Ep 5: The Question Nobody Asks at Healthcare Conferences

Seven thousand healthcare leaders will walk into ACHE 2026 next week. Adam Grant opens. Brene Brown closes. Hundreds of sessions on AI, strategy, and leadership will fill every ballroom.Here is the question that will not be on any panel agenda: how many AI strategies presented from that stage have been tested by a clinician, on a real patient, in a real workflow?In this episode, Dr. Sarah Matt breaks down the three walls that kill healthcare innovation after the conference applause fades:The workflow wall: tools that work in the demo but collapse in the EHR, with nursing staff untrained and patients unconvinced.The reimbursement wall: 1,357 FDA-authorized AI devices in clinical care, and almost none with a clear billing pathway. The AMA created 26 new CPT codes for clinical AI. It is still a rounding error.The governance wall: who owns the AI output, who is liable when the algorithm is wrong, and why shadow AI is already running in your system.Dr. Matt also challenges the CMS proposal for AI avatars as a rural healthcare solution, arguing that the crisis is about workforce and trust, not information distribution.If you lead a health system, advise one, or build tools for one, this is the conversation the conference circuit is not having. Subscribe wherever you get podcasts and follow Dr. Sarah Matt on LinkedIn for daily insights on healthcare strategy, AI, and what actually works at the point of care.Subscribe to The Clinical Realist newsletter: https://www.drsarahmatt.com/newsletter-signup—Resources & Links:📖 Get the Book: "The Borderless Healthcare Revolution" is available now on Amazon and major retailers.💼 Work with Dr. Matt:Looking for a keynote speaker or strategic advisor?Visit: drsarahmatt.com🔗 Connect on Social:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahmattmd/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrSarahMatt-ClinicalRealist📧 Subscribe to The Briefing: drsarahmatt.com/newsletter-signup —Disclaimer:The views expressed on this podcast are those of Dr. Sarah Matt and her guests. They do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any affiliated institutions. This content is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice or a professional consulting relationship.