The Beat

In this episode of the Interop Now at Vibe series on The Beat Podcast, host Sandy Vance sits down with Adam Luff, VP of Product Solutions at Infor, and Jesse Evans, Product Director for Infor FHIR Services, for a deep and practical conversation about why semantic interoperability is the make-or-break factor for AI in healthcare.  With decades of experience between them, Adam and Jesse explain why organizations that skip the data normalization step are building on a foundation that will eventually collapse. From prior authorization workflows to longitudinal patient records, this episode is essential listening for any healthcare leader who wants to understand what AI-ready infrastructure actually looks like. In this episode, they talk about: AI cannot make sense of data that is not semantically normalized Integration wires things up; interoperability makes the data actually usable A single patient can exist under multiple names and identifiers across dozens of systems FHIR is not a replacement for HL7, it is the latest version of the HL7 specification Poor data quality in EHRs is the rule, not the exception, even at well-resourced organizations Event-driven architecture enables prior authorization workflows to run with no human intervention Infor's longitudinal patient record viewer pulls data from up to 70 archival systems into one normalized view The FHIR server is becoming the source of truth, replacing the EHR as the authoritative record Bed turnover and discharge workflows are where providers are capturing real, measurable ROI right now A well-governed, normalized data platform unlocks an almost unlimited number of AI use cases A Little About Adam and Jesse: Adam Luff has been with Infor for six years and has spent about 20 years in the provider space. Before Infor, he worked at a company that manufactures large MRI and CT machinery. He focuses on business impact with provider organizations. Jesse Evans has been at Infor for about 10 years, first as a Principal Solutions Architect and now as Product Director for Infor FHIR Services. He has been in the healthcare enterprise industry for about 20 years, with deep expertise in integration engines, interoperability, and FHIR standards.

In this episode, host Sandy Vance sits down with Dan Shur, Chief Product Officer at Carenet Health, to talk about what it really takes to guide patients and members through one of the most frustratingly fragmented systems in the world. With over 30 years in the healthcare industry spanning payers, providers, and health tech & services companies, Dan brings a grounded, pragmatic perspective to the AI conversation. From the myth that everyone wants to talk to a chatbot to the importance of letting humans be human, their conversation is a must-listen for healthcare leaders who want to use AI to drive real outcomes without losing the empathy that puts the “care” in healthcare. In this episode, they talk about: Healthcare is the last industry where friction is still considered normal Carenet combines nurses, operations, data, and technology to navigate care at scale AI is best used for flagging risk, prioritizing queues, and gathering context before a human steps in Chatbots are not good at empathy, and healthcare interactions require a whole-person approach Not every problem needs AI; sometimes you just need a PDF to open Payers measure engagement, retention, and closed gaps in care; providers measure acquisition and leakage prevention Fragmentation is getting worse, not better, and navigation solutions have to account for the whole ecosystem Proactive, precise outreach beats education-only programs that leave patients to figure it out alone The clinical and administrative sides of care cannot be separated, and solutions need to address both Dan Shur leads product strategy and innovation at Carenet Health, where he helps healthcare organizations use smarter technology to improve outcomes. With over 30 years in healthcare and health tech, Dan has worked across health plans, provider systems, and startups. He is always focused on turning big ideas into practical solutions. Before Carenet, he founded Aloha Value Advisory, helping early-stage companies find their footing, and previously served as Chief Product Officer at Quantum Health, where he helped scale and modernize the business. Throughout his career, including roles at Cigna, EmblemHealth, Progyny, Cloudbreak Health, and GuideWell’s Venture Group, Dan has built a reputation for driving innovation that delivers results.

What if doctors could see all patient data in one place while AI handled the busywork? In this episode, Dr. Shez Partovi talks about the urgent need for integrated diagnostics in healthcare. He explains how fragmented imaging systems create inefficiencies and cognitive overload for clinicians, and how a unified platform can deliver a holistic view of the patient journey. He also explores how AI can automate administrative tasks, reduce burnout, and augment clinical decision-making while keeping humans in the loop. Tune in to learn how AI and integrated diagnostics are reshaping the future of care delivery and clinician experience. About Dr. Shez Partovi: Dr. Shez Partovi is a physician-turned-entrepreneur and Fortune 500 healthcare executive who has built his career at the intersection of clinical care, technology, and business transformation. A five-time founder with multiple successful exits, he has consistently focused on scaling impact—from caring for individual patients to leading large, global healthcare operations. He currently leads a $1.5 billion global healthcare business spanning the United States, China, Europe, and Latin America. Prior to this, he led and rapidly scaled Amazon Web Services’ healthcare and life sciences division to multi-billion-dollar growth, helping organizations harness cloud and emerging technologies to drive meaningful outcomes. Partovi brings deep expertise in healthcare delivery, enterprise software, and end-to-end P&L leadership, along with a unique combination of clinical training as a board-certified physician and technical depth in computer science and AI. Known for translating complex technologies into measurable business value, he has built and led high-performing teams across environments ranging from early-stage startups to global enterprises. At the core of his work is a consistent mission: to improve healthcare access and outcomes for more people at scale. Things You’ll Learn: Healthcare data remains siloed across multiple systems. Integrated diagnostics provides a single, unified view of all patient data. AI reduces cognitive load and administrative burden, including “pajama time.” Clinician burnout is a primary driver of AI adoption in healthcare. Innovation must be patient-clinician backward, not technology-forward. Responsible AI depends on representative data and effective bias mitigation. Human oversight remains essential in current AI applications. Resources: Connect with and follow Dr. Shez Partovi on LinkedIn. Follow Philips on LinkedIn and visit their website. 

What happens when some of healthcare’s most trusted workers are still operating outside the systems that document, reimburse, and scale care? In this episode, Colby Takeda, Co-Founder & CEO of Pear Suite, joins Saul Marquez live at ViVE to explore why community health workers are becoming a more essential part of the healthcare ecosystem. Drawing from his background in senior living and public health, Colby explains how Pear Suite helps community-based providers move beyond paper and spreadsheets with tools to document care, navigate credentialing and contracting, submit claims, and get paid for the value they deliver. The conversation also looks at Pear Suite’s broader vision for connecting community-based organizations, health plans, and providers in a more coordinated system of care. Colby shares why AI should reduce administrative burden instead of replacing trusted relationships, how co-design with frontline workers has shaped the platform, and where he sees the biggest opportunity to make community-based care more sustainable and accessible at scale. Tune in to hear how community health workers are becoming more essential to the healthcare ecosystem, and how better infrastructure and smarter technology can make community-based care more sustainable and scalable. About the Guest: Colby Takeda is Co-Founder & CEO of Pear Suite. With a background in public health, senior living, and community-based care, he founded the company to help community health workers and community-based organizations better navigate the operational side of delivering meaningful support. Under his leadership, Pear Suite has built a tech-enabled model that combines workflow tools, reimbursement support, credentialing, contracting, and claims infrastructure to help community-based providers work more effectively with health plans and the broader healthcare system. Things You’ll Learn: Why community health workers are becoming more central to modern, whole-person care models. How Pear Suite helps community-based providers document care, manage compliance, and get reimbursed for their work. Why policy shifts and Medicaid reimbursement are creating new momentum for community-based care. How AI can support community health workers by reducing administrative burden without replacing trust-based relationships. Why connecting health plans, providers, and community organizations is key to making community-based care sustainable at scale. Resources: Connect with Colby Takeda on LinkedIn Learn more about Pear Suite Explore Pear Suite for Providers Follow Pear Suite on LinkedIn

What happens when interoperability stops being a buzzword and starts becoming real infrastructure? In this episode, Therasa Bell, President & Co-Founder of Kno2, joins Saul Marquez at ViVE to unpack why healthcare communication remains one of the industry’s hardest unsolved problems. Drawing on experience across provider, payer, and technology settings, Therasa explains why connecting the full continuum of care, especially post-acute, behavioral health, EMS, dental, vision, and home-based care, is far more complex than most people realize. She shares how Kno2 is building a communication infrastructure that lets organizations connect once and communicate everywhere, without forcing a massive overhaul of existing technology stacks. Tune in to hear how policy, infrastructure, and ethical governance are converging to bring more of healthcare online in a secure, practical, and meaningful way. About the Guest: Therasa Bell is President & Co-Founder of Kno2. A software engineer by trade, she has spent her career working across multiple healthcare settings, including provider, payer, and health IT environments. That cross-functional perspective led her to focus on one of healthcare’s most persistent challenges: breaking down barriers to communication across the continuum of care. At Kno2, she has helped build infrastructure that supports secure, scalable information exchange across providers, payers, technology vendors, and historically overlooked care settings. Things You’ll Learn: Why healthcare interoperability is far more complex than common comparisons to banking or ATM networks suggest. How Kno2’s communication infrastructure helps technology vendors connect once and communicate across the healthcare ecosystem. Why post-acute care, behavioral health, dental, vision, EMS, and other overlooked settings are critical to a truly connected continuum. Why trust in modern data exchange depends on governance, ethics, and responsible network behavior, not just baseline compliance. How federal initiatives, CMS-aligned efforts, and market pressure could accelerate national exchange participation over the next 12 to 24 months. Resources: Connect with Therasa Bell on LinkedIn Learn more about Kno2 Explore the Kno2 Communication API Follow Kno2 on LinkedIn

