This Week in Health Tech

Send us Fan MailImagine a hospital corridor lined with open doors and a chorus of hotel bells, each ring a patient hoping to be found. That’s the picture Julie Dearinger Smith paints from real stories of downtime, the moments when networks collapse, call systems fail, and teams fight to deliver safe care without the tools they rely on. Julie brings two decades in clinical informatics atop years at the bedside, and she turns that experience into a simple but radical premise: resilience is a clinical operations discipline, not just a cybersecurity task.We dig into Leadership by Design, Julie’s practical framework that maps growth from novice to expert using observable skills. No more vague advice like “show initiative.” Instead, leaders get a clear coaching plan, and team members get a transparent path to advancement. This clarity becomes critical during outages, when pattern recognition, prioritization, and calm execution can prevent harm. Julie shares the mindset shift that separates “testing to pass” from “testing to break,” and why that difference defines proficient practitioners in health tech.From there, we get tactical. Julie explains how Contingency Health Solutions approaches downtime with tools designed to run when the internet doesn’t. Bell Assist gives patients a cellular-based call capability with location awareness and prioritization, while a lightweight bed management module restores throughput and room turnover visibility when EHRs and intercoms are offline. We cover everyday value too, including meeting CMS requirements for communication in ED overflow spaces without expensive infrastructure. Along the way, we surface hidden dependencies in radiology, pharmacy, and supply chain, and outline how to run serious tabletop exercises that prepare clinical leaders for the worst-case scenario.If you care about patient safety, informatics, nursing leadership, or hospital operations, this conversation offers a blueprint you can act on today. Subscribe for more practical health tech stories, share this episode with a colleague who owns downtime planning, and leave a review with your biggest resiliency question—we’ll tackle it next.Support the showListen to all This Week in Health Tech episodesVik Patel - LinkedInTido Inc. - WebsiteTido Inc. - LinkedIn

Send us Fan MailGuest: Dr. Robb Kruklitis, Chief Clinical Officer at Guthrie ClinicHost: Vik PatelIn this episode of This Week in Health Tech, Vik welcomes Dr. Robb Kruklitis, Chief Clinical Officer at Guthrie Clinic. In this episode, Vik sits down with Dr. Robb Kruklitis to explore Guthrie Clinic’s innovative remote patient monitoring (RPM) initiative for chronic disease management. The project focuses on centralizing vital signs and biometric data from patients at home—particularly those with conditions like congestive heart failure—to enable timely interventions and reduce readmissions.Dr. Kruklitis shares how this data flows directly into Epic, where nurses monitor dashboards and respond proactively. Guthrie is also developing a remote clinical workforce to support this model. The discussion highlights the need for smarter alerts, predictive analytics, and ultimately, a shift from reactive to proactive care.Vik draws parallels with Tido’s MIDR-AI monitoring solution, and the conversation shifts toward the broader future of AI in healthcare. Both agree that the industry’s next leap is to fully harness EHR and external data to drive predictive insights, improve scheduling, and support providers with intelligent tools.Dr. Kruklitis ends on an inspiring note, comparing the future of healthcare data use to Moneyball—leveraging diverse data to deliver the right care at the right time and place.Support the showListen to all This Week in Health Tech episodesVik Patel - LinkedInTido Inc. - WebsiteTido Inc. - LinkedIn

Shane Rodabaugh, System VP of IT & Infrastructure at Baptist Health KY & IN, brings 30 years of IT experience to the table. He dives into the intricacies of hybrid cloud strategies, emphasizing the need for flexibility amidst rapid technological growth. Shane discusses the challenges of resource limitations while trying to innovate in healthcare. He highlights the exciting AI initiatives led by their CMIO, Dr. Brett Oliver, and addresses the importance of strong collaboration and agile decision-making in navigating the evolving digital landscape of health tech.

In this engaging conversation, Lance Alston, Director of IT at Nathan Littauer Hospital, discusses his journey in fostering resilience and trust within a resource-limited healthcare environment. He emphasizes the need for a strong workplace culture and a supportive team dynamic to combat burnout. Lance also shares insights into the evolving landscape of AI integration in healthcare, highlighting the importance of collaboration and communication between IT and medical teams. His forward-thinking approach promises to enhance both employee morale and patient care.

Michelle Flemmings, an ER doctor and health tech leader passionate about elevating women in healthcare, shares her insights on the podcast. She discusses the real-world impacts of AI in emergency medicine and how tech leaders can ease the transition to AI adoption. Michelle also highlights the difference between AI hype and reality, alongside her mission to empower women through mentorship and community support. Expect a lively conversation about tech's role in enhancing patient care while maintaining compassionate healthcare.

