TCN Talks

Can hospice organizations remain relevant if they only engage patients during the final months of life?

In Part Two of this thought-provoking conversation, host Chris Comeaux continues his discussion with Dr. Bethany Snider, exploring why traditional primary care often falls short for frail elders and why nonprofit healthcare organizations must rethink the future of serious illness care.

Dr. Snider explains how frail elder practices, value-based care, advanced primary care, palliative care, and hospice can work together as one seamless continuum to improve patient outcomes, reduce unnecessary hospitalizations, and help older adults age safely in place...

Is traditional primary care failing America's frail elders? As our aging population grows, healthcare leaders face an urgent challenge: today's healthcare system was never designed to meet the complex, long-term needs of frail older adults.

In Part One of this compelling conversation, Chris Comeaux welcomes Dr. Bethany Snider, Chief Medical Officer of Everent Health, to explore why the future of healthcare requires a new model of care. 

Together, they examine the emerging concept of the frail elder practice—an interdisciplinary, relationship-centered approach that goes far beyond traditional pri...

What can America learn from healthcare systems around the world?  In Part Two of this thought-provoking conversation, host Chris Comeaux continues his discussion with Dr. Mark Stoltenberg, a global palliative care physician and educator, exploring how lessons from countries across Africa, Latin America, Asia, and Europe could reshape the future of American healthcare, hospice, and serious illness care.

From community-based palliative care models in India, Uruguay, and Costa Rica to powerful stories from Rwanda, Kenya, Colombia, Brazil, and Jamaica, Dr. Stoltenberg reveals why the greatest healthcare innovations aren't always technological—they're deeply human.

What can American healthcare learn from global healthcare?  In our latest episode, Dr. Mark Stoltenberg, Harvard Medical School professor and Massachusetts General Hospital physician, joins Chris Comeaux to explore global healthcare, palliative care, hospice leadership, healthcare innovation, and the future of serious illness care in America.


Healthcare leaders often assume innovation requires more money, more technology, or more specialists.  Dr. Stoltenberg argues the opposite, drawing from his work leading global palliative care programs throughout Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, and other underserved regions.  He shares how resource-limited healthcare systems are pioneering solutions that can improve American hea...

What separates great leaders from those who simply manage people? It starts with presence.

In Part Two of Leadership Starts With Presence | The Art of Showing Up, host Chris Comeaux continues his conversation with executive leadership coach David Sachsenmaier to explore how leadership presence, emotional intelligence, psychological safety, and authentic leadership shape thriving organizations.

Leaders don't just influence strategy—they shape culture. David explains how unresolved personal patterns affect trust, communication, decision-making, and team performance, and offers practical insights for building healthier, high-performing organizations. Learn why vulnerability is a le...

Great leaders don't just show up—they create the kind of presence that changes people.

What separates truly exceptional leaders from those who simply manage? In Part One of this thought-provoking conversation, Chris Comeaux sits down with executive coach David Sachsenmaier, whose 30 years of leadership experience and more than 4,000 hours of executive coaching have helped leaders uncover one of leadership's most overlooked truths: the quality of your leadership is shaped by the quality of your inner life. 

Together, they explore why presence, self-awareness, and emotional gro...

Why does the United States spend more on healthcare than any other nation—yet often achieve worse outcomes? 

In Part Two of this thought-provoking conversation, Dr. Don Berwick—former Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), internationally recognized healthcare quality expert, and founder of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI)—joins Chris Comeaux to explore the systemic challenges facing American healthcare and the leadership required to create meaningful reform.  

From the evolution of Medicare Advantage to the financial incentives shaping healthcare delivery, Dr. Berwick explains why administrative complexity, payment models, and profit-driven incentives continue...

Is American healthcare truly serving patients—or has the system lost sight of its purpose?

In this powerful episode of TCNtalks / Anatomy of Leadership, host Chris Comeaux welcomes Dr. Don Berwick, former Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), President Emeritus and co-founder of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), and one of the world’s foremost experts in healthcare quality improvement.

Together, they explore what’s broken in American healthcare, why healthcare reform is urgently needed, and how leaders can build a system that delivers better patien...

