I Don't Care

Emergency departments across the U.S. are under unprecedented strain, with overcrowding, staffing shortages, and inpatient bed constraints converging into a throughput crisis. The American Hospital Association reports that hospital capacity and workforce growth have lagged, intensifying delays from arrival to disposition. At the same time, advances in artificial intelligence are moving from experimental to operational—raising the stakes for how technology can meaningfully improve patient flow rather than add complexity.

So, how can emergency departments reduce bottlenecks and move patients more efficiently through care without compromising clinical judgment or trust?

Welcome to I Don’t Care. In the latest episode, host Dr. Kevin Stevenson sits down with Mitch Quinn, Director of AI/ML at ChoreoED, to explore how AI-driven insights can help hospitals anticipate admissions and discharges earlier, coordinate downstream services, and ultimately improve ED throughput. Their conversation spans the real-world operational challenges ED leaders face, the practical application of machine learning in high-acuity settings, and what it takes to deploy AI tools that clinicians actually trust and use.

What you’ll learn…

• How AI models trained on a hospital’s own historical data can accurately anticipate admissions up to hours earlier, enabling parallel workflows.

• Why focusing on “high-certainty” admissions and discharges—rather than rare edge cases—creates immediate operational value in the ED.

• How adaptive, continuously retrained models can support both experienced clinicians and newer providers in high-turnover environments.

Mitch Quinn is a Director of AI and Machine Learning and a computer scientist with 20+ years of experience building production-grade AI systems across healthcare and cybersecurity. He specializes in deep learning, large-scale model architecture, and end-to-end ML pipelines, with leadership roles spanning applied research at Blue Cross NC, enterprise AI consulting, and real-time cyber threat detection. His career highlights include designing high-performance deep neural networks, anomaly detection systems operating at enterprise scale, and foundational software frameworks used by large engineering organizations.

As hospitals across the U.S. shorten length of stay and push more recovery into the home, families are increasingly left to manage complex care needs without formal training or support. Roughly one in five patients with chronic conditions like COPD or congestive heart failure is readmitted within 30 days—a cycle that costs the healthcare system billions annually and places enormous strain on caregivers. Against the backdrop of hospital-at-home models, aging demographics, and caregiver burnout, in-home senior care has become a critical piece of the post-acute care puzzle.

So how can families ensure their loved ones are truly supported at home—not just medically, but functionally and emotionally—after discharge?

In this episode of I Don’t Care, host Dr. Kevin Stevenson sits down with Lance Summey, Franchise Owner at Home Instead. Together, they unpack the realities of nonmedical in-home senior care, how it integrates with hospitals, home health, and hospice, and why seemingly “small” daily tasks can dramatically impact health outcomes.

Key Topics Covered in This Episode…

• Why nonmedical care matters: How help with activities of daily living—bathing, dressing, meals, transportation, and companionship—directly influences clinical outcomes and reduces hospital readmissions.

• Hospital-to-home transitions: The growing importance of in-home care as hospitals discharge patients earlier and rely on the home environment to support recovery.

• Caregiver burden and sustainability: Why family caregivers often reach a breaking point, and how professional in-home care allows loved ones to remain family—not full-time caregivers.

Lance Summey is a franchise owner with Home Instead, the world’s largest provider of nonmedical in-home senior care. He holds a Master’s in Social Work from Baylor University and brings firsthand experience from both hospital systems and personal family caregiving. Motivated by his mother’s battle with breast cancer and his grandmother’s experience with multiple sclerosis, Summey has dedicated his career to bridging gaps in post-acute and long-term care—particularly where traditional medical models fall short. His work focuses on reducing hospital readmissions, integrating care teams, and supporting families through some of life’s most challenging transitions.

As healthcare systems worldwide face rising costs, workforce shortages, and increasing pressure to balance quality with financial sustainability, traditional classroom-based management education is struggling to keep pace. According to the World Economic Forum, healthcare spending now accounts for nearly 10% of global GDP, making leadership decision-making more consequential—and more complex—than ever. At the same time, educators and executives alike are searching for ways to prepare leaders for real-world uncertainty, not just theoretical case studies.

So how do you train healthcare leaders to make better decisions when the stakes are high, the data is imperfect, and the environment is constantly changing?

That’s the core question explored in the latest episode of I Don’t Care, hosted by Dr. Kevin Stevenson, featuring Jeremy Lovelace, Founding Director of HFX Technologies Group. Stevenson and Lovelace dive into how simulation-based healthcare management education is reshaping the way future and current healthcare leaders learn strategy, finance, and human-centered decision-making—across borders, systems, and sectors.

Key Takeaways from the Conversation…

• Simulation over static cases: Dynamic, financially driven simulations provide a more realistic and measurable way to train healthcare decision-makers than traditional case competitions or lectures.
• Global adaptability: A simulation originally modeled on a leading Brazilian hospital has proven effective across diverse systems, including U.S. health systems, European providers, and the UK’s NHS.
• Human skills under pressure: Beyond financial metrics, simulations reveal leadership gaps in teamwork, stress management, and judgment under uncertainty—often the most powerful learning outcomes.

Jeremy Lovelace is the Founding Director of HFX Technologies Group, a firm specializing in simulation-based training for strategic and financial decision-making. With a background in management consulting and decision science, Lovelace has worked extensively with universities, healthcare organizations, and public-sector institutions across Europe, the Americas, and beyond. His work includes partnerships with global business schools such as University College London and simulations inspired by top-tier healthcare institutions like Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein in Brazil. Lovelace holds an MBA and brings decades of experience in leadership development, education technology, and applied strategy.

Across America, rural hospitals are facing an existential crisis. From physician burnout and recruitment struggles to malpractice insurance woes and shrinking OB units, the challenges facing small health systems are multiplying. According to the National Rural Health Association, roughly 190 rural hospitals have closed down or discontinued inpatient care since 2010 — and many more are at risk. As healthcare administrators grapple with these realities, leaders like Wayne Gillis are voicing hard truths that the industry can’t afford to ignore.

So, what’s really happening behind the scenes in rural healthcare — and what can leaders do to ensure these communities don’t face a “quiet collapse”?

Welcome to I Don’t Care. In the latest episode, Dr. Kevin Stevenson is joined by Wayne Gillis, President & CEO of Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Care Services. Together, they explore the state of rural healthcare, the pressures facing modern physicians, and the evolving mindset of leadership in the post-COVID era. From the dangers of the boardroom to the rise of the “gig” healthcare workforce, this episode pulls no punches.

Top insights…

• The Boardroom Effect: How decision-making too far removed from the front lines can create inefficiencies — or even risk patient safety.

• Burnout and Bureaucracy: Why younger physicians fear burnout as the norm and how administrative burdens and insurance interference are fueling the exodus.

• The Quiet Rural Collapse: How workforce shortages, declining reimbursements, and dwindling births are driving small-town healthcare toward a breaking point.

Wayne Gillis is a healthcare executive and former health system CIO who blends clinical expertise with business strategy to drive transformation, operational excellence, and financial turnaround. As President & CEO of Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Care Services, he led the organization to eliminate $15 million in debt, restore financial stability, and deliver its first positive EBITDA in years. Previously, as Market CEO of Great Falls Health Network, Gillis doubled EBITDA from $13 million to $27 million, oversaw a $70 million hospital expansion, and launched new heart and spine service lines. Earlier in his career at Wake Forest Baptist Health, he modernized reporting systems, integrated major acquisitions, and achieved multi-million-dollar cost savings through technology innovation and process redesign.

Cardiovascular care is entering one of its most transformative periods in decades. Advances in AI imaging and minimally invasive procedures are transforming the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 19.8 million people died from cardiovascular diseases in 2022, representing approximately 32% of all global deaths. This makes early detection, innovation, and prevention critical. New technologies promise faster procedures and better outcomes. However, the challenge is to ensure that access, affordability, and quality keep pace with innovation.

As technology redefines what’s possible in cardiovascular medicine, how can health systems balance innovation with sustainability and make excellence more than just a marketing term?

In this episode of I Don’t Care, host Dr. Kevin Stevenson reconnects with longtime colleague Jorge Parodi, a cardiovascular service-line leader with experience across major hospitals and health systems. Together, they trace the evolution of cardiovascular care from the rise of service-line models to the latest AI-driven tools shaping diagnosis and treatment. They also unpack what “centers of excellence” really mean today.

Key Points of Conversation:

• From Service Lines to Systems Thinking: How hospitals began aligning cardiovascular services around the patient journey and cutting across departments to improve coordination, quality, and outcomes.

• Technology at the Heart of Care: Advances like pulse field ablation, AI-assisted CT imaging, and next-generation diagnostic tools are revolutionizing early detection and treatment while reducing invasiveness.

• Redefining Excellence: Why “center of excellence” designations vary widely across payers and regulators, and how data-driven quality metrics are reshaping what true cardiac leadership looks like.

Jorge Parodi is a senior healthcare executive with over two decades of leadership in cardiovascular service line management and hospital operations. He has directed major heart and vascular programs across leading health systems, focusing on strategy, innovation, and quality improvement. Parodi specializes in developing high-performing, technology-driven cardiovascular programs that enhance patient outcomes and operational efficiency.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer just a buzzword in healthcare — it’s becoming a real partner in how providers care for patients and improve everyday experiences. With rising patient expectations, limited resources, and mounting administrative complexity, hospitals and insurers alike are turning to AI to improve efficiency, communication, and satisfaction. In fact, Citi research estimates that roughly a quarter of all American healthcare spending goes toward administrative tasks — and intelligent automation could reduce that burden by nearly 30%, underscoring the enormous potential for AI to make care delivery smarter and more sustainable.

