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Richard Helppie's Common BridgeAuthor: Richard Helppie
The problems we have in the country are solvable, but not solvable the way were approaching them today, because of partisan politics. Richard Helppie, a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist seeks to find a place in the middle where common sense discussions can bridge the current great divide. Language: en-us Genres: News, News Commentary, Politics Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Episode 342- Hospital Bingo And Brain Waves Fix Tremors.
Episode 342
Monday, 21 September, 2026
Healthcare gets argued like a spreadsheet, but most of what matters shows up as a human moment: a parent trying to make sense of a diagnosis, a patient who just wants care close to home, a kid in a hospital room who lights up because it’s bingo time. From the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference, we talk with Tina Freese Decker, president and CEO of Corewell Health, and Lamont Yoder, president of Corewell Health East, about what it really takes to improve healthcare access, affordability, and outcomes across Michigan. We dig into how technology can lower the cost of care while making care simpler to reach. Think telehealth visits, remote clinical support across a 21-hospital system, and the operational work required to keep innovations safe for patients, clinicians, and communities. Tina also shares a striking example of focused ultrasound used to target a tiny area in the brain and eliminate a tremor, letting a patient walk out able to hold a cup again. That story is a reminder that healthcare innovation is not hype when it restores everyday life. Then we zoom out to policy. We talk about the unusual power of getting insurers, providers, legislators, and partners in the same room, plus a concrete Michigan win: collaboration that helped authorize Medicaid payment for newborn genetic testing, a model other states have copied. We also tackle a topic many people avoid until it is too late: advanced care planning and end-of-life care. If we want real healthcare cost savings without sacrificing quality, we have to reduce stigma, start conversations earlier, and modernize regulations that no longer match today’s accountability and capabilities. If you care about healthcare reform, patient-centered care, and practical policy that can actually move the needle, listen now. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the Common Bridge.Support the showEngage the conversation on Substack at The Common Bridge!
