In this episode, Paula Turicchi, Chief Strategy Officer, Parkland Community Health Plan (PCHP), talks about how the organization went from a completely outsourced service model to taking more control over their operations. PCHP primarily serves a Medicaid population of pregnant women and children in North Texas. Paula discusses how they use digital engagement tools and technologies with their members to improve the quality of care and health outcomes. She outlines how economic factors such as rising gas prices impact their members and their ability to afford access to healthcare.

Paula also discusses their data and analytics programs in partnership with their sister organization PCCI, and how they have repurposed existing applications to serve emerging healthcare needs over the past couple of years (listen to our podcast episode with Steve Miff, CEO of PCCI).

Paula advises startup founders to have a good business case before they approach them with a solution for their target audience. She discusses at length the various considerations for digital engagement for their member population and the risks/trade-offs that they must address while making investment choices. Take a listen.