Show Notes

June 5, 2025: Bill Russell sits down with Erica Olenski, VP at Finn Partners and Founder of August’s Artists, Ironman athlete, and board-certified patient advocate, who brings a unique perspective from navigating the healthcare system through hundreds of overnight hospital stays with her son August, a four-time brain cancer survivor. Why does a family with an extensive hospital history still get treated like first-time visitors at check-in, and how might HIPAA compliance be unintentionally creating barriers to human connection in care? The conversation explores whether patients should control their complete medical records to share with AI assistants, the reality of managing a 60,000-page medical record delivered on CD-ROM, and practical solutions like reimagining emergency department processes for complex care families. 

Key Points:

• 02:02 Erica's Son's Health Journey
• 09:08 The Role of Patient Advocates
• 13:41 Using AI as a Patient
• 21:54 August Artists: A Nonprofit Initiative
• 27:43 Rapid Fire Questions and Closing Remarks

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