physical safety for team members and patients:

• "For our team members and patients, we want to make sure that we maintain our space of safety, psychological safety and physical safety" (04:54).

Agility and Predictability

Balancing agility with predictability is crucial in managing change:

• Routine Stability: By keeping certain aspects unchanged, such as "where the coffee machine is" or "the chair you like to sit in," Prisma Health provides a sense of normalcy amidst transformation (05:00).

• Agile Response: Amy emphasizes the need to "stay forward thinking, being agile and change-ready" while ensuring that changes do not become "crazy turbulent" (05:15).

Leadership Agency and Communication

Effective communication and empowering leadership play pivotal roles in fostering trust:

• Inclusive Change Process: "We've invited all the right people to the table to discuss that change," ensuring that team members feel involved and informed (05:30).

• Transparency: By clearly outlining what will change and what will remain the same, Prisma Health maintains transparency, thereby strengthening trust (05:45).

Proactive Change Management

Misconceptions About Change Management

Amy addresses common misconceptions surrounding change management:

• Beyond Reactive Measures: Contrary to viewing change management as merely a response to challenges, Amy advocates for a proactive approach. "I'm talking about going forward in a much more proactive way where we are involving leadership way before the change even happens" (09:51).

• Early Involvement: Engaging leadership early ensures that they have the necessary tools and communication strategies to guide their teams effectively through change (10:05).

Involving Leadership Early

Prisma Health’s approach includes:

• Agency and Tools: Ensuring leaders have "the proper tools and communication tools with their teams" to manage change seamlessly (09:55).

• Psychological Safety: Maintaining psychological safety is paramount during transitions to preserve trust and morale (11:00).

Evolving Leadership in Healthcare

Growth Mindset and Versatility

Amy offers valuable advice for leaders aspiring to build long, healthy careers in human resources and strategic roles:

• Embracing New Challenges: "Be ready to say yes to a couple of things that may not be in your wheelhouse" (11:41). This includes expanding skills beyond traditional HR functions to encompass areas like consumerism, marketing, and financial stewardship.

• Continuous Learning: Leaders should "take advantage of all the learning opportunities you can to learn about what everybody else is doing" to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving landscape (13:00).

Key Competencies for Modern Leaders

Essential competencies highlighted by Amy include:

• Project Management and Marketing: Effective project execution and an understanding of marketing principles are increasingly important (12:00).

• Technology and AI Proficiency: "We all need to increase our competency around technology and particularly in the AI space" (12:30). Amy cites Prisma Health's innovative approach to team member engagement as an example of leveraging technology creatively (13:20).

Breaking Down Silos and Embracing Utility Roles

Amy draws an analogy to sports to illustrate the need for versatile skill sets:

• Utility Players: "Utility player, I think that's like a baseball thing... we all need to be that utility player because things are coming in so quickly" (14:21). This approach promotes cross-functional expertise and adaptability.

• Silo Reduction: Moving beyond traditional silos not just in functions but also in skills and competencies fosters a more integrated and resilient organization (14:00).

Conclusion

The conversation concludes with Molly Gamble commending Amy Linson's strategic foresight and leadership. Amy's emphasis on trust, proactive change management, and versatile leadership provides a compelling blueprint for navigating the complexities of the modern healthcare landscape. Her insights underscore the critical role of human resources in shaping resilient, adaptive, and trustworthy healthcare organizations.

Notable Quotes

• Amy Linson on Trust: "We are at an all-time low for trust in leadership" (01:28).

• Molly Gamble on Hostile Activism: "Health systems are places of healing... I can't imagine a way of driving change that is more across purposes with the mission of health systems than hostile activism" (04:03).

• Amy Linson on Agility: "We need to stay forward thinking, being agile and change-ready" (05:15).

• Amy Linson on Proactive Change Management: "We're embracing the pause... making sure that we have all the right people at the table" (09:51).

• Amy Linson on Leadership Advice: "Be creative, take advantage of all the learning opportunities you can to learn about what everybody else is doing" (13:00).

This episode offers a deep dive into the strategic initiatives and leadership philosophies driving Prisma Health under Amy Linson's guidance. Listeners gain valuable takeaways on fostering trust, managing change proactively, and developing versatile leadership skills essential for thriving in today’s dynamic healthcare environment.