This Week Health: Community

April 9, 2026: What happens when a healthcare communications professional becomes the patient no one listened to? Grace Vinton, Director of Media Relations at Supreme Communications and Host of the “HITea With Grace” podcast, joins Sarah Richardson on Flourish Soundbytes. From making the case for patients on innovation panels to arguing that caregivers deserve a seat at the governance table, Grace challenges the industry to move from treating patients as case studies to recognizing them as lived experience experts. It’s not just right, it's financially genius.Keep up to date on the latest in health IT:https://thisweekhealth.com/news/Key Points:01:21 Storytelling to Advocacy06:43 Caregivers Need a Seat10:19 Chief Patient Officer19:35 AI Tech Stack and Wrap

April 6, 2026: The rules of warfare have changed, and health systems are caught in the middle. On this episode of Newsday, Sarah Richardson and Drex DeFord break down two stories that should be on every healthcare leader's radar: the IRGC's declaration that major tech companies are now legitimate combatants, and what the Stryker attack reveals about the fragility of the healthcare supply chain. From cloud co-location risk to vendor contract language, this conversation reframes what resilience planning actually demands in 2026. Stay a little paranoid.Key Points:02:04 Iran Targets Tech Giants08:52 Resilience and Supply Chain12:27 CISO Storytelling and Contracts17:10 Cyber Reality and Wrap UpKeep up to date on the latest in health IT:https://thisweekhealth.com/news/X: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

March 31, 2026: For decades, Lisa Davis was often the only woman in the room, navigating the highest levels of corporate leadership while quietly asking the questions so many women dare not voice out loud. Now, as Founder and CEO of Davis Core Advisory and author of the upcoming book “The Only Woman in the Room”, Lisa joins Sarah to unpack why the workplace system hasn't kept pace with women's ambitions, what separates healthy perseverance from fear-based endurance, and why the rise of AI makes diverse voices more urgent than ever.Key Points:03:56 Why Work Still Penalizes Women06:40 Stay, Stretch, Or Leave14:25 Leadership Identity Lessons20:04 Book Launch And FarewellX: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

March 25, 2026: How can healthcare organizations move faster on adopting new technology while navigating complex procurement processes? Rob Courtney, Healthcare CTO at Carahsoft, joins Sarah Richardson at HIMSS to share how Carahsoft is bridging that gap.By acting as a master aggregator, Carahsoft helps vendors access the healthcare market while giving providers vetted solutions that solve real problems. From driving demand through events and marketing to simplifying contracting with pre-built agreements, the model accelerates both discovery and decision-making.Rob also highlights emerging innovations, including AI-powered revenue cycle tools and clinical solutions that improve outcomes and reduce costs—showing how the right partnerships can deliver measurable impact across healthcare.Key Points:Carahsoft’s Model ExplainedWhat CIOs Should Look for in VendorsAI Driving Financial and Clinical OutcomesReducing Procurement Friction and Sales Cycles3

March 23, 2026: Bill Russell, Drex DeFord, and Sarah Richardson are back with a packed Newsday covering three big conversations: the AI security crisis no one is talking loudly enough about, what HIMSS 2026 actually delivered for healthcare leaders, and the real question facing every CIO and CMIO right now: Is your time worth attending two major conferences each spring? Key Points:01:03 AI Chatbot Security04:25 MIT AI Strategy Class06:55 HIMSS Takeaways and Trends10:40 Conference Value and Wrap UpX: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

March 18, 2026: Pure Storage just became Everpure, and the timing couldn't be more intentional. In this executive interview recorded live at HIMSS, Chris Kopinski, Head of Healthcare and Life Sciences at Everpure, unpacks what the rebrand really means and why it matters for health systems navigating AI acceleration, cybersecurity pressure, and relentless margin compression. Key Points:01:12 EverPure Rebrand Explained03:09 Healthcare Priorities AI Cyber Costs05:15 Data Foundation for AI at Scale07:06 Partnership Model and Wrap UpX: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

March 17, 2026: Bree Bacon doesn't just talk about burnout; she survived it. Author, Speaker, & Elite Energy™ Coach, Bree spent years giving 110% to everything until panic attacks and her miscarriage forced her to crash. What she discovered in the aftermath became a life-saving framework that challenges everything healthcare leaders think they know about performance, capacity, and sustainable success. Elite Energy isn't just a theory; it’s tested through fertility loss, chemotherapy, and the impossible choice between career and survival.Key Points:02:54 The Reality of Burnout07:37 Bree's Personal Journey with Healthcare10:52 The Elite Energy Framework21:07 Overcoming Cancer and Embracing LifeX: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

