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ON THIS EDITION OF CAROLINA BUSINESS REVIEW, MICHAEL HALEY, ON THE BOYD COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPER RIGHT BLUEPRINT STRATEGY, AND SPECIAL GUEST DR. JEFFREY DELISI, PRESIDENT IN CEO OF ROVER ST. LOUIS HOW HEALTHCARE.

♪ >> WELCOME TO CAROLINA BUSINESS REVIEW.

A DIFFERENT BACKDROP THIS TIME SINCE WE ARE IN A DIFFERENT PLACE.

WE'D LIKE TO THINK OF THE NORTH CAROLINA CITY OF LEXINGTON.

BE CAREFUL ABOUT THE DISTINCTIO BETWEEN LEXINGTON F CAROLINA.

LEXINGTON NORTH CAROLINE IS AS THOUGH THAT BARBECUE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD, WE'RE JUST GOING TO LEAVE IT AT THAT RIGHT NOW, AND ONE.

I WILL GIVE YOU A CHANCE MAY BE LATER.

WE'RE GOING TO RUN OUT OF TIME.

WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM.

I AM COMING FROM A DIFFERENT LOCATION.

AND WENT, OUR GOOD FRIEND FROM SOUTH CAROLINA BIRD WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM.

MICHAEL, LET ME START WITH YOU.

AN INTERESTING POINT OF WAKE COUNTY WHICH IS PART OF THE TRIANGLE IN NORTH CAROLINA.

YOU POSTED, IS IT FAIR TO SAY HISTORIC ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NUMBERS, AND IF SO HOW DO YOU SQUARE THAT AGAINST WHAT WE'VE BEEN UP AGAINST WITH HIS PUBLIC HEALTHCARE CRISIS.

THOSE TO SEEM LIKE THEY DON'T WORK TOGETHER.

>> FIRST, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

YOUR RIGHT, IT HAS BEEN A HISTORIC YEAR FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE TRIANGLE.

I THINK THE WORD I'VE USED THE MOST TO DESCRIBE THIS PAST 18 MONTHS OR SO HAS BEEN UNEVEN.

WHILE YOU'VE SEEN THESE AMAZING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NUMBERS LIKE YOU SAID.

YOU USE THE ANALOGY OF APPLE, AND DIDN'T, YOU'VE ALSO SEEN TH IMPACT THE ONGOING IMPACT A SMALL IMPACT, THE IMPACTS OF TRAVEL IN TOURISM NOT ONLY IN TROUBLE, BUT ACROSS SOUTH CAROLINA AND THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

THAT UNEVENNESS THAT HAS REALLY SHOWN THROUGH THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC, HAS BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF A CHALLENGE FOR NOT ONLY ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS BUT FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, AND ANYONE CONCERNED ABOUT THE LIVELIHOOD OF OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS.

>> IS THERE A METRIC NOW PART O ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT LETS CALL IT SERMON A PERMANENT THAT NOW, A POSSIBLE CANDIDATES RELOCATING TO THE CAROLINAS WOULD ALSO WANT TO SEE VACCINATION RATES FOR EFFICACY OF VACCINATIONS OR SOME TYPE OF RELATED METRIC?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

THAT CERTAINLY QUALITY OF HEALTHCARE HAS LONG BEEN AN IMPORTANT FACTOR, NOT ONLY FOR COMPANIES THAT WANT TO MOVE TO OUR COMMUNITY, BUT FOR THE TALENT THAT WANTS TO MOVE HERE.

HAVING A HIGH QUALITY HEALTHCAR SYSTEM IS ABSOLUTELY PARAMOUNT AND CERTAINLY PART OF THAT TODA IS AROUND VACCINATION AND HOW OUR PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSE TO COVID 19 CONTINUES TO EVOLVE.

THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR COMPANIES AND TALENTS.

>> ANTOINE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT , YOU KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AS SOUTH CAROLINA IS JUST LIKE NORTH CAROLINA, BUT MAY BE A LITTLE MORE ACUTELY TO.

THEY'RE IS A NEW SHERIFF IN TOW PART AND NEW SECRETARY OF COMMERCE.

NOT AN UNKNOWN QUANTITY FOR THOSE IN THE PALMETTO STATE IN THE REGION.

THAT CERTAINLY A DIFFERENT PERSONALITY FROM HIS PREDECESSOR .

FOR MANY YEARS, THE SECRETARY HAD LOTS OF LATITUDE WHEN IT CAME TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AN SPECIFICALLY DOING DEALS AND IN SOME CASES THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF SOUTH CAROLINA SAYING WE DON'T ALWAYS KNOW WHAT'S BEHIND THE NUMBERS BECAUSE COMMERCE GETS TO BRING DEALS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN AGREED UPON AND HAVEN'T QUITE SEEN THE LIGHT OF DAY OR SOME TYPE OF VETTING.

I'M JUST GOING TO CALL IT A RUB BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO START A ISSUE THAT'S ALREADY BEEN GOING ON.

BUT THIS IDEA ABOUT DISCRETION AND PRIVACY AROUND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND NOW THERE'S A NEW SECRETARY OF COMMERCE.

IS THAT, I DON'T WANT TO EVEN CALL IT BAD BLOOD, BUT THE CONCERN ABOUT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY NOT KNOWING ALL THE DETAILS OF ALL THE DEALS, IS THAT BEHIND YOU ALL?

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

WHEN THE SECRETARY CAME IN HE WAS A BIG HIT BECAUSE HE WAS OF BREAKING THE SPEED LIMITS, RUNNING STOP SIGNS, FEELING TO YIELD AT YIELD SIGNS WHEN IT CAME TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

HOWEVER, HE TOOK A BIG HIT FROM BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY BECAUSE OF THE SOME OF THE DEALS THAT WERE DONE IN PRIVATE AND MILLIONS ON TOP OF SOMETIMES MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT LAWMAKERS PUT INTO THE FUND , BUT THERE WAS NO TRANSPARENCY.

THERE WAS NO ACCOUNTABILITY OF HOW IT WAS SPENT, SO HE REALLY TOOK A HIT IN SOME WAY, SHAPE O FORM.

I THINK WITH THE INCOMING SECRETARY OF COMMERCE, SOME PEOPLE SAY IT IS POTENTIALLY POTENTIALLY A BREATH OF FRESH AIR, BUT ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECALIBRATE AND FOR THE TO PUT THEIR ARMS AROUND SOME OF THE RESOURCES THAT ARE SENT TO COMMERCE TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT ALL OF THE DEALS ARE GOOD DEALS BECAUSE WE ARE OFTEN TIMES FIND OUT IN RETROSPECT THAT NOT ALL DEALS ARE GOOD DEALS FROM THE LONG-TERM PERSPECTIVE.

WHEN WE HAVE THE CONVERSATION AROUND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PARTICULARLY IN PLACES LIKE SOUTH CAROLINA AND NORTH CAROLINA WHERE THE CONVERSATION IS ONE THAT IS FRONT AND CENTER AT ALL TIMES.

IT COMES DOWN TO THE QUESTIONS OF THE HAVES AND HAVE-NOTS.

SOUTH CAROLINA MOST OF THE TIME BIG BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY FIND THEMSELVES GOING TO THE SUBURBS.

WE HAVE A HEALTHY POPULATION WE HAVE THE NEEDED PIECES OF INFRASTRUCTURE, WATER IN SEWER, HOWEVER RURAL SOUTH CAROLINA IS OFTEN LEFT OUT OF THE CONVERSATION SO THAT HAVE-NOTS FIND THEMSELVES DEEPER INTO THE HAVE-NOTS CATEGORY AND THE HAVE FIND THEMSELVES FURTHER AHEAD.

>> DO YOU THINK A LENGTHY ADMINISTRATION WITH COMMERCE IN SOUTH CAROLINA WILL CHANGE THAT?

TAKE IT WE CAN ONLY HOPE AND PRAY AT THE END OF THE DAY AS OUR STATE BEGINS TO CHANGE AND OUR REGIONS BEGIN TO CHANGE, WE HAVE TO EFFECTIVELY COMPETE IN THE EVER-CHANGING GLOBAL SOCIETY .

