Welcome back to The Healthcare QualityCast with your host, Jarvis T. Gray. Today, we're diving into an incredibly important and often overlooked aspect of healthcare—improving the patient financial experience. Our guest is none other than Maria Frantz Abernathy, the VP of Business Transformation and a true visionary when it comes to integrating technology into healthcare.

Maria brings a wealth of knowledge from her work in healthcare startups, where she implements Lean Six Sigma principles to streamline processes and enhance patient services. As we sit down with Maria, we’ll explore her day-to-day efforts in agile product development, her focus on rigorous tollgate meetings, and the vital importance of measuring success within these dynamic environments.

She's here to shed light on the shifts in the healthcare industry and the significant role of quality improvement projects in refining patient financial interactions. Maria believes in the power of formalized project methods and toolkits to alleviate stress and boost team productivity—insights you won't want to miss.

Beyond the ins and outs of process improvement, Maria will reveal her passion for the healthcare industry's potential to attract ambitious professionals. We'll hear about her reliance on visual tools like whiteboards to communicate complex ideas, the indispensable nature of her calendar, and her handy pro-tip of Calendly for productivity.

Our conversation will also touch on the emotional rollercoaster of healthcare leadership. Maria will recount her most challenging moment, where politics undercut data-driven efficiency, and she'll share her 'aha' moment that underlines the power of the stage gate philosophy in project management.

For any young professionals out there, Maria's story is a testament to the allure of healthcare as a sector ripe with opportunities for innovation and meaningful impact. She’ll provide career advice for the long haul and discuss how mentor and mentee relationships can be forged in this dynamic field.

So, whether you're a seasoned healthcare veteran or a rising star in the industry, grab your notebook and let's learn from Maria's incredible journey and insights. This is not just another episode—it’s a candid discussion on setting new standards, navigating industry politics, and the tools for success in healthcare quality improvement. Let’s dive in.

Guest Bio: Maria Frantz Abernathy

Maria Frantz Abernathy is a seasoned professional in the healthcare technology sector, having transitioned her focus from healthcare to technology since 2008. She carries with her the wisdom that technology should amplify efficiency, as inspired by Bill Gates’ musings on business automation. Maria approaches her role with a critical eye, constantly evaluating whether processes are ripe for automation or if they would merely perpetuate inefficiency on a grander scale. Her days are spent meticulously scoping out potential improvements, ensuring that every technological enhancement she oversees increases the quality and efficacy of the healthcare industry's processes. Maria is known for her thoughtful analysis and commitment to excellence, always asking the pivotal question: "Is this the right thing to automate?"

006: Dr. Saria Saccocio, Ambulatory Chief Medical Officer

The Healthcare QualityCastBy Jarvis GrayApr 02, 2019