AI is transforming healthcare. Medicare policy is evolving. Regulatory scrutiny is intensifying. What do these changes mean for healthcare leaders, hospice executives, nonprofit organizations, and healthcare professionals?

In Part Two of this quarterly healthcare leadership update, Chris Comeaux and Cordt Kassner examine the biggest healthcare trends of 2026, exploring how artificial intelligence in healthcare, Medicare policy, healthcare affordability, hospice fraud enforcement, regulatory compliance, and healthcare innovation are reshaping hospice and the broader healthcare industry.

They discuss how AI is changing the healthcare workforce, why quality and transparency matter more than ever, and what healthcare executives should...

AI is changing healthcare faster than ever.  Medicare is under increasing pressure.  Hospice fraud is driving unprecedented regulatory action. The question isn’t whether healthcare is changing—it’s whether leaders are prepared for what’s next.

In Part One of this quarterly TCNtalks / Anatomy of Leadership special, host Chris Comeaux welcomes healthcare strategist Cordt Kassner to break down the biggest healthcare stories shaping 2026.  Together, they examine the trends every healthcare executive, hospice leader, nonprofit executive, and business leader should be watching.

Using Dr. Ira Byock’s strategic framework as their guide, Chris and Cordt explore the r...

Your greatest leadership challenge may not be staffing shortages or AI—it may be leading a multigenerational workforce with vastly different communication styles, expectations, and values. 

In Part 2 of Why Generations Clash at Work—And How Great Leaders Fix It, host Chris Comeaux welcomes nationally recognized generational leadership expert Karen McCullough for a practical conversation on multigenerational leadership, workplace culture, leadership communication, employee engagement, burnout prevention, organizational leadership, healthcare leadership, hospice leadership, nonprofit leadership, and the growing impact of artificial intelligence in the workplace.

Discover why Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z often appro...

Why do generations often clash at work—and what can leaders do to bridge the divide? 

In this insightful first installment, Chris Comeaux sits down with nationally recognized generational expert Karen McCullough to explore the perspectives, experiences, and workplace expectations that shape Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z. 

Drawing from more than two decades of research and real-world consulting, Karen unpacks why many workplace conflicts are not personal attacks, but differences in generational perspective.

Together, they examine how communication styles, views on commitment, work-life balance, feed...

Can healthcare remain compassionate in an age of private equity, artificial intelligence, and growing financial pressures?

In this part two episode, Chris Comeaux continues conversation with Lauren Kaufmann, Assistant Professor of Business Administration at the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia and Stephen Maiden, Managing Director of Case Writing Research Group, to discuss the future of healthcare, hospice, private equity, artificial intelligence, ethical leadership, and organizational mission.

Drawing from their groundbreaking hospice case study, they explore why private equity has become one of the most controversial forces in healthcare, how...

Few topics spark more debate in healthcare than the intersection of compassionate care, ethical responsibility, and financial sustainability.

Can mission-driven hospice organizations survive—and thrive—in a healthcare landscape increasingly dominated by for-profit providers?

In Part One of this compelling conversation, TCNtalks/Anatomy of Leadership host Chris Comeaux welcomes Lauren Kaufmann, Assistant Professor of Business Administration at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business, and Stephen Maiden, Managing Director of the Darden Case Writing Research Group. 

Together, they discuss the groundbreaking business case...

What if the most important care doesn’t happen in a hospital, hospice, or clinic—but in the moments in between?

In Part Two of The Missing Middle in Healthcare—And Why It Matters, Chris Comeaux continues his conversation with Bridget Sumser and Sonya Dolan of Mettle Health to explore the often-overlooked gap between medical treatment and the lived human experience of illness. Together, they unpack the role of grief, community, language, and connection in supporting people facing serious illness, caregiving responsibilities, and end-of-life challenges.

This episode challenges traditional health...

What happens after a serious diagnosis—but before hospice care begins?

In this compelling conversation, host Chris Comeaux sits down with Sonya Dolan, Co-Founder of Mettle Health, and Bridget Sumser, Director of Counseling & Programs, to explore one of healthcare’s most overlooked challenges: the “missing middle.”

Drawing from decades of experience in hospice, palliative care, caregiving, and serious illness support, Sonya and Bridget discuss the critical gaps patients and families face as they navigate life-altering diagnoses, caregiving responsibilities, grief, and uncertainty. Together, they unpack why traditional healthcare systems often struggle to address the emotional, relational, practica...

Can consumers really trust hospice quality ratings?

In Part Two of this powerful TCNtalks / Anatomy of Leadership conversation, Chris Comeaux and Cordt Kassner continue their discussion with nationally recognized hospice researcher and policy expert Dr. Joan Teno.

Building on Part One, Dr. Teno explores how patients and families can make better-informed hospice decisions, why current quality reporting systems often fall short, and how artificial intelligence could transform the future of hospice quality measurement. She also addresses one of the most pressing challenges facing the industry...

Are hospice quality ratings really measuring what matters most?

In this powerful episode of TCNtalks / Anatomy of Leadership, Chris Comeaux and Cordt Kassner sit down with nationally recognized hospice researcher Dr. Joan Teno to uncover the hidden problems behind hospice ratings, quality scores, and public reporting systems.

Drawing on more than 30 years of experience shaping hospice and palliative care policy, Dr. Teno explains why many publicly reported quality measures may fail to capture the true experiences of patients and families. She discusses the challenges of transparency, the unintended consequences of current reporting systems, concerns about...

Most leadership advice sounds inspiring until you have to practice it with real pressure, real people, and real consequences. Our host, Chris Comeaux sits down with Mark Miller,  former Vice President of High Performance Leadership at Chick-fil-A and bestselling co-author of The Secret and Lead Every Day, to get brutally practical about servant leadership, ego, and why the best leaders stop asking “How do I get more from my team?” and start asking “How do I help my team win?”

They talk about why the servant-leader mindset is hard to adopt in the fi...

What does it take to build a leadership culture that scales across generations, industries, and millions of customer interactions? In this powerful conversation, Chris Comeaux sits down with Mark Miller — former Vice President of High Performance Leadership at Chick-fil-A and bestselling author of The Secret — to explore the principles behind extraordinary leadership.

From his humble beginnings as an hourly team member to helping shape Chick-fil-A’s leadership development strategy, Mark shares hard-earned wisdom about influence, intentionality, and what truly drives organizational growth. 

Throughout the episode, Mark unpacks the foundational leadershi...

Hospice has always been about people, but the future of hospice will increasingly be shaped by data—and that shift is both exciting and unsettling.

In Part Two of The Future of Hospice: How HOPE Will Transform Reimbursement & Care, Raianne Melton and Andrea Hale unpack how the HOPE tool could redefine hospice reimbursement, value-based care, and quality measurement across CMS, Medicare Advantage, and health systems. 

The conversation explores where hospice measurement may be heading—from symptom impact scoring and burdensome discharges to acuity tracking, HUV utili...

The future of hospice care is changing—and the HOPE assessment tool may redefine how providers deliver care, document outcomes, and receive reimbursement.

Healthcare is entering a new era where quality outcomes, patient data, and accountability are driving the future of care delivery.  In this episode, we’re joined by Andrea Hale, CEO of Valley Hospice, and Raianne Melton, Director of Clinical Services of Professional Services for Axxess, whose expertise and frontline perspective help unpack one of the most significant shifts happening in hospice today—the implementation of the HOPE assessment tool. 

Their insight provides valuable...

In Part Two of this powerful TCNtalks / Anatomy of Leadership conversation, Kim Brandt, Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Administrator at CMS joins Chris Comeaux to discuss hospice fraud, Medicare risk, AI-driven fraud detection, and the future of healthcare policy.  Kim provides a rare behind-the-scenes look at how CMS is fighting organized healthcare fraud, protecting Medicare beneficiaries, and preparing hospice providers for a more data-driven future.

The conversation explores lessons learned from the Medicare Advantage VBID hospice carve-in, the challenges facing legitimate hospice providers, and how AI and machine learning are helping CMS detect fraudulent activity in real t...

In this compelling first installment, CMS Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Administrator Kim Brandt joins Chris Comeaux for a candid conversation about the growing hospice fraud crisis, the financial future of Medicare, and the urgent transformation happening across American healthcare. 

Drawing from her leadership role at CMS and firsthand experiences with hospice care in her own family, Brandt shares why hospice remains a critical pillar of compassionate care — while also exposing the alarming abuse threatening the integrity of the system.  

The discussion dives deep into the pressures facing Medicare as t...

What does the future of hospice care really look like—and who’s shaping it?

In Part Two of this compelling conversation, healthcare leaders Tom Koutsoumpas, Founder & CEO of NPHI and Carole Fisher, President of NPHI, join Chris Comeaux and Cordt Kassner to discuss the future of hospice reform, Medicare modernization, quality care standards, and the challenges facing nonprofit hospice providers across America.

From fraud prevention and workforce shortages to Medicare Advantage and innovative disease-specific care models, this episode delivers an inside look at the policy, leadership, and operational decisions shaping the future of end-of-life care...

In Part One of Healthcare Leaders Break Down Hospice Reform, Medicare & Quality Care, Chris Comeaux sits down with nationally respected healthcare leaders Tom Koutsoumpas, Founder & CEO of NPHI  and Carole Fisher, President of NPHI to explore the evolving future of hospice, palliative care, Medicare oversight, and the growing demand for quality-driven, compassionate healthcare leadership. 

Together, they unpack the growing challenges facing end-of-life care — from fraud and benefit manipulation to the urgent need for quality transparency and authentic patient-centered care.  Drawing on decades of leadership experience, the guests explore how nonprofit hospice organizations are redef...

Virtual reality can feel like a toy until you hear what it does for pain, fear, and the kind of suffering that medication cannot touch.

In this Part Two episode of TCNtalks / Anatomy of Leadership, Chris Comeaux sits down with Dr. Kathleen Benton, CEO of Hospice of Savannah, and VR healthcare pioneer Teri Yarbrow, Founder & CEO of Magika VRx, to explore how virtual reality in healthcare, hospice care, and palliative care are evolving through immersive technology. Learn how VR therapy is being used to reduce pain, anxiety, and emotional distress in patients facing serious illness...

What if some of the most meaningful moments at the end of life could still be experienced—no matter the physical limitations?

In this episode, Kathleen Benton and VR innovator Teri Yarbrow reveal how virtual reality is reshaping hospice and palliative care by restoring something often lost in modern medicine—human experience. As care becomes increasingly clinical and documentation-driven, VR creates space for patients to reconnect with meaning, beauty, and identity beyond their diagnosis.

The impact is rooted in how the brain responds to immersion. Through presence (feeling transported), embodiment (shifting out...

In Part Two of Future-Proofing Care: The Challenges We Face in Hospice and Palliative Care, Chris Comeaux and Cordt Kassner explore the accelerating forces reshaping hospice and palliative care—from shifting patient demographics to the rapid rise of AI and regulatory complexity. 

As the industry transitions to serving a more diverse, resource-variable baby boomer population, leaders are challenged to rethink how care is delivered, personalized, and sustained in an increasingly complex environment.  

The conversation dives into the tension between innovation and regulation, the transformative (yet imperfect) role of technology, and the growing mental heal...

In Part One of this forward-looking series, Chris Comeaux unpacks the foundational challenges shaping the future of hospice and palliative care. Drawing from nearly a decade of strategic research and collaboration with healthcare leaders, he introduces a powerful framework built around eight core challenges that every organization must navigate.  From intensifying competition to shifting reimbursement models, this conversation equips leaders with a clearer lens to anticipate disruption and respond with intention.

What emerges is not just a list of problems—but a strategic roadmap.  Chris explores how “hypercompetition” is reshaping referral patterns, how financial pressures demand organizational agility...

In Part Two of this thought-provoking conversation, Chris Comeaux and Robin Heffernan unpack the complex realities shaping the future of hospice under Medicare Advantage. 

From the lessons learned in the VBID demonstration to the growing momentum behind “carve-in” models, this episode explores the tension between cost, quality, and patient experience—and what it will take to align all three.  At the center of the discussion is a critical question: how do we design a system that truly rewards high-quality care while eliminating inefficiencies and poor outcomes?

The conversation dives into emerging models like concurrent care “bridge pat...