MGMA Podcasts

On this episode of the MGMA Insights Podcast, host and senior editor Daniel Williams sits down with Chris Seaman, vice president of enterprise sales at QGenda, to examine why expanding patient access requires more than hiring clinicians or building additional facilities. They discuss hidden capacity, fragmented operational workflows and the role of clinical supply intelligence in aligning providers, staff, space and equipment with patient demand.Seaman explains how a unified source of operational data can help healthcare organizations distinguish genuine resource shortages from capacity that already exists but remains difficult to see or deploy. He also shares how stronger enterprise visibility can support staffing, ambulatory growth and capital investment decisions.Episode TakeawaysA shortage of providers, staff or exam rooms may be real, but it is not always the only cause of limited appointment availability. Capacity emerges when the appropriate clinician, care team, space, equipment and operating conditions are aligned around the same patient service.Ambulatory networks frequently operate as collections of individual clinics rather than as a connected enterprise. One location may be overwhelmed while another nearby location has available rooms and a fully staffed team.“Hidden capacity” describes resources that exist but cannot be readily identified or deployed. Examples include a provider session opened by a cancellation, an underused room at another site or a qualified care team whose schedule is not aligned with current demand.Planned capacity and actual capacity can differ significantly. Schedule changes, cancellations, staffing adjustments and room availability continually alter what an organization can deliver, but disconnected systems may not reflect those changes quickly enough.Adding clinicians, employees or facilities does not automatically create an integrated operating model. Without enterprise visibility, new resources can remain confined to local workflows and fail to produce the expected improvement in patient access.Provider scheduling can serve as a foundational source of truth because changes to a provider’s schedule affect staffing, room assignments, equipment needs and appointment availability. Keeping competing or disconnected schedules can lead to outdated information and operational mistakes.Clinical supply intelligence gives leaders an actionable view of the people, time and physical resources available to deliver care. This can support more responsive staffing, resource redeployment and enterprise-level capacity management.Better operational intelligence can also improve capital planning. Before acquiring or building more ambulatory space, leaders should determine whether existing clinics are being fully utilized and whether patient volume could be shifted across the network.ResourcesQAgendaConnect with Chris Seaman on LinkedInMGMA Insights Podcast Network"Optimize patient panels without burning out your providers" (MGMA article)MGMA Patient Experience Playbook MGMA Members: Would like to appear on an episode? Email us at [email protected]. If you have a question about your practice that you would like us to answer, send an email to [email protected]. Don't forget to subscribe to our network wherever you get your podcasts!

On this episode of the MGMA Insights Podcast, host and senior editor Daniel Williams sits down with Adam Pople, MGMA's 2026 Legislative Liaison of the Year, to discuss healthcare advocacy, legislative engagement, and the role practice leaders can play in shaping policy. Pople reflects on his journey into advocacy, shares lessons learned as Missouri's MGMA legislative liaison, and explains why storytelling is one of the most powerful tools healthcare leaders can bring to lawmakers.Episode TakeawaysPople reflects on being named MGMA's 2026 Legislative Liaison of the Year and the mentors who helped launch his advocacy journey.Legislative liaisons serve as a bridge between healthcare organizations and government, translating complex policy issues into actionable insights for practice leaders.Healthcare professionals should not underestimate the value of their expertise when speaking with legislators, many of whom come from non-healthcare backgrounds.Effective advocacy combines three elements: a policy position, supporting data, and a compelling real-world story.Missouri MGMA partnered with the Missouri State Medical Association during White Coat Day to engage lawmakers on key healthcare issues.Prior authorization reform remains a major advocacy priority, highlighting both the challenges and importance of sustained legislative engagement.Staying informed about legislative developments helps practices prepare proactively for regulatory and operational changes rather than reacting after implementation.Outside of healthcare leadership, Adam and his wife operate a durable medical equipment business focused on mastectomy and lymphedema care, and he volunteers as an archery coach for elementary and middle school students.ResourcesConnect with Adam Pople on LinkedInMGMA Leaders Conference 2026, San AntonioMissouri MGMAMissouri State Medical Association (MSMA)National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP)MGMA Government Affairs April 2026 Prior Authorization Position Paper"Fewer than 1 in 10 practices see faster prior auth turnarounds in 2026" (Sept. 2026 MGMA Stat article)MGMA Members: Would you like to appear on an episode? Email us at [email protected]. If you have a question about your practice that you would like us to answer, send an email to [email protected]. Don't forget to subscribe to our network wherever you get your podcasts!

