Healthcare Strategies

Industry Perspectives: Acting on social determinants of health data in rural healthcare

Some might balk at the idea that a healthcare system would struggle to gather social determinants of health data in 2025. But for a rural healthcare system where every employee already fulfills multiple roles and the workforce is stretched thin, collecting this data can feel impossible to add to the workflow. Today's guest shares how to make this impossible task more possible for rural healthcare.
Featuring: Susan Gutjahr, HIT Director and Compliance Officer, Sparta Community Hospital
In this episode, we'll cover 
Why collecting social determinants of health data is so challenging for rural healthcare systems
How Sparta Community Hospital navigated these challenges
Putting rural healthcare challenges in perspective
and more! 
References 
Top Patient Engagement Challenges Affecting Rural Healthcare
State of U.S. rural hospitals: No margin, no mission
Building a care team to address social determinants of health
To learn more about healthcare cybersecurity, check out our Patient Engagement site. 
To watch video clips from the conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel, @HealthcareStrategies. 

Industry Perspectives: Finding the sweet spot for AI in EHRs

Many have postulated that AI could solve--or, at least, bring us closer to solving--the clinician burnout crisis stemming from EHR adoption. But what use cases for AI integration into EHRs are the most ideal?
Featuring: Sean McGunigal, Director of Artificial Intelligence at Epic
In today's episode, we cover
The ideal use cases for AI and EHR integration
Metrics and KPIs for AI success
How scalability challenges impact AI integration into EHRs
Addressing provider concerns about AI dependency
...and more!
To learn more about health IT, check out Health IT and EHR site.
To watch video clips from our podcast, subscribe to our YouTube channel, @HealthcareStrategies.
References:
Top 12 ways artificial intelligence will impact healthcare
How ambient AI is cutting burnout, upping patient experience
How generative AI in healthcare is helping cut admin burden

Industry Perspectives: Navigating the legal landscape of PHI and AI innovation

AI innovation requires patient data in order to develop accurate models that can bolster healthcare functions. But, legally, there is only so much one can do with protected health information. How should healthcare organizations walk the line between innovation and privacy? This conversation was recorded at HIMSS25.
Featuring: Adam Greene, partner at Davis Wright Tremaine, LLP
In this episode, we'll cover 
The legal limits on using patient data for AI development
What CEOs and healthcare leaders should know about privacy and AI innovation
 How the new administration's regulatory approach to AI may shape healthcare organizations' privacy responsibilities
and more! 
References 
What is electronic protected health information (ePHI)?
Fostering health AI development with confidential computing
Examining Health Data Privacy, HIPAA Compliance Risks of AI Chatbots
To learn more about healthcare cybersecurity, check out our Healthtech Security site. 
To watch video clips from the conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel, @HealthcareStrategies. 

Industry Perspectives: Using risk mapping to improve healthcare cybersecurity

Healthcare organizations dodge cyberattacks daily, even from service providers with multiple degrees of separation. What if there was a standard way to prioritize cybersecurity actions across the healthcare sector so that organizations can know their risk level and be more prepared? The Health Sector Coordinating Council (HSCC) Cybersecurity Working Group is working on something that might do just that.
Featuring: Greg Garcia, executive director, Health Sector Coordinating Council Cybersecurity Working Group
In this episode, we'll cover
What risk mapping looks like for the healthcare sector
The HSCC's work on developing health sector risk maps
How healthcare stakeholders can build cyber resiliency by knowing their risk level 
and more!
References
What is a risk map?
Mitigating risk as healthcare supply chain attacks prevail
To learn more about healthcare cybersecurity, check out our Healthtech Security site.
To watch video clips from the conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel, @HealthcareStrategies.

Advancing reproductive choices for men

Despite decades of advancements in reproductive health, male contraception methods remain limited to condoms or vasectomies. This leaves few options for those seeking alternatives and leaves women shouldering the physical and hormonal burdens of birth control. Today, with 85% of men aged 18–45 actively seeking new family planning solutions, the demand for a long-acting, reversible alternative is greater than ever. 
 
