This Week in Health IT

August 18, 2025: Stephanie Lahr, MD, Founder of Vital Thread Advisory, reveals her transition from healthcare executive to solo consultant. What drives a seasoned physician-executive to question decades of traditional employment and embrace the uncertainty of independent consulting? Stephanie discusses overcoming the fear of leaving structured organizations, the practical realities of building Vital Thread Advisory, and why she believes healthcare companies need specialized expertise without full-time commitments. How do you navigate imposter syndrome while positioning yourself as the connector—the "thread"—that brings together clinical insight, operational know-how, and emerging technology? Her journey challenges assumptions about career security and explores whether the current healthcare market is creating new opportunities for those willing to redefine professional success. Key Points: 03:47 The Birth of Vital Thread Advisory 09:18 Navigating the Solo Journey 17:15 Advice for Aspiring Solo Practitioners 32:27 Speed Round  X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

August 14, 2025: Healthcare has moved from "what if" to "what now" with AI, as health systems quietly implement artificial intelligence across operations from revenue cycle to bedside care. Bill Russell explores how virtual care adoption jumped from 3% to 95% in three months, questioning whether healthcare's barriers are truly technological or cultural. As hospitals face mounting complexity and clinicians struggle with what leaders call a "wealth of data and poverty of insights," AI is addressing everything from scheduling optimization to diagnostic support—often without patients realizing it. The episode examines current implementations like virtual nurses handling administrative tasks and AI-assisted radiology reads, while exploring the provocative prediction that practicing without AI assistance may soon be considered below standard care.  Key Points: [00:02:00] - Pete Clardy [00:03:00] - Michael Pfeffer [00:04:00] - Kristin Myers [00:05:00] - BJ Moore [00:06:00] - Shez Partovi [00:07:00] - Marty Paslick [00:08:00] - Jennifer Owens [00:09:00] - CT Lin [00:09:00] - Dirk Stanley [00:10:00] - Cris Ross [00:11:00] - Zafar Chaudry [00:12:00] - Shakeeb Akhter [00:12:00] - Brad Reimer [00:13:00] - Albert Oriol [00:14:00] - Seth Hain [00:15:00] - Christopher Longhurst, MD, MS [00:16:00] - Taylor Davis X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

August 13, 2025: Eric Utzinger, Co-Founder and Chief Client Officer at Revuud, tackles the world of healthcare consulting. Drawing from 15 years in healthcare consulting, Eric reveals how the industry shifted around 2013, creating a system where traditional staffing firms often add little value beyond letterhead while charging substantial markups. What happens when technology enables direct access to pre-vetted talent pools? The conversation explores how marketplace platforms can eliminate intermediary costs while maintaining quality control, and why the assumption that higher costs equal better consultants may be costing health systems more than they realize. Eric addresses the critical balance between project success, talent vetting, and transparent pricing in an industry where finding the right IT expertise quickly can make or break major implementations. Key Points: 02:08 Challenges in Healthcare Consulting 04:53 Client and Talent Interaction 06:52 Vetting and Quality Assurance 09:56 Common Mistakes in Hiring Contractors X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

August 12, 2025: Dr. Zafar Chaudry, SVP, CDIO, and AI Officer, speaks with Dr. Vittorio Gallo, Chief Scientific Officer at Seattle Children's Research Institute, about the transformation happening in pediatric research. As healthcare shifts from traditional lab work to data-driven science, how are research institutions keeping pace with the explosion of information they're generating? Vittorio discusses breakthrough therapies currently in development, including the first clinical trial for cell immunotherapy in pediatric lupus and innovative approaches to treating neonatal brain injuries. But with massive datasets requiring decades of storage and AI models now identifying developmental disorders through behavioral analysis, what does this mean for the relationship between technology teams and researchers?Key Points:03:40 Innovative Pediatric Therapies10:53 Future Directions in Data Science16:02 Future Projects and AI Applications22:44 Mentorship and Advice for Young ScientistsX: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

August 7, 2025: In this Keynote recap, Bill takes viewers through the untold reality behind digital transformation: the biggest obstacles aren't technological, they're human. What happens when you're tasked with building an entire IT department from scratch, or when you have to justify why a hospital even needs a CIO? As organizations develop their fourth digital roadmap and AI promises to revolutionize care delivery, seasoned executives reveal how clinical experience shapes risk tolerance, why traditional hiring practices miss diverse talent, and the critical mistake of treating innovation as a separate function. From Penn Medicine's team-building challenges to Utah's rural care initiatives, these leaders offer candid insights about balancing budgets with human resources, communicating effectively up and down the chain, and preparing organizations for an AI-enabled future without creating costly silos.Key Points:[00:01:00] - Michael Restuccia [00:02:00] - Deborah Proctor - Donna Roach [00:03:00] - Susan Ibanez [00:04:00] - Lee Milligan [00:06:00] - Chuck Podesta [00:07:00] - Joel Klein [00:08:00] - David Butler, MD [00:09:00] - Tressa SpringmannX: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

