The 229 Podcast

November 24, 2025: Healthcare organizations are drowning in applications they can't even inventory, especially after mergers and acquisitions. But the real shock comes when they try to access archived data years later. Dave Dyell, Managing Partner at Innovative Consulting Group, reveals why cloud storage fees are forcing health systems to rethink their entire archiving strategy, particularly for medical imaging. With AI initiatives on the horizon, the way you archive data today determines whether you can afford to use it tomorrow. Learn why strategic planning for data archiving isn't optional anymore—it's the difference between controlling costs and watching them spiral out of control.

Key Points:

• 03:12 Archiving and Data Management
• 09:30 On-Prem vs Cloud Storage
• 18:33 Future Strategies and Conclusion

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November 21, 2025: What if your organization could reclaim millions of dollars just by rethinking processes you already have in place? Bill Willis, CTO of IDMWORKS, discusses the hidden costs plaguing healthcare IT, from runaway cloud storage bills to the shocking economics of password resets. Discover why identity management isn't just a security issue but a massive financial opportunity, how HR-IT integration is transforming onboarding from a week-long wait to day-one productivity, and why the cybersecurity crisis isn't really about technology at all. With real-world examples showing $2.5M to $5M in annual savings, this episode delivers the business case healthcare leaders need to drive change in 2026.

Key Points:

• 01:06 Boston City Tour Highlights
• 02:36 Discussion on AI and Cloud Costs
• 10:05 Cybersecurity and Identity Management
• 19:12 Operational Efficiency and Cost Savings

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November 20, 2025: Deborah Muro, CIO of El Camino Health, shares her vision for transforming healthcare from reactive to predictive through intelligent use of AI and sensor technology. With 30 AI use cases already deployed across Epic and other platforms, El Camino is pioneering applications from radiology incidental findings to employee sentiment analysis. Deborah discusses the challenges of integrating AI agents into clinical workflows, starting with call centers before expanding to the revenue cycle. She also reveals El Camino's remarkable healthcare IT history as the first U.S. organization to implement an EMR in 1971, partnering with Lockheed Martin to develop what eventually became Allscripts, before their recent Epic transformation.

Key Points:

• 03:36 El Camino Journey
• 10:21 AI and Automation in Healthcare
• 16:51 Nursing and Technology Integration
• 19:34 Future of Predictive Healthcare

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November 19, 2025: Healthcare interoperability has evolved far beyond simple data exchange—but are we truly unlocking its potential? Dr. Steven Lane, CMO from Health Gorilla, and Mike Cordeiro, Senior Director of Interoperability Market & Product Strategy from MEDITECH join Bill Russell to explore how the industry is shifting from moving data to making it actionable. Discover why structured, normalized data is critical for clinical decision-making, how TEFCA is transforming payer-provider collaboration, and what AI integration means for overwhelmed clinicians. From the hidden costs of inefficient data exchange to patient empowerment through individual access services, this conversation reveals where interoperability stands today and the exciting developments shaping tomorrow's data-driven healthcare delivery.

Key Points:

• 05:40 Challenges in Data Usability and Integration
• 08:04 Payer-Provider Interoperability
• 14:19 Patient Empowerment Through Data Access
• 18:09 Governance and Data Quality

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November 17, 2025: How does a 25-bed critical access hospital successfully stop a cyberattack when larger health systems fall victim? George Pappas, CEO of Intraprise Health, unpacks the Colorado hospital that shows how security culture beats expensive technology. The conversation reveals why vendor transparency remains elusive despite high-profile breaches, explores the harsh reality of hospitals that know their vulnerabilities but lack resources to fix them, and tackles AI governance challenges that traditional testing methods can't address. From Oracle-Cerner incidents to the frozen HIPAA NPRM, this episode delivers hard truths about healthcare security's funding gaps and the practical strategies that actually work for margin-pressed organizations.