As male contraception advances in the wake of the Dobbs decision reversal, this episode examines market prospects, regulatory hurdles, and the future of reproductive options for men. 
 
Featuring: Darlene Walley, Chief Executive Officer, NEXT Life Sciences  
 
In this episode, we will cover… 
The growing demand for male contraception in the wake of shifting reproductive rights policies. 
How Vasalgel technology works and why it's a reversible alternative to vasectomies. 
The regulatory approval pathway for Plan A as a medical device. 
The economic and public health impact of expanded contraceptive options for men. 
The role of strategic partnerships with organizations like Planned Parenthood and the Male Contraceptive Initiative in advancing male birth control. 
 
To stay up to date on the latest developments in male contraception, check out our Pharma Life Sciences sites.  
 
To watch video clips from the conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel, @HealthcareStrategies. 
 
References: 
U.S. men's interest in new male contraceptives 
A reversible alternative to vasectomies 
Pipeline of male contraceptives 
 
 

Reflecting on the Change Healthcare cyberattack, one year later

The Change Healthcare cyberattack had widespread, unprecedented impacts across the healthcare sector in February 2024 and beyond. What has the sector learned since, and are providers better equipped to handle a similar incident today?
Featuring: Errol Weiss, chief security officer at the Health Information Sharing and Analysis Center (Health-ISAC)
In this episode, we'll cover
Systemic security challenges that the Change Healthcare cyberattack exposed
Lessons learned in the year since the Change Healthcare cyberattack, and how the sector has improved its cybersecurity efforts
Ongoing cybersecurity risks to the healthcare supply chain
and more!
References
Health-ISAC's 2025 Health Sector Cyber Threat Landscape Report https://health-isac.org/health-isac-2025-health-sector-cyber-threat-landscape/
American Hospital Association and Health-ISAC Joint Threat Bulletin: Russian Ransomware Gangs Disrupt Patient Care https://health-isac.org/american-hospital-association-and-health-isac-joint-threat-bulletin/
Understanding the impact of the Change Healthcare cyberattack on providers https://www.techtarget.com/healthtechsecurity/feature/Understanding-the-Impact-of-the-Change-Healthcare-Cyberattack-on-Providers
10 largest healthcare data breaches of 2024 https://www.techtarget.com/healthtechsecurity/feature/Largest-healthcare-data-breaches
HPH Cybersecurity Performance Goals https://hhscyber.hhs.gov/performance-goals.html
To learn more about healthcare cybersecurity, check out our Healthtech Security site.
To watch video clips from the conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel, @HealthcareStrategies.
 

Unpacking claim denials in light of public backlash against payers

The public outcry against health insurers intensified after the shooting of a UnitedHealthcare CEO. What trends are driving Americans' dissatisfaction with payers and can payers recover the public's trust?
Featuring: Jacqueline LaPointe, executive editor at Xtelligent Healthcare
In today’s episode, we’ll cover…
Trends in claim denials
The driving factors behind payers' denials
The role of artificial intelligence in claims management, for better and for worse...
and more!
 
To learn more about claims management, check out our Rev Cycle Management and Healthcare Payers sites!
To watch video clips from our podcast, subscribe to our YouTube channel, @HealthcareStrategies.
 
References
Breaking down claim denial rates by healthcare payer https://www.techtarget.com/revcyclemanagement/feature/Breaking-down-claim-denial-rates-by-healthcare-payer
KFF: Consumer Survey Highlights Problems with Denied Health Insurance Claims https://www.kff.org/affordable-care-act/issue-brief/consumer-survey-highlights-problems-with-denied-health-insurance-claims/
Trend Alert: Private Payers Retain Profits by Refusing or Delaying Legitimate Medical Claims https://premierinc.com/newsroom/blog/trend-alert-private-payers-retain-profits-by-refusing-or-delaying-legitimate-medical-claims

Sharing early lessons on SDOH data integration across health plans

Social determinants of health (SDOH) play a critical role in health outcomes, but standardized SDOH data collection is lacking. How is NCQA driving standardization through national SDOH quality measures?
 
