Podcasts about hartford healthcare

In this episode, Dr. Suparna Dutta, Chair of the Medicine Department at Hartford HealthCare, discusses leading integrated care across inpatient and ambulatory settings, addressing social determinants of health, and using technology to improve access, transitions of care, and patient outcomes.

Dementia is often a highly burdensome disease process for patients, their caregivers and families, and the community at large. Palliating symptoms and providing guidance surrounding advance care planning and prognostication are integral components of the management plan. In this episode, Katie Grouse, MD, FAAN, speaks with Neal Weisbrod, MD, an author of the article "Neuropalliative Care in Dementia" in the Continuum® December 2025 Neuropalliative Care issue. Dr. Grouse is a Continuum® Audio interviewer and a clinical assistant professor at the University of California San Francisco in San Francisco, California. Dr. Weisbrod is a neurologist at Hartford Healthcare with the Ayer Neuroscience Institute in Mystic, Conneticut. Additional Resources Read the article: Neuropalliative Care in Dementia Subscribe to Continuum®: shop.lww.com/Continuum Earn CME (available only to AAN members): continpub.com/AudioCME Continuum® Aloud (verbatim audio-book style recordings of articles available only to Continuum® subscribers): continpub.com/Aloud More about the American Academy of Neurology: aan.com Social Media facebook.com/continuumcme @ContinuumAAN Full episode transcript available here Dr Jones: This is Dr Lyell Jones, Editor-in-Chief of Continuum. Thank you for listening to Continuum Audio. Be sure to visit the links in the episode notes for information about earning CME, subscribing to the journal, and exclusive access to interviews not featured on the podcast. Dr Grouse: This is Dr Katie Grouse. Today I'm interviewing Dr Neal Weisbrod about his article on neuropalliative care in dementia, which appears in the December 2025 Continuum issue on neuropalliative care. Welcome to the podcast, and please introduce yourself to our audience.  Dr Weisbrod: Thank you. I'm really excited to be here. I'm Neal Weisbrod. I'm a neurologist and palliative care physician currently working at Hartford Healthcare in Mystic, Connecticut. Dr Grouse: To start, I'd like to ask why you think it's important that neurologists read your article? Dr Weisbrod: The primary reason I think it's really important to read the article is because these are just really common problems that neurologists run into in clinical practice. So, Alzheimer disease and many other dementias are extremely common, and managing the burdensome symptoms and the complex discussions that we have to have with the patients and their families as they go through the course of dementia is something that is very common in clinical practice. And so my hope is that by reading this article, clinicians will pick up a few tools, a few new ideas for how to make these conversations easier and for how to help these patients get through the disease with a little bit less suffering. Dr Grouse: I learned a lot from reading your article, and I really encourage our listeners to check it out. But I was curious what you feel that you discussing your article would come as the biggest surprise to our listeners? Dr Weisbrod: So, I think that the most surprising thing a lot of people will see reading this article is the section on prognosis. A lot of times it seems families are counseled, when they're talking about the prognosis of Alzheimer disease, that it could be ten years or longer. But really, the data show that for many patients, the median prognosis is closer to three to eight years. And that is a little bit longer for Alzheimer disease than many other types of dementia, but also gets significantly shorter as patients get older. So, we're looking at a closer to three-year median prognosis for patients who are over eighty-five, whereas patients in their sixties are probably closer to the eight or nine-year median prognosis. And so I think that piece will hopefully help people give a little bit more accurate counseling about prognosis.  Dr Grouse: I'm glad you brought that up because I was wondering, why is it so important that we are careful to make sure that we're giving prognostic information for our patients and maybe even updating it as their clinical status changes? Dr Weisbrod: I think first of all, it's a really common thing that patients and families are thinking about and worried about. They don't necessarily always seem to ask as much as they want to know. I think there's a lot of fear around that conversation, even though it's really important. And then there's also often tension between the family and caregivers tend to want to know more than patients do. I think that it really helps people plan for the future as well as possible to know what their future might be. And we have a lot of limitations in predicting the future, but using the best information we can, laying out what we think the likely range is, allows people to make a lot more clear plans for their future. Dr Grouse: I'd imagine it's also pretty helpful for hospice referrals, too, having that data.  Dr Weisbrod: Yeah, definitely. And there's a lot of angst about when to refer patients who have dementia to hospice. The most important thing I think about when I'm making a hospice referral is that I don't have to be right. And I think it takes a lot of that concern off to just say, all I'm doing is making a connection, getting someone who's potentially interested in the hospice, who has a really advanced serious illness connected to a hospice agency. And then they can go through the full evaluation with the hospice and the hospice medical director and determine whether they're eligible. So, I think there are really helpful thresholds to think about that would be a good trigger. Like a patient who we think has advanced dementia, who has a hospitalization for pneumonia or a fracture of the hip or some other really serious acute medical condition, I think is a really good trigger to start to think about hospice. But most importantly, it's just the connection, and I tell the patients that upfront. I tell them that you're going to have a conversation and we'll decide whether you're a good fit, and if not, the hospice will usually just check in with you over time and decide when is the right time in the future. Dr Grouse: That's really helpful. And I think just a really great reminder to our listeners about thinking about hospice sooner or at certain critical points in their patient care rather than waiting, maybe, before it's gone on too long and may be of less use later on. I was wondering, in your own clinical practice, what do you think is the most challenging aspect of providing care to patients with dementia?  Dr Weisbrod: I think this one's easy. I would say managing the time has to be the most difficult part. I think that taking care of patients who have dementia is time-consuming. There's a lot of different priorities that we have to manage the time around. How much time are we going to spend doing cognitive testing? How much time are we going to spend doing counseling? How much time are we going to spend making up a treatment plan and discussing medications? How much time are we going to spend on advanced care planning? And the way I try to combat that is really just trying to think about what I'm going to prioritize in a certain visit and not try to accomplish everything. I'll tell patients and their families, the next time you come in, we're going to have a conversation focusing on advanced care planning. Or, the next time you come in, we're going to sit down and try to talk through all the questions you have about what the future might hold. That way I in that visit, I don't feel like, oh, I have to do updated cognitive testing and I have to review all the next steps in medication, and that allows me to take it in more bite-sized chunks. Dr Grouse: You made some of the great points, and specifically you mentioned advanced care planning. Your article makes a really strong case for the importance of advanced care planning, yet you definitely acknowledge the many barriers to initiating discussions that clinicians face. In your patients with dementia, can you walk us through how you integrate discussions about advanced care planning with your patients and their families?  