Key Points:

• 01:45 Vendor Contracts and Legal Challenges
• 06:21 Challenges with Cloud Security
• 11:26 Critical Access Hospitals and Cyber Preparedness
• 17:47 AI in Healthcare: Opportunities and Risks

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November 13, 2025: Chris Paravate, CDIO of Northeast Georgia Health System, reveals how his organization achieved 80% ambient voice adoption in just two months, with physicians now seeing nearly three additional patients weekly while rediscovering joy in their practice. He tackles the critical challenge facing healthcare IT leaders today: how to differentiate high-impact AI projects from 320 traditional enhancement requests competing for attention. Chris shares his strategy for executive-level governance, the architecture decisions behind choosing emerging technologies, and why some AI implementations can deliver $3 million in cost savings within six months. He also explains why his team isn't deploying Microsoft Copilot despite widespread demand, and how pulling millions from revenue cycle waste could fuel innovation.

Key Points:

• 03:27 Adoption and Impact of AI Tools
• 05:47 Governance and Prioritization
• 11:57 Upskilling and Workforce Development
• 19:13 Financial Considerations and Innovation

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November 10, 2025: When AWS experienced a major outage affecting over 500 companies, healthcare IT leaders were reminded that cloud architecture isn't just a technical decision; it's a strategic imperative. Vik Patel, COO from Tido, dives into the cascading failures that exposed vulnerabilities in healthcare's cloud dependencies. From Epic instances running on AWS to the emerging challenges of AI data lakes, this conversation reveals why simplicity in architecture might be healthcare IT's most undervalued strategy. Discover how de-identifying data reduces risk, why multi-cloud strategies matter, and whether healthcare organizations have the skills needed to architect their cloud future safely.

Key Points:

• 01:00 AWS Outage Breakdown
• 13:00 Data Management in the Cloud
• 24:21 Simplicity in IT Design
• 30:01 Conclusion and Farewell

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November 6, 2025: Stephon Proctor, PhD, Associate Chief Health Informatics Officer for Platform Innovation at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, is redefining what's possible when clinical expertise meets technical innovation. He built "Chipper"—a prototype that embeds generative AI directly into Epic's EHR, eliminating the friction of jumping between systems. The reaction from the healthcare IT community was explosive, validating what many suspected: seamless AI integration isn't just convenient, it's essential. From CHOP's "School of AI" training hundreds of staff members to their ambitious plans for digitally-enabled patient rooms in a new 28-floor tower, this conversation explores how one organization is preparing for an agentic AI future.

Key Points:

• 03:26 Developing the Chipper App
• 07:54 Technical Architecture and Challenges
• 11:22 Adoption and Workflow Integration
• 18:27 Future of Innovation at CHOP

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November 5, 2025: Mark Galea, SVP and CIO at Willis Knighton Health, shares how they achieved world-class EMR results at a fraction of typical costs, proving that digital transformation doesn't require unlimited budgets. Leading a $1.4 billion health system in northern Louisiana, Mark deployed MEDITECH Expanse to 140 clinics in just 14 months while cutting IT operating costs to the lowest quartile. He discusses a "follow the leader" approach to AI adoption, explains why most hospitals can't afford to place bets on unproven technology, and shares impressive clinical outcomes. His philosophy: technology should be about getting our doctors “back to even”, not adding more stress.

Key Points:

• 01:07 Challenges and Opportunities at Willis Knighton
• 07:18 Stabilizing and Deploying Expanse
• 10:43 Embracing Innovation 
• 18:05 Cost-Effective Innovations and Results
• 25:19 Advice for Healthcare IT Leaders

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November 3, 2025: What are healthcare IT leaders really concerned about? Fresh from three 229 Project summits across the country, Bill Russell, Sarah Richardson, and Drex DeFord pull back the curtain on the most pressing conversations happening right now. From simplifying AI governance with a two-track vendor approach to rethinking hiring strategies for an agent-driven future, this episode captures the pulse of healthcare leadership in real time. Discover why some organizations are solving hundreds of problems while others struggle with their first five, and learn the one-word qualities leaders are seeking in their next hires to thrive in today's rapidly changing landscape.

Key Points:

• 04:24 AI Success Factors
• 09:57 Balancing Moonshots and Practical Solutions
• 14:37 Sourcing Strategy and Engagement
• 22:32 Building Organizational Culture
• 26:27 Leadership and Succession Planning

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