Podcast
The DocBuddy Journal
Hosted by DocBuddy · EN
How painful are the outdated, broken workflows you have to deal with everyday as a healthcare provider? Join host Erik Sunset for thought leadership from DocBuddy on ways healthcare providers and workers can streamline their workflows with technology, get the latest practical takeaways from the world of Health IT, and get updates from the leader in mobile workflow solutions for providers and their organizations, DocBuddy.
11episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Stop Treating Old Workflows Like the Status Quo
May 100:15:59Tap to summarizeIf your surgery center is still relying on transcription services, freehand dictation, or rigid EHR templates for operative reports, this episode of the DocBuddy Journal is worth your time. Host Erik Sunset makes the case that what many ASCs treat as standard practice is actually just the old way and there's a measurable cost to staying there. Drawing from Doc Buddy's own onboarding process, Erik explains how Op Note transforms surgeon dictation into standardized, EHR-integrated operative reports in real time, without changing how surgeons work or burdening the business office with setup. The result is documentation that's cleaner, faster, and more revenue cycle friendly — with less rework, fewer denied claims, and a direct impact on days to bill and days AR. Plus, Erik shares highlights from the Surgery Partners Leadership Conference and what to expect from DocBuddy at ASCA 2026 in Washington, DC.Links from the show:ASCADocBuddy's Op NoteConnect with DocBuddy on LinkedIn.
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Michael McClain: How to Expand Your ASC
Apr 1000:38:50Tap to summarizeMichael McClain, founder of Left Coast Healthcare Advisors, returns to the DocBuddy Journal with Erik Sunset for a practical conversation about ASC expansion. Before jumping to blueprints and construction budgets, Michael argues that most surgery centers need to get honest about what problem they're actually trying to solve. More often than not, the answer isn't more square footage. From maximizing revenue cycle performance and payer contract management to block time utilization and physician alignment, Michael walks through the foundational work that should happen before any expansion conversation begins.The episode also covers the five key questions every feasibility study should answer, why physician volume estimates are almost always optimistic, and how to build a realistic financial model that accounts for ramp time, regulatory costs, and operating capital. If you're thinking about growing your ASC, this episode is required listening before you break ground.Connect with Michael McClain and follow LeftCoast Healthcare Advisors on LinkedIn.Check out the LeftCoast Healthcare Advisors Website.Follow DocBuddy on LinkedIn.
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Jeff Pfaff: Technology, Culture & the Future of ASC Operations
Apr 300:39:34Tap to summarizeJeff Pfaff, Senior Director of Business Operations at Inova Health Systems, joins host Erik Sunset to share hard-won lessons from scaling one of Northern Virginia's most active ASC networks — from a single center to five thriving multi-specialty locations with a additional growth planned.Jeff breaks down how Inova approaches the relentless pace of digital transformation, why throwing FTEs at operational problems is no longer an option, and how his team vets and implements new technology without burning out the people who actually have to use it every day. They dig into the real barriers to technology adoption — resistant physicians, stretched administrators, and the hidden time cost of implementation — and why building a "we" culture is the foundation everything else has to sit on.Jeff also shares his candid take on AI in the ASC space: what's genuinely exciting, what's being wildly oversold, and why a site visit in a live production environment is worth more than any demo. He wraps with glowing feedback for DocBuddy's team and solution!Connect with Jeff Pfaff on LinkedIn.Follow DocBuddy On LinkedIn.
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Marc Ryan: Big News, Bigger Stakes
Mar 2000:54:13Tap to summarizeMarc Ryan, Chief Solutions Officer at Lilac Software, returns to the DocBuddy Journal with big news: Lilac Software has been acquired by Medisolv, combining payer and agentic AI expertise with Medisolv's established provider and quality measurement platform.From there, Marc and host Erik Sunset break down the most important trends shaping healthcare in 2026 — the Trump administration's technology-first agenda, value-based care expansion, and the slow but real progress on interoperability. They also dig into the financial fallout from the One Big Beautiful Bill on state Medicaid programs, the turbulence hitting health plans across every line of business, and what landmark PBM reforms and Most Favored Nation drug pricing could mean for American consumers.Medisolv's acquisition of LilacSee Marc's work at Lilac Software.As always, be sure to follow DocBuddy on LinkedIn.