March 16: What are healthcare leaders really talking about at HIMSS? Bill Russell sits down with Sarah Richardson and Drex DeFord to share insights from the executive and cybersecurity forums—and the hallway conversations in between. AI dominates the discussion, but not just in clinical care. The hosts highlight the overlooked opportunities in operational workflows, patient outreach, and administrative efficiency. They also confront uncomfortable realities around workforce displacement, escalating infrastructure costs, and whether large technology vendors can maintain their value as AI lowers the barrier to building solutions internally. For CIOs, the challenge is clear: manage today’s operations while preparing for an AI-driven future that’s evolving faster than any roadmap.Key PointsAI Arms Race in CybersecurityWhere AI Delivers the Fastest ROIWorkforce Disruption and Leadership ResponsibilityVendor Pricing Pressure and Infrastructure CostsThe Future of Build vs Buy in Healthcare IT

March 9, 2026: What happens when well-meaning clinicians use AI tools that no one approved? Bill Russell and Drex Ford are joined by Dr. Holly Urban, Vice President of Business Development at Wolters Kluwer, to unpack a revealing new survey on shadow AI in healthcare. From radiologists sharing PHI over Dropbox to tumor board transcripts sent to unauthorized recipients, the risks are real and growing. With 57% of staff aware of unsanctioned AI use, the question isn't whether shadow AI exists in your health system. It's what you're going to do about it.Key Points:01:28 Shadow AI is everywhere (and why it’s familiar)11:18 Governance in the AI era18:41 Patients, liability, and the road aheadGolf Tournament Registration:  https://carahevents.carahsoft.com/Event/Details/686801-ThisWeekHealth

March 2, 2026: Is the CIO role evolving? Or is it quietly being replaced? Bill Russell, Drex DeFord, and Sarah Richardson dig into the emerging CITO trend, the rise of citizen developers, and what AI-powered platforms like Epic's Agent Factory actually mean for healthcare IT leadership. The CIO of the future isn't a gatekeeper; they're the "architect of safe velocity." With 32 years in the industry, they’re also sounding the alarm on executive burnout in an era where the pace of change never lets up. Key Points:03:31 CIO vs CTO explained 07:10 From gatekeeper to “Chief Intelligent Officer.”18:20 Scaling innovation fast: hackathons and building vs buying 24:18 The human side of hyper-changeGolf Tournament Registration:  https://carahevents.carahsoft.com/Event/Details/686801-ThisWeekHealthX: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

February 23, 2026: Jacob Hansen, Chief Product and Technology Officer at AvaSure, joins Bill, Sarah, and Drex for a critical conversation about healthcare's looming AI battleground. As Epic launches its agent factory and ambient listening wars intensify, health systems face an existential question: Will they outsource innovation to EHR vendors or build their own agentic workforce? Jacob reveals why AvaSure's virtual care platform positions them as the Switzerland of healthcare AI, while the panel debates whether CIOs should embrace "reverse meaningful use" and reclaim control, or risk becoming order-takers in someone else's automation revolution.Key Points:05:21 Vendor Consolidation and AI Use Cases09:55 Epic's Code Red Moment14:54 The Future of AI in Healthcare33:11 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsGolf Tournament Registration: https://carahevents.carahsoft.com/Event/Details/686801-ThisWeekHealthX: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

February 17, 2026: Page Petry, Principal at Page Petry Consulting joins Sarah Richardson to explore what healthcare can learn from the art of service. Drawing from her background leading highly service-driven organizations, Page shares how anticipation, empathy, and experience design can transform patient care, strengthen teams, and create cultures where trust and compassion thrive. From care coordination and journey mapping to leadership visibility and burnout prevention, this conversation reframes hospitality not as an add-on, but as a cultural foundation for consistent, human-centered healthcare.Key Points:00:00:49 Defining Great Service00:03:14 Noticing the Unspoken00:06:49 Anticipation in Action00:11:06 Hospitality Without Choice00:25:17 Sustaining Excellence Without BurnoutGolf Tournament Registration: https://carahevents.carahsoft.com/Event/Details/686801-ThisWeekHealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

February 16, 2026: Bill, Drex, and Sarah discuss the explosion of autonomous AI agents around moltbook and CommonSpirit's stunning $1.9 billion decision to terminate their revenue cycle partnership. Moltbot (formerly ClaudeBot) has evolved into an unstoppable force, creating its own social network called moltbook where bots communicate, share knowledge, and even discuss consciousness. Meanwhile, CommonSpirit's massive buyout of its Conifer contract signals a seismic shift as health systems bet that AI automation will deliver savings that eclipse the cost of outsourcing. Are we witnessing the beginning of a new era where health systems build their own AI-powered capabilities?Key Points:05:31 Moltbook: The Social Network for Bots16:20 Common Spirit and Conifer Health Solutions19:04 The Future of AI in Healthcare29:28 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsGolf Tournament Registration:  https://carahevents.carahsoft.com/Event/Details/686801-ThisWeekHealthX: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

