Pediatric care in the U.S. is increasingly defined by fragmentation — especially for children with complex needs and those covered by Medicaid and CHIP. Access barriers, disconnected services, and lack of coordination often leave families navigating care on their own, with real consequences for outcomes.

In this episode of Analyzing Healthcare, host Jason Schifman speaks with Chris Johnson of Bluebird Kids Health about what actually drives pediatric outcomes and why traditional, encounter-based models fall short. Chris explains why most determinants of pediatric health exist outside the clinic, how integrating physical health, behavioral health, and social care is essential to improving outcomes, and why children play a central — but often misunderstood — role in Medicaid performance.

The conversation focuses on practical system design: aligning care teams, coordinating across community resources, and redefining success around impact — measured in healthier days at home, not just utilization.

What You’ll Learn

✅ How digital care platforms are improving access, efficiency, and outcomes ✅ Why data integration and interoperability remain foundational challenges ✅ How healthcare organizations can scale innovation without disrupting care delivery ✅ The role of partnerships in accelerating healthcare transformation ✅ What healthcare leaders must prioritize when adopting new technology ✅ How patient-centric design drives adoption and long-term impact

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Timestamps

• (00:00) Why pediatric care is broken in the U.S. • (03:12) The scale and complexity of caring for high-need children • (07:45) Where fragmentation hurts families and outcomes most • (12:30) How Bluebird Kids Health integrates care beyond the clinic • (17:10) Aligning clinical teams, data, and family support • (21:55) Technology’s role in coordinating pediatric care • (26:40) Working with payers and health systems in the U.S. • (31:20) Measuring outcomes in pediatric population health • (36:05) What scalable pediatric care models must get right • (40:30) Lessons for U.S. healthcare leaders and policymakers

Key Takeaways

• 💎 Digital platforms are becoming central to modern care delivery • 💎 Interoperability is essential for scaling value-based models • 💎 Technology must align with clinical workflows to drive adoption • 💎 Partnerships accelerate innovation across fragmented systems • 💎 Patient-centric design is critical to long-term success

Guest: Chris Johnson, Founder & CEO Bluebird Kids Health Host: Jason Schifman, President & Co-Founder, SCALE Healthcare

Organization: ⁠https://www.scale-community.com⁠ Podcast Hub: Analyzing Healthcare by SCALE Community

Guest Bio

Chris Johnson is a healthcare executive and innovator focused on advancing pediatric care through technology-enabled, family-centered models. As a leader at Bluebird Kids Health, Chris works at the intersection of clinical care, digital health, and care coordination to improve access and outcomes for children with complex and chronic needs. His work centers on building scalable pediatric care platforms that integrate primary care, specialty services, and social support—reducing fragmentation while supporting families beyond traditional clinical settings. Chris brings a practical, systems-level perspective on how pediatric healthcare can evolve to deliver higher-quality, more equitable care at scale.

Keywords

Digital healthcare, care delivery platforms, healthcare technology, interoperability, data-driven healthcare, population health, value-based care, healthcare challenges, Healthcare Podcast, Healthcare Trends and Innovations, Healthcare Strategies, Scale Healthcare, Roy Bejarano, Scale Community, Jason Schifman