What if technology could be the key to healing trauma instead of deepening it?
In this episode of Straight Out of Health IT, Dr. Brook Bello, a champion against human trafficking, a national policy advocate, a technology thought leader, and founder of the More too Life Foundation, and the visionary behind VR Eval Incorporated and the Coming Home Platform, shares how she’s redefining trauma recovery through innovation. As the visionary behind VR Eval Incorporated and the Coming Home Platform, Dr. Bello is building an AI-driven, trauma-informed ecosystem that connects survivors, veterans, and justice-involved individuals to care, community, and hope. Her mission is clear: ensure that technology liberates, not enslaves.
Through her powerful personal story of survival and resilience, Dr. Bello reveals how lived experience inspired her to develop tools for “scalable compassion,” using digital case management, gamified therapy, and AI to expand access to mental health and social services, especially in underserved regions. She discusses how her platform helps providers and survivors alike, bridging the growing gap between those who need care and the shrinking number of professionals available to give it.
Dr. Bello also introduces the concept of prescription gaming, a new frontier in “tech for good,” where digital experiences are intentionally designed to calm, heal, and restore. With AI-enhanced learning, job readiness features, and therapeutic pathways, her vision reimagines how millions can find connection and recovery through technology.
Tune in to hear how Dr. Brook Bello is using innovation to transform trauma into healing and technology into a force for liberation!
Resources
Connect with Dr. Brook Bello on LinkedIn here and visit her website here.
Learn more about the More Too Life Foundation, soon to be More To Living, on LinkedIn and their website here!
Learn more about the VR Eval Coming Home platform on LinkedIn here and explore their website here!
Get a copy of Dr. Brook Bello’s books, Shame Undone here, and the Fine Heart Table Book here!
Disciplined, purpose-driven innovation, anchored in governance, data, and the human experience, beats shiny-object hype.
In this mega-episode, Lisa Fry, Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer at SCP Health, discusses “purposeful innovation” that reduces clinician burden and elevates patient experience: ED-volume prediction to align coverage, early pilots of ambient scribing, and patient-preferred models like hospital-at-home. She explains the guardrails, an enterprise architecture review board, commitments to core platforms, and stage-gated pilots with predefined success metrics, to avoid the “tyranny of the urgent” and scale only what works.
Nancye Feistritzer, DNP, RN—VP, Center for Care Delivery & Innovation at Emory Healthcare, talks about how bold initiatives, including the Apple hospital work and implementing Epic on Apple devices, succeed only when they explicitly align with an organization's strategy, mission, and values.
Nick Yaitsky, Board Member for TAG Digital Health, urges outcome-first AI roadmaps: accept that healthcare data is imperfect, mitigate bias by fine-tuning models to local populations and even individual patients, and build trust in the same way we came to trust GPS, through consistent, measurable results and governance.
Olga Ryzhikova, Founding Partner at Kepler Team, tackles adoption by starting integration where clinicians work (SMART on FHIR/SSO), designing modern user experiences, and favoring ambient, low-click workflows so tools remain in use.
Ron Strachan, Global Healthcare CIO Advisor, addresses rural access, noting that resilient, low-bandwidth virtual care and platform economies can “meet patients where they are.” His own brain-tumor journey underscores how imaging precision and reliable infrastructure can change outcomes.
Finally, Wes Whitaker, AVP of Growth Strategy & Data Analytics, shows population health at scale: unifying EHR, eligibility, claims, and ADT into a modern cloud/Databricks stack, then applying predictive models to anticipate ER visits, target outreach, drive attribution, and prove ROI, while tightening security with role-based access.
Together, their message is clear: govern hard, integrate early, pilot fast, measure relentlessly, and scale empathetically.
Tune in and learn how to innovate with rigor, scale with empathy, and deliver measurable value!
Resources
From reshaping healthcare through innovation and AI to navigating complex mergers, regulations, and public health challenges, this special compilation brings together leading voices who are driving transformation in every corner of the healthcare ecosystem.
At the Southeastern Healthcare Innovation Summit, attorney Benjamin Wilson explored the critical intersection of healthcare, technology, and regulation. He emphasized that success in mergers and acquisitions hinges on early collaboration between legal, financial, and tech leaders. With rising scrutiny in AI, data privacy, and antitrust, Wilson encouraged organizations to proactively engage communities to ensure equity, transparency, and compliance—stressing that foresight and cooperation are essential to avoiding costly setbacks.