Dr Weisbrod: Yeah, I think this is still something that is evolving in my practice, and I don't think there's any perfect way of doing it. I think there's a lot of right ways of doing it, and as long as we're thinking about it a lot and bringing it up periodically, that's probably the best. What I try to do, though, is after I discuss what I think is the most likely diagnosis with patients and their families, I try to have a fairly close follow-up visit after that. Allow them to digest that information, to often do a little bit of their own research, to talk about it as a family. And then when they come in for that next appointment, I try to at least lay some groundwork about advanced care planning, asking them what they've completed already, and then based on what they've already done to that point, talking to them about what I think the next step would be. If they have done nothing, usually it's just, hey, I really think you should start to think about who would be making decisions for you if you lose the ability to make your own decisions and counsel them about power of attorney paperwork and establishing a healthcare surrogate. When it's patients who have already done some of that initial prep, I think that it's really important to keep in mind it's a longitudinal discussion and you can take it in small pieces over time. Often that helps because you can really establish that rapport and that trust. And then I like to just keep checking in whenever there's major changes in the patient's health or condition, like admission to the hospital or transfer to an assisted living facility or memory care clinic. Those are good times to remember, hey, I really need to revisit this conversation.  Dr Grouse: It's probably good to also mention another really important point from your article, which was that impairment of decision-making in patients with dementia can actually start significantly even in the phase of mild cognitive impairment. Yet these patients will need to make many medical decisions with their neurologist as they go through this journey. How can we make sure our patients have capacity and make decisions appropriately regarding their care? Dr Weisbrod: Yeah, I think that's a definite challenge of taking care of patients with cognitive disorders of any type, including those with stroke and multiple sclerosis, that have some cognitive impairment. In my opinion, the most important way to help manage that is to make sure when we are making important decisions about the future that we're having a deep exploration of the values and the reasoning behind that. And definitely teach back is the most helpful way that I use to explore those values and the logic behind patients' decisions. So, I think we have to have a really low threshold to move on to a formal evaluation of capacity; if there's any inconsistency between what the patient's saying now and what their families say they've said in the past, or if they're having struggled to come up with a really clear logic behind their decision, then I think we have to have a low threshold to move on to a formal evaluation of capacity. So, I think having the family involved, having other people who know the patient really well, usually helps identify some of those periods where it seems like the patient's not making the decision that really reflects their true wishes. Dr Grouse: Now I wanted to switch gears a little bit and get into the management of neuropsychiatric symptoms, which you spend a lot of time on and I think a lot of neurologists find very challenging. What are some nonpharmacologic approaches that can help patients with significant neuropsychiatric symptoms?  Dr Weisbrod: I really like the DICE paradigm for coming up with nonpharmacologic approaches. The DICE paradigm is an acronym. The D is Describe, I is Investigate, C is Create, and E is Evaluate. The idea is that we're exploring what's happening behind the symptoms, we're creating a plan to intervene, and then we're evaluating the outcome of that plan and creating a sort of feedback loop there. But ultimately, I think, when we're creating a solution, thinking about how we can change the environment is the most important thing. We have very limited ability to change the way that someone who has severe cognitive dysfunction reacts to their environment, but we can often change the environment to not produce that reaction in the first place. One example is with wandering behaviors. Trying to change the environment where you put locks that don't have deadbolts that you can use on the inside of the house, you have to have a key on the inside of the house, and then the family can put that key somewhere safe where the patient is not likely to find it and be able to unlock the door and wander out unsafely. I also think it's really important to acknowledge that as doctors, we are maybe not the best people to always have the answer when it comes to changing a patient's environment. And so, I think we really need to rely on the wisdom of support groups and other people who are going through the challenge of dementia. Our interdisciplinary care teams like social workers and nurses who have experience in managing dementia, and really try to plug the caregivers into as many of these avenues as possible so that they can learn from all of that community of wealth and not always rely on the doctor to have the answer. Dr Grouse: Switching gears to pharmacologic management, which is a lot of what we do for patients as neurologists. Thinking about agitation, pharmacologic management of agitation can be very challenging. And reading your article, it reminds me how disheartening it is to reflect and how modest the effect of the available options are, along with the many potential risks of their use, When nonpharmacologic interventions fail, what should neurologists recommend for their patients with agitation? Dr Weisbrod: Yeah, I definitely agree. It's every time I go back and look at this literature and look at what's new, it is a bit disheartening. But even in the face of all that, I really feel like SSRIs are my first-line therapy for most of these patients. I always try to ask myself what might be causing the patient discomfort that they are then manifesting as agitation because they don't have a better way of expressing themselves. Often, I feel like that's anxiety or depression or some other psychological symptom that we might be able to address with an SSRI. So, I tend to use sertraline and escitalopram, start those early and as long as patients are tolerating it, give it a really good trial. Outside of that, escalating to other pharmacologic approaches, even though there's such controversy in the data about antipsychotics and even though there are very real risks, sometimes I think we essentially do need a chemical sedative. And I think that it's important to have a very frank conversation upfront with the caregivers and the medical decision maker for that patient. Make sure we are counseling them on the risk, the increased risk of mortality, and also to make it a time-limited trial. So, I think that saying we're going to try this medication (if the patient's decision maker agrees, obviously) for a month or two months or three months. But I definitely wouldn't want them to just have an open-ended plan where they're going to stay on it indefinitely. It should have some end point where we say, hey, is this working or not? And if it's working, then we'd make a decision, is the improvement in quality of life worth the risks? And if we're not seeing that improvement, then we definitely need to stop it. Dr Grouse: That seems very reasonable. And then thinking more towards some of the other types of symptoms that can be really challenging, I was really surprised to see how often uncontrolled pain is a significant contributor in patients with dementia. And certainly, both uncontrolled pain and poor sleep can worsen cognitive function and neuropsychiatric symptoms in general. But of course, there's ongoing concerns about side effects of these therapies and how they can also potentially worsen things. How should we be approaching management of pain and insomnia or poor sleep in these patients?  Dr Weisbrod: I think the key is just to start with really low burden treatments and escalate carefully and start with low doses of higher risk medications. So, when I think the low burden treatments for pain, scheduling acetaminophen, 1000 milligrams every eight hours, seems like a trivial thing to do, maybe? But it's actually surprising how much scheduled acetaminophen can take the edge off of pain and might be able to avoid some of these flare-ups of neuropsychiatric symptoms, may be able to really improve that pain a little bit. I do think it really has to be scheduled, though. Trying to rely on patients who have significant cognitive dysfunction to use a PRN medication is going to lead to a lot of problems and undertreatment. And then on the sleep disorder side, I think starting with low-dose Trazodone and gradually increasing the dose of Trazodone as a really safe way of initially approaching the insomnia. And then only when it's a more refractory case do I reach for the high-risk medications. Like for pain, we're talking about opiates. I think there's a lot of very reasonable concern about using opioids in patients who have cognitive dysfunction. But if there is a really good reason to think that they have severe pain, like they have a past pain disorder, I think that just like with antipsychotics, there are definitely real risks to these medications. But at the end of the day, if we are improving someone's quality of life dramatically and the patient's medical decision maker is willing to take on those risks, then we're really doing the patients a favor. Dr Grouse: Now, another issue that you mentioned in your article, which I see a lot and often struggle with myself, is how and when to deprescribe certain types of medications such as cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine. Any tips or tricks to how to approach this?  Dr Weisbrod: My approach to this has also evolved a bit over the years. The new data that cholinesterase inhibitors may have a mortality benefit in patients with Alzheimer disease has changed my thinking a little bit. But there are still lots of situations where it's just too burdensome or patients seem to be having side effects. And so, I think about deprescribing. The most important thing in my mind is really thorough counseling before deprescribing with the patient's family and medical decision maker. I think that letting them know that we might actually be holding things more stable with the medication than we realize, there could be a flare-up, that we can resume the medication if that flare-up happens but we don't always guarantee getting back to the same point. I think having that conversation ahead of time will ward off some of the worst issues that you have afterwards. And then I think doing a taper of cholinesterase inhibitors over two weeks to a month is probably the most prudent because of some of the data about withdrawal and exacerbation of neuropsychiatric symptoms or cognitive worsening. Memantine, I think the data is a lot more shaky on withdrawal. And so, I think it's less important to gradually taper memantine. But I think that once again, just having the conversation upfront and letting the family know these are the things we have to look out for and these are the risks is going to be the most important. Dr Grouse: That's really helpful and a great strategy to take advantage of. Another, I think, really difficult topic that I wanted to ask you about was the discussion around nutrition and whether or not to consider putting in some type of a permanent tube for tube feeds. How do you approach that conversation? Certainly a difficult one.  Dr Weisbrod: Yeah, I think it's easily one of the most difficult conversations to have in the care of patients who have dementia. And there's so much emotion in the families when they're having this discussion. And I think really acknowledging there's a huge emotional piece of the conversation is one key piece. For families and caregivers, they're thinking, I don't want my loved one to starve to death. That's usually the most important thing in their mind. We have to address that concern in the conversation, or they're never going to get to a point of satisfaction with the decision that's being made. So, I think while there is still some controversy in the literature about artificial nutrition for patients who have dementia, the bulk of data indicates that it is not helpful for patients. It may exacerbate dementia, it leads to more restraint. And so, I think unless there's some reversible medical condition that we're just trying to do artificial nutrition to get them through, like, they have a stroke and we're expecting that their dysphasia is going to improve because of the stroke is going to heal. Those situations might be a good reason, but if we really think that the driving factor behind their dysphasia is their dementia, I think we should be guiding the families away from that. And I think that explaining that as dementia gets really advanced, the body is slowly shutting down. The body is not needing as much nutrition, and forcing more nutrition in has not been shown to help people who have dementia. Really putting it in that sort of language is going to help the families understand and be comfortable with that decision. I also think that it's really helpful to consider talking to families about what they can do and not have the entire conversation be about what we're not doing or not putting in a feeding tube for artificial nutrition. So, I think really good counseling about, we can do comfort feeding, we can expand what food we're giving the person who has dementia and really focus on foods that they really enjoy and not worry so much about the health and nutrition anymore. I think that focus on what they can take control of can also help make the decision easier for families.  Dr Grouse: I really like that approach. And I agree, it does seem that it being such an emotional decision with just so much a concern about this underlying feeling of not caring for their family member. I think that is a really great way to look at it  and to kind of start off that conversation. Now, I'd love to hear more about what drew you to this field when you first got into your career as a neurologist. Dr Weisbrod: I had an interesting journey to doing neuropalliative care. Definitely didn't know that's what I was going to do when I started neurology residency. At University of Rochester, we had amazing palliative care physicians that were involved in medical school, and so I got a little bit of exposure to it early on. Then when I was in neurology residency, I first of all realized that I really enjoyed making sure that what we were doing respected a patient's wishes. And so, as other people seemed to run away from those conversations, I was really drawn to them. And so that definitely made me realize that that might be more of the right field for me. But also, as I went through neurology residency, I really discovered that I love so many different things in neurology, and that made me not want to subspecialize and focus on a narrower set of conditions in neurology. So, doing palliative care fellowship was a really good way of getting a specialist tool set and expanding my knowledge in one area, but staying a neurologist, generalist. And I think it also really enhances a lot of the other things I do in neurology. It gives me a lot of additional skills on how to counsel patients and how to prepare for the future in general. I think there's a lot about just good bedside manner in palliative care education. I feel like it helped me become a better neurologist, and I decided that I really loved the palliative care piece as well.  Dr Grouse: Well, we're certainly all grateful that you found this aspect of your career and have been able to share the skills you've honed with us as well. And we really appreciate you taking the time to talk with us about your excellent article today, which I encourage everybody to read.  Dr Weisbrod: Yeah, thank you. It's been wonderful to be on, and I hope that people can take away a few small points from the article. Dr Grouse: Again, today I've been interviewing Dr Neal Weisbrod about his article on neuropalliative care in dementia, which appears in the December 2025 Continuum issue on neuropalliative care. Be sure to check out Continuum Audio episodes from this and other issues, and thank you to our listeners for joining today. Dr Monteith: This is Dr Teshamae Monteith, Associate Editor of Continuum Audio. If you've enjoyed this episode, you'll love the journal, which is full of in-depth and clinically relevant information important for neurology practitioners. Use the link in the episode notes to learn more and subscribe. AAN members, you can get CME for listening to this interview by completing the evaluation at continpub.com/audioCME. Thank you for listening to Continuum Audio.

