John Kastanis Has His Finger on the Pulse of Healthcare
John Kastanis didn’t think riding horses would lead him down the path he has traveled.
There was no way to know his decision to follow his passion for the equestrian life would set the stage for a four-decade career in the healthcare industry, one in which he would be a drug and alcohol counselor, a high-level administrator, on the front lines of the COVID pandemic and now looking at the emerging use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare.
“It began with me foolishly partnering with a friend to own a horse,” said Kastanis. “I subsequently moved upstate and joined my friend to operate an addictions services program, while also serving as a drug and alcohol counselor. I began to see the possibilities and the needs of those who sought counseling.”
John Kastanis didn’t think riding horses would lead him down the path he has traveled.
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Kastanis accepts Distinguished Alumnus Award from Queens College, Political Science Department
I was so grateful to be a part of the Queens College Political Science Department’s Honors and Awards Ceremony - Commencement on May 12, 2022, and also humbled to receive their Distinguished Alumnus Award. I say humbled because I graduated several decades ago, and although I have visited and lectured there a few times, I thought a large group of generation Z (also referred to as ‘Zoomers’) would not be able to relate to my message.
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When will a real comprehensive Health Care Plan be delivered?
By John N. Kastanis
It’s a wonder how health care got minimal coverage during last year’s presidential campaign. During the 2019 Democrat candidates’ debates, we got to hear Senator Elizabeth Warren’s new “Medicare for All” plan, followed by Bernie Sanders’ call for a single payor system. But after closer examination, many asked how can we expand Medicare when we can’t even afford it now due to the exorbitant costs needed to cover all residents and the estimated huge tax increases to pay for it all. During which time, Sanders’ state of Vermont abandoned in 2014 its multi-year effort to implement America’s first statewide single-payer health system. When the debates were over in early 2020, most editorials deemed these plans unworkable, while COVID-19 completely detracted our attention on how we would overcome this dreadful virus and the resulting pandemic.
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A Caveat for Hospital Systems That Continue to Expand
By John N. Kastanis
After watching a 60 Minutes segment, aired on December 13, 2020, regarding Sutter Health’s domination of the healthcare market in northern California, I was prompted to reassess the justifications of hospital mergers and acquisitions that continue to transpire across the country.
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Lessons learned from COVID-19 and focusing on population health now and for the future
Honored to be featured in this month's ACHE Healthcare Consultants Forum Newsletter discussing lessons learned from COVID-19 and focusing on population health now and for the future.
As we continue to navigate the unknowns of the current pandemic, it appears we may be quite a way off from living in a true post-COVID-19 era. That said, improved health outcomes can still be realized through effective population health strategies, provided adequate financial resources are available.
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Time to Refocus on Population Health Strategies
By John N. Kastanis, FACHE, MBA
As we continue to navigate the unknowns of the current pandemic, it appears we are still a long way off from living in a true post-COVID-19 era. Only when we are equipped with the knowledge and resources needed to deal with new types of SARS viruses, including effective new treatments and vaccines, will we truly move forward. But until that time, improved health outcomes can still be realized through effective population health strategies, providing adequate financial resources are available.
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Thank you to all who served at the JAVITS Center and USNS Comfort
During this special holiday weekend, celebrating our country's 244th Independance Day, July 4, 2020, I can't help but to acknowledge and thank all the Military Uniformed Services Personnel, along with so many Federal, New York State and City professionals who diligently worked at the Javits Center Hospital Facility, taking on a true battle against a very unique enemy: COVID-19. This temporary medical facility was quickly assembled by the Army Core of Engineers, and became a very significant operation by offering temporary hospital beds, equipment, pharmaceuticals, and medical personnel during the height of the pandemic in New York City in the month of April. I assume many more acknowledgements and analyses will be forthcoming, given the significant role this operation played, but for now I just want to offer the following personal acknowledgement:
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Telehealth Leader, Medsign Appoints John Kastanis to Advisory Board
Health System Executive Brings Over 20 Years’ Experience, Extensive Industry Relationships, and History of Success with Provider Groups to MedSign
New York, June 23, 2020: MedSign International Corporation, a digital health technology company announced today that industry leader John N. Kastanis has been appointed to the company’s Senior Advisory Board, one of the industry’s strongest advisory boards for Telehealth solutions.
Kastanis brings to the Board significant executive experience in leading high acute, tertiary, quaternary-care and specialty hospitals with core expertise in strategic planning, governance, fund development, academic medicine, while also managing large Medicaid and Medicare patient populations.
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Telehealth’s skyrocketing growth, and new related technology
by John N. Kastanis
A recent report from McKinsey & Company highlights how “COVID-19 has caused a massive acceleration in the use of telehealth.” This report coincides with the weeklong Value-Based Care Summit – Telehealth 2020, taking place June 1-5. The aforementioned report and event remind me of how we may have passed the Rubicon on how much health care providers are going to continue using Telehealth services, but not really focusing on the type of Telehealth technology that is still forthcoming.
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