Daniel Para Mata, founder of Bamberg Health, highlighted the organization’s global mission to unite healthcare innovators across continents. Through international conferences and partnerships, Bamberg fosters cross-regional collaboration to tackle shared challenges—like regulation and access—while preparing to expand into regions like Chicago and the Middle East, creating a worldwide network of providers, policymakers, and tech leaders committed to better care.
Dr. Tobi Amosun, Deputy Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Health, offered a practical look at how states are responding to budget constraints and shifting public health priorities. Tennessee, for example, is stabilizing its efforts through targeted state funding, maternal and infant health initiatives, and community-driven programs that empower young people and improve outcomes for vulnerable populations.
Jeff Hatfield, CEO of Four Points Health, showcased agentic AI and intelligent automation tools designed to help rural hospitals survive and thrive. His patented tech predicts and prevents claim denials, offering smaller hospitals access to enterprise-grade efficiency via a scalable SaaS model—cutting costs and boosting operational strength without breaking the bank.
Finally, Leslie Kirk, CEO of Innsena, unpacked healthcare innovation through an investor’s lens. She emphasized the importance of adaptability, collaboration, and ecosystem awareness—reminding founders that resilience and strong relationships are vital to navigating uncertainty. True innovation, she believes, lives at the intersection of purpose and business.
Tune in to this powerful compilation of conversations, where leaders across law, innovation, AI, public health, and investment share how they’re rethinking healthcare for a smarter, more connected future.
Resources
Connect with Benjamin Wilson on LinkedIn here.
Follow Ropes & Gray on LinkedIn here and visit their website here.
Connect with Daniel Para Mata on LinkedIn here.
Follow Bamberg Health on LinkedIn here and visit their website here.
Learn more about the Southeast Healthcare Innovation Summit here!
Connect with Dr. Tobi Amosun on LinkedIn here.
Follow the Tennessee Department of Health on LinkedIn here and visit their website here.
Connect with Jeff Hatfield on LinkedIn here.
Follow Four Points Health on LinkedIn here and visit their website here.
Connect with Leslie Kirk on LinkedIn here.
Follow Innsena on LinkedIn here and visit their website here.
AI is rapidly reshaping healthcare, but the future will depend on how it is implemented responsibly, equitably, and intelligently.
In this special crossover episode of Straight Outta Health IT and HIMSSCast, hosts Christopher Kunney, Mike Miliard, and Susan Morse sit down with two health innovation leaders, Dr. Ryan Sadeghian, Assistant Chief Medical Information Officer and practicing pediatrician at the University of Toledo, and Rachini Moosavi, Chief Analytics Officer at UNC Health. Together, they explore how AI, data, and governance are reshaping healthcare from the ground up. Their discussion seamlessly blends frontline experience with enterprise strategy, demonstrating how technology can drive both clinical efficiency and equitable innovation.
Dr. Sadeghian presents a physician’s perspective on how generative AI can alleviate workload through targeted applications. He describes a pediatric chatbot his team developed, trained with more than 420 logical pathways to provide safe, easy-to-understand guidance for parents while meeting HIPAA, ADA, and legal standards. His “small wins” approach, focusing on measurable ROI through milestones like denial reduction and workflow improvement, demonstrates how trust, data fluency, and leadership credibility form the foundation of successful AI adoption.
Rachini Moosavi dives deeper into data infrastructure and governance, explaining UNC Health’s collaborative approach to building its AI ecosystem. She outlines the journey from data governance to creating an AI & Automation Advisory Group that oversees bias, vendor accountability, and the ethical use of AI. Both guests stress that defining governance, ensuring equity, and maintaining human-centered care are essential as healthcare evolves toward cloud, data mesh, and interoperable systems that enable responsible AI-driven transformation.
Tune in and learn how to build an AI-powered healthcare future grounded in trust, governance, and equity!
Resources:
The hosts:
Connect with Susan Morse on LinkedIn here.
Follow Healthcare Finance News on LinkedIn and visit their website.
Connect with and follow Mike Milliard here.
Find out more about Healthcare IT News here.
Listen to HIMSSCast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Amazon Music!
Watch Christopher Kunney’s recent TED Talk here!
The guests:
Connect with and follow Ryan Sadeghian on LinkedIn and visit his website.