What if the real power of AI in healthcare isn’t the technology itself, but how we apply it responsibly and intentionally? In this episode, Ajoy Ranga, Chief Digital Officer of Healthcare at UST Global, and Ashok Chennuru, Chief Data & Digital AI Transformation Officer at the Digital Platforms and Artificial Intelligence Office at Elevance Health/Carelon, discuss how their partnership between UST and Elevance Health is leveraging AI, data, and digital transformation to improve healthcare outcomes and consumer experience. They emphasize that scaling AI responsibly requires strong governance, human oversight, and a clear stance against using AI to deny care. Both highlight that high-quality, actionable data is foundational, but must be practical, cost-effective, and usable even when imperfect. Ultimately, they stress that success in healthcare innovation comes from starting with user experience, rapidly prototyping solutions, and fostering a mindset of continuous learning and experimentation. Tune in to hear how Elevance Health and UST are balancing innovation with responsibility to unlock AI’s true potential in healthcare.  About Ajoy Ranga: Ajoy Ranga is the Chief Digital Officer of Healthcare at UST. Ajoy Ranga is a distinguished technology executive with over 20 years of experience driving digital transformation in healthcare. As former Vice President of Product Engineering at Elevance Health, he led the strategy and delivery of all external-facing digital channels, impacting millions of members and partners. Ajoy is known for pioneering industry-first innovations—including AI-powered tools, conversational interfaces, and cloud-native platforms—that improved member engagement and operational efficiency. With deep expertise in product-centric engineering, mobile-first design, and scalable architectures, he has built and led high-performing global teams while advancing enterprise agility, AI adoption, and cloud modernization. About Ashok Chennuru: Ashok Chennuru is the Chief Data & Digital AI Transformation Officer at the Digital Platforms and Artificial Intelligence Office at Elevance Health/Carelon. In his role, is responsible for driving healthcare innovation through the transformative power of data and AI across the organization. In recent years, Ashok has led transformational efforts to revolutionize the business, develop foundational AI platforms, enhance operations, drive exceptional experiences, and develop an AI-enabled workforce. Ashok also spearheads much of Elevance Health’s clinical and payer-provider integration efforts, including Health OS - an interoperability platform that connects provider, payer, and member data - as well as value-based platforms, population health management, and provider analytics.  Things You’ll Learn: Responsible AI must be governed, monitored, and continuously evaluated. AI should augment care decisions, not restrict access to care. Actionable, integrated data matters more than perfectly clean data. Experience-first design leads to faster alignment and better outcomes. Lifelong learning and experimentation are essential for success in modern healthcare technology. Resources: Connect with and follow Ajoy Ranga on LinkedIn. Follow UST Global on LinkedIn and visit their website. Connect with and follow Ashok Chennuru on LinkedIn. Follow Elevance Health on LinkedIn and visit their website.

In this episode, host Sandy Vance and Andy Fanning, the CEO & Co-founder of Optura.ai, sit down to talk about why so many healthcare organizations are making AI headlines without actually transforming anything. Andy breaks down how Optura helps payers, providers, and life sciences companies move from a scattered list of AI ideas to a prioritized, production-ready roadmap with measurable return on investment. From crowdsourcing use cases across an entire organization to aligning AI investments with executive strategy, this episode is packed with practical insight for any healthcare leader who wants AI to actually move the needle. In this episode, they talk about: Most healthcare leaders feel they are not moving fast enough with AI, despite the headlines Shadow AI is just an unmet need, and governance is the answer Crowdsourcing AI ideas from the bottom up reveals hotspots that leadership often cannot see Aligning AI use cases to existing strategic initiatives makes adoption dramatically easier Point solutions do not share context, and that missing context is where the real value lives Return on AI investment requires defining what value actually means for your specific organization Agentic AI is the next big wave, and organizations need to decide where they sit on the risk spectrum Trust at the frontline is built by showing workers how AI follows their own standard operating procedures If finance cannot see the ROI, they will conclude that AI does not work A little about Andy: Andy is the Co-Founder and CEO of Optura.ai, where he's on a mission to help healthcare organizations stop dabbling in AI and start seeing real returns from it. His team built an AI Orchestration Platform designed from the ground up for healthcare, giving organizations the infrastructure, trust, and clarity to turn AI ambition into measurable ROI. The platform does it all in one place: spotting high-value AI opportunities, building and deploying custom agents, unlocking data without the ETL headache, auto-generating workflows from existing SOPs, and tracking return on AI investment in real time. No black boxes, no guesswork. Just AI that actually proves its worth.

Virtual care is no longer just about access. It is now becoming the infrastructure layer that helps health systems reduce fragmentation, strengthen workplace safety, and scale digital care more intelligently. In this episode, Tammy Cress, Senior Vice President of Clinical Solutions and Innovation at Teladoc Health, discusses how health systems can move beyond fragmented telehealth strategies and start building more sustainable, integrated models of digital care. She explains how Teladoc is layering responsible AI onto its virtual care infrastructure through its Clarity solution, which helps sense, synthesize, and route the right information to the right care team member at the right time. Tammy also shares why workplace safety is one of the most urgent and practical use cases for these tools, how fragmented digital investments continue to drain staff and budgets, and why strategy, governance, and thoughtful alignment matter more than ever as organizations move from pilots to scalable transformation. Tune in and learn how health systems can rethink virtual care and AI adoption in ways that are more proactive, sustainable, and grounded in what truly matters.  About Tammy Cress: Tammy Cress, RN, MSN, is Senior Vice President of Clinical Solutions and Innovation at Teladoc Health, where she leads the development of healthcare solutions designed to meet real market needs and support growth across complex care environments. A nurse by training and a military veteran, Tammy brings deep experience in telehealth strategy, operations, and innovation. Before her current role, she held multiple leadership positions at Teladoc, Providence Health & Services, and Swedish, where she helped design, scale, and operationalize telehealth programs across multi-state health systems. Her background spans clinical operations, business operations, governance, product strategy, and service delivery, with a consistent focus on aligning technology investments to patient needs, frontline realities, and long-term organizational success. Things You’ll Learn: Fragmented telehealth investments can create unnecessary strain for care teams, even when individual tools appear to deliver good results. Responsible AI can help reduce bedside cognitive burden by sensing what is happening in care environments and sending the right alerts to the right people. Workplace safety is a major healthcare challenge, and smarter room-based technology can help organizations become more proactive instead of reactive. AI and virtual care programs are more likely to scale when leadership aligns governance structures instead of treating digital tools as separate initiatives. Health systems need a clear strategy, stronger alignment, and a fresh look at prior investments if they want to move from pilots to sustainable transformation. Resources: Connect with Tammy Cress on LinkedIn. Follow Teladoc Health on LinkedIn and visit their website. 

In this episode, host Sandy Vance sits down with Gary Salman, CEO and co-founder of Black Talon Security, for a passionate and informative conversation about the growing ransomware crisis in healthcare. With over 30 years in health tech and a background as a part-time law enforcement captain, Gary brings a unique perspective to cybersecurity. He draws parallels between street-level crime and digital attacks.  Whether you lead a large hospital system or a small specialty practice, this episode is packed with practical insights on how to assess your cyber risk, respond to an active breach, and build a culture of leadership accountability before disaster strikes. In this episode, they talk about: About 90% of breached healthcare organizations end up paying the ransom Small practices are just as targeted as large health systems, especially those with strong insurance policies Lack of visibility across the full attack surface is the most common security blind spot Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) is replacing outdated point-in-time assessments Known Exploitable Vulnerabilities (KEVs) are a primary attacker entry point, yet most orgs patch them too slowly AI is helping hackers build malicious tools faster and with less technical skill During a breach, deciding how quickly to shut down the network is the most critical early call Most IT providers never deliver a documented risk report to leadership, leaving executives in the dark Gary's cyber risk grading tool gives non-technical leaders a real-time security score per facility Documented, improving risk scores can reduce regulatory penalties after a breach Most ransomware attacks are preventable with proper patching, configuration, and monitoring A Little About Gary: Gary Salman is the CEO and Co-Founder of Black Talon Security, a leading innovator in cybersecurity solutions for healthcare. With an impressive 32-year career in healthcare technology, Gary is both a seasoned security expert and visionary. In the late 1990s, he developed one of the earliest cloud-based dental practice management systems that was acquired by a publicly traded company in 2002. Gary also has a unique background, as he is still actively involved in law enforcement as a Deputy Sheriff. Under his leadership, Black Talon monitors and secures approximately 65,000 devices worldwide. The company provides cybersecurity services to a wide range of clients, from small practices to some of the largest healthcare organizations in the United States, including many of the top 20 Dental Service Organizations (DSOs). As a respected authority in his field, Gary is a frequent lecturer at major national dental association meetings. Black Talon's services are endorsed by numerous state and national associations, affirming his expertise and influence. His work has been highlighted in over 100 prestigious dental and medical publications, reinforcing his status as a thought leader in healthcare cybersecurity. Gary has also trained tens of thousands of healthcare professionals on best practices for securing their practices and clinics. Beyond preventative measures, Black Talon also specializes in cyberattack remediation, successfully guiding hundreds of healthcare organizations through recovery from security breaches. Their expertise is often enlisted by leading law firms and cyber insurance carriers, underscoring their prominence in the field.

Healthcare organizations cannot afford to chase every new technology trend without first building the foundation to make those tools effective, scalable, and financially sustainable. In this episode, Jeff Thomas, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at Sentara Health, discusses how his team is approaching cloud transformation, AI readiness, and cost management across a vertically integrated payer-provider organization. He explains why technology decisions must ultimately support better care delivery, how tech debt continues to slow innovation, and why data accessibility is the real prerequisite for meaningful AI adoption. Jeff also shares how Sentara has reduced system sprawl, flattened infrastructure costs while growing, and built a more resilient technology environment that supports both operational efficiency and clinician presence. He closes by emphasizing a point many leaders overlook: no technology transformation succeeds without strong change management. Tune in and learn how healthcare leaders can build a smarter, more disciplined path to innovation without losing sight of the people they serve.  About Jeff Thomas: Jeff Thomas is Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at Sentara Health, where he leads technology strategy, cloud transformation, and infrastructure modernization for one of the region’s major integrated healthcare organizations. With more than 20 years of experience across global infrastructure, operations, enterprise architecture, and application development, Jeff has led large-scale transformation efforts across healthcare, government, consulting, higher education, and commercial enterprises. Before joining Sentara, he held senior technology leadership roles at Smithfield Foods and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. He is known for his focus on cloud consolidation, operational efficiency, and the use of technology to improve service delivery while reducing costs. Jeff holds an MBA from The College of William and Mary, a master’s degree from Syracuse University, and a BA from Brigham Young University. Things You’ll Learn: Technology investments only create value when they improve care delivery, reduce friction, and help clinicians stay present with patients. AI readiness depends less on hype and more on whether organizations can make their data accessible, timely, and usable for real-world inference. Reducing tech debt and system sprawl creates the capacity organizations need to innovate without letting infrastructure costs spiral upward. Healthcare technology leaders must manage IT like a business, balancing innovation with financial discipline, operational efficiency, and measurable outcomes. Successful transformation requires more than new tools, since lasting progress depends on helping people adapt to change thoughtfully. Resources: Connect with and follow Jeff Thomas on LinkedIn. Follow Sentarah Health on LinkedIn and visit their website.