August 6, 2025: Lisbeth Votruba, Chief Clinical Officer at AvaSure and a third-generation nurse, discusses how virtual care technology is transforming healthcare delivery. How can AI-powered platforms help nurses return to more personalized, joyful patient care while addressing the growing crisis of workplace violence in hospitals? Lisbeth shares her journey from ICU nurse to tech executive, discussing innovative solutions such as ambient monitoring and wake word technology that protect both patients and staff. What role should nurses play in shaping healthcare's digital future, and how can the profession leverage its trusted status to drive meaningful change? The conversation also touches on the emotional toll of caregiving and Lisbeth's advocacy work supporting healthcare workers in recovery. Key Points: 03:45 Innovations in Nursing Technology 08:12 Challenges in Nursing Violence 11:49 Emotional Well-being of Nurses X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

July 31, 2025: Bill Russell, Drex DeFord, and Sarah Richardson preview their upcoming show changes while tackling critical CIO challenges. They discuss "CIO escape rooms"—high-pressure scenarios such as your EHR vendor going out of business or handling a 3 AM security breach. How do healthcare IT leaders navigate the treacherous waters of CEO transitions, and what's the real difference between a wartime and peacetime CIO? The conversation turns to compensation strategy for a hospital system, examining whether geography or specific leadership "phenotype" should drive salary decisions. They explore what CIOs would prioritize with unlimited budgets, from infrastructure overhauls to real-time data platforms, while questioning who truly deserves the CIDO title in an industry where keeping the lights on battles against driving transformation. Key Points:03:45 CIO Challenges and Escape Room Scenarios06:52 New Podcast Channels and Formats14:03 Real-Time Data Governance and ROI15:51 Automation and Patching in Health Systems17:47 Hiring and Compensation for Health System CIOs20:56 The Role and Value of a good CIDOsX: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

July 30, 2025: Marco Casale, Systems Integration Architect at the University of Rochester, and Drew Ivan, Chief Architect at Rhapsody, join Bill to discuss healthcare interoperability. What would happen if these critical integration platforms suddenly went down, and why does even Epic need hundreds of external connections to keep hospitals running? The discussion covers the evolution from HL7 V2 to FHIR standards, how the pandemic necessitated the massive scaling of data exchanges, and the ongoing challenge of integrating disparate healthcare systems to communicate. Key Points: 03:10 Interoperability and Integration Solutions 10:27 Automation in Healthcare 11:07 Integration During the Pandemic 18:57 Future of Healthcare Integration X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

Even cyber pros have technical issues sometimes – our camera caught a bug, but the audio is clean and packed with security insights! July 28, 2025: Aaron Heath, CISO and Cybersecurity Counsel at the Medical University of South Carolina, and Brian Zegers, Information Security Officer at Lee Health, discuss a variety of security topics. The conversation takes a turn when both leaders address their growing concerns about AI's rapid evolution from helpful tools to autonomous agents with privileged network access. How do you prepare for ransomware recovery when your backup strategies have blind spots? And what happens when AI agents start operating independently within healthcare networks? As these security leaders balance innovation with protection, they ask: Are we moving too fast with AI automation, and how do we secure technologies that are changing faster than our security frameworks can keep pace? Key Points: 03:08 Brian's Ransomware Recovery Initiative 08:41 The Role of AI in Cybersecurity 13:47 Talent Recruitment Strategies 17:48 Career Journeys in Cybersecurity 21:32 Fun and Personal Insights X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

July 24, 2025: Theresa McDonnell, Chief Nursing Executive and SVP at Duke University Health System, discusses how she maintains her clinical practice while leading strategic transformation across a billion-dollar organization. What specific changes helped Duke reduce nurse turnover from 21% to 11%? Theresa discusses her role in orchestrating the complex $1.7 billion merger that created the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and shares how Duke's innovation hackathons have engaged over 10,000 frontline staff. As healthcare faces mounting workforce shortages and an aging population, what role should AI play in enhancing rather than replacing human care? The conversation explores practical approaches to empowering healthcare workers and how the future of care is centered on preventing sickness rather than just treating illness. Key Points: 05:03 Nurse-Led Innovation at Duke 11:03 Strategic Transformation and Mergers 19:04 Balancing Patient Care and Innovation 24:22 Advice for Early Career Clinicians 27:08 Speed Round and Closing Remarks X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

July 23, 2025: Michael Vipond, Head of Healthcare Provider GTM at ServiceNow, discusses everything from the basics to the cutting edge of AI. As health systems face mounting pressure from Medicare cuts and operational costs, how do leaders navigate the difference between traditional automation and the emerging world of agentic AI? Michael reveals how AI agents are already handling IT incidents and care team requests, but warns that simply layering AI onto broken processes won't deliver transformation. With healthcare drowning in spreadsheets and administrative tasks, what are the practical steps CIOs can take today while building toward a long-term AI strategy? The conversation uncovers specific examples of AI reducing administrative burden and explores the critical foundation work—from data quality to governance—that health systems need to get right before AI can truly amplify human connection in patient care. Key Points: 02:54 Understanding Agentic AI 07:04 AI Use Cases and Benefits 11:01 Governance and Implementation of AI 20:33 Future of AI in Healthcare X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

