Briana Contreras

Articles by Briana Contreras

Briana Contreras, associate editor of MHE, spoke with Sheila Talton, founder and CEO of Gray Matter Analytics, in this week's episode of Tuning In to the C-Suite podcast. In the discussion, Sheila addressed the topic of how healthcare organizations are missing out by not actively expanding their efforts to seek out and fast track talented individuals across many minority populations, especially in the c-suite.

Thomas P. Leist, MD, PhD, a neurologist and professor of Multiple Sclerosis at Jefferson University Hospitals, is the latest guest featured on MHE Talks: Improving Patient Access podcast. In this episode, Thomas spoke with Peter Wehrwein, senior editor of Managed Healthcare Executive, about accessing care amongst patients with MS through therapies, health insurance barriers, options of step therapy and more.

Briana Contreras, associate editor of MHE, spoke with Robin Fiorelli, senior director of bereavement and volunteers at VITAS Healthcare, for this week's episode of Tuning In to the C-Suite. Robin and Briana talked about the grief that has affected millions of Americans and millions more throughout the world due to losing loved ones to COVID-19. They also discussed the implications of grief, strategies for coping and efforts underway to help the healthcare industry and consumers train and prepare for a suspected wave of grief that’s to come.

In this week's episode of Tuning In to the C-Suite podcast, MHE's Briana Contreras spoke with Dr. Rob Kowal, chief medical officer of the Cardiac Rhythm and Heart Failure division at Medtronic. The two discussed how remote monitoring and IoT is changing healthcare and how remote technology is also gaining a wide-spread adoption to monitor patients at home who have chronic conditions like heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and diabetes.

In this latest episode of MHE Talks: Improving Patient Access podcast, Dennis Bourdette, M.D., professor emeritus of neurology in the School of Medicine at the Oregon Health & Science University, spoke with Peter Wehrwein, senior editor of MHE. Bourdette, a nationally recognized expert on multiple sclerosis, discussed step therapy, tiers, insurance approvals and the need for greater communication between physicians and insurers.

In this latest episode of the Meet the Board series on Tuning In to the C-Suite podcast, Managed Healthcare Executive's Peter Wehrwein and Briana Contreras speak with Rodrigo Cerda, vice president of clinical care transformation at Independence Blue Cross in Philadelphia. Rodrigo is a newer member of MHE's Editorial Advisory Board and in the discussion he shared a bit about himself such as what his personal goals were. The focus of the discussion highlighted a pipeline of clinical care and what's to come, as well as looking at virtual care.

Peter Wehrwein, senior editor of Managed Healthcare Executive, speaks with Mohan Giridharadas, the founder and CEO at LeanTaas, a software and machine learning company. The Santa Clara, California, company’s software enables healthcare systems to maximize efficient use of their infusion centers, operating rooms and other facilities. More efficient use translates into improved access to services for patients, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, Giridharadas explains.

MHE's Briana Contreras spoke with Bill Coletti, CEO, and Founder of Kith, a firm serving organizations in communication crisis and reputation management, in this week's episode of Tuning In to the C-Suite. Bill and Briana discussed how working with healthcare leaders during a crisis has changed since the COVID-19 pandemic, how leaders in the C-Suite can be prepared for a crisis and what to do in the journey post-crisis.

In this episode of Tuning In to the C-Suite, MHE Associate Editor Briana Contreras spoke with Associate Dean for Equity Inclusion and Research Professor in the College of Nursing at Penn State University, Dr. Sheldon Fields. He is also the first Vice President for the National Black Nurses Association. In celebration of Black History Month, the two discussed racial equity in healthcare and what is being done for patients and nurses of color toward the improvement of the racial and health disparities that take place in care.

In this second part of a two-part video series, MHE Senior Editor Peter Wehrwein and Associate Editor Briana Contreras speak with Perry Cohen, Pharm. D., CEO of The Pharmacy Group. Perry has been on MHE's Editorial Advisory Board for over 25 years and has contributed a number of interviews and guest articles toward the publication. In this discussion, Briana, Peter and Perry talked about Sweden, Japan and the United States' response to COVID-19 and Cohen addresses the U.S.'s response under the new President Joe Biden Administration.

MHE Associate Editor Briana Contreras and Senior Editor Peter Wehrwein speak with Julie Olson, senior director of Population Health and Product Development at Navitus, a full pass-through pharmacy benefits management (PBM) company. In this discussion they talked about how Navitus has created a Clinical Engagement Center designed to improve medication adherence and reduce both member and plan prescription costs, while easing benefit transitions. Additionally, they discussed what it means to be a “full pass-through” PBM and how it compares to other PBMs.

In this first of a two-part video series, MHE Senior Editor Peter Wehrwein and Associate Editor Briana Contreras speak with Perry Cohen, Pharm. D., CEO of The Pharmacy Group. Perry has been on MHE's Editorial Advisory Board for over 25 years and has contributed a number of interviews and guest articles toward the publication. In this discussion, Briana, Peter and Perry talked about the current pharmacy benefits market as well as Sweden, Japan and the United States' response to COVID-19.

In this episode of Tuning In to the C-Suite's Meet the Board series, MHE Senior Editor Peter Wehrwein and Associate Editor Briana Contreras speak with Perry Cohen, Pharm. D., CEO of The Pharmacy Group. Perry has been on MHE's Editorial Advisory Board for over 25 years and has contributed a number of interviews and guest articles toward the publication. In this discussion, Briana, Peter and Perry talked about the current pharmacy benefits market as well as Sweden, Japan and the United States' response to COVID-19.

In this week’s episode of Tuning In to the C-Suite podcast, MHE's Senior Editor Peter Wehrwein and Associate Editor Briana Contreras spoke with CEO of Syntellis Performance Solutions, Kermit Randa. In the discussion they talked about a recently released survey by Syntellis called the 2021 Healthcare Financial Trends Survey report, which highlights how finance leaders pivoted in 2020 and the way they will continue to evolve in 2021.