This Week In Health It

March 6, 2025: Eric Smith, SVP and CDO at Memorial Hermann Health System, discusses how their health system successfully transitioned to Epic's EHR while maintaining patient satisfaction. Eric reveals the strategic approach that led to nearly 500,000 patient activations and details Memorial Hermann's innovative AI governance structure with specialized working groups. From expanding services into new communities to addressing healthcare affordability through standardization, Eric offers a compelling perspective on building a digital healthcare ecosystem that truly serves the patient.Key Points:01:23 Memorial Hermann's EPIC EHR Transition15:41 Innovation and Pilot Programs17:39 Value-Based Care and Cost Management23:08 Future of Healthcare Technology30:30 Speed Round: Personal InsightsSubscribe: This Week HealthTwitter: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

March 5, 2025: Scott D'Entremont, CRO from Parlance, explores how Parlance's conversational AI technology is transforming the often overlooked healthcare voice channel. D'Entremont reveals how their AI solutions handle everything from appointment inquiries to complex routing across thousands of destinations.Key Points:01:18 Conversational AI in the Call Center04:11 Challenges and Solutions in Call Management07:01 Standardizing Healthcare WorkflowsSubscribe: This Week HealthTwitter: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

March 5, 2025: Sebastian Estades, Healthcare Lead of Google Chrome, explores how Google is reimagining healthcare browser security. Sebastian reveals how healthcare systems can move beyond traditional operating systems toward web-based environments that don't compromise on security or integration capabilities. What possibilities emerge when healthcare IT leaders consider repurposing existing hardware amid Windows 10's approaching end-of-life?Key Points:06:20 Future Trends in Healthcare Technology07:31 Mobile Device Integration08:01 Windows 10 End of Life: A New OpportunitySubscribe: This Week HealthTwitter: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

In today’s TownHall, host Beth Cooper, Chief Technology Officer at Tivity Health speaks with Deborah Backus, VP of Research and Innovation at Shepherd Center about their efforts toward innovation and technology in rehabilitation. They discuss the challenges faced by individuals with paralysis, brain injuries, and other complex conditions in finding appropriate assistive technologies. Deborah shares insights into Shepherd Center’s pioneering work with various mobility and daily living technologies, such as modified wheelchairs with tongue drives, sip and puff controls, and eye gaze technology. How can robust data shape patient care? The conversation dives into the data-driven approach of the Shepherd Center’s Innovation Institute, including remote monitoring programs, AI, and large language models for personalized rehab solutions. Additionally, they explore how Burnalong’s platform provides on-demand wellness and training content to patients and beyond. How crucial is it to meet individuals where they are?

March 3, 2025: Dave Dyell, Managing Partner of Innovative Consulting Group, explores how healthcare organizations effectively rationalize their application portfolios in just 8-10 weeks. What strategies can CIOs employ to identify application overlap and recover significant cost savings through contract and SLA management? Dyell reveals how CIOs can secure executive support by demonstrating their organization's actual AI preparedness with tangible data rather than assumptions. Key Points:01:12 Application Rationalization04:12 Contract Management and SLA Insights06:16 AI Readiness ProgramSubscribe: This Week HealthTwitter: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

March 3, 2025: Kris Nessa, CTO of Healthcare at SHI, and John Kirkman, VP of Government, Healthcare, and Education at Island, explore Islands partnership with SHI at VIVE Nashville. As organizations face staffing shortages and cybersecurity threats, could Island's approach help democratize IT access across healthcare systems of all sizes? Join this discussion where practical technology meets healthcare innovation, and discover why these experts see AI integration as the critical next frontier in healthcare's digital evolution.Key Points:04:05 SHI and Island Partnership Insights06:51 AI: Opportunities and Challenges08:48 Building Partnerships and Future InnovationsSubscribe: This Week HealthTwitter: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

February 28, 2025: This is the fifth episode in the Zero Trust Hospital Series. Tamer Baker, Healthcare CTO at Zscaler, covers the first steps hospitals can take in their zero trust journey. Through practical insights, Tamer challenges traditional security thinking, demonstrating how organizations can achieve significant risk reduction even on day one, all while maintaining operational efficiency. Key Points:02:18 Step Zero: Identity Management03:44 Step One: Visibility07:15 Zero Trust Maturity Models09:13 High-Risk Users and Remote AccessWant to get your copy of the new book "Zero Trust Hospital: The CXO Vision" by Zscaler?Pre-Order nowDon't miss our webinar after all six Zero Trust Hospital Series episodes! Register now: www.thisweekhealth.com/zerotrustSubscribe: This Week HealthTwitter: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

