← Becker’s Healthcare Podcast
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- [00:00]
A
This is Madeline Ashley with the Becker CFO and Revenue Cycle Podcast and I'm excited to be joined today by Angela Lawless, EVP of Finance and CFO of Loma Linda University Health. Angela, thanks for joining me today.
- [00:14]
B
Thank you Madeline, and good day to you. I'm glad to be here and join you this morning.
- [00:21]
A
Yeah, I'm so happy to have you on. Before we kick things off though, Angela, do you mind sharing with our listeners just a little bit about yourself, just your background and career in healthcare, and then also more about Loma Linda.
- [00:35]
B
Excellent. I'd be happy to. I'm Angela Lalas and as you've noted, I currently serve as the Executive Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer of Loma Linda University Health. Loma Linda University Health is a faith based academic health system in Loma Linda, California. Over the past 19 almost 20 years, I've served in various financial leadership roles supporting our mission of healthcare education and research spanning six hospitals. We actually have three licensed hospitals with six facilities. We have the Medical center or llumc, LLU Children's Hospital, LLU MC Murrieta and LLU East Campus Hospital, LLU Surgical Hospital and LU Behavioral Medicine Center. We have a university with eight schools and our organization is very involved not just in community efforts, but also in global outreach or global impact efforts. We collaborate with a faculty medical group with over 1000 providers and we serve the ilid empire. Think primarily the San Bernardino, Riverside counties and the Inyo and Mono Counties.
- [02:07]
A
Wonderful. Thank you so much for sharing that background there. So Angela, to kick us off, I believe you said you've been with the system for 19 years?
- [02:16]
B
Yeah.
- [02:17]
A
Wow. That's actually incredible to hear and a true testament to Loma Linda. Just to kind of kick it off. During your time in healthcare, obviously the industry has changed. We see a lot of ebbs and flows, especially right now. So with this in mind, could you share two to three financial trends that you're closely monitoring and why these specific trends are so important to you?
- [02:39]
B
Well, absolutely. As you've noted, we live and operate in a highly dynamic and rapidly evolving industry. And the top three trends that I'm following in healthcare today are are the following. The first one is payment transformation, especially regarding the ripple effects of the one big beautiful Bill act and how it is or could reshape how health systems manage revenue risk and the overall patient financial experience in our organization. Given our profile, the population that we serve that primarily consists of government governmental covered patients, this is impactful for us. Second is on automation digital transformation. However, you call it, particularly on how generative and agentic AI is transforming the, you know, revenue cycle, the operational workflows and even the clinicians, how the clinicians provide care, how, you know, how AI is enabling teams to do more with less, improve efficiency, allowing clinicians and staff to work at the top of their licenses while optimizing service revenue and costs. I'm studying this, I'm interested in this particular field. It's the focus of my research in my DBA program. Looking at how automation enhances accuracy, speeds up decision making and reduces administrative burden while also being mindful of the risks, particularly around how do we trust automated decision making so that we do not over trust without appropriate human oversight? So that delicate balance between efficiency and accountability and the governance of AI, making sure that it does not introduce bias, it does not compromise quality or, or lead to compliance lapses if not thoughtfully designed and integrated and governed. The other priority or trend that I've been closely monitoring is on workforce and physician sustainability. I believe at this point it is even more critical. So in our organization we're looking at rethinking staffing models. We're looking at out of state, offshore or expanding those, those staffing alternatives where we continue to look at span of control and more importantly, we continue to explore and implement ways on how we support, you know, how we better support caregivers amid margin pressure and burnout.
- [06:03]
A
And I think one thing that I would be curious to hear, I mean you kind of touched on it in your second and third trend there. Can you share maybe how AI and just evolving technologies are really helping just in the workforce challenges that we're seeing right now in the industry and kind of what you've, what you've studied there.
- [06:19]
B
So it's really interesting how when I started this, my view was on, you know, AI would replace staff, you know, it would replace human effort. And the more that I'm studying it, the more that I'm seeing that while it, it does replace the human effort or staff, in some instances it is more of augmenting, like more of augmentation. Augmentation of skills. While we won't need the routine, repetitive, manual aspects of certain jobs, what we would need in the whole AI driven environment is like those staff or positions who will audit or make sure that again, as I've said earlier, the AI is generating the right output in terms of quality, in terms of accuracy, in terms of addressing biases and compliance issues. Right?
- [07:31]
A
Yeah, like you said, finding that balance, sort of. Yeah, yeah. So I kind of want to shift gears here a little bit and hear about what you're most excited about at Loma Linda right now. Again, as we touched on the beginning, you've been with the system for a long time, so I'm sure it's been exciting to see it evolve over the years. And maybe what's making you most excited in the finance world of the system?
- [07:55]
B
Yeah, this is my favorite question. I'm one who gets excited to serve in Louh daily because of the pride I have in our organization. Organization. It's an organization that has maintained a strong resolve to do what is right and what is good for the patients, the students, the workforce. Regardless, I get to be a part of that daily and that inspires me. I'm excited about how we're working together across the system to better align our strategies in financial and operational management across the health care, academic and faculty practice entities to sustain our mission and strengthen our long term performance, especially in light of the recent industry disruption. Like the obbba, our organization has remained committed to who we are and to our mission despite the heightened pressures. We have made our voice, the voice of our constituents heard through our government advocacy, engagement and efforts in sharing the essence of having viable hospitals in communities, in rural communities, in underserved communities, and the strength in higher ed institutions in the same communities. Another one that I'm excited about is our Stronger Together campaign. It reflects our continued commitment to healing, hope and excellence, advancing cancer care and research, expanding specialty access, care for children, expanding access in the Inland Empire, and in investing in academic innovations that meet the need for quality nurses, particularly in California, supporting student success and expanding dental education. From where I sit, it's been inspiring to see how philanthropic partnerships, when integrated with operational strategy and capital planning, drive sustainable mission aligned impact, particularly for the underserved. We're also exploring innovative partnerships to expand access to care and remain a strong purpose driven presence in our community. Lastly, I'm excited because as I've mentioned earlier, we just closed our fiscal year. We're on a June 30 year end and this last year the hospitals experienced and generated the best financial performance and year over year improvement that I've seen we've seen in years. This is a testament to God's provisions and deliverance and the dedication of our entire campus. It did not come easy. As you know, health care has been quite challenged and in fact it has been turbulent to some extent. But ending this fiscal year at such strong performance enable us enables us to better navigate the uncertainties that the shift in healthcare reimbursement in research funding and federal aid post for our future.
- [11:30]
A
Well, that is so exciting to hear and I appreciate you sharing that with me. And again, as you said, it just a testament to the system and of course your financial leadership. So congratulations there. Is there anything else you can share just in terms of how you're looking at growth over the next 12 to 24 months? I know you touched on some partnerships, potentially collaborations, but anything else in terms of growth?
- [11:54]
B
Thank you for asking that. We're pursuing growth with strategic intentionality at Loma Linda University Health. We are capital constrained. So you were still working towards our goal of getting back to investment grade rating. So there's not much capital to invest in acquisitions in mergers, if you may. So our growth is targeted to come from accelerating digital transformation, evaluating service lines for long term value, and strengthening our partnerships and integration with a faculty medical group and the university. Expanding our partnerships with other entities that could help improve access, capacity and scale without our need to invest capital, even given ongoing reimbursement pressures. We're also reassessing the timing, not the vision of key capital projects. Our focus is really to stay mission focused or mission led while remaining financially resilient. This includes close collaboration with health plans to strengthen alignment across the care continuum. You know, with enhanced quality, expanded access and strengthened financial position and stewardship. I am confident that we are well positioned to grow not just as an organization, but but as a community anchored in purpose. This growth is ultimately in service of those who matter most. The patients who trust us with their care, the physicians and care teams who dedicate their lives to healing, and the employees who bring our mission to life every day. And the students we are preparing to lead the future of health care. So together we are building a healthier tomorrow, still grounded in the Loma Linda mission and values and compassion, driven by excellence and sustained by faith.
- [14:16]
A
Well, Angela, it's great to hear your passion there and it's truly been such a pleasure chatting with you and to hear all of the exciting things going on at Loma Linda. Again, congratulations on a strong financial year and I'm so excited to connect with you, you again down the line.
- [14:33]
B
Thank you very much. Madeline. This has been a great time well spent with you and appreciate all that your organization that Beckers provides for, you know, the industry, we gain a lot of knowledge of updates and even the networking that you provide.
- [14:52]
A
Well, we truly appreciate it. Thank you again, Angela. Hope you have a good one.
- [14:56]
B
Thank you. You too.