Learn more about The University of Toledo Health on their LinkedIn and website.
Follow and connect with Rachini Moosavi on LinkedIn.
Discover more about UNC Health on LinkedIn and explore their website.
The race to harness AI in biopharma is on, with billions invested to unlock faster, smarter drug discovery and development.
In this episode of Straight Out of Health IT, Matthew Studney, SVP, Global R&D IT & Partnerships at Merck, shares how his team is strengthening foundational platforms, upgrading systems, and driving digital transformation across discovery, development, clinical research, and pharmacovigilance. He explains how Merck is reimagining the flow of data, ensuring access for scientists, and piloting machine learning and generative AI solutions to accelerate research and deliver treatments more effectively.
Matt highlights how deep learning models are shortening drug development cycles, how pharmacovigilance safeguards patient safety, and why ensuring representative clinical trial data is critical for global equity. He emphasizes that while innovation creates headlines, scaling is what creates true value, and success depends on building strong foundations that support researchers worldwide.
Matt also shares his insights on the future of AI in biopharma, busts myths about hype versus impact, points to challenges of change, and offers advice for early-career professionals: build depth, embrace AI, and be useful.
Tune in to hear how AI and data science are transforming the future of drug discovery at Merck!
The most common mistake healthtech founders make is building a great product without aligning it to market, regulatory, and reimbursement realities.
In this episode, Sally Ann Frank, Global Health and Life Sciences Lead for Microsoft Startups, discusses her journey from computer science to healthcare innovation and how she helps early-stage companies thrive in the complex healthtech landscape. She reflects on milestones like IoT-driven remote monitoring, the growing centrality of AI, and the cultural shift toward cloud adoption.
Sally shares insights from her book The Startup Protocol, emphasizing the need for startups to align product, go-to-market, and compliance strategies while engaging “proxy customers” early to validate ideas before investing heavily. She highlights the critical role of partnerships, integration with electronic health records, and ensuring solutions solve problems that healthcare organizations are willing to pay to fix.
Diversity and equity are also front and center, with efforts to support minority founders through targeted programs. Looking ahead, Sally previews her upcoming book, The Unicorn Protocol, in which unicorn founders reveal the lessons behind their success, from servant leadership to seizing overlooked opportunities.
Tune in and learn how to navigate the unique challenges of building successful digital health startups!
Authentic leadership is about alignment, not performance.
In this episode of Straight Outta Health IT, Dawn Whitney, Founder and CEO of ElevateX Leadership Collective, shares how her 30 years of entrepreneurial and executive experience led her to create a coaching model rooted in intentionality, transformation, and mental health. She explains why many leaders wear masks of relevance and self-worth, and how ElevateX helps them break free from limiting beliefs.
Dawn highlights the difference between authentic leadership and performative success, showing how authenticity is grounded in purpose, presence, and truth. She reframes imposter syndrome as a potential superpower, calling on leaders to reject burnout as a badge of honor and instead lead with clarity, rest, and wholeness.
The conversation also explores the role of storytelling, the impact of cultural conditioning on leadership, and the importance of organizations that allow people to be fully human. Dawn closes with a vision for the next decade: cultivating “deeper leaders” who shed limiting beliefs, lift others up, and lead unapologetically.
Tune in to hear Dawn’s journey and insights on redefining leadership for the future!
The rise of the “virtualist” is reshaping how healthcare is delivered.
In this episode of Straight Out of Health IT, Dr. Lyle Berkowitz, Founder and CEO of KeyCare, shares how his platform is building a future for physicians who choose to practice primarily in telehealth. He explains how flexibility, reduced bureaucracy, and expanded insurance coverage have fueled this trend, especially for working parents, frequent travelers, and semi-retired doctors. While some critics point to limits in physical exams, Dr. Berkowitz notes that most diagnoses rely on patient history, and virtual care can improve access, prevent unnecessary ER visits, and even offer valuable glimpses into patients’ home environments.
He highlights virtual care’s role in advancing health equity by enabling care outside traditional clinic hours and reducing appointment backlogs for complex cases. By integrating directly with Epic’s MyChart, KeyCare ensures coordinated visits, preserves patient trust, and eliminates the need to repeat medical histories. Even patients without internet access can benefit through phone consultations, which are still better than no care at all.