There’s an old saying that goes “you are what you eat.” You might take that phrase with a grain of salt, but doctors agree: what we eat affects our blood pressure, blood sugar, cardiovascular health and more. It's knowledge that's generations old — food as a source of nourishment and healing. Essentially, food can act as medicine. From Ayurveda and Chinese herbs to modern-day food pharmacies — what we put on our plates impacts our health. But what can we do about it? Especially with inflation inching upward, seven-in-ten Americans say the cost of healthy food can be out of reach. We explore solutions. GUESTS: Dr. Anusha Sehgal: a classically trained Ayurvedic physician based in Boston Dr. Ulysses Wu: Chief Epidemiologist at Hartford Healthcare Skip Lewis: resident of Hartford living with polycystic kidney Disease David Juros: Operations Manager of Food4Health Clinic at Hartford Healthcare Jessica Soto: a patient at Hartford Healthcare. She was a recipient of the Food for Health Clinic at Hartford Healthcare Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Connecticut is putting $28 million toward transforming blighted properties. A Montauk dredging project gets a boost with a second machine, after the first broke down. The Mashantucket Pequot Tribe partners with Hartford HealthCare on a new wellness center. Plus, a lost city, a fading faith, and tragedy that struck twice – that's the latest from WSHU's Off the Path.

Is your love of high-proof, perfectly aged bourbon actually good for you? Or are we all just telling ourselves that? Today, we're tackling the elephant in the whiskey room with the science: Dr. Ulysses Wu (Yuli), the Chief Epidemiologist at Hartford HealthCare. Yuli's personal journey is wild—from corporate finance to infectious diseases—and now he focuses on the intersection of alcohol, health, and longevity. He joins us to share his personal bourbon journey and how he accidentally procured some seriously rare Stitzel-Weller when nobody was looking. In this eye-opening episode, we dive into: The Calorie Problem for barrel-proof bourbon, Yuli's concept of "firewalls" (the human ability to curb excess), why robust long-term health studies on alcohol are so difficult to conduct, and the profound psychological impact of bourbon, which Yuli calls a "time machine" for positive memories. This is a mandatory listen for anyone who loves brown water and wants to understand the science behind drinking healthily and responsibly. Show Notes: Introduction to Dr. Ulysses Wu (Yuli), Chief Epidemiologist at Hartford HealthCare Yuli's surprising career shift from corporate finance to infectious diseases The connection between alcohol, health, and longevity Yuli's personal bourbon journey, including the accidental procurement of rare Stitzel-Weller Scientific discussion on the true caloric content of barrel-proof bourbon Analysis of "firewalls"—the psychological ability to prevent excess in consumption Challenges of conducting robust, long-term health studies on alcohol consumption The psychological power of bourbon as a "time machine" for positive memory creation Advice for drinking bourbon responsibly and healthily Support this podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Joel Vengco discusses Hartford HealthCare's commitment to expanding access, harnessing data, and building consumer centered digital experiences, while sharing how AI, agentic technologies, and workforce evolution will shape the system's future.

Dr Jeff Cohen from Hartford Healthcare drops by the work space to discuss general health and the need for exercise.

In this episode, Joel Vengco discusses Hartford HealthCare's commitment to expanding access, harnessing data, and building consumer centered digital experiences, while sharing how AI, agentic technologies, and workforce evolution will shape the system's future.