July 22, 2025: Charles Christian, VP of Technology and CTO at Franciscan Health, joins Nayan Patel, SVP of FinThrive, to discuss their healthcare innovation lab and supporting clinicians. What happens when a tech giant realizes it can't just provide a platform but must become a true partner in life-safety systems? Charles reveals how Franciscan's tech innovation lab uses donated equipment and a "fail fast" approach to test everything from ambient listening to virtual care solutions before rolling them out. How do you balance innovation with the reality that clinical staff expect technology to work seamlessly? The conversation explores application rationalization strategies that eliminated over 150 redundant systems and the ongoing challenge of measuring ROI when reimbursement rules constantly shift. Key Points: 03:49 Challenges and Solutions in Cloud Migration 07:17 Tech Innovation Lab and Pilot Projects 17:23 Application Rationalization and Cost Management 23:14 Final Thoughts and Fun Questions X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

July 21, 2025: Amie Teske, Founder and CEO of Echelon, joins Sarah to discuss how she is shifting the landscape of sales. Amie discusses the realities of solo practitioner work, from pricing your expertise to maintaining sanity without a traditional corporate structure. How has institutional investment reshaped the sales landscape, and what does it take to create genuine peer communities for high-performing salespeople? The conversation explores the challenges of monetizing networks authentically, the art of matching experienced professionals with startups, and why accountability becomes both harder and more critical when you're on your own. Key Points: 05:14 Navigating the Gig Economy and Solo Practitionership 12:19 Valuing Your Time and Setting Rates as a Consultant 17:58 Challenges and Solutions in Sales Leadership 23:56 Building Confidence in Sales 31:02 Speed Round: Fun and Personal Questions X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

July 17, 2025: Chris Harper, CIO and Senior Associate Vice Chancellor of AI at the University of Kansas Medical Center, discusses the nuances of AI governance. Chris discusses why he'd rather be "a pro than a hero" and how this philosophy shapes his collaborative leadership style in implementing AI solutions. They explore his organization's strategic technology bets over two decades, from meaningful use to data analytics to AI automation, and reveal how building trust with clinical partners has become the foundation for successful innovation. Through insights on governance across multiple organizational structures and his "move fast and be responsible" methodology, Chris offers practical wisdom for healthcare leaders preparing for what he sees as a paradigm shift in how technology will reshape the industry. Key Points: 03:55 Governance and Decision Making 10:33 Leadership and Team Collaboration 21:37 Disparities in Rural Areas 27:01 Challenges for Healthcare CIOs 30:01 Speed Round and Closing Remarks X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

July 16, 2025: Aaron Neinstein, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Notable Health, explores breaking down the barriers to the patient experience with AI. The conversation examines the human side of AI implementation and how leaders can address workforce fears while ensuring automation enhances rather than replaces care delivery. How do you shift from thinking about AI as labor replacement to embracing what Neinstein calls "scalable privilege"—democratizing access to high-quality healthcare for everyone? This episode unpacks the operational friction driving healthcare worker burnout and presents a practical vision for how intelligent automation can bridge the gap between what care providers want to deliver and what the current system allows. Key Points: 05:57 Customer Innovations and Success Stories 13:12 Enterprise-Level Transformation  16:05 Organizational Change Management 25:11 Speed Round Questions X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

July 11, 2025: Mick Coady, CTO at Armis, tackles a problem that has been haunting healthcare IT for decades: you can't protect what you don't know you have. The conversation reveals how hospitals still rely on manual processes to track everything from IV pumps to imaging equipment, often discovering critical vulnerabilities only when it's too late. What's the real cost when imaging machines sit idle, losing over $26,000 per hour, or when "good" IV pumps hide in closets while staff struggle with failing equipment? The discussion explores how healthcare teams can finally move beyond overwhelming alert fatigue to focus on what truly threatens patient care. Key Points: 02:55 Challenges in Medical Device Security 08:53 Business Context and Risk Management 11:16 Asset Lifecycle and Utilization 13:51 Real-World Examples and Stories X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

July 10, 2025: Christopher Scanzera, Interim CIO at Lurie Children's Hospital, and Judy Kirby, Executive Recruiter at Kirby Partners, join Bill for a discussion around interim roles. With 53% of sitting healthcare CIOs having been in their roles for only three years, what Bill dubs “the great CIO musical chairs,” the conversation dives into the critical differences between interim and permanent leadership roles. What unique qualities does an interim leader need to succeed when they have just weeks, not months, to build relationships and drive results? The conversation explores what it really takes to transition from interim to permanent leadership in today's rapidly evolving technology landscape. Key Points: 01:21 The Interim Leadership Landscape 07:24 Building Organizational Alignment 25:11 Compensation and Workload for Interim CIOs 28:40 Preparing for Full-Time CIO Role X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

July 9, 2025: Todd Barton, AVP, Enterprise Sales Engineering at Rubrik, and PV SubbaRao, SVP of Global Healthcare and Life Sciences from Rackspace, reveal how they're revolutionizing healthcare's approach to cyber resilience through their groundbreaking partnership. The conversation delves deep into the concept of Isolated Recovery Environments (IRE) and the "Minimum Viable Hospital" - but what exactly does it mean to operate at bare minimum while maintaining patient care, and how do you determine what systems are truly essential when every second counts? As healthcare organizations grapple with doing more with less, these experts explore how proper cyber recovery planning can actually unlock 20-25% cost savings that can be reinvested into the innovations hospitals need.  Key Points: 05:04 Preemptive Recovery  10:21 Minimum Viable Hospital and IRE 20:21 Cost and Productivity Optimization X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