WE'RE NOT JUST COMPETING WITH OUR NEIGHBOR STATES, WE'RE NOT JUST COMPETING WITH STATES, WE ARE COMPETING AROUND THE WORLD WHEN IT COMES TO INDUSTRY, TALENTS, AND BUSINESS.

I THINK WE HAVE TO HAVE A GLOBA MINDSET WHICH MEANS WE HAVE TO PULL UP THOSE FROM THE BOTTOM WHILE WE TRY TO MEET PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE AND ESSENTIALLY GET TO THE TOP WHERE EVERYBODY DESIRES AND HOPES TO BE.

COULD GIVE THE TAR HEEL STATE AND YOUR LEADERSHIP, WE'RE ALL IN COMMERCE.

HOW IS THIS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT, AND WHAT DO YOU THIN SECRETARY SANDERS WILL DO THAT' DIFFERENT NOW THAT WILL SHOW UP?

>> I'M EXCITED.

WE HAVE A LONG HISTORY HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA OF GREAT SECRETARIES IN COMMERCE.

WHAT I AM EXCITED ABOUT IS FOR THE PAST AS AN EXECUTIVE AND LIFE SCIENCE, IT'S WONDERFUL BECAUSE SHE BRINGS THIS GREAT LIFE SCIENCE EXPERIENCE ACROSS THE TABLE FROM OTHER LIFE SCIENCE IN THE REGION PERIGEE CAN SIT ACROSS THE TABLE FROM HER FORMER PEERS AND TALK ABOUT FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCE KNOWING HOW THIS REGION AND THIS STATE IS PREPARING ITS WORKFORCE AND PREPARING OUR COMMUNITIES FOR LIFE SCIENCE.

WE'RE EXCITED TO WORK WITH HER.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, IT IS A TEAM SPORT YOU HAVE TO HAVE TEA IN ORDER TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE TEAM W HAVE A COMMERCE.

>> LET'S JUST PIVOTS A LITTLE BIT AND TALK ABOUT THE DEBATE AROUND IN DC AROUND THE IDEA OF RAISING THE DEBT CEILING.

THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN EVERY YEAR OR AT LEAST IT'S HAPPENING MORE IN MARKHAM AT THE IDEA THAT BOT PARTIES WILL PLAY GAMESMANSHIP AND WE WILL CALL IT A GAME OF CHICKEN WITH THE CREDIT RATING IN THE UNITED STATES.

BACK IN 2012, 2011 COME AROUND THAT AREA, WE DID TECHNICALLY DEFAULT FOR A DAY OR MORE, NUMBER ONE, IS THAT RESPONSIBLE POLICY, AND NUMBER TWO, WOULD YOU EXPECT ANYTHING DIFFERENT THIS YEAR AFTER SEPTEMBER 30TH WHEN THE DEPARTMENTS IN DC HAVE TO AGREE ON SOME SORT OF DEBT CEILING.

ANTOINE, LET'S START WITH YOU.

>> I CALL IT POLITICAL THEATER.

HERE IS WHAT I KNOW, SOME OF TH BEST ACTORS AND ACTRESS COME OU UNDER CRISIS AND CONGRESS I THINK PERFORMS WELL WHEN THERE IS A DEADLINE OR WHEN THERE'S A CRISIS.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAVE RESPONSIBILITY, WHETHER DEMOCRA OR REPUBLICAN, WHETHER FROM SOUTH CAROLINA OR FROM CALIFORNIA TO PAY THE BILLS THA CONGRESS HAS ACCRUED OVER TIME.

THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.

MOST OF THE TIME WE COME TOGETHER AND AGREE ON THOSE THINGS AND WHILE WASHINGTON, D.C. MAY BE DYSFUNCTIONAL, I THINK WE WILL COME TO A PLACE EARLY NEXT WEEK WHERE THE FUNCTION IN THE BUSINESS OF CONGRESS WILL ALLOW US TO COME TOGETHER AND ESSENTIALLY COME U WITH A SOLUTION TO WHAT COULD B A VERY IMPORTANT LONG-TERM ISSU AND IT COULD BE DETRIMENTAL.

>> I DON'T WANT TO DISMISS THIS OUT OF HAND, BUT IS THIS NOISE TO YOU, AND DO YOU KNOW IF THE PARTIES ARE GOING TO COME TO SOME TYPE OF AGREEMENT, BUT IS IT NOISE THAT YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE?

HOW DO YOU CHARACTERIZE?

>> I WILL AGREE WITH WHAT ANTOINE SAID.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS COME TOGETHER.

THESE ARE IMPORTANT ISSUES CERTAINLY WHEN IT COMES TO HOW POLICIES LIKE THE DEBT CEILING OR ANY OTHER NUMBER OF FEDERAL POLICIES, THEY MATTER, NOT ONLY TO TAXPAYERS, IT MATTERS TO OUR CITIZENS, IT MATTERS TO BUSINESS .

I THINK HAVING THAT REALLY STRONG BUSINESS FOCUSED AGENDA IS IMPORTANT FOR OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS IN TO CARRY FORWARD WITH IT IS CERTAINLY IMPORTANT.

>> WHEN WE TALK ABOUT POLICY AND , NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT AT LEAST RIGHT NOW THEN HEALTHCARE POLICY.

WE NOW TURN TO THE CEO OF THE LOW COUNTRY.

OUR SPECIAL GUEST GREW UP IN A HOUSEHOLD OF A GENERAL PRACTITIONER.

I'M NOT GOING TO CALL YOUR DAD COUNTRY DOCKET, BUT YOU DID HAV UNIQUE CHILDHOOD.

AND I MAY NOT BE COMPLETELY RIGHT ABOUT THIS, BUT THE IDEA THAT YOU GREW UP EATING IN A KITCHEN THAT WAS NEXT TO AN EXAMINATION ROOM BECAUSE THE HOSPITAL OR AT LEAST THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE WHICH ARE HOME, IS THAT CORRECT?

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE.

BUT YES, THAT IS TRUE.

MY FATHER IS NOW RETIRED HE'S A A FAMILY DOCTOR.

I GREW UP IN SO HIS OFFICE WAS CONNECTED TO THE HOUSE, AND THE KITCHEN WAS ADJACENT TO THE EXAMINING ROOM, AND I TOOK PIAN FOR MANY YEARS, SO THAT THE PIANO WAS VERY CLOSE TO SO I COULD ONLY PRACTICE WHEN PATIENTS WEREN'T BEING SEEN.

>> THE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF BROTHERS SEIFERT OUT OF THE LOW COUNTRY.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AGAIN.

LET'S START WITH THE IDEA THAT HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS PRE- COVID WERE ONE THING.

CLEARLY THEY ARE SOMETHING ELSE NOW.

SO HOW DO YOU MANAGE WHAT THE BUSINESS OF HEALTHCARE IS WHEN YOU ARE, AND FORGIVE THIS REFERENCE, WHEN YOU'RE GOING 10 IS ON FIRE BECAUSE IT'S A PUBLI HEALTH CRISIS.

COULD GET YOU KNOW, I'M SO PROU TO BE PART OF OUR ORGANIZATION.

YOU KNOW, OUR MISSION IS HEALIN ALL PEOPLE WITH COMPASSION, FAITH, AND EXCELLENCE.

I SAY THAT BECAUSE I THINK THE PEOPLE THAT COME TO WORK FOR US AND SO MANY, THIS IS A COMMON THEME AMONG HEALTHCARE WORKERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THEY GO INTO HEALTHCARE BECAUSE THEY WANT TO HELP PEOPLE.

IF YOU'RE HELPING PEOPLE AT 20 MILES AN HOUR OR HELPING PEOPLE AT 100 MILES AN HOUR, WE LOOK AT THAT AS OUR CALLING IN JOB.

