The Team We Forgot to Build: Getting Employers, Doctors, and Patients on the Same Team (Feat: Lee Lewis)

What if some of healthcare's biggest challenges aren't clinical at all?In this episode of Val-You Based Care, Dr. Kimberly Ku welcomes Lee Lewis, Chief Strategy Officer of the Health Transformation Alliance, for a conversation that takes listeners beyond the exam room and into the boardroom—where many of the decisions that shape patient care are actually made.Together, they explore the often-overlooked relationship between employers, physicians, health plans, and employees, and why these groups too often operate in silos despite sharing the same ultimate goal: helping people live healthier lives.Lee offers an inside look at how employers think about health benefits, where communication breaks down between healthcare providers and those designing benefit plans, and what both sides can do differently to create better experiences for patients.Rather than pointing fingers at a broken system, this episode asks a more productive question: What would healthcare look like if everyone truly worked as one team?Whether you're a clinician, employer, healthcare leader, or simply someone who relies on the healthcare system, this conversation offers a fresh perspective on collaboration, trust, and building a better path forward.Chapters:0:00 Introduction0:08 Meet Lee Lewis & the Health Transformation Alliance3:12 Why Employers Play a Bigger Role in Healthcare Than You Think8:21 What Business Leaders Often Get Wrong About Health Benefits15:34 Bridging the Gap Between Physicians and Employers24:18 Building Trust Across the Healthcare System32:41 What Employees Really Need From Their Benefits40:56 Why Collaboration Beats Fragmentation48:47 A Better Vision for the Future of Healthcare55:36 Advice for Healthcare Leaders & Final Thoughts