Designing for Health

In this episode of Designing for Health, Craig Joseph sits down with Dr. Stephanie Carreiro, an emergency medicine physician and medical toxicologist at UMass Medical School, to explore how digital health tools can be thoughtfully designed to support people with substance use disorder. Dr. Carreiro shares her journey into toxicology and addiction research, and explains how wearable sensors, mobile apps, and digital biomarkers can detect stress, craving, withdrawal, and other physiologic signals related to substance use. The conversation covers everything from wearable design pitfalls and privacy concerns to the idea of “digital dosing,” peer recovery coaches as key users of health data, and why empowerment not enforcement must be at the center of addiction technology.

In this episode, Craig Joseph is joined by Dione Rogers, a registered nurse turned Chief Nursing Informatics Officer and digital transformation leader, Dione shares her unconventional career journey from a teenage nurse who didn’t want to work with computers to becoming a nationally recognized leader in nursing informatics. Through deeply human stories and practical examples, she explains how data, design, and frontline engagement can dramatically improve patient care, staff experience, and digital transformation outcomes.

In this episode, Dr. Craig Joseph sits down with Dr. Shan Liu, an emergency medicine physician at Massachusetts General Hospital and coauthor of a children’s book written with her daughter. The conversation spans Dr. Liu’s path into emergency medicine, the origin story behind her family’s deep connection to the invention of the modern respirator mask, and how the COVID-19 pandemic inspired a book about history, science, and Asian American identity. The discussion also dives into safety culture in emergency departments, leadership and communication as “soft skills that aren’t actually soft,” and how implementation science shapes real-world healthcare outcomes.

In this episode of Designing for Health, Nordic’s Chief Medical officer Dr. Craig Joseph sits down with Dr. Stephen B. Williams. Urologist, urologic oncologist, and Associate Chief Medical Officer at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), to explore the evolving role of physicians in healthcare leadership.

In this episode, Dr. Craig Joseph sits down with Dr. Sarah Gebauer whose career spans anesthesiology, palliative care, clinical informatics, consulting, and AI governance. Dr. Gebauer explains how her diverse background from strategy consulting at Bane lead her to national security AI evaluation. She also discusses her work of designing effective healthcare tools.

Designing for Health is a podcast for healthcare leaders and builders who want practical, real-world ways to improve care through better design. Each episode explores how teams can design safer workflows, smarter digital experiences, and more human-centered services across clinical operations, patient experience, data, and health IT. Expect candid conversations with clinicians, operators, technologists, and designers, plus clear takeaways you can use to reduce friction, strengthen adoption, and deliver measurable impact.

Designing for Health is a podcast for healthcare leaders and builders who want practical, real-world ways to improve care through better design. Each episode explores how teams can design safer workflows, smarter digital experiences, and more human-centered services across clinical operations, patient experience, data, and health IT. Expect candid conversations with clinicians, operators, technologists, and designers, plus clear takeaways you can use to reduce friction, strengthen adoption, and deliver measurable impact.

Nordic Chief Medical Officer Craig Joseph MD, FAAP, FAMIA talks with Lisa Kilgore, Director of Enterprise Connected Medical Device Systems at Baylor Scott & White Health. They discuss why medical devices are not standalone tools but instead as part of a tightly coupled ecosystem. They also discuss why “designing for the real world” means getting out of conference rooms and onto clinical units, and how leaders can use data and narrative to drive change.Show notes: [00:00] Intros [01:26] Lisa’s unconventional path to healthcare [08:26] Why medical devices are not standalone tools [12:08] The power, and necessity of standardization [17:10] The importance of strong cybersecurity in the medical device world [18:48] Designing technology for real clinical environments [24:31] Lisa’s favorite well-designed tool [28:35] Outros For a full transcript, click here

Nordic Chief Medical Officer Craig Joseph, MD, FAAP, FAMIA, talks with Anita Vanka, MD physician at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Robert Stern, MD physician at Brigham and Women's Hospital and the dean of Harvard Cancer Institute. They discuss the concept of OpenNotes, their origins as a patient-centered initiative, and how they improve patient understanding, trust, and adherence to care plans. They also discuss the importance of the future of documentation and how language and approach matter; examining how certain words and phrases can perpetuate bias and negatively impact patient care.Show Notes: [00:00] Intros [00:40] Career backgrounds [02:15] Teaching clinical skills [04:33] What are OpenNotes? [08:32] Documentation for a new audience [11:14] Language matters [26:47] AI and the future of documentation [36:06] Anita and Rob’s favorite well-designed things [39:17] Outros For a full transcript, click here