On this episode of the MGMA Insights Podcast, host and senior editor Daniel Williams chats with Tracy Bird, MGMA’s 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, about a healthcare career shaped by curiosity, service, and enduring professional relationships. Bird reflects on entering medical practice administration in the paper-chart era, adapting to decades of technological change, and helping emerging leaders build the knowledge and confidence needed to navigate an increasingly complex industry.She also shares why mentorship has remained central to her work, how MGMA and ACMPE became professional lifelines and what practice leaders at every career stage can learn from one another.Key TakeawaysBird began her career in a pediatric practice after earning a degree in fashion merchandising. A physician mentor encouraged her questions and helped spark a lifelong interest in medicine and practice operations.Although specialties and organizations differ, Bird sees three foundational functions across medical practices: patient access, clinical workflow and revenue cycle management.Technology represents the most significant transformation Bird has witnessed during her career. Electronic medical records and other digital tools have reduced many labor-intensive paper processes while creating new opportunities for efficiency.Artificial intelligence can support valuable business uses in medical practices, but leaders should approach it thoughtfully. Its potential is especially important as reimbursement pressures grow and healthcare operations become more complex.Mentorship is a way of returning the support Bird received early in her career. She describes hospitality not simply as entertaining, but as welcoming people and creating a setting in which they feel safe asking questions and developing professionally.Strong consulting relationships can grow into lasting personal connections. Bird recalls supporting one client for approximately 25 years, from launching a rural occupational health practice to helping the client’s family close the practice after her unexpected death.Bird encourages emerging leaders to be genuine, remain curious and admit when they do not know an answer. Healthcare changes too quickly for any leader to stop learning.Experienced professionals and emerging leaders have complementary strengths. New leaders bring fresh ideas, while seasoned professionals provide context about how healthcare reached its current state and why earlier lessons still matter.ResourcesConnect with Tracy Bird on LinkedInTracy Bird's recognition at MGMA’s 2026 annual conference in San Antonio: 2026 Awards and Recognition Reception (Invite Only) | Saturday, September 26 | 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM CT | Location: The Briscoe Western Art MuseumMGMA AwardsMGMA Mentor ProgramMGMA ACMPE certification and Fellowship pathwaysMGMA Members: Email us at [email protected] if you would like to appear on an episode. If you have a question about your practice that you would like us to answer, send an email to [email protected]. Don't forget to subscribe to our network wherever you get your podcasts!

On this episode of the MGMA Insights Podcast, host and senior editor Daniel Williams sits down with Jamaal Campbell, general manager of Physician Enterprise at Hallmark, to explore how healthcare organizations can simplify physician compensation, reduce administrative risk and give leaders faster access to reliable workforce data.Campbell explains why compensation administration remains highly dependent on spreadsheets and disconnected systems, even as physician enterprises grow more complex. He also discusses the financial and compliance consequences of manual processes, the importance of transparency for physician and APP engagement, and the groundwork organizations should complete before adopting a compensation management platform.Episode takeawaysPhysician compensation often depends on disconnected data. Information may originate in the electronic health record, practice management platform, human resources systems, contracts and locally maintained spreadsheets. Every handoff introduces another opportunity for an error or delay.Simpler plans can improve understanding and trust. Physicians and APPs may not know how complicated compensation formulas translate into their payments. Clearer mechanics and accessible performance data help providers understand how they are paid and assess whether calculations are accurate.Specialized compensation talent is increasingly difficult to find. As physician enterprises expand through employment and consolidation, organizations need analysts and leaders who understand finance, contracts, benchmarks and compensation mechanics. Campbell says professionals with that combination of expertise have become organizational “unicorns.”A single source of truth supports faster decisions. When compensation calculations and source data are brought together, leaders can model potential changes without waiting days for spreadsheets to be rebuilt. That can make it easier to assess a new metric, benchmark or fee schedule using historical performance.Spreadsheet errors can create significant financial exposure. Campbell notes that even a 3% to 5% error rate would represent $3 million to $5 million for an organization administering $100 million in annual provider compensation. The actual exposure may be difficult to determine when organizations do not consistently track errors.Contract terms and payment practices must remain aligned. A compensation model may calculate payment one way while the provider’s contract requires something different. Connecting contracts, calculations and established compliance guardrails can help organizations identify inconsistencies before they become larger problems.Provider confidence affects more than payroll. When physicians and APPs cannot verify their compensation, the resulting frustration may weaken engagement, contribute to attrition and distract clinicians from patient care. Transparent reporting gives providers the evidence they need to understand their performance and compensation.Discovery should come before implementation. Campbell recommends cataloging every compensation plan, formula, exception and workflow before selecting or deploying a new system. Finance, human resources, operations and physician compensation teams should participate so the organization understands its current state and agrees on the desired future process.ResourcesHallmark HealthConnect with Jamaal Campbell on LinkedInFinancial Management at MGMAMGMA Members: Email us at [email protected] if you would like to appear on an episode. If you have a question about your practice that you would like us to answer, send an email to [email protected]. Don't forget to subscribe to our network wherever you get your podcasts!

