January 13, 2025

CIO Podcast - Episode 88: A Healthcare Perspective on Southern California Wildfires with Ray Lowe

17 minutes

For the 88th episode of the CIO podcast hosted by Healthcare IT Today, we are joined by Ray Lowe, SVP and CIO at AltaMed to talk about the wildfires in Southern California. As an LA native, Lowe gives us an update on what it’s like in Southern California right now. Next, we talk about the impact this disaster is having on healthcare organizations. Then we discuss what happens when a medical facility is gone and what we can learn from this tragedy. Lowe then shares how AltaMed has been going beyond their patients and has been supporting other public health services. Next, we get into how AltaMed has been diverting their patients to another clinic, if they’ve gone to telehealth during this tragedy, and other efforts to manage their 1000+ appointments per day. Lastly, Lowe passes along his suggestions on what other healthcare organizations should do to prepare for tragedies like this that could hit their community.

Here are a few of the pictures of the clinic that was destroyed and the AltaMed team caring for their community:

Here’s a look at the questions and topics we discuss in this episode:

As an LA native, give us an update on what it’s like in Southern California right now.

What are some of the impacts to healthcare organizations that you’re experiencing and hearing about?

What happens when a medical facility is just gone? What can be learned from this tragedy?

Going beyond your patients, how has AltaMed supported other public health services?

How did you handle all your patients? Did you divert them to another clinic? Did you go to telehealth?

You’ll have time to analyze this after the tragedy, but is there something you’d suggest to other healthcare organizations to make sure they’re prepared if a tragedy like this or others hit their community?

Now, without further ado, we’re excited to share with you the next episode of the CIO Podcast by Healthcare IT Today.

We release a new CIO Podcast every ~2 weeks. You can also subscribe to the Healthcare IT Today podcast on any of the following platforms:

NOTE: We’ll be updating the links below as the various podcasting platforms approve the new podcast. Check back soon to be able to subscribe on your favorite podcast application.

Apple Podcasts

Google Podcasts

Stitcher Podcast Radio

TuneIn

Spotify

iHeartRadio

Thanks for listening to the CIO Podcast on Healthcare IT Today and if you enjoy the content we’re sharing, please rate the podcast on your favorite podcasting platform.

Along with the popular podcasting platforms above, you can Subscribe to Healthcare IT Today on YouTube. Plus, all of the audio and video versions will be made available to stream on HealthcareITToday.com.

We’d love to hear what you think of the podcast and if there are other healthcare CIO you’d like to see us have on the program. Feel free to share your thoughts and perspectives in the comments of this post with @techguy on Twitter, or privately on our Contact Us page.

We appreciate you listening!

Listen to the Latest Episodes

...more

View all episodes

By John Lynn and Colin Hung

44 ratings