July 3, 2025: Alan Smith, SVP and CIO of Lifepoint Health, joins Bill for a discussion on the top challenges facing CIOs. How do you balance immediate system stability when your organization is built through constant acquisitions? Al discusses his approach to the "CIO escape room" scenarios that define modern healthcare IT, from major partner outages to the ongoing tension between cloud-first strategies and financial realities. As healthcare organizations grapple with cost pressures while demanding more from their IT departments, Alan reveals how LifePoint navigates these competing forces and what it takes to build resilient systems in an industry where failure isn't an option. Key Points: 04:57 CIO Escape Room 14:14 The Importance of Inquisitiveness 17:31 Strategies in Virtual Leadership 26:12 Advice for Future Healthcare IT Leaders X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

July 1, 2025: Sue Schade, Principal at StarBridge Advisors, sits down with Brian Sterud, VP of IT, CIO, and CISO of Faith Regional Health Services. Brian tackles a pressing question facing healthcare leaders today: how do we regulate AI without killing innovation? His perspective on finding the right balance between safety and progress offers valuable insights as the industry navigates uncharted territory. The conversation reveals how rural health systems face unique operational challenges, from patients driving three hours for care to IT staff covering vast geographic territories. Brian shares details about an innovative college partnership program designed to address workforce shortages by combining education with hands-on experience.  Key Points: 01:38 Challenges of a Rural Health System 06:11 Balancing CIO and CISO Roles 08:02 Addressing Workforce Challenges 13:05 Navigating Regulatory Challenges X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

June 26, 2025: Michael Han, MD, Enterprise CMIO and VP of MultiCare Health System, discusses his transition from the operating room to the boardroom. He argues that the path forward isn't through automating clinical decisions, but through revolutionizing call centers, scheduling, prior authorizations, and referrals. Michael reveals how ambient clinical documentation must evolve beyond simple note-taking into a treasure trove of unstructured data that can drive actions across the entire care continuum—from pre-visit chart preparation to post-visit care coordination. The conversation explores how leaders establish credibility as they transition from the operating room to the boardroom. Key Points: 02:43 Impact of Ambient Clinical Documentation 05:51 AI and Large Language Models in Healthcare 10:27 The Role of CMIO in Digital Transformation 15:05 Leadership and Credibility in Healthcare 24:51 Speed Round: Personal Insights X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

June 24, 2025: Mathew Moss, SVP and CIO at New England Donor Services, joins Sarah to discuss the amazing stories and stubborn challenges in the world of organ donation. When hospitals process over 100,000 death referrals annually, how do cutting-edge systems determine which cases have life-saving potential? The conversation delves into the sobering reality that less than 50% of organ donors are registered, leading to hundreds of preventable deaths on waiting lists, while exploring how machine learning and real-time data streaming are revolutionizing a field where every minute counts. As Mathew shares the emotional weight of working with families on the worst day of their lives and the rush of innovating with technology that enables organs to be pumped outside the body for extended viability, listeners gain insight into a world where compassion meets precision engineering. Key Points: 03:13 Technology Integration in Organ Donation 08:30 The Emotional and Logistical Side of Donating 12:06 Community Outreach and Education 17:46 Future Innovations and Standout Stories 23:37 Lightning Round X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

June 23, 2025: Chris Plummer, Senior Cybersecurity Architect from Dartmouth Health, discusses the realities of defending healthcare systems against sophisticated threats. Chris shares his path from childhood computer enthusiast to cybersecurity leader, including the surprising story of how he discovered a major Google security flaw that made national headlines. Why do over 6,000 hospitals still fight cyber battles independently when other sectors have found strength through consolidation? Chris and Drex examine whether AI can truly become the force multiplier cybersecurity teams desperately need, or if current limitations keep it relegated to assistant roles. From burnout stories to breakthrough moments, this discussion reveals both the struggles and innovations shaping healthcare cybersecurity today. Key Points: 03:19 Career Beginnings and Challenges 10:39 The Role of AI in Cybersecurity 21:46 Building Networks and Information Sharing 23:59 The Google Bug Story 28:20 The Blue Sky Viral Post X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

June 19, 2025: In this webinar re-run Jill McCormick, Co-Founder and EVP of Design and Product Development at Pixel Health, and Daniel Small, Vice President of Digital Services at Hartford HealthCare, discuss the process of creating a world-class patient experience. The conversation explores Hartford HealthCare's bold approach to reimagining digital and physical spaces, where defining the experience vision precedes technology decisions. Through human-centered design methodologies, they navigate the complex challenges of aligning stakeholders, excavating outdated technologies, and creating a "digital campus" that extends care beyond facility walls.  Key Points: 02:55 Improving Patient and Provider Experiences 08:06 The Importance of Intentional Design 13:12 Aligning Vision and Technology 25:07 Human-Centered Design in Healthcare 43:36 Q&A and Final Thoughts X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

