An Interview With Jake Frankel
…Chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease are rampant, yet the healthcare system largely ignores the role of nutrition and lifestyle in preventing and managing these conditions. Instead of empowering patients with practical, actionable strategies, we rely too heavily on medications that manage symptoms rather than addressing root causes. I have worked with patients who, after receiving real guidance on how to eat, move, and manage stress, completely turned their health around, sometimes avoiding medication altogether. A big part of the problem is access to real, whole food. The American food system is flooded with ultra-processed products that are stripped of nutrients and filled with additives that have been banned in other countries, including much of the EU. Patients trying to make better choices often find themselves up against a food industry that prioritizes profit over public health. If we made nutrition and lifestyle education a standard part of care and addressed the systemic issues that make healthy eating harder in the US, we would see fewer chronic illnesses and better long-term health outcomes…
As a part of our interview series called “5 Things We Must Do To Improve the US Healthcare System”, I had the pleasure to interview Dr. Jordan Barber.
Dr. Jordan Barber is passionate about helping allied health practitioners create practices that thrive without losing sight of what matters most: authenticity and patient-centered care. With over 20 years of experience in both clinical practice and healthcare strategy, he has walked the same path as his clients and knows firsthand the challenges of building a sustainable, values-driven practice. After more than a decade in private practice as a practitioner of Chinese medicine, Dr. Barber transitioned into consulting and education to share what he’s learned.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive into our interview, our readers would like to get to know you a bit. Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
My journey into this career wasn’t a straight path; it was shaped by both failure and self-discovery. Before I entered healthcare, I worked in IT, and was on a strong career path in the tech industry that could have set me on a completely different trajectory. But after experiencing 9/11 first-hand working next to the World Trade Center, I knew I needed to do something more rewarding. That moment forced me to reassess what really mattered to me and it set me on a path toward health care.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
Early in my career, I had a patient experience that fundamentally reshaped how I practice medicine. An older woman came into my office complaining of persistent shoulder pain. She had already seen several doctors, undergone imaging, and been told there was nothing structurally wrong. Despite their reassurances, she was still in pain and searching for answers.
I was still fresh in my practice at the time, and I remember thinking, “If they couldn’t find anything, what could I possibly do differently?” But instead of relying solely on the reports, I did what I was trained to do: I listened, observed, and conducted a thorough orthopedic exam.
Within the first minute, I noticed something that had been overlooked: her clavicle wasn’t moving as it should when she raised her arm. The restriction was subtle, but it was there. I softened the musculature around the clavicle and performed a basic maneuver, and just like that, her pain was gone. Instantly.
She stared at me, stunned, then burst into tears and hugged me. At that moment, I realized something profound: the system wasn’t failing because of a lack of good doctors; it was failing because of a lack of time. Every clinician she had seen before me had likely been competent and well-trained, but the constraints of modern healthcare meant none of them had the time to truly investigate beyond the obvious.
I had the luxury of time because, back then, I was operating a self-pay practice. That moment became a defining lesson for me. It taught me that thorough, intentional patient care requires more than just clinical knowledge — it requires time, presence, and a commitment to looking beyond the obvious. It also opened my eyes to the realities of the business side of medicine. As a young clinician, I saw firsthand how insurance-driven demands on clinicians often dictated the depth of patient interactions, limiting what could be done in a single visit.
That patient didn’t just leave my office pain-free; she left me with a new perspective. From that day forward, I made a commitment: I would always find a way to give my patients the time and attention they deserved because that’s what leads to real outcomes. That realization has shaped everything I’ve built since.
Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
Oh, I’ve made plenty of mistakes, but one of the funniest (in hindsight) happened when I was just starting out in private practice. Like many new practitioners, I was eager to get patients through the door. So, I hired a PR company, thinking they’d help me with branding and marketing. I was expecting well-crafted campaigns, strategic networking, maybe even some media exposure. What I got instead was… stress balls.
No, seriously.
The PR firm convinced me to spend nearly $800, money I didn’t have, on tiny, branded stress balls and hand sanitizers to put in gift bags for a hospital fundraiser. They told me this would get my name in front of the right people and bring in patients. I figured, “Hey, they’re professionals, they must know what they’re doing.” So, I went along with it.
Fast forward to the event. I’m sitting at a table with people who have absolutely no interest in acupuncture or integrative medicine, no doctors, no healthcare professionals, just random attendees. And to top it off, I wasn’t even allowed to bring a guest, so I was awkwardly sitting there alone, making small talk while my branded stress balls sat in gift bags that probably went straight into the trash.
Needless to say, I didn’t get a single patient from it. But I did learn a valuable lesson: if you don’t know your audience, you’re just throwing money into the void. Branding isn’t about slapping your name on random promotional junk, it’s about creating a message that actually connects with the right people.
After that fiasco, I stopped outsourcing my marketing blindly and started focusing on what actually worked, building relationships, understanding my patient demographics, and making sure my message was aligned with my values. And I definitely never bought stress balls again.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
One of my favorite life lessons comes from Henry David Thoreau: “Simplify, simplify, simplify.” It was actually my high school yearbook quote, and it has stayed with me ever since.
Thoreau believed that life is “frittered away by detail” and that by simplifying, we can focus on what truly matters: our connections, our purpose, and the moments that bring us joy. That lesson has shaped the way I approach both my personal life and my work in healthcare. Whether it’s cutting through the noise to truly connect with people or stripping away inefficiencies to create a practice that feels authentic, simplicity is powerful.
At the end of the day, fulfillment isn’t found in doing more; it’s in being present for what matters most.
How would you define an “excellent healthcare provider”?
An excellent healthcare provider is someone who prioritizes human connection, ensuring patients feel heard, understood, and truly cared for. They are results-oriented, focusing on delivering real, measurable improvements in their patients’ health rather than just managing symptoms whenever possible. Education is at the core of their practice, they empower patients with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their own care. Above all, an excellent provider refuses to let a dysfunctional healthcare system dictate the quality of care they offer. Instead, they create solutions, work around barriers, and stay committed to the integrity of their practice and the well-being of their patients.
What are your favorite books, podcasts, or resources that inspire you to be a better healthcare leader? Can you explain why you like them?
I’ve always been a bit of a non-conformist, and I’ve found that the best advice for being a better healthcare leader comes from outside the industry. The more I step away from mainstream business or medical leadership books, the more clarity I gain. Some of my biggest influences come from philosophy, especially the Stoics. Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations is a book I revisit often because it is a masterclass in leadership, resilience, and decision-making under pressure. It reminds me that real leadership is not about power or authority. It is about discipline, integrity, and the ability to stay grounded in chaos.
I also love old books, the kind that force you to think critically instead of just feeding you a formula for success. Whether it is philosophy, history, or strategy, the most valuable insights often come from those who were not trying to sell a system but simply trying to understand the world. That perspective helps me challenge the status quo in healthcare and stay focused on what actually matters, delivering real, patient-centered care.
Are you working on any exciting new projects now? How do you think that will help people?
Right now, I’m deeply focused on two key projects. Clinically, I’m working to advance care and awareness around pelvic floor dysfunction for both men and women, with a particular emphasis on men’s health; an area that is often overlooked. Many men suffer in silence due to stigma or lack of awareness, and my goal is to change that by providing effective treatment and education to both patients and other healthcare providers.
Beyond the clinic, I’m continuing my work in helping other practitioners build sustainable, fulfilling practices that allow them to deliver care on their own terms. Through my book Realigning Medicine and ongoing consulting, I’m focused on giving practitioners the tools to break free from the constraints of dysfunctional healthcare systems so they can provide meaningful, patient-centered care while maintaining their own well-being. Both of these projects, in different ways, are about empowering people; whether it’s patients reclaiming control of their health or practitioners reclaiming control of their practices.
According to this study cited by Newsweek, the US healthcare system is ranked as the worst among high-income nations. This seems shocking. Can you share with us a few reasons why you think the US is ranked so poorly?
The U.S. healthcare system ranks poorly among high-income nations because it prioritizes profit-driven complexity over patient outcomes. Despite spending more on healthcare than any other country, we see worse results — shorter life expectancy, higher chronic disease rates, and significant disparities in care. This isn’t a funding issue; it’s a structural one.
One major problem is administrative inefficiency. Our system is designed around insurance reimbursements, excessive paperwork, and corporate interests rather than direct patient care. I see this firsthand in my work with practitioners trying to build sustainable practices; many are drowning in claim denials, prior authorizations, and documentation requirements that steal valuable time from patient care. In my own insurance-based practices, we dedicate significant resources to managing paperwork and fighting denied claims instead of focusing on expanding services or patient education. That’s a massive waste of time and money, resources that should be going toward improving health rather than propping up a broken system.
Another issue is cost versus value. Patients often struggle with affordability, even when they have insurance, leading them to delay or avoid necessary care. Meanwhile, providers are pressured to fit into models that focus on volume over meaningful, results-driven medicine. This creates a cycle where people pay more but receive less.
As a “healthcare insider”, if you had the power to make a change, can you share 5 changes that need to be made to improve the overall US healthcare system?
1. Reduce Administrative Burden on Providers
Currently, providers spend more time on paperwork than patient care. Insurance approvals, claim denials, and excessive documentation requirements take away from meaningful medicine. In my own insurance-based practice, we have several full-time staff members just to handle denials and appeals. That energy should be going toward improving patient outcomes, not fighting red tape.
2. Move Toward Outcome-Based Care, Not Volume-Based Care
The current system rewards high patient turnover rather than real results. One provider I consulted had a practice that was double the patient volume they wanted, but because of low reimbursement rates, they had to see more patients just to make a living. This directly affected the amount of time they could spend with each patient, limiting the depth and quality of care. When insurance dictates the financial viability of a practice, it also dictates the care patients receive. If we shifted to an outcome-based model, practitioners could focus on what actually works rather than just ticking boxes for reimbursement.
3. Integrate Proven Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) into Healthcare Systems
Many evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies, like acupuncture, functional medicine, and mind-body interventions, have strong clinical backing, yet they are rarely incorporated into mainstream healthcare delivery. Systems-based healthcare means integrating all proven modalities into a cohesive, patient-centered model rather than isolating them. I have seen patients thrive with integrative approaches that combine conventional and alternative medicine, yet the current system makes access difficult. If insurance companies, regulators, and hospitals embraced these therapies rather than sidelining them, we could improve patient outcomes while reducing reliance on pharmaceuticals and invasive procedures.
4. Stop Pushing the Best Providers Out of Insurance-Based Care
Many of the best practitioners are opting out of the insurance system entirely because it limits their ability to practice medicine the right way. I regularly consult with providers who want to give better care but find that insurance reimbursement rates are so low that they cannot survive financially without increasing patient volume. Instead of sacrificing quality, they leave insurance altogether, opening cash-based practices where they can focus on outcomes rather than quotas. While this is great for patients who can afford it, it creates an even greater disparity in access. Lower-income patients are left with overburdened providers working within the insurance system, while those with financial means can see high-quality, personalized care outside of it. If this trend continues, we will see an even wider gap in healthcare quality based on income.
5. Emphasize Nutritional and Lifestyle Education to Manage Chronic Diseases
Chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease are rampant, yet the healthcare system largely ignores the role of nutrition and lifestyle in preventing and managing these conditions. Instead of empowering patients with practical, actionable strategies, we rely too heavily on medications that manage symptoms rather than addressing root causes. I have worked with patients who, after receiving real guidance on how to eat, move, and manage stress, completely turned their health around, sometimes avoiding medication altogether.
A big part of the problem is access to real, whole food. The American food system is flooded with ultra-processed products that are stripped of nutrients and filled with additives that have been banned in other countries, including much of the EU. Patients trying to make better choices often find themselves up against a food industry that prioritizes profit over public health. If we made nutrition and lifestyle education a standard part of care and addressed the systemic issues that make healthy eating harder in the US, we would see fewer chronic illnesses and better long-term health outcomes.
What concrete steps would have to be done to actually manifest these changes? What can a) individuals, b) corporations, c) communities and d) leaders do to help?
To make these changes a reality, action is needed at every level:
- Individuals can take control of their health by seeking out outcome-based providers, demanding transparency from insurers, and prioritizing nutrition and lifestyle changes.
- Corporations should restructure healthcare benefits to focus on prevention and quality care while reducing administrative waste that burdens providers.
- Communities can advocate for better food policies, support independent practitioners who provide patient-centered care, and push for access to integrative medicine.
- Leaders must implement policies that remove bureaucratic obstacles, incentivize outcome-based care, and hold the food and healthcare industries accountable for public health.
