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The 229 Podcast

Hosted by Bill Russell

In-depth interviews with healthcare CIOs, CISOs, and technology leaders. Bill Russell explores the decisions, strategies, and innovations shaping healthcare transformation.

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Episodes (1011)

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The 229 Podcast Newsday Executive Interview Solution Showcase

Nov 27, 2025·The 229 Podcast

The 229 Podcast: Technology Is Not a Strategy - the Problem-First Approach with Shane Thielman

November 27, 2025: Shane Thielman , Corporate SVP and CIO at Scripps Health , shares how a compliance auditor switched their primary care physician after reviewing ambient documentation—a surprising indicator of AI's real clinical impact. In this conversation, Shane reveals the seven-year journey to get 40% of appointments online, the command center approach that reduced admission wait times by 25%, and why Scripps runs quarterly clinical continuity exercises after their 2021 cyber event. He challenges the notion that technology is a strategy, instead demonstrating how Scripps attacks problems first with a disciplined approach to prioritization. Shane also discusses their internal ChatGPT "sharing economy" and why most AI features go undiscovered without intentional workflow integration. Key Points: 04:17 City Tour Dinner Insights 09:37 Operationalizing a Command Center 11:23 Epic UGM Implementation 22:51 Leveraging AI for Improved Patient Care 30:35 Shared Governance and AI Integration X : This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

Nov 20, 2025·The 229 Podcast

The 229 Podcast: Journey From First Ever EMR and Enabling Proactive Care with Deborah Muro

November 20, 2025: Deborah Muro , CIO of El Camino Health , shares her vision for transforming healthcare from reactive to predictive through intelligent use of AI and sensor technology. With 30 AI use cases already deployed across Epic and other platforms, El Camino is pioneering applications from radiology incidental findings to employee sentiment analysis. Deborah discusses the challenges of integrating AI agents into clinical workflows, starting with call centers before expanding to the revenue cycle. She also reveals El Camino's remarkable healthcare IT history as the first U.S. organization to implement an EMR in 1971, partnering with Lockheed Martin to develop what eventually became Allscripts, before their recent Epic transformation. Key Points: 03:36 El Camino Journey 10:21 AI and Automation in Healthcare 16:51 Nursing and Technology Integration 19:34 Future of Predictive Healthcare X : This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

Nov 19, 2025·Executive Interview

Executive Interview: How Complexity Kills Innovation and Lasting IT Leadership with Kurt Telep

November 19, 2025: Healthcare IT infrastructure has become so complex that teams have lost sight of the actual patient impact. Kurt Telep , Healthcare Field CTO at Nutanix , pulls no punches in this conversation about what's broken and how to fix it. From his personal regret about avoiding Kubernetes when it first emerged to explaining why 95% of healthcare organizations will consume AI rather than build it, Kurt delivers hard-earned wisdom on navigating constant technological change. He reveals why security tools become shelfware, how to reconnect IT decisions to clinical outcomes, and why the future belongs to leaders who embrace simplicity over complexity. Key Points: 02:21 A Better IT Infrastructure 08:09 Security Concerns with AI 09:40 Advice for Future Healthcare IT Leaders 15:22 The Importance of Simplicity X : This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

Nov 19, 2025·Executive Interview

Executive Interview: From Data Exchange to Data Utility with Dr. Steven Lane and Mike Cordeiro

November 19, 2025: Healthcare interoperability has evolved far beyond simple data exchange—but are we truly unlocking its potential? Dr. Steven Lane , CMO from Health Gorilla , and Mike Cordeiro , Senior Director of Interoperability Market & Product Strategy from MEDITECH join Bill Russell to explore how the industry is shifting from moving data to making it actionable. Discover why structured, normalized data is critical for clinical decision-making, how TEFCA is transforming payer-provider collaboration, and what AI integration means for overwhelmed clinicians. From the hidden costs of inefficient data exchange to patient empowerment through individual access services, this conversation reveals where interoperability stands today and the exciting developments shaping tomorrow's data-driven healthcare delivery. Key Points: 05:40 Challenges in Data Usability and Integration 08:04 Payer-Provider Interoperability 14:19 Patient Empowerment Through Data Access 18:09 Governance and Data Quality X : This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

Nov 13, 2025·The 229 Podcast

The 229 Podcast: Balancing Innovation vs. Demand and Top CxO Focuses with Chris Paravate

November 13, 2025: Chris Paravate , CDIO of Northeast Georgia Health System , reveals how his organization achieved 80% ambient voice adoption in just two months, with physicians now seeing nearly three additional patients weekly while rediscovering joy in their practice. He tackles the critical challenge facing healthcare IT leaders today: how to differentiate high-impact AI projects from 320 traditional enhancement requests competing for attention. Chris shares his strategy for executive-level governance, the architecture decisions behind choosing emerging technologies, and why some AI implementations can deliver $3 million in cost savings within six months. He also explains why his team isn't deploying Microsoft Copilot despite widespread demand, and how pulling millions from revenue cycle waste could fuel innovation. Key Points: 03:27 Adoption and Impact of AI Tools 05:47 Governance and Prioritization 11:57 Upskilling and Workforce Development 19:13 Financial Considerations and Innovation X : This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

Nov 12, 2025·Solution Showcase

Solution Showcase: Building a Successful 5-Year Digital Roadmap with Pam Austin and Chris Jenkins

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 Roadmap 07:49 Maintaining Focus and Prioritization 12:26 Office of the CIO and Strategic Impact 17:52 Sustained Success and Future Advice 20:12 Final Thoughts and Key Takeaways X : This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

Nov 6, 2025·The 229 Podcast

The 229 Podcast: Building AI-Powered EHR Tools and Educating Staff with Dr. Stephon Proctor