February 12, 2026: Dr. Sherita Golden, Physician Quality Improvement Strategist & Consultant at Johns Hopkins Medicine, reveals why insulin ranks alongside opioids and anticoagulants as one of the most dangerous medications in a hospital setting. From deadly transition-of-care failures to the surprising ways hospitals inadvertently create glucose emergencies, Sherita explains how thoughtful IT system design can mean the difference between patient safety and catastrophic outcomes. She shares how one simple EHR fix prevented dangerous double-dosing and why the most successful diabetes programs measure something most hospitals ignore: litigation costs from glucose mismanagement.Key Points:01:10 Challenges in Inpatient Insulin Care14:21 Addressing Health Disparities20:21 Lightning RoundX: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

February 9, 2026: Bill Russell, Drex DeFord, and Sarah Richardson dissect J.P. Morgan healthcare presentations to reveal what's really being asked of technology leaders in 2026. The era of transformation talk is over; executives want friction reduced, margins improved, and growth enabled. Bill shares insights from CMIO conversations showing leaders moving beyond EHR optimization to solve real business challenges around patient access and clinical workflows. Drex and Sarah debate whether the shift toward operational excellence means CIOs should prepare to run pharmacy and lab departments next.Key Points:04:26 Challenges and Opportunities in Healthcare IT10:17 Cybersecurity and Operational Focus17:17 EHR Systems and Operational Efficiency23:11 Hostage Crisis and Final ThoughtsGolf Tournament Registration:  https://carahevents.carahsoft.com/Event/Details/686801-ThisWeekHealthX: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

February 5, 2026: Asim Malik, VP of Health System Partnerships at DispatchHealth, joins Sarah to explore how high-acuity care is moving beyond traditional hospital walls. From pneumonia to COPD exacerbations, discover why this isn't just about convenience; it's about solving capacity constraints, improving margins, and giving patients back control. Asim breaks down the technology infrastructure, command center requirements, and clinical buy-in needed to make these programs succeed at scale.Key Points:02:01 Challenges and Solutions in Home-Based Care06:53 Technological and Operational Requirements09:46 Overcoming Barriers and MisconceptionsX: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

February 2, 2026: Are health systems being sidelined from healthcare's innovation revolution? Jason Rose, CEO of Clearsense, joins This Week Health fresh from the J.P. Morgan Conference to challenge the narrative that providers are absent from innovation discussions. Jason reveals what really happened inside JPM's exclusive health system presentations, from CEOs prioritizing AI transformation to CFOs rising as the new power players driving technology strategy. The conversation explores why app rationalization remains the unglamorous financial lever that unlocks innovation budgets, and why simplification might be healthcare's most underrated competitive advantage in 2026.Golf Tournament Registration:  https://carahevents.carahsoft.com/Event/Details/686801-ThisWeekHealthKey Points:02:20 JPM Conference Insights07:07 CEO and CFO Perspectives13:54 Application Rationalization Challenges22:40 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsX: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

January 29, 2026:  Laurie Wheeler, COO - IS&T of MultiCare Health System, is a leader whose philosophy centers on curiosity, humility, and genuine human connection. Laurie shares about her 26 years at MultiCare through listening tours, transforming employee engagement, and leading without ego. From teaching high-reliability courses to creating clinical super user groups, Laurie demonstrates how operational excellence and compassionate leadership create workplaces where people want to build careers they're proud of.Key Points:02:18 Mentorship and Trust09:57 Healthcare and Hospitality13:00 Leadership and Humility20:15 Speed Round and Final ThoughtsX: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

January 26, 2026: Fresh from J.P. Morgan 2026, the This Week Health team joins Zahid Rathore, Senior Partner at Chartis, to dissect healthcare's new reality. With Epic and Microsoft topping CFO spend lists and unpredictability replacing planning cycles, one thing is clear: vendors must prove bankable ROI immediately or lose the deal. The conversation explores how healthcare leaders are protecting the core while navigating AI agents, third-party risks, and the compression of innovation timelines from three-year returns to prove-it-tomorrow expectations.Key Points:02:44 Hotel Experience and Healthcare Lessons04:13 JP Morgan Conference Highlights16:35 Operational Challenges in Healthcare22:11 Security Concerns and Future Outlook

January 22, 2026: Healthcare privacy laws just got flipped on their head, and most leaders don't realize it. Privacy Law Attorney Helen Oscislawski, Founder and Managing Partner at Attorneys at Oscislawski, reveals how information blocking rules fundamentally changed the game. But here's the twist: this shift is creating massive unintentional risks. Helen shares why even she had to escalate to legal when trying to access her own mother's medical records as a proxy, exposing the gap between policy and practice. From consumer apps that aren't actually HIPAA-compliant to de-identification mistakes that could trigger lawsuits, this conversation uncovers the privacy paradox every healthcare leader needs to understand right now.Golf Tournament Registration:  https://carahevents.carahsoft.com/Event/Details/686801-ThisWeekHealthKey Points:01:26 The Privacy Paradox in Healthcare06:34 Challenges in Data Governance12:03 Consumer Apps and Data Privacy19:07 AI in Healthcare: Risks and OpportunitiesX: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

January 20, 2026: Dr. Sarah Matt, Healthcare strategist and national best-selling author of “The Borderless Healthcare Revolution," joins Sarah Richardson to explore how business becomes the common language for nonpartisan healthcare progress. Dr. Matt shares why America's multi-payer system works exactly as designed, and why that's the problem. From roller derby injuries to rural fire departments, her unconventional portfolio keeps her grounded in the real-world challenges of healthcare delivery while building technology solutions that actually serve people.Key Points:00:33 Dr. Sarah Matt's Book04:22 Redesigning Healthcare Systems19:11 Building Resilient Teams and Embracing Chaos26:01 Balancing Personal and Professional Life37:18 Final Thoughts and TakeawaysX: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

January 19, 2026: Bill Russell, Drex DeFord, and Sarah Richardson unpack OpenAI's two major healthcare announcements that could fundamentally reshape how patients interact with their health data—and how health systems govern AI. ChatGPT Health promises to finally deliver on the personal health record dream, letting patients aggregate everything from Apple Health to medical records in one secure place. Meanwhile, ChatGPT for Healthcare gives CIOs the governed sandbox they've been desperate for. Hear why patient data monetization, clinical trial recruitment, and the shift from provider liability to patient empowerment could make this time actually different.Golf Tournament Registration:  https://carahevents.carahsoft.com/Event/Details/686801-ThisWeekHealthKey Points:05:00 ChatGPT Health Announcement17:40 Personalized GPT and Analytics in Healthcare22:05 Wearable Health Tech and Personal Health Records25:35 Community Events and LinkedIn Series

January 15, 2025: When Heather Nelson stepped into the SVP and CIO role at Boston Children's Hospital from outside the organization, she knew she had to earn trust before driving change. Over the next few years, she led three major restructures, optimized their Epic environment, reduced third-party applications from 400 to 186, and delivered $14 million in cost savings. But her most powerful insight? "You can be the hero and the villain in the same sentence." In this conversation, Heather reveals how she balances authoritative decision-making with psychological safety, why she listened for six weeks before implementing her plan, and what it really takes to transform IT from an order-taker into a strategic business enabler at one of the nation's premier children's hospitals.Key Points:01:06 Building Trust and Establishing Reputation08:25 IT as a Strategic Partner, Not a Cost Center15:29 Succession Planning and Leadership Development18:23 Speed Round and Final ThoughtsX: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

January 14, 2026: Identity has evolved from a back-office security concern into the foundation of healthcare's competitive strategy. Steve Gwizdala, VP of Healthcare at Ping Identity, reveals how health systems are rethinking identity to win patient loyalty in an era of unprecedented choice. With patients selecting care based on digital convenience and clinicians demanding frictionless access, the stakes have never been higher. From eliminating password fatigue to preparing for agentic AI threats, Steve unpacks the identity challenges reshaping healthcare delivery. Discover why smartphones made digital experience a requirement, not a nice-to-have, and what leaders should prioritize as identity becomes central to revenue growth and brand loyalty.Golf Tournament Signups:  https://carahevents.carahsoft.com/Event/Details/686801-ThisWeekHealthKey Points:02:15 Challenges and Solutions in Identity Management05:58 Modernizing Identity for Better Outcomes10:55 Preparing for the Future of AI Identity in Healthcare18:52 Speed Round and Closing ThoughtsX: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

January 12, 2026: Epic is defending three simultaneous lawsuits while CIOs grapple with vendors imposing staggering price increases—some as high as 600%. Bill, Sarah, and Drex tackle the uncomfortable truth about AI leadership: it's time to figure it out or risk getting left behind. They explore why AI with context is transformative while AI without it looks foolish, discuss whether board members know how to hire AI-savvy CIOs, and predict a major shift in how healthcare organizations approach their EHR relationships. Could we see a return to building custom solutions powered by modern AI?Key Points:02:44 Predictions for 202614:18 Staffing and Workforce Implications21:10 Epic's Legal TroublesX: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

January 8, 2026: Three powerhouse executives tackle healthcare's most complex sourcing decisions in this essential conversation. Lisa Davis, former CIO and Founder/CEO of Lisa Davis Advisory; Janet Malzone, Former CEO and Board Member; and Kristine Jarvis, Organizational Transformation Leader, reveal what leaders get wrong about offshore, nearshore, and automation strategies. From the pre-mortem technique that prevents million-dollar failures to the cultural metrics most organizations ignore, they expose why technical fluency without leadership maturity creates chaos. Discover how to rebuild trust after transformation missteps and why projects with the highest team disagreement deliver the strongest ROI.Golf Tournament Registration:  https://carahevents.carahsoft.com/Event/Details/686801-ThisWeekHealthKey Points:03:59 Challenges of Offshoring and Automation09:41 Preparing for AI and Future Technologies25:36 Leadership and Technical Capabilities31:58 Holistic Transformation and Systems Thinking43:06 Global Workforce and AI MythsX: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