Nordic Chief Medical Officer Craig Joseph, MD, talks with Steve Peltzman, CEO at FeedbackNow and Tim Woodward, Associate Vice President EVS at Montefiore Health System. They discuss the passion driving efforts to transform healthcare delivery and explore why conventional feedback methods fall short in capturing timely and accurate patient experiences. They also discuss immediate feedback mechanisms to improve responsiveness and patient care and how firsthand patient experiences inspired the adoption of real-time feedback tools in hospital settings. Show Notes: [00:00] Intros [01:08] The limitations of traditional surveys [02:16] Real-time feedback [03:56] From patient experience to operational strategy [09:00] Simplifying tech [15:20] Making feedback systems accessible [21:05] Data, AI, and the future of patient experience [27:13] Steve and Tim’s favorite well-designed things [29:54] Outros

Nordic Chief Medical Officer Craig Joseph, MD, talks with Aditi U. Joshi, MD, emergency medicine physician, author, and CEO of Ardexia. They discuss what telemedicine actually looked like in its early days, why technology was never the real barrier, and what healthcare leaders still get wrong about adoption today. They also discuss patient experience, clinician skepticism, “digital empathy,” and why telehealth can meaningfully improve access, equity, and chronic care. Show Notes: [00:00] Intros [00:23] From emergency medicine to digital health [01:18] Early days of Telehealth [03:27] Framework for Telehealth success [05:55] Patient readiness [10:47] Building “digital empathy” [14:28] Generational and cultural considerations [21:01] Driving adoption and scaling digital tools [28:42] Aditi’s favorite well-designed thing [29:58] Outros Learn more about Aditi here and check out her book: Telehealth Success: How to Thrive in the New Age of Remote Care

Nordic Chief Medical Officer Craig Joseph, MD, talks with Matthew Trowbridge, MD, physician, public health researcher, and associate professor at University of Virginia School of Medicine. They discuss design beyond architecture and how exploring aesthetics, including inclusivity, and how design choices influence behavior and perception. They also discuss the UVA Medical Design Program and how design thinking is integrated into medical education to teach empathy, systems thinking, and interdisciplinary collaboration.Show Notes: [00:00] Intros [00:36] Matthew’s background [03:28] Learning and the CDC [07:13] Building environment health [12:00] Evidence based design in healthcare [17:10] The medical design program [24:33] Utilizing AI for prototyping [28:55] Matthew's favorite well designed thing [30:14] Outros

Nordic Chief Medical Officer Craig Joseph, MD, talks with Anna Schoenbaum, DNP, Vice President and Chief Digital Application Officer at Penn Medicine and Srinath Adusumalli, MD, Vice President and Chief Health Information Officer at Penn Medicine. They discuss the intersection of informatics and care delivery, exploring how informatics and health IT drive quality and safety, and why multidisciplinary collaboration is essential for success. They also discuss the strengths and limitations of utilizing AI tools in healthcare and how these tools can assist in integrating patient data, decision support, and even revenue cycle processes. Show Notes: [00:00] Intros [01:22] Informatics and technology in care delivery [02:39] Defining the problem first [10:04] Strengths and challenges for AI [13:54] Nursing and AI tools [18:07] The future of AI in healthcare [27:07] Anna and Sri’s favorite well-designed things [34:02] Outros

Nordic Chief Medical Officer Craig Joseph, MD, talks with Eve Cunningham, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Cadence. Craig and Eve discuss the challenges faced during the pandemic and the desire to improve clinician technology experiences. They also discuss Cadence and its role in scaling remote patient monitoring across health systems, which delves into integrating technology, clinical protocols, and EMR workflows to support chronic care management.Show Notes: [00:00] Intros [00:52] Value-based care and early innovation [02:10] Challenges faced during and after the pandemic [05:34] Remote patient monitoring [10:05] Hospital-at-home challenges [14:05] Cadence’s comprehensive care model [27:35] Customization in digital care and preferences [33:16] Governance and protocol [37:29] Eve's favorite well-designed thing [38:58] Outros For a full transcript, click hereCheck out her article in the New England Journal of Medicine here

Nordic Chief Medical Officer Craig Joseph, MD, sits down with Will Morris, MD Chief Medical Officer at Ambience Healthcare. They discuss Will’s educational journey and early career choices that led him into the world of EHR design. They examine the evolution of electronic health records. From the limitations of early systems to today’s focus on usability and clinician engagement. Their discussion also delves into the importance of designing for clinical context and education, highlighting how AI can enhance medical training, support contextual decision-making, and reinforce the vital role of human judgment in patient care. Show Notes: [00:00] Intros [01:30] Will’s educational background [04:00] Speaking up for career growth [05:10] The evolution of EHRs [09:40] Systems of engagement vs. systems of record [12:00] Accessibility in healthcare [18:00] The role of note writing [21:00] Data accuracy [38:09] Will’s favorite well-designed things For a full transcript, click hereCheck out Ambience Healthcare here

Nordic Chief Medical Officer Craig Joseph, MD, talks with Greg Aukerman, Co-founder of The Outcomes Institute. They discuss Greg’s unconventional journey from retail and tech support to healthcare experience design, which led to the founding of The Outcomes Institute. They also discuss accidental vs. intentional design in healthcare and further exploring how unintentional design choices affect patient experience and outcomes. Show Notes: [00:00] Intros [03:00] Founding the Outcomes Institute [04:20] The impact of a room placement [07:30] Accidental versus intentional design in healthcare [09:00] Fragmented systems [12:30] Designing for outcomes [14:50] Reimagining onboarding [24:00] Fixing the relationship not just the device [35:38] Greg’s favorite well-designed things [38:23] Outros For a full transcript, click here

Nordic Chief Medical Officer Craig Joseph, MD, talks with Matthew Denenberg, MD, Chief of Pediatrics at Corewell Health East. They discuss the transformation brought by electronic health records, the challenges of adolescent access, and the shift from punitive peer review to organizational learning. They also discussed how thoughtful design and leadership can improve care delivery, provider experience, and patient outcomes.Show Notes: [00:00] Intros [01:15] Alaska to administration [02:23] Climbing the leadership and educational ladder [04:32] Defining “systemness” in healthcare [06:01] Designing health systems that work [10:20] Data overload and AI solutions [17:25] Managing disruptive providers [20:53] EHR access [28:50] Matthew’s favorite well-designed things [31:19] Outros For a full transcript, click here

Nordic Chief Medical Officer Craig Joseph, MD, talks with Justin Schrager, MD, Founder and Chief Medical Officer at Vital.io and Nick Sterling, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Information Officer at Vital.io. They discuss their paths into medicine, and how a Thanksgiving dinner and a frustrating EHR interface sparked the creation of Vital.io. They also discussed their journey from clinical decision support to patient-centered communication offers healthcare professionals a compelling look at how thoughtful design and AI can transform the way we engage with patients in acute care settings. Show Notes: [00:00] Intros [01:02]Paths into healthcare and technology [02:55] The birth of Vital.io [05:07] From clinician tools to patient empowerment [06:56] Solving the communication crisis [14:02] Why EHR portals weren’t enough [23:50] Designing for accessibility and empathy [28:54] AI in action [39:11] Justin and Nick’s favorite well-designed things [42:37] Outros For a full transcript, click here

Nordic Chief Medical Officer Craig Joseph, MD, talks with Marina Gerner, PhD, journalist, NYU Stern adjunct professor, and author. They discuss her groundbreaking book, The Vagina Business, which explores innovation in women's health, and the cultural and financial barriers that hinder progress. They also discuss gender bias in medical diagnosis, the rise of Femtech, the stigma surrounding female-focused products, and the challenges of bringing these innovations to market. Marina shares insights from her research, including examples of transformative technologies and the importance of destigmatizing conversations around female health.Show Notes: [00:00] Intros [00:09] Marina’s background and her book: The Vagina Business [01:29] Gender data gaps [02:52] The emergence of Femtech [04:00] Innovation and obstacles in birth care [05:30] Title controversy and pushback [13:02] Femtech vs. Scamtech [14:09] The pink tax in healthcare and global innovations [27:03] Marina’s favorite well-designed thing [28:52] Outros Check out Marina's book here and follow her on Linkedin.For a full transcript, click here

Nordic Chief Medical Officer Craig Joseph, MD, talks with Mukul Mehra, MD, gastroenterologist and founder of IllumiCare. They discuss the intersection of clinical care and financial stewardship. Dr. Mehra shares his journey from practicing medicine to launching a company aimed at reducing low-value care through contextual nudging and clinical financial decision support. They also discuss perspectives on how cost transparency, provider incentives, and thoughtful design can improve patient outcomes and reduce unnecessary spending without compromising clinical autonomy.Show Notes: [00:00] Intros [01:36] Choosing gastroenterology [02:49] The start of IllumiCare [04:29] Uncovering low-value care [09:14] The therapeutic cascade [11:13] Building cost awareness [17:15] Clinical financial decision support [29:27] Incentivizing low-value care reduction [38:05] Mukul’s favorite well-designed thingFor a full transcript, click here

Nordic Chief Medical Officer Craig Joseph, MD, talks with Dr. Minal Shah, Medical Director of Virtual Care and System Medical Informaticist at CommonSpirit Health. Craig and Minal discuss Minal’s professional journey and her experiences in clinical informatics, virtual care, and AI strategy. They also discuss smarter alert design and real-time location tracking to rethinking hospital workflows and the promise of AI copilots in clinical care. In addition, they explore how a hospital built around clinician pain points led to smarter workflows, why real-time location services (RTLS) trump flashier tech, and how an evolved Epic Monitor is winning over even the most skeptical patients.Show Notes: [00:00] Intros [00:15] Minal’s professional journey [01:08] Designing smarter alerts [05:35] Digital interruptions and use of “thank you” [12:22] De-implementation [21:08] Building Saint Francis Interquest Hospital [25:29] Reimagining the Epic monitor [28:20] AI beyond the scribe [32:03] Minal's favorite well-designed thing For a full transcript, click here