Healthcare can feel stuck, but the ground is moving under our feet in the best possible way. We sit down with Hartford Healthcare's CEO, Jeff Flaks, to unpack how a statewide system is using scale with purpose: pushing care into more convenient, lower-cost settings, investing in equity, and building digital experiences that actually save time for patients and clinicians. If you're skeptical that big systems can deliver value, this conversation offers specifics instead of spin.We start with the leadership behaviors that matter now: staying close to operations, listening to front-line teams, and measuring success by outcomes. From there we tackle the big critiques—costs, complexity, sponsorship optics—and dig into what it takes to move beyond the status quo. Jeff shares why headwinds like payer friction, tariff-driven supply chain costs, and Medicaid shifts are serious, yet not destiny. The difference comes from disciplined redesign: routing patients to the right site of care, building 24/7 primary care access, and wiring urgent care so radiology, histories, meds, and images are available in real time.The most exciting thread is how AI and machine learning are finally making work easier instead of heavier. Think faster reads, smarter triage, and less administrative drag, all pointed at better quality and safety. We explore the compounding effect of improvement—how each layer of coordination accelerates the next—and why the pace of change in the next three to five years could outstrip the last decade. For patients, we offer practical advice on navigating benefits, choosing the right setting, and using digital tools to cut costs and waits.If you care about access, affordability, and results, this episode gives you a clear view of what's working and what's next. Subscribe, share with a colleague, and leave a review with one change you want your health system to make next.Support the showEngage the conversation on Substack at The Common Bridge!

Drugmaker Novo Nordisk says it will make the popular weight GLP-1 weight loss medication Wegovy more affordable for those without insurance coverage, dropping the price to $349 a month. The news comes weeks after the Trump Administration announced negotiating weight loss drug prices making them more accessible to consumers. We spoke with Dr. Joseph St. Pierre with Hartford Healthcare's St. Vincent's Medical Center about the ongoing news with price cuts on these injectables. IMAGE CREDIT: Amy Mortenson / Courtesy of Hartford HealthCare

Dr. Alessi welcomes Dr. Jim O'Dea, senior vice president of Hartford HealthCare's Behavioral Health Network and a clinical psychologist. Together, they discuss the current state of mental health in the United States, taking a broad, global view of mental health and how care is delivered nationwide.

In this episode, Samuel Pueringer, MHA, Senior Director of Retail Health Operations at Hartford HealthCare, shares insights into how the system is redefining patient access through retail, virtual, and hybrid care models, including innovative care kiosks at airports, and more.

In this episode, Samuel Pueringer, MHA, Senior Director of Retail Health Operations at Hartford HealthCare, shares insights into how the system is redefining patient access through retail, virtual, and hybrid care models, including innovative care kiosks at airports, and more.

In this episode of That Tech Pod, Laura and Kevin talk with Kevin's brother, Dr. Ross Albert, Medical Director of Hartford HealthCare at Home Hospice and Palliative Care, about one of the most unsettling trends in the digital age: health misinformation driven by AI. The conversation kicks off with a real case of a man hospitalized after following ChatGPT's bad advice and spirals into the broader question of why people are so quick to trust AI over actual doctors.Ross shares what it's like when patients bring AI-generated “facts” into the exam room, how often he has to correct them, and what happens when politics, ideology, and misinformation collide with medicine. We get into the risks of fake medical citations, the line between bad advice and malpractice, and whether AI companies should be required to include stronger safeguards for health-related content. From hallucinations caused by bromide poisoning to the daily challenges doctors face correcting digital myths, this episode looks at what happens when artificial intelligence meets human vulnerability, and why it's more important than ever to check your sources before taking medical advice from a chatbot.Dr. Ross Albert, MD PhD is the Medical Director of the Hartford HealthCare at Home Hospice and Palliative Care teams. Over the last 15 years, he has practiced in primary care, hospital medicine, and palliative care roles across Connecticut. He holds board certifications in Family Medicine, Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Ross holds faculty positions with the UConn Internal Medicine and Quinnipiac Family Medicine residency programs. He has published numerous articles focused on evidence-based medical care for patients across the spectrum of disease.Note: this episode is for informational purposes only. We talk about how medical misinformation spreads and what we can learn from it, but nothing you hear should be taken as medical advice. If you have questions about your health, talk to a doctor or another qualified healthcare professional. Also the views expressed by our guests are their own. 

Matt Pastor from Johnson Brunetti and Margaret Julian from Hartford Healthcare come in to discuss a massive gala coming up!

Dr. Alessi chats with Dr. Niamey Wilson on breast cancer. Dr. Wilson, head of the breast surgery division and director of breast surgery research and quality at Hartford HealthCare, helps clear up confusion surrounding breast cancer, including prevention and treatment options.

Join us for this episode of Digital Health Talks' "Five Good Things" where hosts Megan Antonelli and Janae Sharp discuss Samsung's acquisition of Xealth, Hartford Healthcare's first-in-US airport telehealth kiosk at Bradley International, and Rock Health's report showing $6.4 billion in healthcare investments with 62% going to AI startups. They also highlight nursing innovation awards, recognize Microsoft's Chief Nursing Officer Kathy McGrath, and announce their partnership with Emerge Americas for a major healthcare trade show in Miami, showcasing the continued momentum in digital health innovation and consumer-focused healthcare solutions.Janae Sharp, Founder & CEO, The Sharp IndexMegan Antonelli, Founder & CEO, HealthIMPACT Live

Dr. Alessi welcomes Dr. Stephanie Alessi LaRosa, director of Sports Neurology at Hartford Healthcare, for a timely discussion on sports related brain injuries ahead of the scholastic sports season. They cover the Sports Neurology program at Hartford Healthcare and strategies to help protect children and grandchildren involved in high impact sports. Dr. Alessi also reflects on his recent travels through Europe and Scandinavia, sharing conversations he had with locals about their healthcare systems and offering his perspective on how those systems compare to healthcare in the United States.

In this episode, Dr. Jeffrey Cohen, Executive Vice President and Chief Clinical Operating Officer at Hartford HealthCare, shares insights into the health system's journey toward clinical integration, its commitment to patient safety, and the groundbreaking launch of HHC 24/7 virtual care. He also discusses Hartford HealthCare's ambitious 2035 plan to become the nation's most people-centric health system.

The next segment of our Pride Month In Focus series will introduce the leader of Hartford Healthcare's Center for Gender Health at the Institute for Living. We'll hear how the small but mighty team at the Center is working with patients, their families and communities to deliver comprehensive, compassionate healthcare services for gender-diverse individuals of all ages.

Today we'll open up talking about education and the arts as we meet the leader of Arts for Learning CT, which is working hard to inspire young people and expand their learning through the arts. Find out how their affiliated artists and supporters are developing strategic partnerships to reach shared goals for young people and our state. Then, the next segment of our Pride Month In Focus series will introduce the leader of Hartford Healthcare's Center for Gender Health at the Institute for Living. We'll hear how the small but mighty team at the Center is working with patients, their families and communities to deliver comprehensive, compassionate healthcare services for gender-diverse individuals of all ages. And we'll close replaying a segment from earlier this year with Make-A-Wish of Connecticut. Make-A-Wish is still working with dozens of qualified families and local children in an attempt to grant their wishes. We think you'll be pleasantly surprised at how easy it is for you to become a "Wish Maker," so stay tuned and learn how to get involved.

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

Dr. Alessi discusses infectious diseases with Dr. Michael Rajkumar. Dr. Rajkumar, a specialist at Hartford Healthcare, explains the science behind infectious diseases, their impact on our daily life, and ways to stay safe and healthy. Dr. Alessi also emphasizes the importance of student visas for those studying medicine abroad and expresses concern over the VA being asked to report anti Christian bias, warning it could hinder research in areas like ALS and women's health. He also stresses the need for mindful health policies and, recognizing that April is Autism Awareness Month, shares his thoughts on a proposed database to track people with autism.

In this episode, Rylee Wilson speaks with Dr. James O'Dea and Dr. J. Craig Allen of Hartford HealthCare about the future of behavioral health and addiction medicine. They discuss the critical importance of access to care, strategies for keeping patients engaged in treatment, and the latest advancements in addiction medicine, including new technologies and value-based care approaches.

Dr. Alessi discusses epilepsy with Dr. Lisa Knopf, Associate Director of Epilepsy Surgery at the Ayer Neuroscience Institute at Hartford HealthCare. They talk about the history of epilepsy, current treatments, and the role of surgery in managing the condition. Dr. Alessi also addresses the recent measles outbreak, emphasizing the importance of vaccinations and how quickly viruses can spread when not taken seriously.

Okey Agba, CFO at Hartford HealthCare, dives into the rising cost of care delivery and how the organization is tackling it through innovation and efficiency. He emphasizes AI integration not as a replacement for human labor, but as a powerful tool to enhance productivity. Okey also shares exciting breakthroughs and projects underway at Hartford HealthCare, along with the system's continued commitment to expanding access and driving innovation in patient care.

Upfront Healthcare worked with Hartford Healthcare to hyper-personalize digital outreach, closing gaps in care.

It sounds like an agreement was reached between United Healthcare and Hartford Healthcare. Negotiations on a contract expired at midnight and if the two parties couldn't reach a deal, thousands of Connecticut residents would pay out of pocket for out of network doctors. We spoke with Senator and doctor, Jeff Gordon, about this latest debacle involving health insurance companies and healthcare entities in the state. Plus, we spoke about a new bill that would allow religious organizations to offer temporary housing to the homeless and refugees. Image Credit: Getty Images

In this episode, Dr. Jeffrey Cohen, Executive Vice President and Chief Clinical Operating Officer at Hartford HealthCare, shares insights into the health system's journey toward clinical integration, its commitment to patient safety, and the groundbreaking launch of HHC 24/7 virtual care. He also discusses Hartford HealthCare's ambitious 2035 plan to become the nation's most people-centric health system.

For the 90th episode of the CIO podcast hosted by Healthcare IT Today, we are joined by Barry Stein, MD, MBA, VP and Chief Clinical Innovation Officer at Hartford HealthCare to talk about AI use cases! We kick this episode off as Stein shares how Hartford HealthCare has been approaching AI. Then we discuss what […]

Dr Ulysses Wu from Hartford Healthcare talks about Flu numbers being a bit high this year.

KENNEDY I. HAWKINS, MBA, JD, LLM Has been a  CEO | COO | PRESIDENT| VICE PRESIDENT He orchestrated Transformational growth and was a turnaround healthcare leader with a proven track record of growing a “mom & pop” healthcare startup by increasing revenue 2,614% and shepherding its evolution into a complex, nationally recognized organization. The company was the Recipient of multiple “Oregon Top Workplace,” “Best of the Willamette Valley,” and Innovation awards. He drove the successful acquisition and integration with one of the largest publicly traded companies in the Physical Therapy industry USPH. A servant leader, public speaker, and recognized thought leader with multi-dimensional background at the intersection of business, law, and taxation.  He is currently the Director-Executive of the Development Center at Willamette University Atkinson Graduate School of Management And is the owner of Kennedy Hawkins Consulting which provides Fractional Or Interim CEO/COO | Managing Director | Management Consultant servicesHe is the former President/CEO of PT Northwest which he held for 21 years which is now part of US Physical Therapy.  He took the organization from 3 service locations to 27 including 12 outpatient facilities, 2 hospitals, 3 universities, 3 minor league sport teams and 6 high schools.He built a national clinical learning community involving organizations like Intermountain Healthcare, Advent Health, Boston University, Mountain Land Rehabilitation, Hartford Healthcare, and University of Pittsburg Medical Center He has a long history with National Association of Rehabilitation Agencies including be the Past President of the organization. 