November 6, 2025: Stephon Proctor , PhD, Associate Chief Health Informatics Officer for Platform Innovation at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia , is redefining what's possible when clinical expertise meets technical innovation. He built "Chipper"—a prototype that embeds generative AI directly into Epic's EHR, eliminating the friction of jumping between systems. The reaction from the healthcare IT community was explosive, validating what many suspected: seamless AI integration isn't just convenient, it's essential. From CHOP's "School of AI" training hundreds of staff members to their ambitious plans for digitally-enabled patient rooms in a new 28-floor tower, this conversation explores how one organization is preparing for an agentic AI future. Key Points: 03:26 Developing the Chipper App 07:54 Technical Architecture and Challenges 11:22 Adoption and Workflow Integration 18:27 Future of Innovation at CHOP X : This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

Nov 5, 2025·Executive Interview

Executive Interview: Making Big Innovations Without Risking It All with Mark Galea

November 5, 2025: Mark Galea , SVP and CIO at Willis Knighton Health , shares how they achieved world-class EMR results at a fraction of typical costs, proving that digital transformation doesn't require unlimited budgets. Leading a $1.4 billion health system in northern Louisiana, Mark deployed MEDITECH Expanse to 140 clinics in just 14 months while cutting IT operating costs to the lowest quartile. He discusses a "follow the leader" approach to AI adoption, explains why most hospitals can't afford to place bets on unproven technology, and shares impressive clinical outcomes. His philosophy: technology should be about getting our doctors “back to even”, not adding more stress. Key Points: 01:07 Challenges and Opportunities at Willis Knighton 07:18 Stabilizing and Deploying Expanse 10:43 Embracing Innovation 18:05 Cost-Effective Innovations and Results 25:19 Advice for Healthcare IT Leaders X : This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

Oct 30, 2025·The 229 Podcast

The 229 Podcast: Exploring How Emory Cut Denials in Half with Carla Haack, MD

October 30, 2025: Healthcare systems often lose millions in revenue, not because clinicians aren't doing the work, but because critical informatics get lost between the operating room and the billing department. Dr. Carla Haack , Chief Financial Informatics Officer at Emory Healthcare , discovered this gap firsthand when she stepped away from surgery during the pandemic. In this conversation, she reveals how a change to surgical debriefs resulted in a million dollars in just 21 days and how Emory reduced its denial rate from 20% to 10%. Discover why bridging clinical care and revenue cycle management requires more than technology—it demands translation, trust, and understanding across vastly different worlds within the same healthcare system. Key Points: 01:22 The Role of a Chief Financial Informatics Officer 05:49 Innovative Solutions for Revenue Cycle Issues 13:22 Debriefing in Clinical Settings 25:17 Navigating Patient Information Challenges 31:25 Collaborating Across Departments 39:41 Hiring for Chief Financial Informatics Officer X : This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

Oct 29, 2025·Solution Showcase

Solution Showcase: Smooth and Rapid Growth In the M&A Era with Glen Phares and Brent Lamm

October 29, 2025: When UNC Health embarked on integrating 14 hospitals and hundreds of clinics across North Carolina, they needed more than just technology—they needed a scalable playbook. Brent Lamm , SVP and CIO at UNC Health , joins Glen Phares , National Director for Healthcare Solution Delivery at Experis Health Solutions , to reveal how UNC Health built repeatable processes for rapid M&A integration. From consolidating nine different payrolls into one ERP system to managing infrastructure migrations that enable innovation. With strategic staffing partner Experis, they've transformed what could be overwhelming growth into a competitive advantage. Key Points: 02:24 UNC Health's Mission and Growth 05:20 Experis Health Solutions 06:43 Challenges and Strategies 14:47 The Role of Infrastructure 18:36 Future of Burnout in Healthcare X : This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

Oct 29, 2025·Executive Interview

Executive Interview: Empowering Healthcare with New Age Networks with Perry Welch

October 29, 2025: Cellular networks are transforming healthcare delivery, but what makes 5G truly different from its predecessor? Perry Welch , EVP and Chief Revenue Officer at Airwavz Solutions , discusses creating a robust network infrastructure that can handle the demanding requirements of modern medical technology. As healthcare systems begin exploring what's possible with this upgraded network, the question shifts from "can our phones work?" to "what new capabilities can we unlock?" Discover why focusing on your network is becoming essential for healthcare environments. Key Points: 03:20 WiFi vs DAS in Healthcare 06:21 The Future of 5G and Beyond 09:47 Implementation and Coverage Challenges 15:34 Airwavz's Healthcare Focus and Conclusion X : This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

Oct 23, 2025·The 229 Podcast

The 229 Podcast: Balancing Technology, Growth, and Innovation in Dynamic Times Sarah Hatchett

October 23, 2025: Sarah Hatchett , SVP and CIO of Cleveland Clinic , manages IT across a sprawling healthcare network spanning Ohio, Nevada, Florida, and international destinations. Sarah reveals how they track time spent on pilots, balance 60% run versus 40% innovation, and the real challenge of managing Epic's 160 annual feature releases. Explore inside their billion-dollar neurological hospital, built featuring real-time gait analysis as patients walk through the door, and why 3,500 physicians call their ambient listening tool "magical" after piloting five different products. Plus, the uncomfortable calculation every CIO faces: when do you stop waiting on Epic's roadmap and just buy the point solution that delivers value today? Key Points: 01:17 Cleveland Clinic's Expansion 04:35 Managing Technical Debt and Prioritizing Projects 13:29 Innovative Projects at Cleveland Clinic 16:51 Epic's Roadmap and Third-Party Solutions 26:58 Best of Breed vs. EHR patient X : This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer