Episode
How to Navigate the Healthcare Maze in 2026
- Podcast
- GEORGE FOX TALKS
- Published
- Feb 17, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 1839
- Processing state
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- https://share.transistor.fm/s/37d87433
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Summary
Professor and social worker Steffanie Altenbern joins Brian on an expedition through the “maze” of healthcare in the United States, a system they argue has become too complicated for the average person to navigate without help. Join us as we explore the reasons why, the impact on patients and providers, and some practical steps we can take to get the care we need. Steffanie Altenbern is a social worker in Portland, OR and teaches at George Fox University: https://www.georgefox.edu/socialwork/faculty/altenbern.html Dr. Brian Doak is an Old Testament scholar and professor: https://www.georgefox.edu/academics/undergrad/departments/religion/faculty/doak.html Stand up comedy bit on American healthcare: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIclMKPyTuS “Uncompensated care crisis”: https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/issue-briefs/2025/oct/expiring-premium-tax-credits-lead-340000-jobs-lost-2026 https://www.kff.org/medicaid/medicaid-what-to-watch-in-2026/ “Healthcare anxiety”: https://www.kff.org/public-opinion/kff-health-tracking-poll-health-care-costs-expiring-aca-tax-credits-and-the-2026-midterms/ “Rural Care Deserts”: https://www.aha.org/environmentalscan “Alorithm Bias”: https://naacp.org/resources/building-healthier-future-designing-ai-health-equity https://dhinsights.org/news/naacp-releases-blueprint-to-tackle-bias-in-healthcare-ai If you enjoy listening to the George Fox Talks podcast and would like to watch, too, check out our channel on YouTube ! We also have a web page that features all of our podcasts, a sign-up for our weekly email update, and publications from the George Fox University community.