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Breaking the Technology Trap in Surgery Centers
Mar 1300:16:29Tap to summarizeIn this solo episode, host Erik Sunset gives March updates for the DocBuddy team and tackles a common objection he hears from surgery center administrators: "I don't have all my surgeons on board yet. Is that a problem?" The answer might surprise you.Surgery centers have been stuck in an all-or-nothing technology trap for too long. Unlike EHR implementations that require full facility adoption, modern documentation solutions like Op Note offer a flexibility that ASC administrators didn't know was possible and it's changing how surgery centers approach operational improvements.Follow DocBuddy on LinkedIn#ASC #SurgeryCenter #EHR #OpNote
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Chris Caspar: Revenue Cycle Reality Check
Feb 2600:39:25Tap to summarizeHealthcare organizations are hemorrhaging revenue through preventable denials, documentation gaps, and front-office errors. Yet, many don't realize how much money they're leaving on the table. In this episode, host Erik Sunset sits down with Chris Caspar, CEO of Altruis, to explore what truly differentiates effective revenue cycle management from the commodity "get paid faster" promises flooding the market.Chris brings 15 years of healthcare technology experience, sharing candid insights about the revenue cycle challenges facing federally qualified health centers, rural hospitals, and medical practices nationwide. Discover why 48% of healthcare leaders cite denials as their biggest revenue leak—while missing that 90% of those denials stem from front-office verification, coding errors, and documentation issues.Links from the episode:AltruisFollow Chris Caspar on X and LinkedIn.MGMA Links- Image 1, Image 2Follow DocBuddy on LinkedIn.
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Op Note Rave Reviews + Cardio in the ASC
Feb 2000:12:19Tap to summarizeIn this episode of the DocBuddy Journal, Erik Sunset shares a positive story straight from the field regarding one of our account managers at a recent Op Note go-live at a Florida multi-specialty surgery center.He also covers a major ASC update: CMS added 86 new cardiovascular procedure codes for 2026, opening new growth opportunities — but not without challenges like capital costs, staffing, and state regulations.If you lead or manage a surgery center, this episode gives you a clear look at where the ASC market is heading and what it takes to stay ahead.Check out the links discussed in the show:Cardiovascular Procedures Opening Up to ASCs, But Expansion Faces Steep HurdlesEpisode 75 with Michael McClain — Growth Factors for ASCsDocBuddy Op Note
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America's Looming Doctor Shortage: What the Numbers Really Show
Feb 500:16:11Tap to summarizeThe U.S. healthcare system is approaching a critical tipping point. By 2030, America will face a shortage of over 127,000 full-time physicians, representing more than 10% of the current workforce.In this episode of the DocBuddy Journal, host Erik Sunset breaks down eye-opening data from Medicus Healthcare Solutions that quantifies the severity of the physician shortage. Discover how 42% of current physicians are nearing retirement, and why qualified medical school applicants can't get residency positions despite the growing need.Erik explores the key drivers behind this crisis, from our aging population (with 93% of older adults living with chronic conditions) to the limited training opportunities creating a bottleneck of 50,000+ applicants competing for just 40,000 residency slots. He also discusses potential strategies including care team models and cultural improvements, while acknowledging that systematic fixes are needed to restore the profession's appeal.If you're a healthcare professional, administrator, or simply concerned about the future of American healthcare, this data-driven episode provides essential insights into the workforce crisis reshaping medicine.Check out the article discussed here.Follow DocBuddy on LinkedIn.
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Anesthesia Shortages Are Reshaping ASC Operations
Jan 2900:19:49Tap to summarizeWelcome back to the DocBuddy Journal in 2026! In this episode, Erik tackles the persistent anesthesia shortage crisis that's reshaping ambulatory surgery center operations. From drug shortages to workforce gaps, learn how rising anesthesia subsidies are hitting $30M+ for major ASC management companies, why locum tenens usage has jumped 70% since 2024, and how surgery centers are adapting through CRNA-only models and workflow redesign. Erik also explains why software integration into the ASCs may be the only viable solution to maximize block time utilization in an increasingly constrained environment.Check out the article discussed here.Follow DocBuddy on LinkedIn.#ASC #AmbulatorySurgeryCenter #AnesthesiaShortage #PhysicianShortage
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Breaking Burnout: How 30 Minutes Can Save Physicians 3 Hours
Dec 400:15:50Tap to summarizeIn this solo episode, host Erik Sunset explores two critical studies, the first on physician burnout and the second on practical solutions for ASC leaders. Discover how dedicating just one 20-30 minute appointment slot per day for administrative work reduced after-hours EHR use by 53 minutes and cut physician burnout by 81%. Erik also digs into CHG Healthcare's latest findings showing only 18% of physicians are highly engaged at work, and why leadership trust remains a key driver of satisfaction. Plus, get reflections from the recent CASCA conference panel on data utilization and challenging the "status quo" in surgery centers. If you're looking to improve physician engagement and operational efficiency heading into 2025, this episode is packed with actionable insights.Links from the show:https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2842168https://chghealthcare.com/blog/physicians-engaged-new-study
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