February 27, 2025: Liz Scott, Co-Executive Director and Alex’s Mom from Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation explores how a four-year-old's simple lemonade stand transformed into a movement that has raised over $300 million for childhood cancer research. Can the healthcare industry's involvement reshape the landscape of pediatric cancer research? As Scott shares stories of hope, resilience, and scientific advancement, she illuminates the complex challenges families face and unveils how the foundation's expanding programs address critical gaps in care. Key Points:00:31 What is Alex’s Lemonade Stand?03:31 Impact of Donations 08:31 Breakthroughs in Pediatric Cancer Research12:42 Challenges and Future Goals19:11 Vision for the Next Five YearsX: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

February 26, 2025: Colin Banas, CMO of DrFirst, explores how innovation powers their medication management solutions across 2,000+ hospitals. What strategies is DrFirst implementing to combat healthcare's most pressing challenges like provider burnout and specialty medication management? With the uncertainty surrounding healthcare policy under a new administration, how is DrFirst positioning itself to remain a bedrock of stability for its partners while continuing to innovate?Key Points:02:46 Addressing Specialty Medication 03:25 Navigating New Policy05:47 AI and Future RoadmapSubscribe: This Week HealthTwitter: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

February 26, 2025: Amar Maletira, CEO of Rackspace, explores the evolving role of multi-cloud environments—why are CIOs now rethinking their cloud strategies after years of rapid migration? As AI continues to weave itself into every facet of IT, how can healthcare organizations effectively harness its power while navigating workforce gaps and security risks? And in a world of increasing cyber threats, what are the real challenges of securing critical healthcare workloads across hybrid infrastructures? This conversation unpacks the complexity of modern IT strategy, from cloud optimization to AI-driven automation.Key Points:02:27 The Evolution of Cloud Computing07:08 AI in Cloud Management12:03 Rackspace Security SolutionsSubscribe: This Week HealthTwitter: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

February 25: In this episode of TownHall, Albert Villarin, MD, VP and CMIO at Nuvance Health, Christine Silvers, MD, Healthcare Executive Advisor at Amazon Web Services, Praveen Meka, MD, Senior Physician/Hospitalist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Qing Liu, Senior Solutions Architect (Healthcare) at Amazon Web Services explore the transformative impact of AI in healthcare. They discuss real-world applications such as AI for patient referrals, document processing, diagnostic tools, and personalized medicine. Examples include the development of ConsultBot for interpreting complex blood tests and the use of AI for remote patient monitoring in underserved areas. How can AI improve patient outcomes and reduce errors in clinical settings? They also address challenges like data security, ethical considerations, and bridging the technology adoption gap among clinicians. What are the biggest hurdles in implementing AI in everyday medical practice? The episode underscores the potential of AI to enhance clin

February 24, 2025: Steven Ramirez, VP and CISTO of Renown Health, discusses how organizations are grappling with increasingly sophisticated threats. What makes the 60-minute breach window so critical in today's threat landscape, and how are healthcare organizations reshaping their approach to identity security? As Ramirez shares insights from his journey at Renown, we explore the delicate balance between rapid threat response and strategic planning, while questioning what makes an effective cybersecurity professional in today's healthcare environment.Key Points:02:35 The Role of a CISTO06:29 Renown Cybersecurity Initiatives12:09 Simplification in Cybersecurity18:36 Lightning RoundSubscribe: This Week HealthTwitter: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

February 21, 2025: This is the fourth episode in the Zero Trust Hospital Series. Tamer Baker, Healthcare CTO for Zscaler, dives into the myths surrounding zero trust implementation in healthcare settings. As healthcare systems grapple with digital transformation, what really stands between organizations and successful zero trust adoption? Through their discussion of real-world examples and strategic partnerships, they challenge conventional wisdom about vendor relationships and implementation timelines. Want to get your copy of the new book "Zero Trust Hospital: The CXO Vision" by Zscaler?Pre-Order nowDon't miss our webinar after all six Zero Trust Hospital Series episodes! Register now: www.thisweekhealth.com/zerotrustKey Points:01:36 Zero Trust Implementation04:45 Vendor Myths 08:47 Healthcare OperationsX: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