Send us Fan MailJames Wellman, VP and CIO of Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home, and Vik Patel, COO of Tido, as they explore advancing data integration, operational efficiency, and patient care. Learn what happens when a healthcare IT partnership transcends traditional vendor relationships to become a true team extension, and discover how trust-based partnerships drive success in healthcare IT. Don't miss this engaging solution showcase.This transcription is provided by artificial intelligence. We believe in technology but understand that even the smartest robots can sometimes get speech recognition wrong.[: 00:00:00Are you and your team attending VIVE or HIMSS and looking for next level efficiency? Book a meeting today and qualify for six months of our MIDR solution. Check the show notes in the description to access this limited offer with our managed integration solution, not just waiting there for someone to assign it.We actually know what's upcoming based on what we have already seen all the way from assessment and what new systems are being implemented. Welcome to This Week Health. My name is Bill Russell. I'm a former CIO for a 16 hospital system and creator of This Week Health, where we are dedicated to transforming healthcare, one connection at a time. Now, onto our interviewVik Patel and James Wellman. [: 00:01:00Vik Patel COO of Teedo Inc. Teedo is a comprehensive healthcare IT solution provider specializing in modernizing healthcare environments. Securing interface infrastructures and enabling real time data connectivity. We're here today to tell some amazing stories about the work you two have done. Welcome to the show.Thanks Sarah. Great to be here. Absolutely. I'm going to start with the obvious. And can you both share how your initial meeting at HIMSS sparked the idea for collaboration and what made you decide to explore the Teedo product suite together? Well, you know, I can kind of start us out there. Vik reached out to me prior to HIMSS.We connected through LinkedIn. And we started talking found we had some common things from our pastbecause he was explaining to [: 00:02:00I was telling him what we needed. But we met in person at HIMSS with his team and kind of started forging a relationship there. So, it's about relationships. So that was a really important component for Yeah, and that was exciting meeting in person and I say that because you know, I have been following James on LinkedIn for a while and We've been talking through the messaging and and I was like, hey, let's meet finally last year.And so that was nice like I said, we both went to University of Kentucky We both lived in Lexington, Kentucky for a long time and which by the way I mean this year in Vegas March Madness should be a lot more fun You know, Kentucky's doing really well for all the basketball fans out there. Well, last time I checked, y'all were ranked 8th nationally, so I guess it's okay to say go Wildcats. We have hope and hope, too. Love it. nership began is rare today. [: 00:03:00I can say for meSupport the showListen to all This Week in Health Tech episodesVik Patel - LinkedInTido Inc. - WebsiteTido Inc. - LinkedIn

Joining the discussion is Sarah Richardson, a healthcare innovator and former CIO for a 16-hospital system, alongside Vik Patel, COO of Tido Inc. They delve into the crucial intersection of AI governance and healthcare, highlighting the challenges of integrating AI while ensuring data quality and safety. The duo tackles the complexities of data migration and legacy systems, emphasizing the need for reliable tech solutions in clinical environments. Their insights shed light on balancing innovative technology with practical application in healthcare.

Mark Farrow, a retired CIO with a wealth of experience in healthcare IT, dives into the vexing issues of data management and AI governance. He highlights that while health systems are 'data rich and knowledge poor,' fax machines are still widely used, showcasing interoperability challenges. Discussion revolves around how AI can unlock insights from electronic health records to improve patient outcomes. Mark also stresses the need for strategic thinking in AI implementation, focusing on enhancing quality of life and navigating risks associated with AI in healthcare.

James Wellman, VP-CIO at Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home, dives into how healthcare systems can achieve operational excellence. He emphasizes the importance of a robust data governance framework and cloud-based architecture for efficiency. Wellman discusses integrating AI thoughtfully, starting with automating repetitive tasks while being cautious about biases. He also highlights the need for aligning technology strategies with organizational goals and the critical role of education and communication for successful technology adoption.

Kevin Smith, AVP of Digital Health at Baptist Health, shares his expertise on AI's transformative role in healthcare marketing. He discusses the shift from traditional digital platforms to centralized, AI-driven strategies and the potential challenges this brings. Kevin highlights concerns over Google Analytics and privacy regulations while suggesting compliant alternatives. They also explore AI's impact on content creation and the need for clinical oversight, as well as the future of chatbots in enhancing patient engagement.