The CereCore Podcast

From the bedside to the boardroom, Holly Davis has spent nearly three decades advocating for nurses and patients in rural healthcare. In this episode of The CereCore Podcast, Holly, Chief Nursing Officer at Bingham Memorial Hospital, shares a practical, people-first view on nursing leadership, technology adoption, and sustaining nursing careers.

Holly discusses the realities of leading nursing teams across hospital and clinic settings, the cognitive and emotional burden nurses carry, and why innovation only works when it reduces effort instead of adding complexity. She also shares how Bingham Memorial Hospital is using tools like mobile point-of-care documentation, virtual nursing, and AI-assisted clinical notes to support nurses without losing the human connection at the heart of care delivery.

In this episode

What a day in the life of a rural CNO really looks like

The physical, emotional, and cognitive realities of nursing today

Practical approaches to nurse resilience and retention

Using technology to reduce burden, not increase it

Mobile documentation and virtual nursing in a rural setting

Early lessons from AI-assisted clinical documentation

Why leaders must stay close to frontline workflows

Connect with Holly Davis, Chief Nursing Officer at Bingham Memorial Hospital

Did this episode spark your interest? We’d love to hear from you. Let’s start a conversation about how technology can better support nurses and care teams.

Need help evaluating your EHR or identifying opportunities to reduce clinical burden? We can help you assess your current environment and build a practical roadmap.

CereCore extends the capacity of healthcare IT teams through MEDITECH professional services, application management, IT support, infrastructure services, regulatory reporting, and advisory services.

What happens when bold leadership meets groundbreaking technology?

In this episode of The CereCore Podcast, we are joined by Sir David Sloman, former Chief Operating Officer of NHS England, about the digital transformation of one of the world’s largest healthcare systems.

From artificial intelligence and data-driven care to leadership resilience and global collaboration, Sir David shares lessons from four decades of healthcare transformation. His message is one of optimism, humility, and courage—showing how digital progress and human connection can coexist to deliver better care.

In this episode:

- How a bold AI breakthrough is transforming patient care

- The mindset required to lead large-scale digital change

- Why optimism and humility matter as much as innovation

- The evolving role of data, compassion, and trust in healthcare

- Lessons from the NHS that apply to every healthcare system

Connect with Sir David Sloman, former Chief Operating Officer, NHS England.

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What does it take to thrive as an independent specialty hospital today? In this episode of The CereCore Podcast, Rick Rasmussen, CEO of Northwest Specialty Hospital, talks about balancing financial discipline with clinical excellence, leading teams through EHR change, and building a culture of care in northern Idaho.

Rick shares his journey from CFO to CEO, why technology and partnerships are critical to sustaining independence, and how his team is navigating workforce challenges while keeping patient outcomes front and center. He also offers a message to the employees of CereCore about the impact of their work and the value of true partnership.

Whether you are a healthcare executive, IT leader, or rural hospital champion, this conversation offers practical lessons on leadership, technology, and innovation.

Key Topics

- Journey from CFO to CEO at Northwest Specialty Hospital

- Role of IT and EHR in driving patient outcomes and financial sustainability

- Balancing financial discipline with clinical excellence

- Workforce and staffing strategies to build a culture of care

- Lessons learned from leading teams through EHR change

- What to look for in a true partnership and how CereCore supports that journey

- Opportunities and innovations ahead for specialty hospitals

- Life and leadership in northern Idaho

From his early days as a finance intern at Cerner to leading Oracle Health Services at CereCore, Richard Barrett has witnessed healthcare IT evolve through seismic shifts: the rise of SaaS and the cloud, interoperability breakthroughs, the Oracle acquisition, and now the AI revolution.

If you’re a CIO, IT strategist, or healthcare leader navigating Oracle Health, this episode of The CereCore Podcast offers grounded wisdom, practical lessons, and inspiration from someone who has “seen it all.”