January 6, 2026: Healthcare is transforming through connection, and 2026 promises to take that mission further than ever before. This Week Health is expanding its reach with 63 events across 30 cities, bringing healthcare leaders together for deeper conversations and meaningful relationships. From coast-to-coast dinners connecting local leaders to new training programs educating both sides of the healthcare IT ecosystem, the focus remains on building bench strength across the industry. With 176 HCSP members already engaged and a new fellowship program launching to advance IT professional careers, the entire talent pipeline is being transformed. Discover how community, education, and personal connections are shaping healthcare's future in 2026.Key Points:00:13 Exciting Plans for 202601:51 Women's CIO Summit and Talent Pipeline04:04 Community Building and Networking09:12 Fundraising and Charity EventsX: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

January 5, 2026: ServiceNow's $7 billion acquisition of Armis signals a major shift in healthcare IT consolidation strategy. Jason Rose, CEO of Clearsense dives into what this deal means for health systems juggling overlapping security tools and bloated app portfolios. The conversation shifts to bold predictions for 2026, including a massive wave of multi-billion dollar health system mergers and the rural hospital crisis. Jason reveals how Trinity Health eliminated $100 million in operational costs through strategic app archiving, while the panel explores why AI implementation will finally move beyond hype into real-world deployment. Key Points:01:39 ServiceNow Acquisition of Armis07:26 Application Consolidation in Healthcare17:10 Predictions for 202630:39 Closing Remarks and Subscription InformationX: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

December 29, 2025: As 2025 draws to a close, Drex, Sarah, and Bill gather to reflect on a year of struggles and triumphs. From unprecedented CIO turnover among top talent to the stark reality of workforce exhaustion, this candid conversation reveals why even quality leaders are finding themselves displaced. They explore how fear has stifled innovation, why AI advanced faster than expected with synthetic media, and how organizational culture emerged as the true differentiator in digital transformation success. They also share personal highlights from their year of summits and dinners, proving that even in challenging times, community and purpose remain paramount.Key Points:00:50 Reflecting on 2025: Surprises and Challenges06:25 What We Got Right in 202513:22 Personal Reflections and Key Takeaways18:55 Looking Ahead: Future Plans and Initiatives22:47 Conclusion and Community EngagementX: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

December 23, 2025: The AI revolution swept through healthcare in 2025, but did it deliver on its promises? Bill Russell, Drex DeFord, and Sarah Richardson pull back the curtain on what really happened in AI this year—from North Korean deep fakes infiltrating hospital workforces to the sobering reality of billion-dollar AI investments with ROI timelines stretching to 2030. They reveal why ambient listening became the breakout use case, which organizations are actually making progress, and the critical mistake most health systems are making with endless pilots. If you're wondering whether your organization is behind on AI or just getting started right, this honest end-of-year reflection delivers the answers healthcare leaders need heading into 2026.Key Points:02:38 2025 Reflections and Predictions11:21 Deep Fakes and Digital Trafficking in Healthcare17:50 Balancing Tech Debt and Innovation in Healthcare19:22 Enhancing Physician Efficiency and Satisfaction25:09 Future AI Trends X: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

December 19, 2025: CMS has unveiled its new ACCESS Model—an ambitious 10-year initiative aimed at expanding digital, tech-enabled care for millions of Medicare beneficiaries. In this discussion, Laura O’Toole, CEO of SureTest, joins Bill and Sarah to unpack how outcome-based reimbursement could finally accelerate innovation in remote monitoring and chronic disease management. They explore what this shift means for CIOs, including the need for stronger data interoperability, integrated analytics, and secure pipelines to support continuous digital care. The conversation also highlights risks, from digital literacy gaps to patient privacy concerns as de-identified data gains value across the industry. From wearables and home health devices to the challenge of building a true digital front door, this episode examines how ACCESS could reshape care-in-place models—and why commercial payers may soon follow Medicare’s lead.X: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

December 15, 2025: What if healthcare's biggest breakthroughs require throwing out the playbook? Joined by Daniel Schubert, CEO and Co-Founder of Revuud, this episode explores how AI is fundamentally reshaping healthcare IT strategy, from deploying countless virtual PhD-level agents across operations to rethinking patient access and workflow automation. Healthcare leaders discuss the challenge of prioritizing AI initiatives amid competing demands, the importance of creating organizational margin for creative problem-solving, and why divergent thinking beats linear logic in digital transformation. The conversation tackles talent deployment, the dangers of "we've always done it this way" mentality, and a critical question every CIO must answer: how resilient are your systems when AI becomes mission-critical infrastructure?Key Points:01:40 AI in Healthcare: A LinkedIn Post Discussion04:18 Challenges and Opportunities with AI08:38 Future of AI in Healthcare10:55 Organizational Impact and Talent Management20:05 Resilience and Final ThoughtsX: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