Featuring: Rachel Harrington, PhD, AVP of health equity sciences, NCQA
Adrianna Nava, PhD, MPA, applied research scientist, NCQA
 
In today’s episode, we’ll cover…
Updates to NCQA’s SDOH quality measures
Current SDOH data collection challenges
The role policy plays in driving SDOH data standardization...
and more!
 
To learn more about SDOH data collection, check out our Health IT and EHR site and our Patient Engagement site.
To watch video clips from our podcast, subscribe to our YouTube channel, @HealthcareStrategies.
 
References
Charting new territory: the early lessons in integrating social determinant of health (SDOH) measures into practice  https://academic.oup.com/healthaffairsscholar/article/2/11/qxae138/7900537 
How Regenstrief and HL7 are driving SDOH data standards https://www.techtarget.com/searchhealthit/feature/How-Regenstrief-and-HL7-are-driving-SDOH-data-standards https://www.techtarget.com/searchhealthit/feature/How-Regenstrief-and-HL7-are-driving-SDOH-data-standards  
Advocating for SDOH data standards to support health equity https://www.techtarget.com/searchhealthit/podcast/Advocating-for-SDOH-data-standards-to-support-health-equity 
 

Why healthcare needs a patient-centered approach to AI use

AI has officially transcended buzzword status, with healthcare continuously diving deeper into its uses and applications. But as technology continues to proliferate healthcare, experts eye questions about the effects on patient experience and the industry's overall push for more patient-centered care. In this episode, we explore those questions and discuss how healthcare can embrace AI as a leading clinical decision support tool without losing site of its patient-centered goals.
 
Featuring: Prashila Dullabh, vice president and senior fellow in Health Sciences at NORC at the University of Chicago
 
In today's episode, we'll cover…
The risks of omitting patient-centricity from healthcare's AI conversations
The research going into deploying AI with a patient-centered lens
How patients might feel about use of AI in healthcare
…and more!
To learn more about patient-centered care and healthcare's embrace of AI, check out our Xtelligent sites: Patient Engagement, Healthtech Analytics and Health IT.
To watch video clips from our podcast, subscribe to our YouTube channel, @HealthcareStrategies.
 
References:
Enhancing Patient Engagement through Shared Decision-Making https://www.techtarget.com/patientengagement/feature/Enhancing-Patient-Engagement-through-Shared-Decision-Making 
What Are the Top Challenges of Clinical Decision Support Tools?https://www.techtarget.com/healthtechanalytics/feature/What-Are-the-Top-Challenges-of-Clinical-Decision-Support-Tools 
 

Prioritizing SOGI data collection to improve health equity

Sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) data is key for improving health outcomes among sexualand gender minority (SGM) patients. How can healthcare organizations effectively navigate challenges --like bias and discrimination -- to improve SOGI data collection?
Featuring: Carey Candrian, PhD, associate professor of medicine at the University of Colorado School ofMedicine and a 2024 Health and Aging Policy Fellow
In today's episode, we'll cover:
The implications of missing SOGI data on care delivery and quality
The challenges health systems face that prevent them from routinely collecting SOGI data
Strategies to improve SOGI data collection and health equity for LGBTQIA+ patients
And more!
To learn more about AI in healthcare, check out our site, Healthtech Analytics.
To watch video clips from our podcast, subscribe to our YouTube channel, @Healthcare Strategies.
References
https://www.techtarget.com/searchhealthit/news/366578124/SOGI-Data-Missing-in-Over-60-of-Adult-EHR-Records-Study-Finds
https://news.cuanschutz.edu/medicine/cu-researcher-issues-a-call-for-more-data-to-improve-care-for-lgbtq-patients