Dr. Berkowitz outlines KeyCare’s differentiator: embedding entirely within Epic to seamlessly share data with health systems, support chronic care through the “three C’s” (cover, co-manage, complete), and offload low-complexity cases from hospitals. He envisions KeyCare evolving into a national virtual medical group that partners with health systems and payers, while leveraging ambient AI to enhance care delivery.
Tune in to hear how Dr. Berkowitz is redefining what it means to “see the doctor” in the digital age!
Firearm-related suicides are a hidden public health emergency driven by social despair and systemic inequities.
In this episode of Straight Out of Health IT, WellLink’s Brian Lane, President and CEO, and Dr. Kim Byas, Vice President of Community Engagement and Impact, share how the Center for Health Affairs in Cleveland partnered with AWS to launch a groundbreaking Social Determinants of Health Innovation Hub. Using clean, harmonized data and predictive modeling, their team has uncovered powerful correlations between firearm suicides and factors like unemployment, housing insecurity, and lack of transportation. This data-driven approach is transforming suicide prevention efforts from reactive to proactive.
They discuss how this work has led to targeted interventions, such as deploying trained social workers instead of law enforcement to crisis calls, and inspired replication of the model in other states and internationally. With over 250 organizations collaborating across sectors, the initiative is creating scalable solutions that address both behavioral health crises and their root causes.
Brian and Dr. Byas also reveal how AI and large language models are being used to test interventions, improve care pathways, and reduce healthcare costs, all while strengthening community resilience. Their work proves that solving complex health challenges requires both advanced technology and deep community partnerships.
Tune in to hear how data, collaboration, and innovation are reshaping the future of suicide prevention!
A crucial aspect of alleviating suffering in healthcare involves addressing systemic inefficiencies that make a clinician’s job harder than it needs to be.
In this episode, Dr. Carla Haack, a surgeon turned Chief Financial Informatics Officer, shares her unique journey and explains how her role connects clinical excellence, data, and financial strategy. She illustrates how resolving technological and financial pain points can directly reduce burnout and improve care. Dr. Haack also explores the transformative power of AI in documentation, the importance of holistic wellness, and why multidisciplinary collaboration is key to building a sustainable healthcare future.
Tune in to learn how to unlock synergistic collaborations that improve both the bottom line and the human experience in healthcare!
The future of healthcare will be shaped not just by technology, but by the courage to lead through uncertainty, reimagine outdated systems, and humanize innovation from the inside out.
In this special episode from the Texas HIMSS Regional Conference, host Christopher Kunney is joined by three dynamic guests. Marcos Bosche shares how scaling healthcare companies can break free from fragmented systems with customized AI architecture. Dr. Justin Collier reflects on his personal journey from clinical medicine to tech leadership, offering lessons on workflow transformation, cybersecurity, and the promise and risks of AI. Therese Gopaul-Robinson closes with an emotional, insightful look at the leadership crisis in healthcare, explaining why transformation fails without intentional development, inclusion, and confidence-building.
Tune in and learn how custom technology, human-centered leadership, and thoughtful AI implementation are not just ideas; they're the building blocks of healthcare’s next chapter!
As our population ages, are we designing technology that truly meets their needs, or just what we think they need?
In this episode of Straight Out of Health IT, Dr. Jennifer Boger, Chief Scientific Officer at ESGai Technologies, shares how her love for problem-solving and a personal connection to dementia led her into engineering and health technology. She underscores the flaws in current healthcare systems, particularly their focus on acute care over prevention and quality of life, and calls for a shift toward more holistic, person-centered approaches. Dr. Boger emphasizes that quality of life, though hard to quantify, should be a primary goal of healthcare. She also discusses the importance of designing inclusive technologies that are intuitive and respectful, noting that simplicity should not be mistaken for infantilization, especially when creating tools for older adults.
Dr. Jennifer Boger explores the concept of ambient, zero-effort technologies, tools that are ubiquitous, accessible, and require minimal user effort. She and host Christopher Kunney agree that aging populations need technology that is easy to use without sacrificing dignity or privacy. They raise concerns about digital marginalization, warning that people who can't or choose not to use digital systems risk being excluded from essential services and even from AI-generated insights. Dr. Boger stresses the need for transparency in how data is collected and used, proposing clearer, more accessible summaries of privacy policies to empower users.
Dr. Boger believes that while the concept of “considerate AI”, systems designed with ethical frameworks and human understanding in mind, holds promise, it is challenging to implement and will require time, patience, and brave, collaborative spaces. She envisions AI that supports rather than replaces human decision-making by prompting reflection and enhancing objectivity. Looking ahead, she sees natural language interfaces as a game-changer for independent living. For those entering the field, her advice is to connect directly with the people they’re designing for, involving them early and often to ensure solutions are grounded in real-world needs and experiences.
Tune in to learn how assistive technologies, ethical AI, and human-centered design can reshape aging, healthcare, and independent living!
What does the way we treat our elders and caregivers say about us as a society?
In this episode of Straight Out of Health IT, Peter Murphy Lewis, filmmaker and healthcare advocate, explores the urgent challenges facing long-term care in the U.S., including underfunded facilities, a shrinking workforce, low caregiver wages, and a rapidly aging population. Long-term care is a reflection of how society values its elders and caregivers, emphasizing the growing need for reform as millions more Americans turn 65 each year. The system, heavily reliant on undercompensated workers, primarily women of color, and unsupported family caregivers, struggles to provide high-quality, dignified care.
Peter Murphy Lewis shares how his documentary People Worth Caring About was born out of gratitude for caregivers who helped his grandparents. Originally intended to help with staffing shortages in Nebraska, the project has expanded to shift public perception of long-term care nationwide. Peter highlights how fear of aging, death, and dementia distorts views of nursing homes and deters both investment and interest in the sector. By focusing on caregivers and their impact, the documentary seeks to replace stigma with understanding and connection.
The conversation also touches on innovative solutions, from intergenerational care models to global tech integration, and the importance of redefining what "nursing home" means to residents and families. Peter notes that while negative perceptions often come from the media, positive views tend to stem from direct experiences with caregivers. He believes changing the narrative and language around long-term care is crucial, and that investing in relationships, community programs, and the dignity of residents must be non-negotiable in shaping the future of elder care.
Tune in for a powerful conversation with Peter Murphy Lewis as he explores the human stories, hidden challenges, and bold ideas shaping the future of long-term care in America!
Humanity, empathy, and respecting patient wishes are paramount when navigating the complexities of end-of-life care.
In this episode of Straight Outta Health IT, Gil Bashe, Chair of Global Health and Purpose for FINN Partners, delves into these sensitive topics. Drawing from his unique background as a combat medic, ordained clergy member, and health innovation advocate, Gil discusses the crucial, yet often misunderstood, differences between palliative care, hospice care, and end-of-life planning. He clarifies that palliative care focuses on improving comfort and quality of life at any point during a serious illness, potentially alongside curative treatments.
Hospice care, conversely, is typically reserved for the final stages, Gil explains, when the focus shifts entirely to comfort and dignity, often requiring additional medical support but tailored to the individual's needs and choices. Host Christopher Kunney shares poignant family experiences, grounding the conversation in real-life challenges. Together, they explore the emotional difficulties faced by patients, families, and even clinicians in initiating these necessary conversations and making decisions, highlighting the discomfort many doctors feel.
Gil also strongly emphasizes the enduring importance of human connection, intuition, and empathy over purely technological solutions, urging listeners to prepare emotionally and spiritually, perhaps even through letters, alongside legal documents like living wills.
Tune in and learn why understanding these distinctions and respecting a patient's final wishes are essential aspects of compassionate care!
What does it really take to lead in healthcare policy and data innovation as a woman, and how do we navigate the power, pitfalls, and politics that come with it?
In this episode of Straight Out of Health IT, Kat McDavitt, President of Insenna, and Lisa Bari, former CEO of Civitas Networks for Health, reflected on their personal experiences as young women in executive roles, highlighting gender-based challenges in the workplace. Kat described her transition from a female-dominated PR consultancy to a more male-centric corporate environment, where she had to adapt her communication style to be heard and recognized. She noted subtle biases, such as having her ideas repeated by men who then received credit, and observed how motherhood often placed an added burden on women’s careers. Lisa, who does not have children, shared how she witnessed the “maternity tax” affect her peers and emphasized the disproportionate negative feedback that women in leadership still receive compared to men, regardless of qualifications or performance.