Nordic Chief Medical Officer Craig Joseph, MD, talks with Brandy Parker, Senior Design Director at IDEO. We discuss Brandy’s journey from social science to design innovation, and how early-stage, even poor prototypes can drive smarter design and stronger team alignment. Brandy also takes us inside the design of Teal Health, an at-home cervical cancer screening solution aimed at increasing access and comfort for underserved communities. We unpack the importance of unboxing experiences in healthcare, and how design can remove invisible barriers that build trust for patients and providersShow Notes: [00:00] Intros [04:15] Teal Health [09:41] Why unboxing matters in healthcare design [13:16] Rethinking patient “adherence" through accessibility [18:07] History and hidden barriers to health research [20:33] The value of bad prototypes [25:21] Testing that helps teams learn [26:30] The power of workarounds [31:54] Brandy's favorite well-designed thing [34:03] Outros For a full transcript, click here

Nordic Chief Medical Officer Craig Joseph, MD, talks with Dr. Christian Pulcini, pediatric emergency medicine attending at the University of Vermont Medical Center. We discuss Dr. Pulcini’s journey into medicine, his early interest in pediatrics, and how that evolved into a focused commitment to caring for children with complex medical needs. We also discuss the role of human-centered design in healthcare innovation, and highlight its ability to generate more agile, practical solutions compared to traditional research methodologies.Show Notes: [00:00] Intros [01:16] Teacher to ER Doctor [05:05] Implementation science and human centered design [08:28] Design in action [13:52] Reimagining emergency care [22:35] The power of a name [24:57] Designing with end users [28:13] Delivering the ICAP in real life [38:29] Christian's favorite well-designed thing [40:13] Outros For a full transcript, click here To learn more, check out this article

Nordic Chief Medical Officer Craig Joseph, MD, talks with Randolph Bias, founder and CUO at UXonSpec. We discuss his insights on the evolution of the field, the rise of design thinking, and why intuition alone falls short. We also discuss the critical role of user research and data in shaping effective design, and why investing in usability is essential for long-term success.Show Notes: [00:00] Intros [00:17] Academic and professional background [04:00] The evolution of human factors [07:20] Data versus intuition [09:15] Selling usability [15:20] Watching versus asking [18:30] UX as a profession [21:22] The cost of poor UX in healthcare [29:14] Randolph’s favorite well-designed thing [30:42] Outros For a full transcript, click here

Nordic Chief Medical Officer Craig Joseph, MD, talks with Karen Joswick, President and CEO at Benevolence Health. They discuss CMS’s TEAM program, and how it differs from previous value-based care models. They also discuss leveraging digital tools and AI for patient support, and how digital apps, portals, and AI-powered decision support can drive better outcomesShow Notes: [00:00] Intros [00:46] What is TEAM [06:06] The importance of consistent care pathways [08:41] Data, surgeons, and the patient voice [22:26] Pre-surgical prep [23:25] Tech tools for follow-up and recovery [26:36] Rethinking clinical decision support with AI [29:25] Turning data into actionable insights [32:32] Karen’s favorite well-designed thing [33:52] Outros For a full transcript, click here

Nordic Chief Medical Officer Craig Joseph, MD, talks with Kai Romero, MD, head of clinical success at Evidently. They discuss her journey from emergency medicine to hospice care, and how curiosity can fuel bold career pivots. They also discuss the importance of rethinking innovation in hospice and health technology, emphasizing that streamlining workflows and prioritizing human-centered design often delivers greater impact than adopting complex technological solutions.Show Notes: [00:00] Intros [01:14] Rethinking end-of-life care [04:10] Using curiosity to drive career choices [10:26] Innovation in hospice [22:16] Blood bank story [24:05] Communication gaps in the professional setting [25:03] About Evidently [29:08] The human aspect of medical records [35:56] Kai’s favorite well-designed thing [37:20] Outros For a full transcript, click here

Nordic Chief Medical Officer Craig Joseph, MD, talks with Shreya Shah, MD, healthcare informatics leader at Stanford Medicine. They discuss her path into clinical informatics, and the role of AI in reducing clinician burnout. They also discuss the need to balance AI integration with clinical judgment, emphasizing that AI should serve as a support tool to enhance rather than replace clinical reasoning and decision-making. Show Notes: [00:00] Intros [00:26] Background and career path [01:00] Path into clinical informatics [04:06] Importance of workflow in health IT [05:03] Implementation science [06:12] Intro to Ambient AI in clinical settings [10:31] Patient and doctor comfort with technology [19:15] Balancing AI [22:32] Rapid evolution of AI tools [38:53] Shreya’s favorite well-designed thing [40:32] Outros For a full transcript, click here

Nordic Chief Medical Officer Craig Joseph, MD, talks with Melissa Welch, MD, chief medical officer at Sprinter Health. They discuss Melissa’s professional journey, Sprinter Health’s mission and its use of technology and data-driven care. They also discuss the importance of leadership and team building, and how shared accountability, listening, and valuing diverse perspectives drives innovation and program success.Show Notes: [00:00] Intros [00:06] Melissa’s early influences and career [06:21] Starting her role at Sprinter Health [08:14] Sprinter Health’s mission and care [12:05] Who are the “Sprinters” [15:18] The importance of support and training [18:02] Personalized, data-informed care [22:02] Closing the care loop [25:18] Leading through empowerment [28:00] Melissa’s favorite well-designed thing [32:07] Outros For a full transcript, click here

Nordic Chief Medical Officer Craig Joseph, MD, talks with Resa Lewiss, MD, professor of emergency medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. They discuss Resa’s multidisciplinary career, her practice of emergency medicine and her work on ultrasound innovation, and the role of design in healthcare. They also discuss the evolution of mentorship in healthcare and how formality and structure benefits both sides of the equation. Check out www.resalewiss.com to see Resa's writings and listen to her podcast. Show Notes: [00:00] Intros [01:00] Resa’s background and career [04:52] Designing healthcare and ultrasound technology [10:18] Change management in healthcare design [14:43] Patient and family-centered care [19:41] Medical simulation and training that improves communication [21:09] The evolution of mentorship in medicine [27:43] Resa’s new book: “Micro Skills” [33:37] Podcast ventures [36:23] Resa’s favorite well-designed thing [38:18] Outros For a full transcript, click here

Nordic Chief Medical Officer Craig Joseph, MD, talks with Aaron Neinstein, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Notable. They discussed designing systems that empower patients, the importance of understanding user workflows, and the power of "invisible design" in healthcare technology. They also talk about how AI can significantly reduce the administrative burden on healthcare providers, enabling them to focus more on patient care. Show Notes: [00:00] Intros [00:28] Aaron’s background and work [06:22] Making healthcare systems work for both providers and patients [10:24] The power of understanding user needs [14:08] Importance of invisible design [20:29] Seamless integration in healthcare software [24:24] The role of AI in healthcare [31:44] AI in workflow design [36:48] Aaron’s favorite well-designed product [38:33] Outros For a full transcript, click here

Nordic Chief Medical Officer Craig Joseph, MD, talks with Mark Mabus, MD, chief medical informatics officer and vice president of EHR at Parkview Health. They discuss Mark’s healthcare journey, EHR documentation and efficiency with the use of AI, and the challenges of "note bloat" within patient records. They also discuss a project that improved vaccine reminders in the EHR, which resulted in boosted immunization rates and enhanced provider efficiency. To hear and learn more from Mark, check out his work at http://www.youtube.com/@doctrmk and https://on.soundcloud.com/v6xqNQCraD8MpbfTAShow Notes: [00:00] Intros [02:00] From pharmacist to physician [06:30] Clinical informatics and technology in medicine [09:00] The role of technology in healthcare [12:04] Reducing “note bloat” in EHRs [18:28] Hesitancy to change in EHR workflows [19:27] Collaboration with coding teams [21:21] Integrating AI [28:00] Vaccine reminder improvements [33:31] Mark’s favorite well-designed thing [36:57] Outros For a full transcript, click here

Nordic Chief Medical Officer Craig Joseph, MD, talks with Spencer Dorn, MD, Vice Chair and Professor of Medicine at UNC. They discuss Spencer’s career path, changes in medical note writing, and the value of slowing down to create better decision-making and deeper patient connections. They also talk about AI, its growing involvement in medicine and how AI could present opportunities to rethink and innovate in clinical documentation and workflow. Show Notes: [00:00] Intros [00:55] Spencer’s background [02:44] Technology’s role in healthcare [07:04] Benefits and challenges of electronic health records [10:04] Importance of concise notes [16:12] Thinking fast and slow [19:22] Balancing efficiency with creating space in healthcare systems [22:04] AI in medicine [29:12] How AI could change clinical documentation [33:17] Spencer’s favorite well-designed thing [35:02] Outros For a full transcript, click here

Nordic Chief Medical Officer Craig Joseph, MD, talks with Stefanie Simmons, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes' Foundation. They discuss Stefanie’s background, the impact of mental health stigma involving healthcare professionals, and the WELL-OPS approach which provides strategy for improving healthcare worker’s well-being. They also talk about the foundation’s work to reduce burnout and foster collaboration among healthcare organizations to improve workforce wellness. To learn more about the foundation and become more involved, visit the website at drlornabreen.orgShow Notes: [00:00] Intros [01:01] Stefanie’s background [04:56] Dr. Lorna Breen’s story [07:58] The impact of mental health stigma [10:50] Improving transparency and communication with mental health-related questions [15:26] Burnout vs. mental health[21:56] The importance of including the frontline healthcare workforce [23:07] The WELL-OPS process and resources for healthcare leaders [33:31] Stefanie’s favorite designed thing [34:15] Outros For a full transcript, click here

Nordic Chief Medical Officer Craig Joseph, MD, talks with Doug Turner, vice president of enterprise applications at UCI Health. They discussed Doug’s career path, managing growth and system standardization, and utilizing basic system design to improve efficiency and future developments. They also talk about the importance of adaptability in healthcare IT, while balancing the demands of technology and operations. Show Notes: [00:00] Intros [00:07] Doug’s background and career journey [07:10] UC Irvine's expansion [09:00] Challenges with Epic implementation [16:30] Cultural differences and expectation management [20:47] New leadership roles and organizational growth [22:02] Service-oriented IT approach [26:14] Future of IT services [37:21] Balancing family, IT, and humor [49:12] Doug’s favorite well-designed product [56:18] Outros For a full transcript, click here

Nordic Chief Medical Officer Craig Joseph, MD, talks with Brendan Keeler, Interoperability and Data Liquidity Practice Lead at HTD Health. They discuss Brendan’s family background in medicine, and how he wound up choosing the path that he did, the current state of interoperability, and litigation around data disputes. They also talk about the impact those disputes are likely to have on patients, the role of the US government in healthcare standards and that compares with other countries around the world. Show Notes:[00:00] Intros[01:51] Brendan’s background[05:55] The challenges of interoperability[09:48] E-prescribing vs prior authorization[13:31] The government’s role in developing healthcare standards[20:44] The current state of EHR vendor disputes[32:13] How artificial intelligence can enhance data mapping and exchange[39:00] The next thing that healthcare executives should be on the lookout for[40:53] The future of prior authorization and interoperability. [43:00] Brendan’s favorite well-designed things[45:53] OutrosFor a full transcript, click here

Nordic Chief Medical Officer Craig Joseph, MD, talks with Brian Urban, head of population health at Best Buy Health. They discuss Brian’s background in public health, how he became interested in the intersection of health and technology, and what goes on inside a clinical command center. They also talk about technological tools from outside of healthcare that can help diagnose or alert clinicians from afar, the importance of digital literacy in rural environments, and the lessons that a consumer electronics retailer can teach a health system. Show Notes:[00:00] Intros[01:43] Brian’s background[07:20] The mission of Best Buy Health[12:38] The difference between providing care and enabling care[14:47] Hospital at home[22:05] Best Buy Health’s place in the healthcare ecosystem[25:02} What’s new in remote patient monitoring[30:28] Incorporating design into clinical workflows[33:14] Design that brings Brian joy[36:15] OutrosFor a full transcript, click here

Nordic Chief Medical Officer Craig Joseph, MD, talks with Scott MacDonald, MD, Chief Medical Information Officer at the University of California Davis Health. They discuss his background and how he became a CMIO, how he’s changing professional development for physicians, and the integration of large language models into workflows. They also talk about how to leverage AI’s ambient listening capabilities, reducing note bloat, and why tech adoption can sometimes be uneven across medical specialties. Show Notes[00:00] Intros[01:29] Dr. MacDonald’s background[03:57] The PEP squad[12:42] The results of the PEP squad[16:51] The AIScribe[27:24] Leveraging AI to improve doctor’s notes[34:14] Epic’s new message prompt tool[39:13] Dr. MacDonald’s favorite well-designed thing[42:45] OutrosFor a full transcript, click here

Nordic Chief Medical Officer Craig Joseph, MD, talks with Graham Walker, MD, physician and co-founder of MDCalc. They discuss his background in the emergency room, how he came to co-create a clinical support decision tool, and what’s next for him in the entrepreneurial realm. They also talk about small inefficiencies that lead to wider problems, the threat of an IT ticket blackhole, and the new trend of rounding for clinician well-being. Show Notes:[00:00] Intros[01:06] Dr. Walker’s background[07:29] The beginnings of MDCalc[14:13] Dr. Walker’s next company[22:00] EHR steering committee and other tech responsibilities[25:03] In-person rounding for clinician well-being[31:20] Inefficiencies within the health system [38:34] Overcommunicating with physicians[45:19] Dr. Walker’s favorite well-designed things[48:44] OutrosFor a full transcript, click here

Nordic Chief Medical Officer Craig Joseph, MD, talks with Bryan Vartabedian, MD, chief medical officer at Texas Children’s Hospital. They discuss his beginnings in pediatrics, the current state of physician burnout, and why the rise of technology and algorithmic care has created a disconnect between doctors and patients. They also talk about the future of telehealth, what key performance metrics don’t capture, and the power of suboptimization in healthcare. Show Notes:[00:00] Intros[01:30] Dr. Vartabedian’s background[06:20] Evolving medicine towards empathy[10:04] Addressing physician burnout[14:59] The power of suboptimzation[20:56] The people margin[24:10] What key metrics don’t show[28:38] Combatting pajama time for physicians[32:35] The future of telehealth appointments[35:07] Well-designed things that bring Dr. Vartabedian joy[37:04] OutrosFor full transcript and shownotes, click here

Nordic Chief Medical Officer Craig Joseph, MD, talks with Zeev Neuwirth, MD, author of “Beyond the Walls” and “Reframing Healthcare: A roadmap for creating disruptive change.” He’s also the founder of the #HRL community and hosts the popular podcast series “Creating a new healthcare.” They discuss using AI and other technologies to humanize healthcare and the ongoing platform war. Dr. Neuwirth also offers his thoughts on the future of hospital at home.Show Notes:[00:00] Intros[01:41] Dr. Neuwirth’s background[09:50] How AI and digital health can humanize healthcare[21:48] The ongoing platform war within healthcare[25:08] ChenMed and how its clinician brainwashing is humanizing healthcare[33:49] Hospital at home and its future[36:49] The #HRL (humanistic rebel leader) community and its purpose[42:26] Things that are so well designed, they bring Dr. Neuwirth joyFor more information, including a full transcript, click here.

Nordic Chief Medical Officer Craig Joseph, MD, talks with Joel Klein, MD, senior vice president and chief information officer at the University of Maryland Medical Center. They talk about his unconventional path from being an emergency room physician to running the IT department, redesigning the EHR to maximize clinician satisfaction, and low-tech solutions to optimize hospital efficiency. They also talk about how his health system was impacted by the recent CrowdStrike outage, the value of doing rounds en masse, and what an experience gradient is and how it’s used in healthcare. Show Notes:[00:00] Intros[01:08] Dr. Klein’s background[06:25] Making clinical support tools fun[13:18] Customizing your workspace within Epic[15:27] Rounds en masse[21:44] The two-bin inventory management system[27:34] Experience gradients and what healthcare can learn from aviation[35:36] Dr. Klein’s experience with the CrowdStrike outage[41:10] Dr. Klein’s favorite well-designed things[45:00] OutrosFor more information, including a full transcript, click here.

Nordic Chief Medical Officer Craig Joseph, MD, talks with Steve Muething, MD, senior advisor and former chief quality officer at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. They discuss the importance of patient advocates, situational awareness in healthcare, and the need for a proactive safety culture. Dr. Muething also shares insights on integrating employee and patient safety and reflects on the simple yet effective design of his 85-year-old Ford 8N tractor.Show Notes:[00:00] Intros[01:24] Dr. Muething’s background[10:19] Creating a culture of safety[14:21] The importance of patient advocates[18:29] Situational awareness in healthcare[38:34] Something so well designed, it brings Dr. Muething joy[42:08] OutrosFor more information, including a full transcript, click here.

Nordic Chief Medical Officer Craig Joseph, MD, sits down with Adam Carewe, MD, CMIO at Colorado Permanente and the co-host of the NerdMDs | Efficiency Unlocked podcast. They discuss his mantra of letting doctors be doctors, the increasing promise of AI to revolutionize progress notes, and the rise of the inboxologist within health systems. They also talk about how Dr. Carewe helped start an asynchronous e-care team at Colorado Permanente, eliminating inefficiencies within clinical workflows, and how today’s advances in healthcare technology sound like science fiction from not too long ago. Show Notes:[00:00] Intros[01:16] Dr. Carewe’s background[07:20] Letting doctors be doctors[13:42] The evolution of progress notes[22:53} The increasing role of artificial intelligence (AI) within healthcare[28:48] Beginning an asynchronous e-care team[34:45] Enhancing clinical efficiencies [38:40] Dr. Carewe’s favorite well-designed thing[42:01] OutrosFor more information, including a full transcript, click here.

Nordic Chief Medical Officer Craig Joseph, MD, sits down with David Berger, MD, CEO of SUNY Downstate Medical Center. They talk about what it was like for Dr. Berger to take over a hospital swamped with COVID-19 in the summer of 2020, how he began to understand and change the clinical culture, and the path to becoming designated a high-reliability organization (HRO). They also discuss the timeline for incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into health system operations, implementing decision support tools into clinical workflows, and the power of huddles in healthcare. Show notes:[00:00] Intros[01:00] Dr. Berger’s background[05:39] Taking over a hospital during the pandemic[13:09] The path to becoming a high-reliability organization[22:15] Implementing workplace culture change[26:10] The power of daily huddles[30:59] The path forward for AI in healthcare[35:14] The complexity of running an academic medical center[40:34] Dr. Berger’s favorite well-designed thing[42:19] OutrosFor more information, including a full transcript, click here.

Nordic Chief Medical Officer Craig Joseph, MD, sits down with Mitesh Patel, MD, Chief Clinical Transformation Officer at Ascension. They discuss his background in creating healthcare technology solutions, how he helped found the Penn Medicine Nudge Unit, and why he decided to attend business school before medical school. They also discuss the idea of sludges and nudges in clinical care, leveraging behavioral economics within healthcare, and how health system improvements were inspired by reality television.Show Notes:[00:00] Intros[01:35] Dr. Patel’s Background[06:30] His founding of Docphin[10:33] The history of the Penn Medicine Nudge Unit[14:06] Making a difference in the Nudge Unit[24:31] The future of Nudge Units across the globe[25:32] His current role at Ascension[29:14] Integrating AI into wellness text messaging[34:27] Sludge vs Nudge[38:35] Dr. Patel’s favorite well-designed things[40:39] OutrosFor more info, including a full transcript, click here.

Nordic Chief Medical Officer Craig Joseph, MD, talks with Jeff Mounzer, PhD, and Peter Kriss, PhD, both of Qventus, a company that uses AI to enhance healthcare workflows and operations. They discuss their respective PhD journeys, how they ended up at the intersection of psychology and technology, and how they’ve been able to simplify clinical operations within health systems. They also talk about using technology to expand operating room availability, implementing behavioral principles within healthcare, and streamlining the hospital discharge process. Show Notes:[00:00] Intros[02:57] The goal of Qventus[12:31] Perioperative scheduling optimization[24:46] Integrating behavioral economics into workflows[29:15] Estimating dates of discharge[40:36] AI operational assistance[45:53] Things that bring Drs. Mounzer and Kriss joy[49:17] OutrosFor more information, including a full transcript, click here.

Nordic Chief Medical Officer Craig Joseph, MD, sits down with Joshua Reischer, MD, the CEO and founder of Health Note, a company known for its AI platform that collects patient information and automatically writes parts of physician progress notes. They discuss Dr. Reischer’s time at Health Note, how he’s used technology to make health visits more efficient, and how to design technology systems for anyone, regardless of digital aptitude. They also discuss unexpected design fails, bringing developers directly to patients, and what Dr. Reischer has learned since starting his company more than six years ago.Show Notes:[00:00] Intros[01:51] Dr. Reischer’s background[07:35] Pitching the initial startup idea[09:37] The origins of Health Note[16:02] Reaching patients before appointments[17:10] Biodesign and Innovation Fellowship[19:24] Early startup challenges[27:05] Developing the product[30:16] Health Note’s make-or-break moment[32:08] The current state of the company[33:15] Dr. Reischer’s favorite well-designed thing[35:12] OutrosFor more information, including a full transcript, click here.

Nordic Chief Medical Officer Craig Joseph, MD, talks with Kit Delgado, MD, emergency room physician and director of the Penn Medicine Nudge Unit. They discuss his role in the Penn Medicine opioid task force, the impact of small, technology-based solutions on the patient experience, and what medicine can learn from the world of auto insurance. They also talk about the integration of behavioral economics into clinical workflows, utilizing technological solutions to decrease ER visits, and how to ask difficult questions as a physician. Show Notes:[00:00] Intros[09:54] The Penn Medicine opioid task force[20:04] Injury prevention research[21:49] Lowering distracted driving rates [27:55] Injury and death prevention[34:20] Asking tough safety questions of parents[36:04] Dr. Delgado’s favorite well-designed thing[38:12] Outros For more information, including a full transcript, click here.

On today’s episode of In Network's Designing for Health podcast feature, Nordic Chief Medical Officer Craig Joseph, MD, talks with triple board-certified physician and architect Diana Anderson, MD. They discuss her background in design and architecture, her transition into the healthcare industry, and where her expertise in both has intersected. They also discuss the importance of user feedback in healthcare design, the challenges of creating staff spaces that promote wellness, and the need for evidence-based design at every level.Show notes:[00:00] Intros[00:56] Dr. Anderson’s background[05:35] The impact of architecture on disease and health[19:48] Considering both user feedback and professional insight[35:40] Common mistakes in hospital architecture[38:24] Something so well designed, it brings Dr. Anderson joyFor more info, including a full transcript, click here.

Nordic Chief Medical Officer Craig Joseph, MD, talks with Farhan Ahmad and Dr. Jon Keevil, co-founders of HealthDecision, a company that provided clinical diagnostic decision-making tools. Their discussion centers around how they balanced Farhan’s software expertise with Jon’s clinical experience to make a product that provided solutions, while also being accessible and simply designed for healthcare providers. They also talk about the concept of sludge versus nudge, the challenge of interpreting medical guidelines, and how using data to inform patients can enhance decision making and outcomes. Show Notes:[00:00] Intros[07:32] The beginnings of HealthDecision[14:32] Inside the cardiovascular risk score[19:46] Combining software with clinical knowledge[21:38] Sludge versus Nudge[27:05] Designing for different audiences[29:07] Interpreting medical guidelines[36:00] What Jon and Farhan are doing now[38:46] Well-designed things that bring Jon and Farhan joy[44:04] OutrosFor more information, including a full transcript, click here