But as adoption accelerates, one key question looms: Can AI truly make healthcare more human — or does automation risk depersonalizing care?

In this episode of I Don’t Care with Dr. Kevin Stevenson, guest Brett Kiley, Vice President of Healthcare Solutions at Ciklum, explores how artificial intelligence can elevate — rather than replace — the patient experience. Together, they discuss practical, high-impact applications of AI that improve outcomes for both patients and providers, while emphasizing that technology alone can’t fix broken processes or disengaged teams.

Key points of discussion…

• Fix the process first. AI only accelerates what’s already working — it can’t fix a bad workflow. Kiley stresses that organizations must repair operational inefficiencies before layering in intelligent automation.

• Predictive, proactive patient care. By modeling data from multiple sources, Ciklum helps healthcare organizations identify at-risk patients before issues arise, reducing readmissions and improving satisfaction.

• AI for empathy and efficiency. From ambient AI that automates clinical documentation to analytics that highlight emotional drivers of patient frustration, AI can empower providers to focus on care — not clicks.

Brett Kiley is the Vice President of Healthcare Solutions at Ciklum, where he helps healthcare organizations design and scale AI-driven customer experience and operational strategies that deliver measurable ROI. With over 20 years at CVS Health, he led digital transformation and patient experience initiatives that lifted Net Promoter Scores from 24 to 76, drove $100M+ in EBIT impact, and reduced call volumes by nearly half. Known for his hands-on healthcare expertise and data-driven approach, Kiley now advises hospitals, insurers, and startups on turning complex systems into efficient, patient-centered experiences powered by AI.

As healthcare continues to transform faster than ever — shaped by post-pandemic burnout, staffing shortages, and the rise of AI — leaders are being forced to rethink what it truly means to deliver both value and compassion in medicine. With the U.S. expected to face a shortage of 64,000 nurses in 2030, healthcare leaders are being pushed to rethink how hospitals operate, how teams are supported, and how care can be delivered more sustainably.

How can healthcare leaders sustain high-quality care in an era defined by burnout, shrinking reimbursements, and rising consumer expectations? What lessons can decades of executive experience teach about leading teams, building resilience, and adapting to constant change?

Welcome to I Don’t Care. In this special crossover episode, David Kemp, host of Highway to Health, takes the interviewer’s seat — turning the spotlight on Dr. Kevin Stevenson himself! During the conversation, Dr. Stevenson reflects on his 36-year career in hospital administration, offering a candid look at how the healthcare landscape has transformed — and what remains timeless about patient-centered leadership.

What you’ll learn…

• From Volume to Value: Stevenson traces the industry’s evolution from “heads in beds” profitability to value-based care, efficiency, and patient choice.

• The Workforce Crisis: A deep dive into burnout, nursing shortages, and the generational shift toward work-life balance — and what that means for future staffing models.

• Decision-Making in Hospitals: Why innovation in healthcare moves slowly, how administrators balance clinical needs with financial and relational “capital,” and the crucial role of trust in vendor relationships.

Dr. Kevin Stevenson, FACHE, is a veteran healthcare executive and consultant with more than three decades of experience leading hospitals, physician networks, and health systems toward operational excellence and sustainable growth. Most recently serving as Chief Operating Officer at Ascension Providence, he drove award-winning improvements in patient experience, surgical innovation, and financial performance. A recognized thought leader and host of the I Don’t Care podcast, Dr. Stevenson is known for his strategic insight, physician engagement expertise, and commitment to mentoring the next generation of healthcare leaders.

Obstructive sleep apnea affects a whopping 30 million Americans, yet millions remain undiagnosed or abandon CPAP therapy due to its discomfort and inconvenience. Recent innovations in oral appliance therapy, however, are opening up new possibilities for patients seeking safe, effective, and lasting solutions. With sleep apnea linked to virtually every chronic disease—from heart disease to diabetes—the stakes couldn’t be higher.

So, what if there were a way to actually remodel the airway and reduce dependence on CPAP altogether? Could a non-surgical, dental-based approach reshape the future of sleep apnea treatment?

Welcome to I Don’t Care. In the latest episode, host Dr. Kevin Stevenson speaks with R. Kirk Huntsman, Chairman and CEO of Vivos Therapeutics. Together, they explore how airway remodeling through oral appliances may offer patients an alternative to CPAP, why craniofacial development is so central to sleep disorders, and how innovations in treatment are changing lives across the country.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How Vivos Therapeutics’ oral appliance technology works by repositioning and redeveloping the jaws to create wider, more functional airways.