Shifting focus, Lisa discussed her work at Civitas, a nonprofit that supports its members, primarily public health and healthcare data organizations, in navigating policy, advocacy, and data-sharing frameworks. She stressed the importance of clear messaging, coalition-building, and adaptability, especially during times of policy change. One example she gave was California’s complex and siloed efforts to connect social care and clinical data through Medicaid reforms, where her team works to guide stakeholders toward more integrated solutions that serve patients better.
Kat elaborated on data value and governance, pointing out that while many organizations recognize the financial potential of healthcare data, few understand the broader ecosystem of data use rights and legal limitations. She cautioned against unethical data acquisition practices and warned of the growing commoditization of health data. Both Lisa and Kat highlighted the importance of lawful and transparent data use, noting common misunderstandings about patient ownership of data in the U.S. and advocating for stronger governance and clearer contract negotiations to ensure responsible and equitable data practices.
Tune in for candid reflections on gender dynamics in leadership, the complexities of healthcare data governance, and the evolving role of policy in shaping equitable health systems!
Is FHIR the key to seamless healthcare interoperability? Let’s discuss its impact on AI, security, and patient care.
In this episode, Dr. Ambreén Zaman-Riaz, a physician, healthcare innovator, and leadership expert, as well as the co-founder of Uppshot Lifesciences and host of the Leadership in Medicine Podcast, and our host, Christopher Kunney, a distinguished healthcare technology strategist, serving as Managing Partner and Digital Transformation Strategist at IOTECH Consulting and host of the Straight Out of Health IT podcast, the evolving role of interoperability in healthcare, particularly the shift from HL7 to FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources). Christopher highlights how FHIR’s open standards, API-based structure, and cloud compatibility improve data sharing, patient access, and integration with emerging technologies like AI and machine learning.
Dr. Zaman-Riaz asks about FHIR’s impact, its role in AI evolution, and its future in patient-centric care. Christopher emphasizes that FHIR enables real-time data aggregation, predictive analytics, personalized medicine, and improved clinical decision support. He predicts AI-driven "digital doctors" and virtual care platforms will rely on FHIR for seamless, cost-effective healthcare delivery, especially in remote areas.
They also discuss security concerns, with Christopher stressing the importance of encryption, blockchain, and secure APIs to protect patient data. Blockchain, in particular, is seen as a promising tool for data integrity, fraud prevention, and secure information exchange. Dr. Zaman-Riaz notes that her work involves integrating blockchain for oncology data management and patient-controlled records.
Join Christopher Kunney and Dr. Ambreén Zaman-Riaz as they dive into the transformative impact of FHIR, the role of AI in healthcare, and the future of secure, patient-centric data sharing!
As our global population ages at an unprecedented rate, the question isn’t just how we care for older adults; it’s how technology can help them live independently and with dignity.
In this episode of Straight Out of Health IT, Dr. Alex Mihailidis, Vice-Chair of Research at the AGE-WELL Board of Directors, discusses the global challenge of an aging population and the role of technology in addressing healthcare and daily living needs. Dr. Mihailidis highlights key issues such as rising healthcare costs, a shortage of caregivers, and the desire for older adults to age in place. He emphasizes the growing field of "age tech," including smart home systems, robotics, and AI-driven predictive tools that enhance independent living.
AGE-WELL, Canada's Technology and Aging Network, has played a crucial role in fostering collaboration between researchers, industry, and policymakers, ensuring that innovations in aging technology are both practical and impactful. Through initiatives like envisAGE, AGE-WELL helps move promising technologies toward commercialization.
Looking ahead, Dr. Mihailidis sees AI and predictive analytics as game changers in aging care, shifting from detection to prevention of health issues. He stresses that age tech is no longer science fiction but requires interdisciplinary collaboration beyond just STEM fields to shape policies, ensure accessibility, and drive real-world adoption.
Tune in as Dr. Alex Mihailidis shares how smart tech and AI are revolutionizing aging, making independent living safer and easier for all!
Access to quality healthcare shouldn't depend on your zip code, yet for many underserved communities, barriers remain.
In this episode of Straight Out of Health IT, Christopher Kunney interviewed Christopher Cruttenden, CEO of Safety Net Connect (SNC), a company providing digital healthcare tools like eConsult to improve access to specialty care for underserved populations. SNC connects medical, behavioral, and social service providers to enhance equitable healthcare access. Cruttenden highlighted major challenges in providing equitable care, including medical and food deserts, time constraints for working families, and long wait times. He emphasized the burden on patients, especially those with chronic illnesses and other socioeconomic challenges.