February 20, 2025: Dr. Alistair Erskine, Enterprise CIO and CDO of Emory Healthcare, explores the unique fusion of university and healthcare IT at Emory, challenging conventional wisdom about institutional separations. As we delve into innovative approaches to leadership, including streaming rounds and trickle feedback systems, how might these methods reshape organizational culture in healthcare? Through fascinating anecdotes from building a hospital in Qatar with unlimited resources to implementing enterprise-wide ambient listening technology, what lessons emerge about innovation when traditional constraints are removed?Key Points:01:04 Combining University and Healthcare IT07:54 Rounding and Student Tech Support15:35 Lessons from Qatar: Building a Hospital21:44 Ambient Listening and AI in Healthcare30:58 Trickle Feedback and Organizational CultureSubscribe: This Week HealthTwitter: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

February 19, 2025: Karla Arzola interviews Julia Zhou, Healthcare Technologist and Mountaineer, who shares her extraordinary journey to the summit of Mount Everest, detailing the physical and mental battles that tested her limits. From the grueling months of training in her garage through COVID to the life-threatening moments at 8,000 meters, Julia and Karla reflect on how challenges can bring about the biggest leaps in innovation and bravery.Key Points:02:14 Julia's Everest Expedition07:58 Summit Day: Reaching the Top16:52 Reflections and Lessons LearnedSubscribe: This Week HealthTwitter: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

February 18, 2025: Shiv Rao, CEO and co-founder of Abridge, delves into their revolutionary ambient listening technology. Through the lens of 100+ enterprise deployments, Rao explores the delicate balance between technological advancement and clinical practicality. As the discussion unfolds, we discover how contextual reasoning is reshaping documentation and bringing joy back to clinicians.Key Points:02:24 Feedback and Improvement Process05:41 Building Financial Models06:49 Clinician Love StoriesSubscribe: This Week HealthTwitter: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

February 17, 2025: Andrew Kerr, CEO and Managing Partner of FortyAU and author of The Humility Imperative, draws from his transition from HCA to leading a Nashville-based software and AI consulting firm to explore essential questions about modern leadership. How does a leader maintain authenticity while driving innovation in today's rapidly evolving tech landscape? Through discussions of AI implementation in healthcare and the challenges of building sustainable company cultures, Andrew challenges conventional wisdom about certainty in leadership.Key Points:04:45 Navigating Challenges 10:11 AI advice18:13 Humility in Leadership24:16 Career Reflections27:55 Lightning RoundX: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

February 14, 2025: This is the third episode of the Zero Trust Hospital Series. Tamer Baker, Healthcare CTO for Zscaler, dissects the anatomy of a breach—how attackers identify vulnerabilities, move laterally through systems, and execute double-extortion ransomware. How does Zero Trust disrupt each stage of an attack, preventing even compromised credentials from being useful? And can collective intelligence across organizations create a real-time defense against emerging cyber risks? Want to get your copy of the new book "Zero Trust Hospital: The CXO Vision" by Zscaler?Pre-Order nowDon't miss our webinar after all six Zero Trust Hospital Series episodes! Register now: www.thisweekhealth.com/zerotrustKey Points:00:53 Anatomy of a Breach06:20 Common Attack Vectors09:04 Community ProtectionTwitter: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

February 13, 2025: Sue Schade, Principal at StarBridge Advisors, interviews Albert Oriol, CIO of Rady Children's Hospital, to discuss how genomics and technology partnerships are transforming pediatric care. How can precision medicine and newborn screening change the trajectory of a child’s life? What role does IT play in addressing workforce burnout and cybersecurity risks? And how do visionary leaders balance cutting-edge technology with operational demands? Key Points:05:19 Advancements in Precision Medicine15:08 Albert Oriol's Career Journey18:29 IT Collaboration22:52 Remote Work and Workforce Flexibility27:04 Work-Life Balance and Personal Well-beingSubscribe: This Week HealthTwitter: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

February 12, 2025: James Wellman, VP and CIO of Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home, and Vik Patel, COO of Tido, as they explore advancing data integration, operational efficiency, and patient care. Learn what happens when a healthcare IT partnership transcends traditional vendor relationships to become a true team extension, and discover how trust-based partnerships drive success in healthcare IT. Don't miss this engaging solution showcase.Key Points:01:28 The Power of Relationships in Healthcare IT08:31 Operational Efficiency11:57 Proactive Monitoring 27:11 Future Innovations and Cloud MigrationTwitter: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer