The Relay: Episode 7 Now Available

LISTEN NOW: https://youtu.be/QBnW-WFNn3w?si=BooJbdoBgEa6IT8W

What really happens at the most vulnerable moments in healthcare—when patients are handed off from one setting to another?

In this episode of The Relay, host Valerie Emmons sits down with Dr. Ellen Fink-Samnick, nationally recognized behavioral health expert, licensed clinical social worker, and author of Behavioral Health for Case Management.

Together, they break down a critical—and often overlooked—truth:

--Transitions of care are not just clinical events.

--They are emotional, psychological, and behavioral turning points.

And when healthcare systems ignore that reality, patients suffer.

🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Why behavioral health is a hidden driver of readmissions

How anxiety, trauma, and depression impact discharge success

The real reason patients are labeled “non-compliant”

What healthcare teams are missing during transitions of care

Why current systems prioritize speed over whole-person care

Practical ways case managers and care teams can intervene in minutes—not hours

The gap in training that led to Dr. Fink-Samnick’s groundbreaking new book

💡 Key Takeaway:

If you’re not addressing behavioral health during transitions of care, you’re not managing risk—you’re creating it.

📘 About the Guest:

Dr. Ellen Fink-Samnick brings over 40 years of experience in behavioral health and case management. Her new book, Behavioral Health for Case Management, provides practical tools for nurses, social workers, and care coordination professionals to better support patients during transitions.

🎧 Who This Episode Is For:

Healthcare professionals (nurses, case managers, social workers)

Hospital and health system leaders

Policy advocates focused on patient safety

Anyone interested in improving healthcare outcomes

🔁 About The Relay:

The Relay focuses on what happens at healthcare’s most critical moments—the handoffs. Because that’s where outcomes are decided.