Regarding technology's role, Cruttenden advocated for collaborative, patient-centered solutions integrated into healthcare workflows. He noted the importance of AI in supporting physicians, particularly through AI-assisted dictation, coding support, and quality assurance to enhance efficiency. By improving access to care, reducing ER visits, and enabling timely interventions through tools like eConsult, the cascading effect leads to better patient outcomes and system-wide savings. Cruttenden also discussed the concept of Return on Value (ROV) over traditional ROI in public health.
eConsult operates in regions like LA County, Colorado, and through partnerships with other providers. It facilitates remote consultations, allowing specialists to provide timely input, reducing wait times and preventing unnecessary specialist visits. Cruttenden expressed excitement about expanding the model to address Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) issues, such as smoking cessation and food insecurity. His advice for public health organizations is to embrace technology thoughtfully, focusing on its ability to improve access and patient outcomes rather than just its capabilities.
Tune in to explore how innovative digital tools are transforming healthcare access and improving outcomes for those who need it most!
In a world where technology has the power to transform healthcare, the digital divide continues to leave millions behind, how can we bridge the gap to ensure equitable access for all?
In this episode of Straight Out of Health IT, Dr. Patty Mechael, co-founder and CEO of health.enabled, explores the digital divide in healthcare, emphasizing the challenges posed by digital determinants of health. Dr. Mechael highlights key barriers such as inadequate connectivity, limited access to devices, and significant disparities, particularly for women in low- and middle-income countries. Many digital health solutions are designed without considering diverse populations, often reflecting the perspectives of high-income countries. To bridge these gaps, a more inclusive approach is needed, one that integrates ethnographic research to ensure technology is accessible, usable, and meaningful for all individuals.
Addressing these challenges requires a proactive, equity-focused strategy that goes beyond technology alone. Dr. Mechael advocates for hybrid models that combine digital solutions with community-based interventions to ensure those without digital access are not left behind. She also stresses the critical role of policymakers in driving digital transformation, noting that strong political leadership has been essential in countries that have successfully implemented digital health initiatives. By prioritizing digital health alongside broader social determinants, policymakers can create a more inclusive health ecosystem that enables equitable access to care.
health.enabled plays a pivotal role in advancing digital health globally by supporting governments and organizations in strategy development and digital health monitoring. Initiatives like the Global Digital Health Monitor help countries assess and improve their digital health maturity. Dr. Mechael remains optimistic that, with intentional, equity-driven efforts, digital health can significantly enhance healthcare access and outcomes. However, she acknowledges that meaningful change takes time and requires a sustained commitment to addressing systemic inequities.
Tune in as Dr. Patty Mechael explores digital health’s challenges, solutions, and impact on global healthcare equity!
Price transparency in healthcare is essential for providing patients with clear, upfront costs of medical services, empowering them to make informed financial decisions.
In this episode of Straight Out of Health IT, Dr. Jonathan Kaplan, founder and CEO of BuildMyHealth, explains how their new platform DrWell addresses this challenge by offering real-time cash-pay price transparency, connecting patients directly with providers to ensure both affordability and continuity of care. Historically, healthcare pricing has become complex due to advancements in technology, third-party insurance involvement, and evolving payment models. Therefore, patients often face hidden costs, such as copays and deductibles, leading to unexpected financial burdens.
In this conversation, Dr. Kaplan highlights that cash-pay options can often be more cost-effective than relying on insurance, especially for non-emergency services like outpatient procedures and medications. Increased price transparency drives competition among providers, ultimately reducing costs for patients while encouraging them to explore cash-pay options. For providers, adopting transparent pricing models and embracing cash-pay services can ensure financial sustainability and independence, particularly as insurance reimbursements continue to decline.
Dr. Kaplan believes that moving forward, the healthcare system is expected to shift toward a market-driven model where insurance primarily covers catastrophic events, while patients pay out of pocket for more routine services. Consumers are advised to check prices ahead of time, explore cash-pay rates, and avoid defaulting to insurance when it isn’t cost-effective. Providers are encouraged to treat patients transparently, offering clear cost estimates and embracing models prioritizing affordability, trust, and improved care outcomes.
Tune in for an eye-opening conversation on how price transparency in healthcare can save you money, empower your choices, and transform the way you approach medical care!