On this episode of the MGMA Insights Podcast, host and senior editor Daniel Williams sits down with Kelly Miller, product manager for Enterprise Information Systems Business at Fujifilm, and Jannine Walker, senior vice president of sales and business development at Human Assets. Ahead of their session at The MGMA Annual Conference in San Antonio, Miller and Walker explain how authentic networking can create friendships, expand professional perspectives, and open unexpected career opportunities. They share practical ways to navigate conferences when introducing yourself does not come naturally. Their advice includes preparing before an event, setting manageable goals, moving beyond familiar professional circles, and using informal conference moments to form genuine connections.Episode takeawaysNetworking can shape a career in ways that are difficult to predict. Walker traces her current leadership role to relationships built through the Radiology Business Management Association, while Miller explains how maintaining a connection with a Fujifilm representative ultimately helped her move from healthcare operations into product management.The most valuable conference conversations often happen outside formal sessions. Receptions, meals, vendor-hall visits, coffee breaks, and other informal gatherings give attendees room to connect as people rather than job titles.Preparation makes an unfamiliar room feel more manageable. Reviewing the conference app, identifying a few people or organizations of interest, and learning about exhibitors in advance can provide natural starting points for conversation.A small networking goal is often more productive than trying to meet everyone. Walker and Miller recommend aiming for one or two meaningful introductions. One new contact may then introduce you to several others, allowing a network to grow organically.Good networking is relational, not transactional. Instead of immediately launching into a sales pitch or exchanging business cards, begin with an approachable question about the event, a restaurant, a session, or even the coffee line. Listen closely and look for common ground.The vendor hall can be a useful practice environment. Exhibitors are ready to begin conversations, which removes some of the pressure from attendees. Conversations with other people visiting the same booth can also reveal shared operational needs and interests.Moving beyond your usual professional circle creates new possibilities. Connecting with people from different specialties, disciplines, or roles can broaden your understanding of healthcare and lead to opportunities that would not emerge inside a familiar peer group.Relationships require continued investment after the conference. Staying connected, offering support, listening for what another person needs, and contributing value are what turn a brief introduction into a durable professional relationship or friendship.Connect with Our GuestsKelly Miller on LinkedIn, and learn more about FujifilmJannine Walker on LinkedIn, and learn more about Human Assets and Radiology Business Management AssociationMGMA Networking OpportunitiesConnect with peers at the 2026 MGMA Annual Conference | September 27-30, 2026 | San Antonio, TXMGMA Member CommunityMGMA Resource Groups Related MGMA ResourcesHow MGMA’s Early Careerist Group builds the future of healthcare leadership (podcast)Member Spotlight: Delores McNair and Bryana Blanco on the impact of mentorship (podcast)The human side of networking: Why connection matters more than ever in healthcare administration (article)MGMA members: Email us at [email protected] if you would like to appear on an episode. If you have a question about your practice that you would like us to answer, send an email to [email protected]. Don't forget to subscribe to our network wherever you get your podcasts!