For decades, Gatorade has been the go-to drink to fuel athletes and gym-goers by restoring lost electrolytes. But does a troubling ingredient list outweigh the benefits of drinking it? Dr. Andrew Wong with Hartford Healthcare weighs in on the discussion around these sports drinks. Image Credit: Getty Images

According to national statistics, over 100,000 people are waiting for an organ transplant in the United States and 90,000 of them are people waiting for a kidney. Medical professionals are one step closer to using pig kidneys as transplants for humans in America. We got perspective on this medical breakthrough and how soon it could become a regular reality in US hospitals from Hartford Healthcare's Dr. Glyn Morgan. Image Credit: Getty Images 

Send us a textDr. Laura Saunders from Hartford HealthCare's Institute of Living talks about the pressure put on teenagers to achieve.Support the showThank you for listening, please share and subscribe! Follow me on social media @karasundlun.For more info and requests for speaking visit www.karasundlunmedia.com

Send us a textDr. Laura Saunders from Hartford HealthCare's Institute of Living talks about subtle things parents may be doing that are causing their children to have anxiety.Support the showThank you for listening, please share and subscribe! Follow me on social media @karasundlun.For more info and requests for speaking visit www.karasundlunmedia.com

Send us a textDr. Laura Saunders from Hartford HealthCare talks about the mental health dangers that come with social media.Support the showThank you for listening, please share and subscribe! Follow me on social media @karasundlun.For more info and requests for speaking visit www.karasundlunmedia.com

The FDA is banning red dye number three in food, drinks and ingested drugs.  Wednesday's move comes more than 30 years after scientists found links between the dye, which is made from petroleum, and cancer in animals. We spoke with Dr. Andrew Wong with Hartford Healthcare about the banning and what products are impacted. IMAGE CREDIT: Melissa Sheketoff

Send us a textPsychologist Dr. Laura Saunders from Hartford HealthCare talks about how embracing the cold is good for your mental health.Support the showThank you for listening, please share and subscribe! Follow me on social media @karasundlun.For more info and requests for speaking visit www.karasundlunmedia.com

The conversation covered various topics, including market fluctuations, the Biden administration's final week, and local news. Brian Shactman discussed the pre-market trade and oil prices nearing $80 per barrel. The conversation also touched on the the California wildfire, and the upcoming inauguration. Jill Schlesinger explained the impact of strong job reports on stock markets and interest rates. The discussion included updates on local sports, including the Buffalo Bills' and Eagles' playoff wins, and the Hartford Wolf Pack's performance. Additionally, Attorney General William Tong addressed the Prospect Medical Holdings bankruptcy and its implications for local hospitals. The conversation covered several key issues, including the bankruptcy of Prospect Medical Holdings, which owns Manchester Memorial, Rockville General, and Waterbury hospitals, and the impact on healthcare in Connecticut. Attorney General William Tong discussed a $5 million settlement for Stone Academy nursing students, with no state fines, and emphasized the importance of protecting Connecticut families. Greg Bordonaro discusses the economic outlook for Connecticut, highlighting the optimism despite the change in federal administration. Additionally, the conversation highlighted the economic outlook for Connecticut, the challenges faced by hospitals, and the hiring pause at Electric Boat due to supply chain issues. Greg Bordonaro discusses the settlement between St Francis Hospital and Hartford Healthcare and the potential impact on the healthcare industry in Connecticut.

Send us a textPsychologist Dr. Laura Saunders from Hartford HealthCare shares mental health guidelines for the new year.Support the showThank you for listening, please share and subscribe! Follow me on social media @karasundlun.For more info and requests for speaking visit www.karasundlunmedia.com

Send us a textDr. Laura Saunders from Hartford HealthCare talks about mood buster techniques to get you through the holidays. Support the showThank you for listening, please share and subscribe! Follow me on social media @karasundlun.For more info and requests for speaking visit www.karasundlunmedia.com

Send us a textChild psychologist Dr. Laura Saunders from Hartford HealthCare shares how to deal with friends or relatives who make rude comments during holiday celebrations. Support the showThank you for listening, please share and subscribe! Follow me on social media @karasundlun.For more info and requests for speaking visit www.karasundlunmedia.com

Send us a textDr. Laura Saunders from Hartford HealthCare talks about youth substance abuse.Support the showThank you for listening, please share and subscribe! Follow me on social media @karasundlun.For more info and requests for speaking visit www.karasundlunmedia.com

Send us a textDr. Laura Saunders from Hartford HealthCare's Institute of Living shares some advice on how to talk to your teens about vaping.Support the showThank you for listening, please share and subscribe! Follow me on social media @karasundlun.For more info and requests for speaking visit www.karasundlunmedia.com

This podcast continues the important conversation on implementation science, shining a spotlight on one project that incorporates implementation science at the point of care. Laney Jones, PharmD, MPH, of Amgen speaks with Stephanie Saucier, MD, FACC, RPVI, of Hartford HealthCare about the Preventive Cardiology Best Practice Advisory initiative she started in her health system. Dr. Saucier provides actionable insights for overcoming roadblocks to bring initiatives like this to fruition within a health care system. This episode is sponsored by Amgen and Dr. Saucier was compensated for her participation.

