In this episode of Quality Matters, host Andy Reynolds is joined by Josh Wymer, Chief Health Information and Data Strategy Officer for the State of Missouri Health Data Consortium. Together, they explore how Missouri is building a smarter health care system that uses AI not just to automate care, but to elevate it.

Drawing on Josh’s experience in clinical care and informatics, the conversation reveals how states and standards bodies can work together to ensure innovation serves people—not just systems.

Listen to this episode to discover:

• AI with a Human Touch: Josh shares how Missouri is designing AI systems that center citizen experience, protect privacy and preserve empathy in care delivery.
• Cross-Agency Collaboration as a Catalyst: Learn how Missouri’s unified health data strategy breaks silos and builds trust across public health, social services and mental health care systems. 
• Workforce Readiness in the Age of AI: Explore how upskilling and retention strategies are helping Missouri address staffing shortfalls and prepare its workforce for a future of data-driven care.
• The Sunny Side of AI: Hear why optimism, not fear, is driving Missouri’s approach to innovation, and how thoughtful, ethical design can unlock better outcomes at scale.

This episode is essential listening for health IT leaders, policymakers and quality professionals who want to understand how proactive states are turning AI into a force for good, through a commitment to protecting the human element in health care.

Key Quote:

“ What I really like to challenge the listener to think about is, what's the sunny side of this story? What's the optimistic and positive ways we can use these solutions? What's the positive version of the future around quality and safety? Because these tools are enabling that.  

Never have we had the ability to extrapolate against data like we do now. Never have we had the chance to do deep, meaningful research against large data sets. Never have we had a chance to spread and educate populations and accelerate innovation and learning like we do now. With the right focus and the right priorities, we can narrow that to areas that will drive meaningful change and better the lives of everyone we engage with.”

 -Josh Wymer, DNP

Time Stamps:

• (02:06) Missouri's Health Data Consortium
• (04:58) AI's Growing Role in Health Care
• (10:06) Workforce Readiness for AI
• (12:22) NCQA's AI Initiatives
• (18:19) Preserving the Human Element in Health Care

Dive Deeper:

“The ‘Show Me State’ Shows How AI Can Succeed

Josh Wymer at the Health Innovation Summit

Connect with Josh Wymer

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