Specialty care remains one of the biggest black boxes in healthcare, creating delays, unnecessary referrals, and major frustration for both patients and primary care providers. In this episode, Reza Sanai, co-CEO and co-founder of PicassoMD, discusses how his team is helping primary care providers access specialist expertise in near-real time while also improving the referral process when specialty care is truly needed. He explains why specialty access often breaks down at the point of care, how fragmented provider data makes navigation more difficult, and why better coordination between primary care and specialists can reduce unnecessary ER visits, improve triage, and speed access to the right care. Reza also shares how PicassoMD is supporting rural and underserved communities, why visibility into the patient journey matters so much, and how thoughtful partnerships are essential to making innovation work in real healthcare settings. Tune in and learn how smarter specialist access could help close one of healthcare’s most persistent care coordination gaps.  About Reza Sanai: Reza Sanai, MD, FACC, is the co-CEO and founder of PicassoMD, a platform that gives primary care providers real-time access to a network of value-based specialists across major disciplines. Through curbside consultations and referral support, PicassoMD helps reduce unnecessary referrals and ER visits while improving care transitions, patient experience, and outcomes. In addition to leading PicassoMD, Reza has served in advisory roles with Mighty Health and VIDA Fitness & Aura Spa, and was previously a co-managing partner at Cardiocare LLC. He earned his Doctor of Medicine from The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, where he was a member of the AOA Honor Society. Things You’ll Learn: Specialty care often functions like a black box, making it harder for primary care providers to get timely input and coordinate the next step for patients. Real-time access to specialists can help primary care providers make better decisions, reduce unnecessary referrals, and avoid preventable ER visits. Referral quality depends on more than specialty type alone, since factors like language, mission fit, geography, and appointment availability all shape patient access. Rural and underserved communities benefit when technology connects providers and patients with specialist expertise that may not be available locally. Successful healthcare innovation depends not just on the product itself, but on strong partnerships and an iterative approach to implementation. Resources: Connect with and follow Reza Sanai on LinkedIn or reach out via email. Follow PicassoMD on LinkedIn and visit their website. 

Healthcare payments are still far too fragmented, creating friction for both patients and providers at one of the most important moments in the care journey. In this episode, Katie Whalen, Head of Strategic Partnerships for Merchant Solutions at Fiserv, discusses how Clover PracticePay is helping modernize payment workflows for small and mid-sized healthcare providers. She explains why healthcare remains underserved when it comes to efficient payment infrastructure, how disconnected systems create unnecessary back-office work, and why a better payment experience can also improve transparency, cash flow, and patient satisfaction. Katie also shares how Fiserv is bringing lessons from retail, restaurants, and other service industries into healthcare, using connected payment tools, claims reconciliation, and smarter patient-facing technology to reduce friction across the entire process. Tune in and learn how better payment experiences could become a powerful driver of transformation in healthcare!   About Katie Whalen: Katie Whalen is a payments and partnerships leader with deep experience across financial services, digital payments, and merchant solutions. She currently serves as Head of SMB Sales & Partnerships for Merchant Solutions at Fiserv, where she helps drive growth and innovation for businesses navigating an increasingly digital economy. Before stepping into this role, she spent nearly seven years at Fiserv as Senior Vice President for North America Issuer Processing. Her career also includes leadership roles at Citi, where she focused on global digital payments strategy, and at American Express, where she worked in strategy, operations, and business development for enterprise growth and digital partnerships. Earlier in her career, she held product leadership roles at Thomson Reuters and worked in public service through the City of New York and the U.S. Senate. Katie holds a BA from Cornell University and an MBA from NYU Stern, bringing together policy, strategy, and business expertise. Things You’ll Learn: Healthcare payment systems are often fragmented, forcing providers to work across disconnected tools for claims, billing, and collections. This creates unnecessary administrative burden and slows down both staff workflows and payment reconciliation. Small and mid-sized healthcare practices have historically lacked access to the kind of payment technology already common in retail and other service industries. Modern platforms can help close that gap by making transactions easier for both practices and patients. A better patient payment experience depends on more than just accepting cards or digital payments. Transparency, convenience, and clear financial communication all play a role in helping patients feel more confident and informed. When payment collection and payer reconciliation are handled in one connected system, practices can reduce back-office friction and improve operational efficiency. This integration can also support healthier cash flow and a smoother overall workflow. Improving healthcare payments is not just about convenience at the point of transaction. It also creates opportunities for stronger information exchange across the broader care ecosystem, helping reduce inefficiencies over time. Resources: Connect with and follow Katie Whalen on LinkedIn. Follow Fiserve on LinkedIn and visit their website.

In this episode, host Sandy Vance sits down with Adam Kamor, Co-founder and Head of Engineering at Tonic.ai, to tackle one of the most pressing challenges in healthcare's AI adoption: what to do with sensitive data you legally cannot access.  Adam breaks down how Tonic AI helps healthcare organizations de-identify and synthesize unstructured data so they can train AI models safely, stay HIPAA compliant, and actually unlock the value sitting behind their firewalls.  If your organization is eager to build AI-powered workflows but unsure how to handle patient data responsibly, this episode is a must-listen. In this episode, they talk about: Most valuable healthcare data is too sensitive to use for AI training without de-identification HIPAA is actually an advantage because it gives organizations a clear roadmap for safe data use Tonic Textual replaces PHI in unstructured documents with realistic synthetic values Synthetic data must closely mirror real data for AI models to perform well in the field If a model is trained on PHI, it risks regurgitating patient information in outputs Privacy compliance should be addressed at the start of an AI project, not as an afterthought Many organizations do not realize solutions already exist to help them use their data safely A Little About Adam: Adam manages the team creating Tonic Textual, Tonic.ai's platform for unstructured data redaction and synthesis. He has spent the last 12 years as a leader at the intersection of data privacy, AI, and software engineering.

Artificial intelligence in healthcare isn’t just about futuristic diagnostics or robots assisting surgeons. It’s also transforming the operational backbone of the healthcare industry.  In this episode, host Sandy Vance sits down with Anand Kumar, Vice President of Healthcare at Genpact, to explore how AI-driven automation is reshaping everything from payer operations to member experience. Together, they unpack how healthcare organizations can cut through the “AI buzz,” identify meaningful use cases, and drive measurable outcomes. From contact center automation to actuarial modeling and prior authorization workflows, this episode dives into the real-world impact of AI and how human expertise and intelligent agents can work together to improve both operational efficiency and patient experience. If you’re a healthcare leader trying to navigate the rapidly evolving AI landscape, this conversation offers practical insights into where the technology is delivering value today and what’s coming next. In this episode, they talk about: Healthcare organizations are adopting AI-first strategies to improve efficiency and operational outcomes Successful AI transformation requires aligning people, processes, and technology AI tools are helping contact centers resolve patient and member issues faster Many healthcare organizations are seeing 20–40% improvements in operational efficiency AI is helping actuaries analyze large datasets and identify trends more quickly Human experts and intelligent agents are working together to handle complex healthcare decisions Leaders should prioritize partners who demonstrate proven outcomes and operational expertise A Little About Anand: Anand Kumar is a distinguished leader in healthcare and technology, combining deep clinical expertise with advanced digital innovation. As Vice President at Genpact, Anand drives transformative strategies that integrate AI-driven solutions, digital platforms, and operational excellence to deliver measurable outcomes for global clients. Holding degrees as a Medical Doctor (MD), Chartered Accountant (CA), and a Ph.D. in Computing and Artificial Intelligence, Anand brings a unique multidisciplinary perspective to solving complex healthcare challenges. His work spans data engineering, automation, and advanced analytics, enabling payers and providers to reimagine care delivery and optimize patient engagement. At HLTH USA 2025, Anand is shaping conversations around generative AI in healthcare, population health strategies, and next-gen digital ecosystems. His leadership reflects a commitment to innovation, collaboration, and patient-centric solutions that redefine the future of health.   

In this episode of the Cybersecurity at ViVE series on The Beat Podcast, host Sandy Vance sits down with Chad Alessi, Managing Director of Cybersecurity at CTG, for a wide-ranging conversation about what it really takes to protect healthcare organizations in today's threat landscape. With a background spanning chemical engineering, the U.S. Marines, energy sector Operational Technology security, and IT consulting, Chad brings a unique cross-industry perspective to healthcare cybersecurity. From the difference between cybersecurity and cyber resilience to the rise of AI-powered attacks, this episode is packed with practical insights for healthcare leaders who want to stay ahead of what is coming. In this episode, they talk about how: Cyber resilience focuses on operational continuity when an attack happens, not just prevention Breaches resolved within 200 days can save organizations over $1 million Bad actors often sit idle inside networks for months, collecting data before launching an attack Baseline requirements are identity-first security, including multi-factor authentication (MFA) and privileged access management Human-only Security Operations Center (SOC) models are too slow to keep up with today's automated, AI-powered attacks CTG uses Microsoft's Unified Security Operations (SecOps) platform to eliminate tool sprawl and improve response time Zero-trust architecture is expanding from department-level to enterprise-wide in healthcare New HIPAA regulations now require provable network segmentation for legacy medical devices AI-assisted security operations will continue to grow in the next few years A Little About Chad: As CTG's Managing Director of Cybersecurity, Chad Alessi leverages decades of experience in technology, cybersecurity, and operational strategy across enterprise and mid-market sectors to meet the evolving cybersecurity needs of clients in the U.S. During his time in IT consulting, Chad was instrumental in driving IT transformation in the company's regulated pipeline and gas processing business units. He holds a BS in Chemical Engineering, an MBA from the University of Alabama, an MS in Information Systems with a concentration in Information Security from Syracuse University, and post-graduate certifications in leadership, full stack development, cybersecurity, and cloud computing. Chad is known for his strong work ethic, integrity, resourcefulness, and service-based leadership, which he attributes to his time in the U.S. Marine Corps.

How can health systems help nurses confidently adopt and trust AI? We’ll explore how nurse-led design, clear guardrails (policy, consent, privacy), and intentional change management strategies help when implementing AI solutions that reduce cognitive burden, elevate the patient experience, and meet frontline expectations for safety, control, and transparency. In this episode of the AI at ViVE series on the BEAT podcast, host Sandy Vance sits down with Angie Curry, BSN, RN, CCDS, Chief Nursing Informatics Officer at Microsoft, to discuss how ambient AI is finally giving nurses the technological support they deserve. They chat about everything from the documentation burden nurses face, to the importance of workflow fit in driving adoption, to the critical role of human oversight in building trust with AI. If you're a nurse leader, clinical informatics professional, or healthcare innovator thinking about ambient AI, this episode is a must-listen. In this episode, they talk about: Microsoft developed the first ambient AI solution designed specifically for nurses, integrated with Epic's mobile Rover app Nurses spend roughly 40% of their shift on documentation, making them a prime candidate for ambient technology The solution captures spoken nurse-patient interactions and converts them into flow sheet-ready documentation for nurse review Nurses remain in full control, reviewing and approving all AI-generated content before it enters the patient record Trust in AI adoption is less about the technology itself and more about whether it fits naturally into existing nursing workflows Ambient listening captures "invisible care" that nurses often skip documenting due to time constraints Organizations have seen success with piloting on dedicated innovation units before scaling system-wide Documentation habits and language vary across organizations so designing solutions with nurses rather than for them is critical A Little About Angie: As a Chief Nursing Informatics Officer at Microsoft, Angie is passionate about transforming the way nurses experience technology. Drawing on years of bedside experience, she understands firsthand the challenges of documentation and the profound impact it has on patient care. Her mission is simple: to help nurses reclaim time for what matters most, caring for patients. Angie works at the intersection of clinical expertise and innovation, partnering with healthcare leaders to design solutions that feel intuitive, reduce cognitive load, and restore the joy of nursing. From ambient AI to workflow optimization, she believes technology should empower—never overwhelm—the caregivers who keep health systems running. Two Sentence Summary of Podcast Focus: How can health systems help nurses confidently adopt and trust AI? We’ll explore how nurse-led design, clear guardrails (policy, consent, privacy), and intentional change management strategies can help when implementing AI solutions that reduce cognitive burden, elevate the patient experience, and meet frontline expectations for safety, control, and transparency.

By 2030, prior authorization as we know it will be unrecognizable. The convergence of CMS-0057, WISeR pilots, and nationwide interoperability mandates—paired with breakthroughs in AI—will transform prior authorization from a costly administrative burden into an intelligent, patient-centered clearance process.    Jeremy Friese, MD, founder and CEO of Humata Health, joins Sandy Vance to talk about one of the most frustrating problems in healthcare: prior authorization. Luckily, AI may finally be the tool that can fix it. Drawing on his experience as a physician and healthcare executive, Jeremy explains how automation, interoperability, and smarter clinical data workflows can reduce denials, improve efficiency, and help patients get care faster. Their chat explores the changing industry, what still needs to happen, and why the future of prior authorization may look very different by the end of the decade. In this episode, they talk about: Prior authorization is a major driver of provider burnout and financial loss in healthcare. Solving the problem requires both interoperability and advanced clinical intelligence. Real-world interoperability is still messy, often involving portals, APIs, and fax. AI can now extract the right clinical evidence directly from patient records to improve approvals. Automation is cutting physician peer-to-peer reviews by about half. Health systems are seeing strong ROI through denial reduction and efficiency gains. Getting prior authorization right upfront can recover millions in lost revenue. Gold card programs exist, but need better automation to work effectively. The future is mostly automated approvals happening behind the scenes. By 2030, most prior authorization decisions could be handled by computers, not humans. A Little About Jeremy: Jeremy Friese, MD is the Founder and CEO of Humata Health, where he leads the development of AI solutions designed to simplify prior authorization and reduce friction across healthcare. A physician by training, he spent nearly two decades at Mayo Clinic as an interventional radiologist and healthcare leader before moving into entrepreneurship, where he has built and scaled multiple healthcare technology companies focused on aligning providers and payers. His work today centers on using automation and AI to help health systems operate more efficiently while improving patient access to care.

In this episode, host Sandy Vance chats with Frank Toscano, the new Senior Vice President of Product and Engineering at Amplify. They talk about the continued relevance of fax technology in healthcare, the challenges of interoperability, and how Amplify aims to streamline workflows to improve patient care. Frank highlights the importance of integrating fax technology with modern systems to enhance efficiency and reduce friction. In this episode, they talk about: Fax remains an important part of healthcare communication Many interoperability challenges come down to integration and mapping Prior authorizations often still depend on fax How Amplify supports healthcare organizations of all sizes Streamlined patient referrals can improve care delivery Healthcare is an interconnected ecosystem that affects outcomes Maximizing existing technology boosts operational efficiency AI helps connect data for better decision-making Effective solutions start with understanding real workflows Eliminating legacy technology isn’t always the best option The future blends proven methods with modern technology A Little About Frank: Frank Toscano is a nationally recognized product and technology leader with more than 20 years of experience modernizing how healthcare organizations exchange documents, automate workflows, and connect systems through AI-driven interoperability. As Senior Vice President of Product & Engineering at Amplify, he serves as the company’s public-facing technology voice and strategic advisor, guiding product innovation, engineering excellence, and enterprise integrations. Previously, as Vice President of Product Management at Consensus Cloud Solutions (eFax Corporate), Frank led the transformation of legacy fax into cloud-native, HIPAA-compliant interoperability services, delivering FHIR integration, TEFCA-aligned exchange, AI-powered document processing, and large-scale workflow automation used by thousands of healthcare organizations. A named inventor with multiple U.S. patents in secure communication and intelligent document workflows, Frank has also held senior leadership roles at Cellebrite, Cleo, and Retarus, consistently bridging deep technical architecture with real-world clinical and operational needs to reduce manual burden and improve care coordination.

In this episode, Rajkumar Thirunavukkarasu, SVP & Head of Healthcare Provider Business at Tech Mahindra , and LaDonna Sweeten, EHR Practice Lead at The HCI Group, a fully owned subsidiary of Tech Mahindra, discuss how health systems can transform their EHR from a static system of record into a dynamic performance engine. The conversation also highlights a unique market differentiator: the combined strength of The HCI Group’s deep EHR and provider-focused expertise with Tech Mahindra’s global technology scale, engineering depth, automation capabilities, and innovation track record. Together, this partnership brings end-to-end capabilities—from EHR optimization and managed services to advanced data engineering, AI integration, and enterprise digital transformation—delivered at scale with measurable outcomes. Listeners will gain insight into how leading organizations are moving beyond implementation toward sustained transformation—leveraging global innovation, cross-industry engineering excellence, and healthcare-specific expertise to drive lasting value. In this episode, they talk about: HCI Group grew from staff augmentation to a full solutions provider after the Tech Mahindra acquisition Many providers aren't fully utilizing EHR systems despite heavy investment Providers face simultaneous pressure from workforce shortages, shrinking margins, and new regulations HCI and Tech Mahindra use each org's own data to tailor strategy rather than a one-size-fits-all approach AI is set to significantly disrupt revenue cycle management Ambient listening technology is reducing the clinician documentation burden End-to-end workflow reimagination is recommended over isolated AI pilots Patients now expect the same seamless experience from healthcare as they get from retailers Houston Methodist's new campus was cited as a model for automated, frictionless clinical workflows Value-based care is now mandatory, making urgent AI adoption a necessity not a choice A Little About Rajkumar and LaDonna: Raj T is a dynamic and accomplished business leader with over two decades of global experience in managing high-impact client relationships and driving growth in the healthcare technology space. Currently, Raj is serving as SVP & Head of Healthcare Provider Business at Tech Mahindra, where he leads strategy, delivery, and innovation for some of the world’s leading healthcare organizations. Raj's collaborative leadership style and results-driven mindset have consistently delivered value to clients, making him a trusted advisor in the healthcare technology ecosystem. Raj is passionate about harnessing technology to improve patient outcomes, streamline provider operations, and enable data-driven decision-making across the care continuum. LoDonna leads enterprise healthcare technology strategy and delivery for health systems nationwide. She specializes in EHR transformation, workflow optimization, managed services, and digital enablement, partnering with executive leaders to ensure technology investments drive measurable clinical, operational, and financial impact. LaDonna uses data and best-practice benchmarks to identify performance gaps, prioritize high-value opportunities, and design targeted improvement roadmaps. She then applies structured governance and performance monitoring to mitigate risk and ensure intended benefits are realized. Her passion is helping provider organizations transform their EHR from a system of record into a data-informed performance engine that supports fiscal sustainability and provider resilience.  She understands that in today’s margin-compressed and highly regulated environment, optimization has to be measurable and sustainable, not just aspirational. 

In this episode, host Sandy Vance chats with Hari Bala, the Chief Technology Officer for Health Information Systems at Solventum. Together, they explore how healthcare organizations can build trust and confidence around AI adoption, drawing on insights from Solventum’s recent global survey of healthcare professionals. The research highlights a growing demand for AI alongside concerns that innovation could increase pressure on clinicians. Hari shares practical perspectives on how AI can support rather than overshadow providers, improve efficiency without compromising quality, and help organizations introduce new technologies in ways that feel safe and sustainable. Listen to learn how leaders can ensure clinicians feel comfortable incorporating AI into their daily workflows while improving the overall patient experience. In this episode, they talk about: The three key trust factors and why trust is the foundation for AI adoption Why trust is the currency of successful implementation The role of AI in improving patient care and clinician efficiency How speed and quality can improve together rather than compete Key findings from Solventum’s healthcare AI adoption survey The cultural and mindset shifts required for successful implementation The impact of AI on the patient experience How leaders can evaluate potential technology partners A Little About Hari: Hari Bala joined Solventum as Chief Technology Officer for Health Information Systems in May 2025. He brings more than 25 years of experience building scalable, distributed systems using generative AI, data science, analytics, and machine learning across healthcare, cloud, and security. Before Solventum, Hari led AI, data, analytics, and cloud transformation initiatives at GE Healthcare and Oracle Cerner. At Oracle, he helped establish the AI Services organization and led development of the Health Data Intelligence and Analytics platform, a near real-time, cloud-based population health solution, while advancing AI and machine learning tools for clinical use. Earlier in his career, Hari spent nearly 19 years at Microsoft in leadership roles across Azure and several core enterprise technologies.