Send us a textDr. Laura Saunders from Hartford HealthCare's Institute of Living discusses how to speak to children about tough topics.Support the showThank you for listening, please share and subscribe! Follow me on social media @karasundlun.For more info and requests for speaking visit www.karasundlunmedia.com

We are talking MEN's health at Hartford Healthcare's Bone & Joint Institute.

Tim Ulbrich, YFP CEO, talks with the five recipients of the first YFP Gives scholarships. Summary This episode is filled with inspiration as we share the stories of the five winners of the first YFP Gives scholarship. Let this episode be a ray of sunshine amidst some of the cloudy skies plaguing the pharmacy profession. If the future is in the hands of these outstanding students and new practitioners, then the future is bright. In this episode, you'll meet:  Alyssa Falleni, clinical pharmacist who specializes in addiction treatment, HCV, and HIV and is currently working in HIV outpatient care at Hartford Healthcare Momitul Talukdar, who after working in the radiology department at a hospital, discovered her calling as a nuclear pharmacist. Momi currently works at PETNET in Cleveland, OH Perrigrine Garner, a pharmacy student at the University of Toledo with a passion for helping those in need and a dream of owning an independent pharmacy that caters to those with chronic medical conditions and disabilities Ruth Adeyemi, a fourth-year PharmD/MPH Nigerian International student at the University of Florida College of Pharmacy and College of Public Health and Health Professions, with a deep-rooted commitment to improving health outcomes in underserved communities, particularly in her home country, Nigeria. Ai Len Nguyen Phan, a Rutgers Industry Fellow at Roche Genentech in San Francisco, with a desire to work in medical affairs and give back to the pharmacy community through her mentorship to the Rutgers pharmacy students About Today's Guests Alyssa Falleni is a clinical pharmacist who specializes in addiction treatment, HCV, and HIV. After graduating from the University of Rhode Island, Alyssa went on to complete an ambulatory care residency at Hennepin Healthcare in Minneapolis, MN. Following residency, Alyssa completed a two-year VA Advanced Fellowship in Health Professions' Education, Evaluation, and Research (HPEER) at the VA in West Haven, Connecticut. She will be continuing her teaching with the Yale School of Medicine as she begins a new HIV specialty position with Hartford Healthcare. Momi Talukdar, MS, PharmD Candidate 2024 is a graduate of Northeast Ohio Medical University College of Pharmacy. She's an incoming nuclear pharmacist at PETNET in Cleveland, OH. Along with her passion for nuclear pharmacy, she loves teaching nuclear pharmacy as an adjunct faculty at University of Wisconsin LaCrosse. In her spare time, Momi enjoys watching new films and art shows and trying out local coffee shops. Ai Len (Aileen) Nguyen Phan is a second-year Rutgers Pharmaceutical Industry Fellow at Genentech, Inc. - Rare Blood Disorders Medical Science Liaison. She graduated from the University of Maryland, School of Pharmacy with her Pharm.D. and M.S. in Regulatory Sciences in 2023. She supported the US Medical Information & Communication Target Therapies teams during the first year of her fellowship. While Aileen has just recently started her industry career, she continues to give back to the pharmacy community through her mentorship to the Rutgers pharmacy students, such as supporting their scientific research on using artificial intelligence to assess oncology treatments. Perrigrine Garner, a non-traditional student, and mother of three amazing daughters, is currently a P4 at the University of Toledo's College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. Perrigrine is passionate about advocating for people with disabilities, especially in healthcare, as she is also a person with physical disabilities. Upon graduation, her dream is to help advance inclusivity in her community by opening an independent pharmacy that caters to those with chronic medical conditions and disabilities.  Ruth Adeyemi, a fourth-year PharmD/MPH Nigerian International student at the University of Florida College of Pharmacy and College of Public Health and Health Professions. Her journey in pharmacy is fueled by a deep-rooted commitment to improving health outcomes in underserved communities, particularly in my home country, Nigeria. With this passion, she started The Compassionate Pharmacy Practice Project (TCPPP), a project dedicated to transforming the Nigerian pharmacy practice system. The goal is to ensure that Good Pharmacy Practice (GPP) and Compassionate Care are not just concepts but realities in both urban and rural areas, significantly improving health outcomes in these communities. While Ruth is Nigerian, her commitment to improving health equity in underserved communities extends beyond borders. She is dedicated to her goal of ensuring that all patients, regardless of their neighborhood and built environment, receive the patient-centered, optimal, and compassionate care they deserve. Mentioned on the Show YFP Gives Ruth Adeyemi LinkedIn Alyssa Falleni LinkedIn Perrigrine Garner LinkedIn Momitul Talukdar LinkedIn Ruth Adeyemi Links:  https://sarmlife.com/  Books [Mastering the Art of Blogging for Your Brand] [Mastering the Art of SEO for Brand Growth] [Book Bundle - Discounted Price for purchasing both books] YFP Disclaimer Subscribe to the YFP Newsletter Tim Ulbrich on LinkedIn YFP on Instagram YFP Facebook Group  

In this episode, we are joined by Carrie Swihart, Associate Director, Health IT Strategy at Amgen; Ralph Riello, Clinical Pharmacy Specialist at Yale University School of Medicine; Stephanie Saucier, Cardiologist at Hartford HealthCare; Gihan Dawood, Endocrinologist at UW Health; and Lori Siegel, Rheumatologist at Illinois Bone & Joint Institute. Tune in to learn about the importance of electronic health record integration to improve patient care.This episode is sponsored by Amgen.