I THINK HEALTHCARE WORKERS ARE HARD-WORKING BUNCH, WE TAKE WHA IS PUT IN FRONT OF US AND IT HA BEEN CHALLENGING AND TIRING FOR THE FRONTLINE STAFF, BUT WE LOO AT THAT AS OUR MISSION TO BE THERE FOR PATIENTS WHEN THEY NEED US.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE NEEDED A LOT OF CARE OVER THE LAST NOW ALMOST TWO YEARS DURING THIS PANDEMIC.

>> DOCTOR, HOW IS MORALE, AND THE SECOND PART OF THAT QUESTIO IS HOW DO YOU MANAGE THE EMOTIONAL BURDEN THAT THE CREW HAS TO CARRY NOW?

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

IT'S NOT EASY AND WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN.

I THINK OUR STAFF, NOT JUST OUR STAFF, BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THINK HEALTHCARE WORKERS ARE TIRED AND FATIGUED.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ABOUT COVID THAT MAY BE OTHER ILLNESSES THAT WE SEE IS IT JUS REQUIRES A LOT OF INTENSIVE STAFF TO PATIENT CARE.

YOU KIND OF NEED MORE NURSES TO HELP TAKE CARE OF THESE PATIENT WITH COVID.

MORE DOCTOR ATTENTION, MORE TEC ATTENTION, AND IT JUST TAKES A LOT.

SO THAT HAS REALLY BEEN CHALLENGING FOR OUR STAFF TO KIND OF DAY IN AND DAY OUT CONTINUE TO KEEP TAKING CARE OF PATIENTS.

I THINK WHAT'S BEEN ESPECIALLY HARD FOR OUR STAFF DURING THIS LAST WAVE IS THAT WE HAD THAT LITTLE TASTE OF GETTING BACK TO NORMAL.

WITH DIGGER MASKS OFF THIS SUMMER AND WE WERE ALL KIND OF CARRYING ON LIKE THINGS WORK BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

UNFORTUNATELY THIS LAST WAVE WA EVEN WORSE THEN THE FIRST TO, S IT HAS BEEN TOUGH.

AND WHAT DO WE DO?

WE SUPPORT OUR STAFF HOWEVER WE CAN.

WE DID DO SOME THINGS TO TRY TO HELP SLIT US BACK.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS WAS BRINGING IN MORE TEMPORARY STAF TO HELP SUPPORT THE ONES THAT WE'RE HERE.

WE WERE ABLE TO KEEP STAFF TAKING CARE OF AN APPROPRIATE NUMBER OF OF THE STAFF COULD TAKE VACATIONS AND WEEKENDS WHE THEY COULD.

SUCH AS TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH THOSE STAFFING RATIOS HAS BEEN SOMETHING WE ARE TRYING TO WORK HARD ON.

I THINK THE STAFF FEEL SUPPORTE WHEN WE DO THAT.

>> CHRIS, LET ME FIRST SAY THAN YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING, AND THANK YOU TO YOUR STAFF IN THE MILLIONS OF HEALTHCARE WORKERS LINE AND ESSENTIAL WORKERS ALL ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.

YOU ARE THE GLUE THAT HOLDS THI LITTLE COUNTRY CALLED THE UNITE STATES OF AMERICA TOGETHER, IN OUR CASE, SOUTH CAROLINA TOGETHER.

THIS PANDEMIC HAS REVEALED TRIM SOME TRUE FAULTLINES IN OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM AND MANY OTHE SYSTEMS THAT WE HAVE BEEN PLACED .

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE PUSH AND PULL AFFECT THAT IT HAS HAD ON THE DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT ON LACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.

THE PULL AFFECT IT'S HAD ON PULLING PEOPLE OUT OF THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY AND HOW I'L DO YOU PLAN TO REPLENISH THAT LONG-TERM.

YOU MENTIONED THE WEARINESS AND THE TIREDNESS, BUT ALSO THE LONG-TERM IMPACT THAT THE VIRUS WILL HAVE ON OUR CHILDREN WHETHER IT'S THEIR LEARNING, THEIR BODIES FOR THOSE WHO MAY GET THE VIRUS, AND WHAT THAT'S GOING TO MEAN.