Richard joins us to reflect on his two decades in healthcare IT and why governance, clinician buy-in, and trusted partnerships are more important than ever.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

- Lessons from working with some of the nation’s largest health systems

- The transformation of Cerner into Oracle Health — and what that means for providers

- Why Oracle’s partner-driven model is reshaping client expectations

- The future of AI, SaaS, and interoperability in healthcare IT

Connect with Richard Barrett, Senior Director of Oracle Health Services at CereCore

What happens when a hospital leader takes lessons from both the CEO and CFO seat into statewide advocacy? You get a strong advocacy voice for rural health. In this episode of The CereCore Podcast, we talk with Tim Powers, Chief Financial Officer of the Idaho Hospital Association, about his 35-year journey in healthcare leadership. From turning around struggling hospitals in Idaho and Nevada to guiding 51 member hospitals today, Tim shares how advocacy, partnerships, and culture are essential to financial resiliency.

He unpacks the challenges rural hospitals face from workforce shortages and labor costs to revenue cycle management and cybersecurity and explains why collaboration is the key to thriving, not just surviving. Listeners will hear stories of turnaround, mentorship, and the calling of rural healthcare leadership.

In this episode:

- Tim’s journey from “fix-it guy” to rural hospital CFO and CEO

- How turnaround stories shaped his passion for advocacy

- The value of Healthcare Business Ventures in supporting IHA members

- Why Medicaid expansion, workforce culture, and cybersecurity top the financial agenda

- Lessons from ransomware and EMR conversions in critical access hospitals

- Advice for rural leaders: do not operate in a silo, lean on each other

Whether you are a hospital executive, board member, or policy advocate, this episode offers practical perspective and inspiration on the role of advocacy and financial stewardship in sustaining rural health.

Connect with Tim Powers, CFO of the Idaho Hospital Association

Explore Resources

CereCore® brings hospital operations experience and healthcare IT expertise together to support organizations like IHA members. From revenue cycle technology assessments and EHR optimization to managed IT services and cybersecurity, we can help you extend your team’s capacity.

- Revenue Cycle Technology Adoption Model: Where does your organization stand?

- Cybersecurity Assessments: Protect your data and minimize risk

- IT Advisory Services: Gain an outside perspective rooted in healthcare operations

From the ED to the C-suite, Dr. Kathy Tussey, CEO of Harrison Memorial Hospital, has never stopped solving problems. Dr. Tussey shares how EHR optimization became a strategic imperative and why it’s about more than technology. In this conversation, she discusses the ripple effect of technology on staff, patient safety, regulatory and revenue cycle. Hear how her nursing roots shaped her approach to executive leadership, why rural hospitals can’t afford to lag behind, and how partnerships like the one with CereCore are helping her team work smarter, not harder.

In this episode:

- How a curious nurse became a forward-thinking hospital CEO

- The critical role of EHR optimization in rural healthcare

- How AI and analytics can reclaim time with patients

- Why partnerships are essential for transformation

- Leadership lessons from a collaborative, growth-oriented leader

Dr. Tussey is an encouraging leader who is dedicated to operational excellence in healthcare. Whether you’re a CNO, CIO, or aspiring healthcare leader, stream this episode and get inspired to lead with purpose, optimize your technology, and never stop learning.

Connect with Dr. Kathy Tussey, CEO of Harrison Memorial Hospital

Did this episode spark your interest? We'd love to hear from you. Let’s start a conversation about how we can help you improve healthcare technology for providers and staff.

Need to evaluate your EHR? We can help you assess your EHR and develop a roadmap like we provided Dr. Tussey and Harrison Memorial Hospital.

We can extend the capacity of your team from MEDITECH professional services to ongoing application management, IT support, infrastructure, regulatory reporting, and virtual chief information security officers.

Explore a remarkable journey of transformation, resilience, and leadership in rural healthcare. We welcome back Lynn Falcone, CEO of Cuero Regional Hospital, and Ismelda Garza, CIO Cuero Regional Hospital and CereCore manager, for a candid conversation about their multi-year effort to implement MEDITECH Expanse and evolve into a high reliability organization (HRO).

From overcoming infrastructure limitations to unifying disparate systems across hospital and clinic settings, Lynn and Ismelda share how they build trust within their teams and continue to manage change through constant communication. They discuss:

- Why Cuero chose MEDITECH Expanse and how it improved patient safety and operational efficiency

- The critical role of communication and governance in sustaining momentum post-go-live

- How IT supports a culture of safety and continuous improvement

- The realities and misconceptions of rural healthcare leadership

- Practical insights on navigating AI, staffing challenges, and change fatigue

Whether you're leading a rural hospital or managing enterprise-wide IT transformation, this episode offers grounded wisdom, humor, and inspiration for healthcare leaders navigating complex change.

Listen to discover how Cuero Regional Hospital is redefining what’s possible in rural healthcare.

What happens when a former clinician becomes the architect of digital transformation? You get bold, practical innovation that actually works. In this episode of The CereCore Podcast, we talk with Julie Demaree, Executive Director of Clinical Innovation and Transformation at St. Mary’s Healthcare Amsterdam, about how she’s turning tech frustration into clinical empowerment. From rebuilding trust in the EHR to rolling out ambient AI and automation bots, Julie shares how her team is making digital tools work for—not against—providers.

If you're a healthcare CIO, informatics leader, or tech strategist, this episode is your blueprint for:

- Building a digital strategy that clinicians actually love

- Creating governance that fuels innovation (not red tape)

- Using data, AI, and automation to solve real-world problems

- Bridging the gap between IT and clinical care—without burning out your teams

Julie’s experience proves that clinical innovation isn’t about chasing trends—it’s about solving problems with purpose. Listen and get inspired to lead your own transformation journey.

How do you strike the right balance with IT governance? Peyman Zand, chief strategy officer at CereCore, talks about developing strategic plans and IT governance to drive innovation and growth. In this conversation, Peyman shares how to align strategic planning and governance with enterprise goals. Hear why it's important to establish a multidisciplinary governance structure, the pitfalls of overly complex or simplistic models, and how emerging technologies like AI can be integrated without hindering progress. Tune in to discover how effective IT governance builds strategic alignment so your leadership team can better navigate today's pressures.

Key topics

- Achieving the right balance of IT governance

- How strategic planning and IT governance work together

- Pitfalls of governance models

- Decision making tool for navigating challenges like tight capital budgets

Explore resources

Connect with CereCore to collaborate on strategic roadmaps that will help you drive innovation and move your organization forward. Get strategic guidance with our advisory team.

Clinical staff want more from their EMR explains Judy Krupala, Chief Nursing Officer at Cuero Regional Hospital. In this episode, hear what’s important to clinical leadership and staff when it comes to technology, their experience transitioning to MEDITECH Expanse and approach to integrating technology into patient care. In this conversation, Judy covers a wide range of important topics for nurses in rural health, from training and leadership programs for the next generation of nurses and nurse leaders to the importance of partnerships. Tune in to hear stories of community, devotion, and words of wisdom from Judy Krupala, a nurse leader who’s been serving Cuero, Texas for more than 30 years.

Key topics

- Technology and innovation in nursing – what nurses want, what’s important and what’s changed

- MEDITECH Expanse – the challenges and successes of transitioning to a new EHR

- Training and equipping nurses in rural health

- The multiple hats a CNO wears

- Cuero Regional Hospital’s family-like culture

- The importance of community and collaboration with organizations like TORCH (Texas Organization of Rural & Community Hospitals)

Explore resources

CereCore brings unique perspective as hospital operators with deep expertise in the major EHR platforms, MEDITECH, Epic, and Oracle Health (Cerner). Learn how you can maximize your EHR investment, regardless of your technology roadmap or stage of the journey.