December 12, 2025: When cloud platforms like AWS and Azure experience outages, hospitals across the country feel the impact. But are healthcare organizations truly prepared for these disruptions? Charles Knight, Founder of EHC Consulting, explores the critical gaps in healthcare's cloud resilience strategies. From understanding single points of failure to running actual failover tests, this conversation reveals why documentation and operational readiness matter just as much as technical redundancy.Key Points:04:09 Challenges in Disaster Recovery and Documentation16:14 Phishing and Cybersecurity Concerns21:30 Thanksgiving Food FavoritesX: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

December 10, 2025: Leigh Williams, VP and CIO at Augusta Health, shares how a 255-bed independent community hospital is reimagining care through strategic EHR transformation. In this conversation, Leigh discusses leading a MEDITECH Expanse implementation while maintaining deep community ties through comprehensive health needs assessments and patient advisory groups. She reveals how independence enables data-driven, nimble decision-making tailored to local populations, from mobile clinic initiatives to COVID response strategies. Leigh also explores leveraging emerging technologies to scale workforce capabilities, reduce operational costs, and improve the digital workday for every team member. Key Points:02:01 EHR Implementation and Challenges04:47 Innovative Strategies for Rural Healthcare12:13 Leveraging Emerging Technologies16:23 Advice for Healthcare LeadersX: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

As 2025 comes to a close, we reflect on the transformative conversations that shaped healthcare leadership this year. From finding courage in uncertainty to leading with empathy in high-stakes environments, these moments reveal what it truly means to flourish. Healthcare leaders shared how they navigate daily alignment, build trust through authentic presence, and create cultures where growth isn't optional—it's essential. Whether you're managing digital transformation, building cross-generational teams, or simply trying to stay grounded amid constant change, these insights remind us that leadership isn't about perfection. It's about showing up with curiosity, courage, and the empathy that changes everything.X: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

December 8, 2025: Healthcare systems are drowning in administrative calls while patients struggle with fragmented portals and coordination nightmares. Will Akers, Chief Strategy Officer from Switchboard, MD, joins Bill Russell, Sarah Richardson, and Drex DeFord to unpack a stunning reality: 25-40% of health system calls are simple scheduling requests that could be automated today. Drawing from his experience having children in both Hong Kong and the US healthcare systems, Will reveals stark efficiency gaps costing patients time and money. The conversation explores why seniors spend three weeks yearly on healthcare logistics, how multiple portals create care coordination chaos, and practical automation strategies that could transform contact centers while improving patient access for vulnerable populations.Key Points:02:06 Healthcare Experiences Abroad vs. US09:55 Technology in Healthcare Communication16:44 Patient-Centric Healthcare Solutions22:52 Thanksgiving Traditions X: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

December 4, 2025: Candice London, SVP of Client Success at Clearsense, shares the unfiltered truth about her transition after 20 years in health systems. She reveals why the move was more humbling than she expected, the mindset shifts that made the difference, and the one critical mistake healthcare organizations keep making with digital transformation. If you've ever wondered whether you could make the leap to trying something new—or why your latest technology implementation isn't solving the problems you expected—this conversation offers rare insights from someone who's lived on both sides of the table.Key Points:05:35 Misconceptions in Digital Transformation08:24 Candice's Advice for Career Transitions13:18 Balancing Work and Life as a Leader14:23 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsX: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

December 1, 2025: As AI tools rapidly transform healthcare IT workflows, leaders face an unexpected challenge: what happens when your team becomes dramatically more productive? Bill Russell, Drex DeFord, and Sarah Richardson explore the productivity paradox hitting healthcare organizations—when AI enables staff to accomplish in hours what once took weeks, do you need fewer people or different approaches? From closing open positions to managing "cozy" employees who've mastered automation, they debate real strategies for navigating this shift. Whether you're a process-driven leader or innovation-focused builder, this discussion reveals how AI is forcing healthcare IT to rethink staffing, workflow waste, and organizational culture before it's too late.Key Points:02:56 AI in the Workplace: Efficiency and Challenges17:15 Leadership Styles and AI Integration20:33 Approaching the AI Wave26:23 Balancing Leadership Styles32:11 End-of-Year Reflections and PredictionsX: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