• Why environmental, genetic, and lifestyle factors have led to narrower airways in modern populations—and how this contributes to the rise of sleep apnea.

• What patients can expect in terms of treatment timelines, insurance coverage, and long-term outcomes, including reducing or eliminating dependence on CPAP.

R. Kirk Huntsman is a seasoned healthcare entrepreneur with over 35 years of experience founding and leading companies in dental practice management, medical devices, and healthcare services. He built and scaled Dental One, Inc. into a $70M business before its sale, and later co-led the merger that created DentalOne Partners, operating over 150 practices nationwide. Currently Chairman and CEO of Vivos Therapeutics, he focuses on strategic growth, capital acquisition, and innovative technologies to advance treatment for sleep and airway disorders.

Critical care in the United States faces a mounting crisis. With a shortage of board-certified intensivists and younger, less experienced nurses filling ICUs, hospitals often struggle to provide timely, gold-standard care. Studies show that hospitals with board-certified intensivists in their ICUs see a 30% reduction in patient mortality, yet thousands of facilities still lack this vital expertise.

So, how can technology close the critical care gap and help hospitals meet these new quality standards while supporting overburdened staff?

In this episode of I Don’t Care, host Dr. Kevin Stevenson sits down with Dr. Diego Reino, CEO of Intercept Telehealth, to explore how virtual critical care, telestroke, and virtual nursing are transforming hospital operations. The conversation covers how Intercept leverages a fully decentralized model to recruit top intensivists nationwide, integrates ICU bedside data into remote platforms, and provides hospitals with proactive, equitable, and scalable patient care.

Key Takeaways:

• Virtual critical care fills critical staffing gaps: Intercept’s decentralized network allows intensivists and nurse practitioners across the country to provide real-time ICU support, even in high-acuity situations.

• Technology transforms speed and access: Integrated platforms transmit live bedside data, enabling near-instant intensivist response times—averaging 36 seconds compared to the five-minute benchmark.

• Beyond ICU coverage: Intercept also delivers telestroke, teleneurology, virtual nursing, and telesepsis programs, helping hospitals improve patient safety, meet compliance standards, and support younger, less-experienced nurses.

Dr. Diego Reino is a liver and kidney transplant surgeon and the President and CEO of Intercept Telehealth. He trained at UCLA in transplant surgery and began his career at the Cleveland Clinic in Florida. Driven by a commitment to equity in critical care, Dr. Reino founded Intercept to harness technology and provide gold-standard ICU coverage to hospitals nationwide. His leadership continues to expand access to specialized care, from virtual critical care to stroke and sepsis management.

Healthcare systems continue to face intense workforce challenges, with nursing at the center of concern. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of registered nurses is expected to grow 5% between 2024 and 2034—faster than the average growth across all jobs in the U.S. economy. While this growth reflects rising demand for healthcare services, especially among an aging population and patients managing chronic conditions, the greater challenge lies in workforce turnover. On average, more than 189,000 nursing positions will need to be filled each year to replace those leaving the profession due to retirements or career changes. Combined with post-pandemic burnout and competition from other sectors, these trends make workforce development, recruitment, and retention a critical priority for healthcare leaders across hospitals, outpatient centers, and home or residential care settings.

How can healthcare leaders and academic partners work together to build a future-ready workforce that supports both patient care and long-term system stability?

On this episode of I Don’t Care by Dr. Kevin Stevenson, guest Geoffrey Roche, Senior Vice President for Healthcare Solutions at Risepoint, explores strategies for strengthening the pipeline of nurses, technologists, and other clinical roles. The conversation spans Roche’s career in healthcare administration, academia, and EdTech, and highlights innovative models of workforce development from both the U.S. and abroad.

Key Points from the Conversation…

Early Engagement: Initiatives such as healthcare-focused high schools and apprenticeship programs can ignite interest before college and strengthen long-term retention.

Breaking Barriers: Addressing waiting lists in clinical programs and offering paid roles for students creates a stronger path to licensure.

Transformational Leadership: Healthcare systems need leaders invested in long-term workforce development, not transactional approaches focused only on immediate productivity.

Geoffrey M. Roche is a national leader in healthcare workforce development, currently serving as Senior Vice President for Healthcare Solutions at Risepoint. He previously directed workforce strategy at Siemens Healthineers and held executive roles at Harrisburg University, Core Education, and Dignity Health Global Education, where he advanced health equity and built scalable education-to-workforce pipelines. Roche is also an adjunct professor and Forbes Business Council member, recognized for his expertise in leadership, healthcare innovation, and academic-industry collaboration.