Becker’s Healthcare Podcast: In-Depth Summary of Episode Featuring Shooa Mohammadi

Podcast Information:

• Title: Becker’s Healthcare Podcast
• Host: Gracelyn Keller
• Guest: Shua Mohammadi, Practice Manager at Northwest Suburban Pain Associates
• Release Date: July 4, 2025

1. Introduction to the Episode

In this insightful episode of the Becker’s Healthcare Podcast, host Gracelyn Keller engages in a comprehensive discussion with Shua Mohammadi, the Practice Manager at Northwest Suburban Pain Associates. Recorded live at the 22nd Annual Spine, Orthopedic and Pain Management Conference, the conversation delves into pivotal trends, challenges, and innovations shaping the U.S. healthcare landscape, particularly within pain management practices.

2. Shua Mohammadi’s Role and Insights

Shua begins by outlining her multifaceted role within Northwest Suburban Pain Associates. As the Practice Manager, she oversees financial and practice management, encompassing both clinical and administrative responsibilities.

Shua Mohammadi [00:56]: "My role at my practice is basically overseeing financial management, practice management, clinically as well as administratively."

Her extensive experience attending the annual conference underscores her commitment to staying abreast of industry developments and fostering professional growth.

3. Current Industry Trends and Shifts

a. Insurance Influence on Treatment Options

A significant portion of the discussion centers on the growing influence of insurance companies on medical treatments. Shua highlights how insurance requirements, including compliance and prior authorization processes, are reshaping daily operations within healthcare practices.

Shua Mohammadi [01:38]: "The amount of influence insurances have on the treatment that physicians have to offer... is causing a big shift in how the dynamic of a practice would work on a daily basis."

This increasing bureaucratic burden necessitates practices to adapt their workflows and documentation processes to meet stringent insurance criteria, thereby impacting the flexibility and range of treatments offered to patients.

b. Rise of Regenerative Medicine

Shua points to regenerative medicine as a burgeoning field within pain management that is not typically covered by insurance. This trend presents both opportunities and challenges:

• Opportunities: Successfully marketed to patients seeking advanced treatment options.
• Challenges: The self-pay nature of regenerative therapies may limit accessibility for some patients.

Shua Mohammadi [01:38]: "Regenerative medicine... is not covered by insurance. So we have been able to market it very successfully to our pool of patients... But the downside to that would be the self-pay attached to it."

4. Addressing Staffing and Workforce Challenges

Workforce challenges remain a critical concern across the healthcare sector. Shua emphasizes staff retention as a pivotal strategy for her practice amid a competitive labor market.

Shua Mohammadi [02:54]: "The only solution that comes to mind, and it has worked, is retention, staff retention."

She notes the difficulty in replacing quality personnel and underscores the importance of investing in employee satisfaction and retention to maintain operational stability. Additionally, dealing with complex insurance requirements necessitates the establishment of dedicated compliance and prior authorization teams, coupled with ongoing workforce training.

Shua Mohammadi [02:54]: "We have to have a compliance team on board as well as to get a prior authorization department set up... and continuous and ongoing workforce training for that purpose."

5. Evolving Role of Orthopedics and Outpatient Care

As outpatient care continues to expand, Shua discusses the evolving role of orthopedics and spine services within the broader healthcare ecosystem. Patient satisfaction emerges as a paramount focus, with an emphasis on reducing wait times for treatments to address pain promptly.

Shua Mohammadi [04:21]: "They want to be seen as soon as possible. You cannot have a patient in pain wait for three months to be seen."

This patient-centric approach not only enhances care quality but also necessitates adequate staffing and resources to meet increasing demand without compromising service standards.

6. Innovations and Initiatives in Practice

Shua highlights several initiatives and strategic partnerships that have bolstered her practice's efficiency and patient outcomes:

a. Enhanced Billing and Financial Systems

Over the past two years, Northwest Suburban Pain Associates has refined its billing and financial systems to accommodate the rise in self-pay procedures and the integration of regenerative medicine. A robust billing department ensures seamless financial operations and patient transactions.

Shua Mohammadi [05:23]: "We developed our billing department and the financial system a little bit more better over the course of the last... last two years."

b. Utilization of CareCredit

The practice leverages CareCredit as a financial tool to assist patients in managing out-of-pocket healthcare expenses, thereby facilitating access to necessary treatments.

Shua Mohammadi [05:23]: "We do use CareCredit... and we do offer that to patients when they need to use it."

c. Strategic Partnerships

Collaborations with affiliates like RegenX and multiple referring sources enhance the practice's ability to attract a diverse patient base and deliver comprehensive care.

Shua Mohammadi [05:23]: "We are partnering with affiliates like RegenX, we are partnering with multiple referring sources that send us patients."

These targeted initiatives collectively ensure that the practice remains adaptable and responsive to both patient needs and industry advancements.

7. Concluding Insights

In wrapping up the discussion, Shua reiterates the fundamental responsibility of healthcare organizations to balance financial viability with exceptional patient care. She emphasizes that organizational growth is intrinsically linked to patient satisfaction and the quality of care delivered.

Shua Mohammadi [06:48]: "The more an organization grows is when the patients are happy and they receive the care that they deserve."

Her closing remarks serve as a poignant reminder that while financial management is essential, the ultimate measure of a healthcare organization’s success lies in its ability to meet and exceed patient expectations within available resources.

Closing Remarks

Gracelyn Keller concludes the episode by expressing gratitude to Shua Mohammadi for her valuable insights. The conversation not only sheds light on the current challenges within pain management practices but also underscores the importance of strategic adaptation and patient-centered care in navigating the evolving healthcare landscape.

Timestamp Range Covered: [00:35] to [07:16]