AND LASTLY, THE ECONOMIC IMPACT IT WILL HAVE FUN HEALTHCARE AND THE HOSPITAL SYSTEMS GOING FORWARD.

>> GREAT QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE KIND WORDS.

FIRST, SPEAKING OF THE DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT.

ABSOLUTELY.

YOU KNOW, WHEN THE PANDEMIC STARTED, I WAS IN VIRGINIA IN ARLINGTON AND WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE POPULATION OF PATIENTS WE HAD IN OUR HOSPITAL WHEN WE WER FIGHTING THAT FIRST SURGE IN APRIL OF 2020, WE HAD OVER 60-7 WERE HISPANIC IN THE HOSPITAL.

WE ARE SEEING THAT SORT OF SAME IMPACT DISPROPORTIONATELY ON SOCIOECONOMIC CLASSES DOWN HERE IN SOUTH CAROLINA AS WELL.

SO AS WE THINK WHAT CAN WE DO.

THAT'S BEEN A CONSTANT SOURCE O CONVERSATION FOR US.

HOW DO WE GET OUT TO THE CHURCHES IN SOME OF THESE COMMUNITIES AND TALK TO THE PASTORS AND GET IN FRONT OF DIFFERENT VENUES TO TRY TO IMPACT THEM.

ONE OF THE THINGS I'M MOST PROU OF, IN MY FIRST NINE MONTH HERE IS I BROUGHT IN A PHYSICIAN LEADER WHO IS NOW OUR CHIEF DIVERSITY AND HEALTH EQUITY OFFICER.

ONE OF THE THINGS I'M MOST INTERESTED IN HIM FOCUSING ON HIS HEALTH EQUITY.

SO HE SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN HI PREVIOUS POSITION WORKING ON MEDICAID AND UNINSURED PATIENTS THAT NEEDED ET CETERA CARE.

SO ANOTHER HUGE AREA WHERE YOU SEE DISPARITY AMONGST THE SEO ECONOMIC CLASSES.

AS WITH BABIES AND CHALLENGES I THOSE DELIVERIES.

WE HAVE HYMNS THINKING THROUGH HOW DO WE GET THAT MESSAGE TO PATIENTS THAT MIGHT NEED TO HEA THINGS IN A DIFFERENT MANNER AR FROM DIFFERENT SOURCES BECAUSE WE WANT THE BEST FOR THEM AND W WANT TO KEEP THEM HEALTHY AND OUT OF OUR HOSPITALS.

THAT IS KIND OF A FULL-COURT PRESS UNDOING WHAT WE CAN DO TO IMPACT THOSE POPULATIONS.

YOUR RIGHTS, WE'VE SEEN THE DISPARITIES, AND IT'S BEEN DISHEARTENING.

AND WE CERTAINLY LOOK AT IT IS PART OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY AND CALLING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO IMPACT THOSE POPULATIONS.

>> WE'RE GOING TO RUN A TIME.

MICHAEL, GO AHEAD.

>> I WILL ECHO WHAT ANTON IS SAYING, THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU AND THE FIRST RESPONDERS AR DOING.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS BEEN CANCER CONSISTENT THROUGH THE PANDEMIC IS HEALTHCARE INNOVATION THAT HAS HELPED CREATE THESE VACCINES FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND FOR THE WORLD.

WITH THE INNOVATION, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE EIGHT THAT YOU ARE MOST EXCITED ABOUT THAT WILL IMPACT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NOW WITH THESE HEALTHCARE DISPARITY AND HOW DO YOU THINK THAT IS GOING TO IMPACT BOTH TH DISPARITY, BUT ALSO OVERALL HEALTHCARE EXPERIENCE?

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

YOU TALK ABOUT ONE INNOVATION EXCITES ME, I THINK IT IS TRULY REMARKABLE WHAT WE HAVE SEEN FROM THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY AN TERMS OF GETTING THIS VACCINE OUT TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE HAV AS QUICKLY AS WE HAVE.

ONE OF THE THINGS I TELL PEOPLE WHO ARE WORRIED ABOUT SIDE EFFECTS OF THE VACCINE IS IN SOME RESPECTS, THIS HAS BEEN TH LARGEST CLINICAL TRIAL THAT'S EVER BEEN UNDERTAKEN IN THE HISTORY OF MANKIND.

THESE VACCINES HAVE BEEN GIVING BILLIONS OF TIMES.

AND REALLY, VERY LITTLE SIDE EFFECTS, SO I TELL PEOPLE WE LIVE IN AN AGE OF SOCIAL MEDIA, SO IF THERE HAD BEEN A LOT OF BAD THINGS HAPPENING TO PEOPLE AFTER THE SHOTS, WE WOULD HAVE SEEN IT BY NOW.

SO THE ABILITY OF TWO BE ABLE T ENGINEER THESE VACCINES THAT PROVIDE EXTRAORDINARY PROTECTIONS TO SERIOUS ILLNESS AND DEATH IS REALLY EXCITING.

SO IF YOU THINK BACK TO MAY BE HOW OUR RESPONSE COULD'VE BEEN DIFFERENT IF EVERYBODY KNEW RIGHT AWAY THAT WE NEEDED TO MASK TO STAY SAFE.

AND GIVE PHARMA TIME TO GET THE VACCINE, WE COULD'VE PREVENTED SOME OF THE SURGES AND WE COULD'VE GOTTEN TO A SORT OF TIME WHERE WE COULD HAVE CARRIE ON SAFELY.

OBVIOUSLY THE CHALLENGE IS GETTING THE VACCINES INTO EVERYBODY.

TO TURN THE TECHNOLOGY AROUND INTO A SHOT IS AMAZING.

I KNOW YOU'RE HEARING THIS BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY INCLUDING OU HOSPITAL, 85 PERCENT OR HIGHER OF THE PATIENTS HOSPITALIZED AR UNVACCINATED.

IF YOU HAVE THE VACCINE, IT'S EXTRAORDINARILY UNLIKELY YOU'LL BE HOSPITALIZED OR DIE FROM COVID 19.

IT IS AN INNOVATION ALMOST MIRACLE THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO DO THIS SO QUICKLY AND PROVIDE THAT KIND OF PROTECTION TO PEOPLE.

>> I SHUNTED YOUR ANSWER A LITTLE BIT TO AND ONE'S QUESTIO AND I WANT TO BRING THIS BACK I THE PLACE OF RURAL HEALTH.

NOT JUST DEMOGRAPHICS THAT HAVE THE DISPROPORTIONATE COVERAGE O HEALTHCARE AND CERTAINLY DURING COVID, BUT DO YOU SEE RURAL HEALTH, TO YOU SEE THE DELIVERY OF IT, THE ACCESS TO ITS, IS IT STABILIZING, WILL IT GET BETTER?

IS THERE SOMETHING THAT WE SEE AROUND THE CORNER FOR THE DELIVERY AND RURAL HEALTH THAT IS ENCOURAGING TO YOU?

>> I THINK YOU TOUCHED ON SOMETHING THAT IS ANOTHER AREA OF INNOVATION THAT HAS COME OUT OF COVID THAT IS ENCOURAGING.

IF YOU GO BACK TO FEBRUARY OF 2020, THE HEALTH SYSTEMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY EVERYBODY WAS SITTING AROUND THE TABLE SAYING HOW DO WE MAKE VIRTUAL CARE, HO DO WE GET PATIENTS TO DO THAT, OR COMMITMENT EVERYBODY WAS TALKING ABOUT EXTRAORDINARILY SMALL NUMBERS OF TELE- VISITS THAT OCCURRED.

THEN OVERNIGHT, EVERY HEALTH SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY GOES TO THAT WITH THAT BEING THE DELIVERY OF METHOD OF DELIVERIN CARE.

WE ALL HAVE THAT TECHNOLOGY AND THE ABILITY TO DO IT.

WE HAVE PHYSICIANS COMFORTABLE DELIVERING THAT KIND OF CARE.

WHAT WILL BE ABLE TO DO BETTER WITH SPECIALTY PHYSICIANS IN THEIR EXPERTISE IN MORAL AREAS TO EAT NEW TELEMEDICINE IN A WA WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE OR WOULDN'T HAVE FELT COMFORTABLE DOING ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO.

I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A LOT O OPTIMISM ABOUT BEING ABLE TO DELIVER THAT HIGH LEVEL OF SPECIALTY CARE OUT TO OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES IN A LOT OF THAT IS THE RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC PUT US IN A POSITION, BUT WHERE WE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO GET INNOVATE AND GET COMFORTABLE VERY QUICKLY.

>> WE HAVE LESS THAN TWO MINUTE LEFT.

INTO ONE, DO YOU HAVE A QUICK QUESTION?

>> THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THIS VIRUS ON THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM WE TALKED ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, I WONDER IF HE AND THE CENTERS AND WHAT THAT MEANS.

>> I MEAN, IT IS A COUPLE OF THINGS.

I WILL SAY THE THING THAT CAUSE US THE MOST CONCERN FROM AN ECONOMIC STANDPOINT ARE OF THES TEMPORARY STAFFING THAT WE NEED TO BRING IN.

WHEREAS IN NORMAL TIMES, NURSES HAVE A YOU HAVE A BUDGET HEALTH SYSTEM FOR KIND OF A CERTAINLY HOURLY RATE FOR NURSES.

WE'RE HAVING TO PAY FOR AND FIV TIMES THAT WAGE TO GET TEMPORAR STAFF IN.

WHEN YOU START MULTIPLYING THAT BY THE NUMBER OF NURSES YOU NEE IN THE NUMBER OF HOURS IN THE DAY, IT IS A TREMENDOUS IMPACT FINANCIALLY ON THE HEALTH SYSTEM .

WE HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS ALLOCATE FUNDS TO HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE HAD TO TAKE CARE OF THESE PATIENTS.

WE ARE GOING TO NEED AND CONTINUE TO NEED THAT SUPPORT A LONG AS THE PANDEMIC KEEPS GOIN BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO CONTINU TO NEED TO PAY FOR THIS TEMPORARY STAFFING TO HELP TAKE CARE OF OUR PATIENTS THAT NEED AS.

>> THAT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE IS IT?

WOULD YOU EXPECT CONGRESS TO MAKE SOME SPECIAL ASSUMPTION FO THAT IN THE BUDGET?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT, IT IS A STOPGAP.

YOU'RE ALSO DEALING WITH A SITUATION WHERE THE SURGES COME.

THEY'RE IS A SEARCH, IT COMES UP , AND IT COMES DOWN.

THE NUMBER OF NURSES THAT YOU NEED IS NOT THE SAME NUMBER OF NURSES WHEN YOU'RE NOT IN A SURGE, BUT, THE BIGGER HEALTHCARE KIND OF EXISTENTIAL QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NO IS A LOT OF HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS ARE TALKING ABOUT AND ACTUALLY LEAVING THE INDUSTRY, GIVING CARE TO GO INT A DIFFERENT OCCUPATION.

I THINK IT WILL BE ON US TO GET CREATIVE WITH OUR EDUCATIONAL PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY TO SA HOW DO WE GET PEOPLE TRAINED.

>> I'M NOT TRYING TO RUSH YOU A LONG.

BUT IT'S JUST TOO MUCH INFORMATION FOR A HALF-HOUR PROGRAM.

WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU BACK.

WELCOME TO THE CAROLINAS WE ARE LED TO HAVE YOU HERE.

GOOD LUCK IN THE LOW COUNTRY.

ANTOINE, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

OUR THANKS TO LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA AND THE MAYOR FOR ACCOMMODATING US ON A SPECIAL PROGRAM.

UNTIL NEXT WEEK, HAPPY WEEKEND, GOOD NIGHT.

>> MAJOR FUNDING PROVIDED BY HIGH POINT UNIVERSITY.

MARTIN MARIETTA.

COLONIAL LIFE.

THE DUKE ENDOWMENT.

BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF SOUTH CAROLINA, AND FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.