Real change happens when patients, providers, and policymakers stop accepting dysfunction and start demanding better systems.
The COVID-19 pandemic has put intense pressure on the American healthcare system, leaving some hospital systems at a complete loss as to how to handle this crisis. Can you share with us examples of where we’ve seen the U.S. healthcare system struggle? How do you think we can correct these issues moving forward?
The pandemic didn’t create problems in the U.S. healthcare system, it revealed and amplified the dysfunction that was already there. We saw hospitals overwhelmed not just because of patient volume, but because of a system built around reactive care instead of prevention. Here are some key areas where the system struggled:
Administrative Bloat Delayed Response — Providers were drowning in policy changes, insurance complications, and supply chain failures instead of being empowered to focus on patient care. The system needs to remove excessive bureaucracy and streamline decision-making so practitioners can do their jobs effectively.
Lack of Focus on Preventative Health — The pandemic hit hardest in communities with high rates of chronic disease, yet mainstream healthcare still largely ignores lifestyle and nutrition as tools for prevention. We need to shift the focus toward proactive health strategies rather than just treating illness after the fact.
Healthcare Workers Burned Out While Corporate Healthcare Profited — Many frontline workers were stretched beyond their limits while large hospital systems and insurance companies made record profits. Moving forward, we need to support independent providers and smaller practices that put patient care over corporate interests.
To prevent this from happening again, we need to cut through the administrative red tape, prioritize preventative care like nutrition and lifestyle medicine, and empower healthcare providers to work in models that prioritize patients over paperwork. Real change starts when we stop treating healthcare like an industry and start treating it like what it is: an ethical responsibility.
How do you think we can address the problem of physician shortages?
The shortage of healthcare providers isn’t just about physicians; it’s a crisis affecting doctors of all disciplines, as well as nurses, physical therapists, and other essential clinicians. The problem isn’t that we don’t have enough people interested in these fields, it’s that the system is driving good providers away.
To fix this, we need to address the root causes. First, we have to reduce administrative burdens so clinicians can focus on patient care instead of paperwork. Second, we need to expand training programs and rethink outdated residency caps and licensure barriers that make it harder for new providers to enter the field. Third, we must create sustainable career paths by ensuring providers are fairly compensated and not forced into high-volume, insurance-driven models that lead to burnout.
If we don’t make healthcare a profession that people want to stay in, we’ll continue losing skilled providers while struggling to replace them. The focus should be on creating a system where good clinicians can thrive because when they do, patients receive better care.
How do you think we can address the issue of physician and nurse burnout?
Burnout isn’t just about long hours, it’s about a system that forces physicians, nurses, and other clinicians to prioritize bureaucracy over patient care. To fix this, we need to cut the administrative waste that drains time and energy, shift away from high-volume, insurance-driven models, and give providers more autonomy over how they practice. I’ve seen firsthand that when clinicians can focus on meaningful patient care rather than fighting insurance companies or rushing through visits, burnout decreases, and job satisfaction improves. If we want to keep good providers in the field, we have to stop suffocating them with red tape and start supporting them with systems that actually work.
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
I would inspire a movement focused on educating and informing patients on what quality care truly looks like so they can demand more from a broken system. Too often, people don’t realize they are receiving rushed, insurance-driven, symptom-focused care instead of real, patient-centered treatment. When patients understand the difference, when they know what questions to ask, what red flags to look for, and what good healthcare actually means, they can push back against a system that prioritizes volume over outcomes. An informed patient is an empowered patient, and when enough people start demanding better, real change becomes possible
How can our readers further follow your work online?
You can follow my work on social media @JBarberLAc, where I share insights on healthcare, practice management, and patient-centered care. My book, Realigning Medicine: Building an Authentic, Fulfilling, and Thriving Healthcare Practice, is available at all major online book retailers for those looking to build a practice that actually works for them. For consulting, thought leadership, and resources on breaking free from a dysfunctional healthcare system, visit www.DrJordanBarber.com. If you’re in Brooklyn and looking for results-driven integrative pain care, you can find my clinic at www.DrBarberClinic.com.
Thank you so much for these insights! This was very inspirational and we wish you continued success in your great work.
Dr Jordan Barber On 5 Things We Must Do To Improve the US Healthcare System was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.