MGMA Week in Review: Positive Health Trends and Combating Burnout in Healthcare

Welcome to the MGMA Week in Review Podcast, hosted by Daniel Williams, Senior Editor at MGMA, and Colleen Luckett, Editor and Writer at MGMA. In this episode, Daniel and Colleen bring you the latest updates on key health metrics, strategies for combating burnout in healthcare, and new tools from MGMA to improve practice efficiency. Tune in as they cover the most important topics from life expectancy improvements to innovative solutions for healthcare professionals facing burnout.

Major Takeaways:

• Positive Health Trends in the U.S. (reported by Axios):
  • Life Expectancy: Increased to 77.5 years in 2022, rebounding from 76.4 years in 2021.
  • Overdose Deaths: Decreasing in 2023 and continuing into 2024 due to factors like reduced social isolation and the availability of Naloxone.
  • Cancer Survival Rates: Increased survival rates for all cancers combined (up to 69%), with breakthroughs in treatments for blood, bone marrow, and lymphatic cancers.
  • Obesity: The obesity rate has leveled off after a decade of increases, although it remains a significant challenge.
• Combating Burnout in Healthcare:
  • Daniel highlights an article titled "Combating Burnout in Healthcare: Practical Strategies" by Steve Brewer, a speaker at the MGMA Leaders Conference. Key strategies include:
    • Humor: Using humor as a tool to lighten serious topics and improve team morale.
    • Physical Movement: Encouraging healthcare workers to engage in movement breaks, which enhance mental clarity and reduce anxiety.
    • Mindfulness Practices: Incorporating mindfulness into daily routines to reduce stress and foster resilience.
    • Self-Care: Healthcare leaders are reminded of the importance of prioritizing their own well-being to set a positive example for their teams.
• MGMA Tools:
  • Evaluation and Management Profile Tool: A powerful tool for comparing provider coding with Medicare claims data, offering insights into provider performance.
  • RVU Calculation Tool: This interactive tool helps practices assess productivity with detailed RVU breakdowns, CPT code comparisons, and customizable features for better practice management.
• AI and Trust in Healthcare: (reported by Medical Economics)
  • Daniel discusses the Medical Economics article "Want Patients to Trust AI in Healthcare? Tell Them Humans Are Biased Too" by Todd Shirock. The study suggests that when healthcare providers highlight human biases, patients are more open to trusting AI in medical decision-making.
• MGMA Stat Poll Results:
  • Time Management: Ranked as the top development goal for healthcare leaders, with 33% of respondents citing it as their primary focus.
  • Communication and Coaching: Lonn McDowell emphasized the importance of clear communication and mentorship in building effective leadership.
  • Resources: MGMA offers several resources, such as toolkits and articles on time management, communication, and leadership development.

MGMA Resources:

• MGMA Stat
• Ask MGMA
• MGMA Conferences
• MGMA Consulting

We Want to Hear From You:

Let us know if there's a topic you want us to cover, an expert you would like us to interview, or if you'd like to appear on an MGMA podcast. Email us at:

• Daniel Williams: dwilliams@mgma.com
• Ryan Reaves: rreaves@mgma.com
• Colleen Luckett: cluckett@mgma.com

Thank you for tuning in to the MGMA Podcast Network. Please subscribe and leave us a review. See you next time!