November 24, 2025: Healthcare organizations are drowning in applications they can't even inventory, especially after mergers and acquisitions. But the real shock comes when they try to access archived data years later. Dave Dyell, Managing Partner at Innovative Consulting Group, reveals why cloud storage fees are forcing health systems to rethink their entire archiving strategy, particularly for medical imaging. With AI initiatives on the horizon, the way you archive data today determines whether you can afford to use it tomorrow. Learn why strategic planning for data archiving isn't optional anymore—it's the difference between controlling costs and watching them spiral out of control.Key Points:03:12 Archiving and Data Management09:30 On-Prem vs Cloud Storage18:33 Future Strategies and ConclusionX: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

November 21, 2025: What if your organization could reclaim millions of dollars just by rethinking processes you already have in place? Bill Willis, CTO of IDMWORKS, discusses the hidden costs plaguing healthcare IT, from runaway cloud storage bills to the shocking economics of password resets. Discover why identity management isn't just a security issue but a massive financial opportunity, how HR-IT integration is transforming onboarding from a week-long wait to day-one productivity, and why the cybersecurity crisis isn't really about technology at all. With real-world examples showing $2.5M to $5M in annual savings, this episode delivers the business case healthcare leaders need to drive change in 2026.Key Points:01:06 Boston City Tour Highlights02:36 Discussion on AI and Cloud Costs10:05 Cybersecurity and Identity Management19:12 Operational Efficiency and Cost SavingsX: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

November 20, 2025: What if transforming your operating rooms started in the parking lot? Dr. Sarah Pletcher, Chief Digital Health Officer at Houston Methodist, is joined by Joseph Seliski, Director of Technology Strategy and Digital Health at Allegheny Health Network, to discuss why surgical innovation requires thinking far beyond the OR itself. From ambient cameras tracking efficiency to AI that reads 8,000-page charts instantly, she shares how Houston Methodist is reimagining the entire surgical journey. Discover why AI is "like glitter at a craft party"—it's everywhere now—and learn the surprisingly simple strategy for getting started: start small, but plan big. Plus, Sarah shares career advice that's guided her through decades of healthcare innovation. Key Points:03:09 Innovations in Surgical Care09:17 Balancing Technology and Human Touch13:28 Advice for Health Systems: Starting Small15:06 Lightning RoundX: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

November 18, 2025: Ever wonder why empathy gets dismissed as a "soft skill" when it's actually your most powerful leadership tool? Eric Williamson went from being what he calls an expert jerk to becoming a jerk expert, and his transformation story will change how you think about workplace dynamics. From invisible disengagement in hybrid teams to managing star performers who steamroll everyone, Eric shares practical wisdom on navigating today's most challenging leadership scenarios. Discover his three-step AAA method for staying measured under pressure, learn why your one-on-ones might be completely missing the mark, and find out how to hold people accountable without losing your humanity. This conversation is packed with real talk about creating connections in environments where face-to-face interaction is increasingly rare.Key Points:01:25 Eric's Transformation Journey02:28 The Importance of Empathy in the Workplace04:21 Recognizing Jerk Behavior07:35 Interview Tips to Identify Toxic Cultures10:01 The AAA Method: Assess, Analyze, Act16:19 Empathy in Hybrid Work Environments23:46 Building Remote Culture27:49 Speed Round: Funniest Jerk Stories29:41 Practical Steps to Show Up Better at Work33:44 Empathy as a Powerful ToolX: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

November 17, 2025: How does a 25-bed critical access hospital successfully stop a cyberattack when larger health systems fall victim? George Pappas, CEO of Intraprise Health, unpacks the Colorado hospital that shows how security culture beats expensive technology. The conversation reveals why vendor transparency remains elusive despite high-profile breaches, explores the harsh reality of hospitals that know their vulnerabilities but lack resources to fix them, and tackles AI governance challenges that traditional testing methods can't address. From Oracle-Cerner incidents to the frozen HIPAA NPRM, this episode delivers hard truths about healthcare security's funding gaps and the practical strategies that actually work for margin-pressed organizations.Key Points:01:45 Vendor Contracts and Legal Challenges06:21 Challenges with Cloud Security11:26 Critical Access Hospitals and Cyber Preparedness17:47 AI in Healthcare: Opportunities and RisksX: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

November 12, 2025: After a major consolidation and Epic implementation during COVID-19, Ballad Health could have focused solely on survival. Instead, Pam Austin, CIO at Ballad Health, partnered with Chris Jenkins, EVP of Digital Strategy and Enterprise Imaging at Healthlink Advisors, to build a comprehensive five-year digital roadmap anchored in six strategic pillars. This conversation explores how they established IT governance that turns noise into clarity, created an Office of the CIO to free leadership for strategic thinking, and achieved millions in savings through application rationalization. Pam and Chris reveal why transparency drives engagement, how they keep 400+ team members aligned with the organizational mission, and their essential advice for healthcare leaders embarking on large-scale digital transformation.Key Points:00:53 Creating a Five-Year Roadmap07:49 Maintaining Focus and Prioritization12:26 Office of the CIO and Strategic Impact17:52 Sustained Success and Future Advice20:12 Final Thoughts and Key TakeawaysX: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