June 18, 2025: Glenn Wirick, Chief Commercial Officer at Clearsense, explores how freeing up your data allows for a new world of innovation. How can health systems transform their bloated application portfolios while cutting millions in unnecessary costs? Glenn unpacks the journey from basic data archiving to creating unified patient records that power advanced analytics and AI innovations. The conversation examines practical approaches to application rationalization, sustainable governance frameworks, and how smaller health systems can leverage these strategies despite economic constraints.  Key Points: 05:40 Legacy Data Management and Archiving 08:32 Clinical Impact and Data Governance 14:27 Data Sets Up Innovation 21:43 Future Trends  25:23 Lightning Round X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

June 16, 2025: Corina Clark, COO at Gardner Health Services and one of Becker's "COOs to Know," discusses her transformative journey as a leader in communal, equitable healthcare. Drawing from influential mentors who shaped her leadership philosophy, Corina discusses how equity must serve as "the lens through which we look at clinical decision-making" rather than just a checkbox exercise. She offers practical strategies for balancing operational excellence with personal sustainability, including implementing scheduled "no meeting zones" and leading impromptu zumba classes that reconnect her team to their core purpose. Corina's forward-thinking vision for community health aims to transcend traditional care models, reimagining spaces where prevention, wellness, and trust-building form the foundation of truly patient-centered care. Key Points: 03:47 Leadership and Equity in Healthcare 09:44 Operational Challenges and Innovations 15:42 Mentorship and Personal Influences 23:02 Innovating in Community Health 38:00 Lightning Round X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

June 12, 2025: Jennifer Stemmler, Chief Digital and Information Officer at Adventist Health, opens up about orchestrating one of healthcare's largest EHR migrations—transitioning 28 hospitals and 400 clinics from a decades-old Cerner system to Epic. Guided by the mantra "on time, on budget, on Epic, on us," how does she maintain control without micromanaging every decision? When groups push back on standardization or value-based care teams clash with implementation timelines, what framework actually works to resolve conflicts? Jennifer reveals her benefits realization scorecard approach and discusses the real challenge behind any major transformation: how do you ensure the organization owns the change rather than waiting for someone else to save them? Key Points: 03:09 Strategic Planning and Key Objectives 06:25 Guiding Principles and Pre-Planning Phase 17:44 Managing Internal Tensions and Lessons Learned 25:56 Post-Go-Live Success and Future Planning 34:36 Final Thoughts and Advice for Other Health Systems X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

June 10, 2025: Reid Stephan, VP and CIO of St. Luke's, and Dr. Spencer Dorn, Vice Chair & Professor of Medicine at UNC, tackle the reality behind AI's promise in healthcare, exploring why only one in three clinicians actually stick with AI scribes despite the initial enthusiasm. As they navigate between "AI doomers" and "techno-utopians," the conversation reveals what's working and what isn't in current implementations. How do we avoid repeating the overpromising mistakes made with electronic health records? Cut through the hype and get into real solutions. Key Points: 00:53 AI Headlines - Fact or Fiction 06:01 The Human Element 12:27 AI's Near-Future Impact 19:49 Concluding Thoughts and Recommendations X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

June 6, 2025: Timothy Boettcher, SVP, Head of GTM Strategy North America for AvePoint, discusses the often-overlooked sensitive information spread across Microsoft 365 environments, particularly as departments independently adopt AI tools. Drawing from his experience across Australia, Japan, and the US, Timothy examines why information governance challenges continue to be the primary barrier to AI implementation and explores the balance between clinical innovation and maintaining necessary security standards. What does effective data governance look like when anyone can now create automated workflows through simple AI interactions, and how do organizations turn governance from an overwhelming challenge into a strategic foundation for their AI initiatives? The conversation is just beginning! Join the “Building Responsible AI in Healthcare” Webinar on June 12th for a deep dive into better implementation: https://carahevents.carahsoft.com/Event/Details/618554-thisweekhealth Key Points: 02:49 Introducing AvePoint 05:07 Chronic Data Problems 16:23 Change Management and Adoption X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

June 5, 2025: Bill Russell sits down with Erica Olenski, VP at Finn Partners and Founder of August's Artists, Ironman athlete, and board-certified patient advocate, who brings a unique perspective from navigating the healthcare system through hundreds of overnight hospital stays with her son August, a four-time brain cancer survivor. Why does a family with an extensive hospital history still get treated like first-time visitors at check-in, and how might HIPAA compliance be unintentionally creating barriers to human connection in care? The conversation explores whether patients should control their complete medical records to share with AI assistants, the reality of managing a 60,000-page medical record delivered on CD-ROM, and practical solutions like reimagining emergency department processes for complex care families.  Key Points: 02:02 Erica's Son's Health Journey 09:08 The Role of Patient Advocates 13:41 Using AI as a Patient 21:54 August Artists: A Nonprofit Initiative 27:43 Rapid Fire Questions and Closing Remarks X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

May 29, 2025: Bridgett Ojeda, CIO at Bryan Health, pulls back the curtain on the challenges facing the healthcare CXO, where every dollar must stretch between innovation, cybersecurity, and keeping the lights on. From physicians declaring that ambient listening technology has become a "career extender" to the shocking reality that fax machines still dominate patient care coordination in 2025, this conversation exposes the fascinating contradictions of healthcare technology. How does a health system successfully serve both urban populations and remote rural communities while battling interoperability and retention challenges? Bridgett reveals the strategies, setbacks, and surprising victories that define healthcare IT leadership in an era where technology must finally deliver on its promise to restore joy to medicine. Key Points:03:40 Balancing Innovation and Security09:45 Digital Transformation Initiatives14:41 Addressing Geographic and Access Disparities17:49 Pressing Issues for Healthcare CIOs21:40 Building and Developing IT Teams27:55 Lightning Round X: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

May 28, 2025: Deshan Kennedy, Director of Application Development and Analytics at Broward Health, and Casey Post, SVP of Sales & Client Services at 314e discuss their rapid archiving go-live, finishing weeks early. What prompted Broward Health to make the bold decision to extract data directly from their data centers rather than waiting for database copies? The conversation reveals valuable insights into building trust between organizations, managing risk during system transitions, and establishing partnerships that extend beyond single projects. Key Points: 03:24 Challenges and Strategic Decisions 05:05 Communication and Collaboration 09:38 Achieving Early Go-Live 12:33 Managing Live Data and Risk 15:25 Leadership and Team Dynamics 18:43 Future Partnerships and Final Thoughts X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

May 27, 2025: Molly Zimmer, Director of Emerging Technologies and Artificial Intelligence at St. Luke's Health System, discusses how their AI class has attracted thousands of voluntary participants. Molly reveals her team's philosophy of making "new and scary feel like business as usual" through hands-on learning experiences with Microsoft Copilot, where teams tackle real pain points together. They unpack the critical balance between AI's capabilities and human accountability in healthcare, the strategic value of team-based training to create "behavior contagion," and how ambient documentation gives physicians back their freedom of choice in how they spend their time.  Key Points: 03:24 Hands-On AI Learning  05:31 Balancing AI Excitement and Concerns 12:55 Historical AI and Future Directions 22:17 St. Luke's Culture of Innovation and Change 26:12 Lightning Round X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

May 26, 2025: Dennis Leber, Cybersecurity Executive with a rich military and CISO background, discusses the current healthcare landscape. Dennis shares his unique journey from police officer to cybersecurity leader, challenging common assumptions about career paths in the field. As boards increasingly face responsibility for security breaches, what fundamental communication strategies should security leaders employ when explaining complex technical risks to non-technical executives? The conversation explores the gap between security professionals and boardrooms, with Dennis advocating for a "basic life-saving skills" approach to organizational security. Through personal anecdotes and pragmatic insights, this episode offers a refreshing perspective on leadership, talent development, and the evolving responsibilities of today's security executives.Key Points:01:29 Military Background and Transition to IT04:59 CISOs and Board Interaction11:11 Cybersecurity Fundamentals13:08 Lightning RoundX: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

May 22, 2025: James Bowie, VP and CISO of Tampa General Hospital, and Mick Coady, CTO at Armis, join Drex for this webinar re-run. Discover how asset visibility exposes unused medical equipment, saving hundreds of thousands in unnecessary purchases. James shares how quantifying a vulnerability in the “language everyone speaks”, money, sparked immediate executive action and reduced millions in risk. The experts navigate the delicate balance between security and uninterrupted patient care, challenging the traditional view of cybersecurity as merely defensive. Reframe security from an obstacle to an operational ally and gain a fresh perspective on how modern healthcare organizations can leverage security investments to drive clinical and financial efficiency. Key Points: 05:57 Asset Management and Efficiency 20:33 Defining Resilience 25:53 The Role of Cyber Programs in IT 30:46 Risk Quantification and Decision Making 39:16 Integrating Questions 43:11 Prioritizing Security Investments X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

May 19, 2025: Tovia Marinstein, Senior Talent Intelligence Analyst at LevelUP HCS, explores the challenges of finding balance in our hyper-connected world. Tovia shares her strategies on establishing boundaries between work and personal life, especially in the age of remote work, where lines increasingly blur. Through candid insights about decision-making, managing anxiety, and returning to the basics of self-care, Tovia offers a refreshing perspective on creating a life framework of balance and fulfillment.  Key Points: 03:06 Impact of Helicopter Parenting 06:05 Balancing Personal and Professional Life 11:26 Making Important Life Decisions 16:54 The Art of Unplugging 29:04 Final Thoughts and Reflections X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

May 15, 2025: Reid Stephan, VP and CIO of St. Luke's Health System, explores the constant battle for prioritization in healthcare. The discussion delves into the tension between vendor partnerships and innovation, challenging the notion that vendor alignment equals strategic vision. Satya Nadella claims "AI hasn't delivered much yet" while Bill Gates predicts AI replacing doctors within a decade. Reid offers a nuanced perspective, suggesting, "People aren't wanting tools that look smart. They want tools that are simple... that get out of the way and just get to work."  Key Points: 06:42 Innovation vs. Standardization  22:21 Simplify Your “Smart” Tools 23:09 The CIO Escape Room 30:28 In-house Development  33:22 Mentorship and Emerging Technologies X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

May 14, 2025: SHI's Kris Nessa, CTO, and Lee Ziliak, Field CTO and Managing Director of Architecture, dive into their cutting-edge AI lab. What if healthcare providers could test AI solutions before committing millions to infrastructure? Lee and Kris reveal their rapid six-week approach to validating AI use cases while addressing critical staffing shortages and operational challenges across revenue cycle management, medical imaging, and patient engagement. From saving a client from a nine-figure mistake to accelerating innovation across healthcare systems, discover how this playground for AI experimentation might revolutionize healthcare technology implementation without breaking the bank. Key Points: 01:50 SHI's AI and Cyber Lab 07:30 Success Stories and Use Cases 20:08 Engagement Process and Timeline 24:29 Future Developments and Conclusion X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

May 8, 2025: Dr. Susan Ibanez, CIO of Southeast Georgia Health System, discusses the challenges and opportunities of being the organization's first-ever CIO at her health system. What does it look like to build the CIO role from the ground up? How do you balance addressing technical debt while simultaneously driving digital transformation at a smaller health system? Ibanez also offers valuable insights on the importance of professional certifications, networking, and the evolving role of the modern CIO—no longer just a tech job, but requires business acumen, strategic vision, and financial expertise. Key Points: 06:18 Community and Regional Challenges 10:25 Addressing Technical Debt and Cloud Strategies 15:29 Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity 18:34 AI and Future Technologies 21:24 Professional Development and Certifications 24:14 Advice for Aspiring CIOs X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

May 6, 2025: Matt Sullivan, CMIO of Advocate Health, and Alan Forster, VP of Innovation at McGill University Health Center, explore the transformative potential of increasing provider data access. What role does synthetic data play in balancing privacy concerns with analytical needs? Alan explains how this new data approach creates a virtuous cycle where clinicians better understand their data, documentation practices, and operational challenges. This conversation uncovers practical insights for organizations seeking to build a data-driven culture where decisions are based on self-generated evidence.Key Points:01:49 Self-Service Data Strategy03:10 Analyzing Synthetic Data 05:02 Real-World Applications 07:19 The Importance of Data X: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

May 1, 2025: Zafar Chaudry, MD, SVP/Chief Digital, AI, and Information Officer at Seattle Children's Hospital. Discover how Seattle Children's is changing traditional approaches to clinical decision-making through a new Google partnership, harnessing the power of a century of clinical writings. Is artificial intelligence a threat to healthcare professionals or their most powerful ally? Dr. Zafar offers his perspective, urging that the synergistic potential of human-AI collaboration is the future of healthcare. From transformative Gartner experiences to pioneering Epic implementations in the UK, this episode explores Zafar's vision: the intersection of compassion and technology. Key Points: 01:14 Career Journey and Mission 08:43 AI Pathways Innovation 17:43 AI: Collaboration Over Competition 21:07 Lightning Round X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

April 30, 2025: Davin Juckett, Head of Experis Health Solutions, discusses Experis' three decades of solving problems and supporting hospitals. What makes their team's remarkable retention rate—fewer than five voluntary departures in five years—such a critical differentiator in today's talent-starved healthcare landscape? Davin reveals how Experis is tackling healthcare's most pressing challenges through AI-powered clinical service desks, cloud security solutions, and supply chain optimization, while also managing massive EHR go-lives with thousands of at-the-elbow resources. As healthcare organizations struggle with clinician shortages, margin compression, and complex M&A integrations, what entrepreneurial approaches is Experis developing to help CIOs navigate these turbulent waters? Key Points: 01:24 History of Experis Health Solutions 02:49 Current Service Offerings 06:26 Unique Challenges and Solutions 11:03 Future Directions 12:21 Lightning Round X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

April 29, 2025: Tracy Elmer, Chief Innovation Officer of TrueCare, discusses her approach to empowering the patient to reach a higher level of care. How is TrueCare's digital literacy program empowering underserved communities to navigate technology? Tracy reveals the impact of mobile wellness units bringing medical services directly to underserved communities, witnessing how TrueCare's philosophy that "distance should not be a barrier to care" manifests in their expanding network of specialized health centers. Lastly, she dives into how community partnerships with organizations like Feeding San Diego address broader social determinants of health in their community. Key Points: 01:22 Digital Literacy Initiatives  10:32 Mobile Wellness Units  16:48 Community Partnerships  21:16 TrueCare Future Initiatives 23:47 Lightning Round  X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

April 28, 2025: James Bowie, VP and CISO of Tampa General, explores the human side of cybersecurity leadership. Facing a fragmented IT team James reveals how a $20,000 investment in ethical hacking training eliminated millions in security risks in a single weekend. Then, how do healthcare security leaders balance life-and-death decisions when ransomware hits critical services? The conversation delves into managing AI implementation safely in healthcare settings, with James detailing their two-week governance turnaround that laid the foundation for all AI projects to come.  Key Points: 02:56 Building a Cybersecurity Culture  07:00 AI and Cyber Foundations 11:29 High-Pressure Situations 15:39 Bonus Round: Personal Insights and Advice X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

April 24, 2025: Ryan Smith, SVP, Chief Digital and Information Officer at Intermountain Health, explores how healthcare organizations can balance innovation with mounting cost pressures. What does it take to maintain patient-centricity amid such massive digital transformation? Ryan reveals Intermountain's framework of organizing patient touchpoints as "moments that matter" across seven stages of the patient journey, while also discussing their deployment of over 4,000 automation bots and vision for "agentic AI." As clinician burnout and staffing shortages loom large across healthcare, how might Smith's approach to balancing governance with innovation culture help address these industry-wide challenges? Key Points: 06:44 Patient-Centric Care 10:05 AI: More Than a BuzzWord 14:18 Cybersecurity in Healthcare 18:07 Operational Change Management 25:08 Future Challenges and Opportunities 29:17 Speed Round X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

April 23, 2025: Justin Marron, CEO of Strategic Venue Partners, discusses how his team brings hospital system infrastructure into the present and opens the door to innovation's future. What happens when hospital connectivity systems fail to meet the demands of modern healthcare technology? Justin illustrates how Strategic Venue Partners transforms healthcare for the ever-increasing data demands of AI and real-time patient care. This episode addresses everything from 5G implementation to CBRS private networks, positioning healthcare facilities for seamless clinical and operational workflows. Key Points: 05:05 Enabling Future Innovation 08:36 Healthcare Wireless Upgrades 14:25 Client Success Stories 20:43 Future Aspirations and Industry Impact X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

April 21, 2025: Michelle Moffitt, leadership coach, counselor, and author of "Cracked Open," shares her path from being trapped in a high-control religious system and a controlling marriage to finding her authentic voice and purpose. Michelle delves into the essence of resilience as more than just perseverance—it's about creating meaningful support systems and making incremental progress while honoring our whole selves. The conversation examines how leaders can foster psychological safety in workplaces, the power of emotional awareness, and the liberating realization that we're never truly stuck in our circumstances. Read the Preview or Order “Cracked Open” Key Points: 01:23 Michelle's Journey and Challenges 07:50 Challenges and Support Systems 15:02 Mindset and Resilience 19:59 Michelle's Future and Reflections 22:16 Lightning Round X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

April 18, 2025: Jason Taylor, CGO from Panda Health, explores the pressing challenges facing healthcare systems in the uncertain economic landscape of today. How are health systems navigating potential Medicaid cuts and declining elective procedures while balancing innovation needs? Jason reveals how organizations are shifting from purchasing "cool new toys" to rationalizing existing budgets and application stacks without compromising patient care. The conversation delves into Panda Health's approach of democratizing knowledge across healthcare systems, connecting those with similar challenges to share lessons learned. Key Points:X: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

April 17, 2025: Ryan Winn, CISO at AdventHealth, and Tamer Baker, Healthcare CTO at Zscaler, discuss zero-trust solutions and questions in this webinar recording. The conversation explores AdventHealth's remarkable four-month implementation journey and the surprising benefits beyond security they've discovered. They discuss practical approaches to medical device security, strategies for gaining organization-wide buy-in, and why framing security initiatives as business enablers rather than technical mandates leads to success. As healthcare organizations face mounting technical debt and evolving threats, this discussion offers a refreshing roadmap to simplification and a more secure environment. Key Points: 08:48 Zero Trust Hospital: Concepts and Implementation 13:42 Challenges and Opportunities in Zero Trust 21:19 The Impact of Zero Trust on Patient Care 27:49 Implementing Zero Trust 33:58 Final Thoughts and Q&A Want to get your copy of the new book "Zero Trust Hospital: The CXO Vision" by Zscaler? Order now X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

April 18, 2025: Jason Taylor, CGO from Panda Health, explores the pressing challenges facing healthcare systems in the uncertain economic landscape of today. How are health systems navigating potential Medicaid cuts and declining elective procedures while balancing innovation needs? Jason reveals how organizations are shifting from purchasing "cool new toys" to rationalizing existing budgets and application stacks without compromising patient care. The conversation delves into Panda Health's approach of democratizing knowledge across healthcare systems, connecting those with similar challenges to share lessons learned. Key Points:01:47 The Uncertainties of Healthcare04:16 Technology Implementation06:52 Pandas Social Intelligence12:20 Organizational Change Management X: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

April 16, 2025: Laura O'Toole, CEO of SureTest, and Robin Parkin, CIO of UVA Health, explore how SureTest automation revolutionizes healthcare IT testing. How are leading healthcare organizations reclaiming thousands of staff hours previously lost to manual testing? What unexpected benefits emerge when IT teams are freed from the burden of repetitive system validation? As UVA Health implements continuous automated testing, the conversation reveals how this approach prevents system errors before they reach end users and serves as a powerful recruitment tool in a competitive talent market. As the conversation closes the discussion extends beyond technology to address the critical issue of women in healthcare IT leadership. Key Points: 01:27 Challenges and Solutions at UVA Health 04:41 Implementation and Impact of SureTest 10:49 Women in Leadership in Healthcare IT X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer