MN Tech Mag | Spring/Summer 2021

HEALTHCARE PERSPECTIVE What challenges do you believe the healthcare industry needs to solve? Affordability, information access, and alignment are top of mind. The traditional methods of payment and reimbursement in the U.S. healthcare industry produce many innovations, efficiencies, and remarkable solutions; however, it also leads to overpriced drugs and services, over-utilized procedures, and a growing unaffordability for self-pay or individual insurance premiums. We have not solved the portability of patient information nor the ability to identify gaps in care or overlapping services readily. Recently, the pandemic response has highlighted that the U.S. has limited manufacturing capabilities for critical equipment and pharmaceuticals. Our future challenge is to bridge that gap between those that can afford and have choices in care with the ability to provide similar basic services to everyone. What areas are you seeing the most innovation in healthcare right now? It’s exciting to see advances in home- based care and a focus on the social determinants of health (SDOH).

JUST FOR FUN! Do you have any favorite hobbies? I enjoy tinkering with my hobby car, visiting new restaurants and old favorites, and – for now – daydreaming about traveling. What was the last movie or show you watched? Mule by Clint Eastwood and The Dig with Ralph Fiennes, working on Dead to Me and The Investigation , finished Downton Abbey , Ozark , The Crown , and Emily in Paris . Hey, it’s stay-at- home! Where is your favorite place to vacation? We particularly enjoy vacations that involve beaches or skiing. Any local restaurants you have enjoyed supporting lately? We moved downtown two years ago, so “everywhere” has been interesting. I have enjoyed Chimborazo, The Mill Northeast, The Parlour, Hai Hai, Kado no Mise, Gorkha Palace, and Stanley’s NE in recent weeks.

Looking at the whole person and how access to food, transportation, and support affects their ability to stay healthy while seeking to perform many services in the home or via telehealth will help address some of the gaps I mentioned previously. What changes do you see in your company as a result of COVID? Our company focuses on interacting with members in-home during the initial assessment of their needs. With the spread of the pandemic, we pivoted to greater use of telehealth visits, adjusted the frequency of interactions, and shifted focus to their social, faith, and interaction needs. The negative effects of isolation particularly impacted vulnerable populations as a result of stay-at-home orders. As the pandemic continued, we reinstated in-home visits and assist with patient transportation to and from their physician or treatment centers. Within CareCentrix, we invest in our current solutions to emphasize the whole person – whether ready for discharge from a hospital, preparing goals of care directives, or ensuring we meet their food, transportation, faith, and social needs.

Fast Facts

RELEVANT HEALTH ROUNDTABLE COMMITTEE MEMBER SINCE: 2018 HOMETOWN: Milwaukee, Wisconsin FIRST JOB: Milwaukee Journal paper route, then a Supply Clerk at Highland Pharmacy COLLEGE: University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire with a BBA in Management Information Systems FAMILY: My wife, Lynn, and my children, Katy and Eric DREAM RHR PANELISTS: Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Warren Buffett – might have to sell tickets for that session!

Q+A: Chris Goggin | 33

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