Standing with the unseen: Addiction, empathy and the power of prevention

Episode NotesTitle: Meeting Patients Where They Are: Addiction, Obesity & Value-Based CareGuest: Lea Witt, DNP, FNPDuration: ~24 minutesTheme: Empowering clinicians to address addiction and obesity through education, trust, and value-based care.Episode Overview:Lea discusses her personal and professional journey, the importance of clinician education, and how Optum’s model supports proactive care. She shares powerful patient stories that illustrate the ripple effect of early intervention and preventative care.Key Topics & Timestamps00:00 – 00:01:42 | Lea’s background and transition to Optum00:02:15 – 00:03:07 | Why addiction care became her passion00:03:27 – 00:04:02 | Clinician comfort level as a barrier00:04:10 – 00:05:49 | Patient story: Overcoming medication dependence00:06:05 – 00:07:44 | Building trust through value-based care00:07:59 – 00:09:24 | Signs of addiction across age groups00:09:44 – 00:10:59 | Patient story: Gradual medication tapering00:11:06 – 00:11:57 | Optum resources: APC fellowship & education00:12:08 – 00:13:56 | Preventative care as a gateway to addiction screening00:14:13 – 00:16:26 | Patient story: Bariatric surgery success00:17:15 – 00:17:37 | Collaborative care model for better outcomes00:17:46 – 00:19:35 | Clinician well-being and community support00:21:05 – 00:21:57 | Advice for clinicians entering addiction/obesity care00:22:04 – 00:23:15 | Why Optum is uniquely positioned to transform careEpisode HighlightsEducation matters: Clinician confidence is key to addressing addiction in primary care.Trust first: Value-based care creates space for meaningful conversations.Early intervention saves lives: Preventative visits often uncover hidden risks.Real impact: Stories of patients who overcame addiction and obesity through proactive care.Support for clinicians: Optum provides resources, training, and community to combat burnout and improve outcomes.Resources & LinksTake our quiz: https://lp.optum.com/value-based-care-quiz.html?!23Optum Care partnership website: https://business.optum.com/en/providers/care-partnerships.htmlResource Library: https://business.optum.com/en/providers/elevating-clinical-practice.html