Episode 68

Applying Behavioral Economics to Healthcare with Karen Horgan

Published on: 12th August, 2020

There’s a science behind why we do what we do… or don’t do. 

In this episode, we’re going to get a clear understanding of what behavioral economics is all about and its importance in driving real engagement and change in the healthcare industry.

Our guest for today is Karen Horgan, the CEO of VAL Health, and health’s Chief Engagement Officer. For over eight years, she has been leading a nationally recognized health-related behavioral economics consulting firm that tackles the hardest problems in healthcare using proven behavioral economics science.

Karen will talk about the importance of behavioral economics in healthcare and how it is applied to help move the industry forward. Karen also talks about the challenges they had at VAL Health and she shares some of her insights on the explosion of telehealth due to COVID-19.

Make sure you listen to this episode as we unravel how behavioral economics can help transform and improve health and healthcare!

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

  • How Karen created VAL Health as the leading health related behavioral economics consulting firm
  • Why and how VAL Health became health’s Chief Engagement Officer
  • What is behavioral economics?
  • Applying behavioral economics to drive engagement and change in the healthcare industry
  • Reframing how you use your words
  • Creating quick wins to get people started
  • The endowment effect
  • How helping others with their underlying challenges can bring out the true element of health

ABOUT OUR GUEST:

Karen is the CEO of VAL Health. She spearheaded the development of hundreds of behavior change programs that enable clients to overcome healthcare’s biggest challenges.

Karen is a thought leader in the application of behavioral economics and an expert in developing high impact engagement programs to drive health-related behavior change. Her passion for health and belief in evidence-based approaches led her to co-found VAL Health, the leading health behavioral economics firm. 

Prior to joining VAL Health, Karen was Chief Marketing Officer at Keystone Strategy, a consulting firm affiliated with experts from Harvard, University of Pennsylvania, and MIT, where she led global client engagements to develop R&D and innovation solutions for Fortune 500 companies including PepsiCo, Microsoft, and Johnson & Johnson. 

Karen has also led marketing and product management teams for early-stage technology companies and was a consultant with Bain and Company in Boston and Hong Kong. She also holds a M.B.A. from the Harvard Business School and a B.A. with honors from the University of Pennsylvania and a B.S. with honors from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

LINKS SUPPORTING THIS EPISODE:

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode
Show artwork for Passionate Pioneers with Mike Biselli

About the Podcast

Passionate Pioneers with Mike Biselli
Healthcare and Innovation
Passionate Pioneers with Mike Biselli, a nationally ranked healthcare and innovation podcast, and a member of the Health Podcast Network, highlights the innovators, the game changers, and the pioneers who are deeply passionate and relentless in valiantly solving the problems our healthcare industry is facing.
Support This Show

About your host

Profile picture for Mike Biselli

Mike Biselli

Community Builder | Health-tech Entrepreneur | Podcaster | TEDx Speaker | Dedicated to Reimagining Healthcare