At HealthEZ, Care Advocacy isn’t just a buzzword, but a strategy led by real clinical expertise. In this blog, Tammy Burgwald, Clinical Director of Medical Management, shares how her firsthand experience at the bedside has helped shape smarter health plan design, simplify access to care for members, and drive measurable savings for HealthEZ clients. Discover how clinical insight, data-driven strategy, and personalized support come together to create better outcomes for members and employers alike.
From Bedside to Boardroom
I didn’t start my career in a boardroom. I started at the bedside—caring for patients, listening to families, and navigating the complexities of the healthcare system one case at a time. Today, as Clinical Director of Medical Management at HealthEZ, I bring that same clinical insight to the strategies my team and I implement every day. Because at HealthEZ, Care Advocacy isn’t just a department. It’s a mission grounded in clinical knowledge, backed by data, and delivered by a team that knows how to drive real results.
Why Clinical Experience Matters in Care Advocacy
When you’ve seen firsthand how confusing healthcare can be, from medication errors to unnecessary hospital stays, you begin to understand just how much support members really need. That experience helped form the work we’re doing at HealthEZ, shaping a Care Advocacy program grounded in real clinical insight and teamwork.
One of our key initiatives has been reviewing Summary Plan Description (SPD) language to align the right programs with each plan, creating more accessible care options without the usual red tape. This effort focuses on cutting through complex jargon, simplifying the fine print, and ultimately making it easier for members to get the care they need, when and where they need it.
Turning Strategy into Savings
We take a tailored approach to every health plan, identifying opportunities to drive cost savings by leveraging every available program and resource. For example, when a member is receiving infusion therapy at a hospital, a typically high-cost setting, our Advocacy team steps in to guide them toward safer, more cost-effective alternatives, such as receiving treatment at home or in an outpatient clinic. This proactive support not only enhances the member experience but also delivers meaningful savings for the client.
What This Means for You
Great care management isn’t just about processing claims; it’s about understanding people. My clinical background and leadership help shape a HealthEZ team that sees the full picture and takes action to improve it. Together, we prove what’s possible when insight meets strategy: better outcomes, lower costs, and a benefits experience that puts people first.
If you’re new to Care Advocacy or want to understand the heart behind our work, check out my earlier blog
Why Care Advocacy in Employee Benefits Matters More Than Ever to see how my personal journey shapes the way we support members today.