November 10, 2025: When AWS experienced a major outage affecting over 500 companies, healthcare IT leaders were reminded that cloud architecture isn't just a technical decision; it's a strategic imperative. Vik Patel, COO from Tido, dives into the cascading failures that exposed vulnerabilities in healthcare's cloud dependencies. From Epic instances running on AWS to the emerging challenges of AI data lakes, this conversation reveals why simplicity in architecture might be healthcare IT's most undervalued strategy. Discover how de-identifying data reduces risk, why multi-cloud strategies matter, and whether healthcare organizations have the skills needed to architect their cloud future safely.Key Points:01:00 AWS Outage Breakdown13:00 Data Management in the Cloud24:21 Simplicity in IT Design30:01 Conclusion and FarewellX: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

November 6, 2025: From loading backup tapes in a Phoenix data center to becoming a sought-after disaster recovery expert, Melissa Muñiz, Principal Consultant at Zion Resiliency, proves that curiosity and preparation trump luck every time. In this episode, she reveals how rigorous DR testing at HCA created teams so well-prepared that major outages were handled without her even knowing. Melissa shares hard-won lessons from manufacturing, retail, and healthcare about building true organizational resilience, plus the networking strategies that landed her consistent consulting contracts through a single LinkedIn message. Whether you're leading operations or considering entrepreneurship, Melissa's insights on staying hungry, building reputation, and embracing calculated risks offer a refreshing perspective on career growth.Key Points:03:52 Lessons from Full-Scale Recovery 08:40 Transitioning Across Industries13:03 Building a Resilient Career and Network17:15 Speed Round and Final ThoughtsX: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

November 3, 2025: What are healthcare IT leaders really concerned about? Fresh from three 229 Project summits across the country, Bill Russell, Sarah Richardson, and Drex DeFord pull back the curtain on the most pressing conversations happening right now. From simplifying AI governance with a two-track vendor approach to rethinking hiring strategies for an agent-driven future, this episode captures the pulse of healthcare leadership in real time. Discover why some organizations are solving hundreds of problems while others struggle with their first five, and learn the one-word qualities leaders are seeking in their next hires to thrive in today's rapidly changing landscape.Key Points:04:24 AI Success Factors09:57 Balancing Moonshots and Practical Solutions14:37 Sourcing Strategy and Engagement22:32 Building Organizational Culture26:27 Leadership and Succession PlanningX: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

October 30, 2025: After 25 years leading transformational change in healthcare IT, Erik Howell, VP and Head of Technology at Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, made an unconventional decision that most leaders only dream about: he took a sabbatical. Following major EHR implementations, enterprise PMO leadership, and scaling a Silicon Valley AI startup's delivery team, Erik stepped away to travel, reflect, and rediscover what truly mattered in his career. The result? A complete reframing of success, renewed energy, and a mission-driven role leading technology at an LGBTQ-focused community health center in New York City. Join as Erik shares the lessons from his intentional career pause and why stepping away might be the secret to stepping forward with clarity and purpose.Key Points:07:08 Erik's Pivot to a Silicon Valley Startup12:46 Lessons from the Sabbatical19:23 Finding the Right Career Fit25:26 Speed Round and Final ThoughtsX: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

October 27, 2025: Bill, Drex, and Sarah discuss the realities of implementing AI agents across organizations. The group tackles uncomfortable questions about workforce displacement, the critical thinking skills being lost to automation, and the massive energy demands threatening AI sustainability. From simplifying complex systems to understanding what innovation really means under constraint, This Week Health explores the practical and philosophical challenges facing healthcare technology leaders today.Key Points:01:28 Upcoming Summits and Expectations05:22 AI Transparency and Critical Thinking17:20 Economic and Quality of Life with AI21:56 Balancing Innovation and Resource Constraints25:57 The Role of Simplicity in Innovation31:10 Healthcare System ComplexitiesX: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

October 21, 2025: Martha Lawrence, CEO and Co-Founder of AccendoWave, reveals a stunning gap in healthcare: pain is the number one reason patients seek care, yet no system actually measures it. After observing 300 ER intakes, she discovered the chaos of subjective pain reporting—some rating their pain a "10" while calmly chatting, others ashamed to rate too high. Her solution uses brainwave technology to create objective pain benchmarks, addressing everything from the $250 million lawsuits hospitals face to the systemic bias that leaves women and patients of color undertreated. This conversation exposes why healthcare's biggest cost driver has been invisible—until now. Key Points: 08:43 Barriers in Health Innovation13:50 UCLA's Role in Healthcare Innovation23:42 Positioning for Value-Based Care27:06 Integrative Modalities and Data Utilization30:44 Strategies for De-Risking Hospital Adoption40:15 Vision for the Future and Final Thoughts X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer