Mergers, Market Shifts, and Hospital Strategy with Laura Dyrda

This episode recorded live at the 10th Annual Health IT + Digital Health + RCM Annual Meeting features Omkar Kulkarni, VP, Chief Transformation Officer, Children's Hospital Los Angeles. He discusses how his team is using AI and digital innovations to improve clinician documentation, enhance patient and family experiences, and ensure technology adoption delivers meaningful outcomes.

In this episode, Tracy Moyer, Executive Vice President and CFO of Penn State Health, discusses her financial priorities as she steps into her new role. She shares insights on workforce optimization, leveraging technology like Epic to drive efficiency, and balancing operational stability with long-term growth across expanding markets.

In this episode, Vinay Kulkarni, Chief Information Officer at SCAN Group, discusses how AI, automation, and digital tools are transforming Medicare Advantage. He explains how these technologies improve care coordination, reduce administrative burden, and personalize care for seniors while maintaining high-quality, empathetic member experiences.

On this episode, Dr. Keyur B. Thakar, MD, MPH, Medical Director of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Northwell’s Phelps Hospital, joins the podcast to discuss his priorities for the year, including expanding access to advanced cancer care in Westchester. He shares insights on the benefits of lifestyle medicine and plant-based diets, and emphasizes the importance of thinking beyond treating disease to focus on prevention and long-term wellness.

In this episode, Alan Condon, Editor-in-Chief at Becker's Healthcare, discusses Q3 earnings from HCA, Tenet, and Community Health Systems. Alan highlights growth in high-acuity care, strong ambulatory performance, and strategic divestitures that are reshaping profitability and positioning for future success.

In this episode, Dr. Marcus Speaker, Associate Chief Medical Information Officer at Carilion Clinic, discusses how AI tools like ambient scribe technology, note summarization, and generative automation are transforming clinical workflows. He shares lessons on governance, technology alignment, and focusing innovation on real organizational needs to improve both efficiency and patient care.

This episode features Steven Martin, Chief Technology Officer at TRIMEDX, who shares how health systems can move beyond AI hype to achieve measurable results in medical device management. He discusses the importance of quick ROI, strong governance, and responsible innovation to optimize operations, reduce risk, and align technology with each organization’s unique care philosophy.This episode is sponsored by TRIMEDX.

In this episode, Dr. Josh Tamayo-Sarver, Vice President of Innovation at Vituity, discusses how agentic AI can move beyond automation to strengthen trust between patients and clinicians. He explores how technology can reduce administrative burdens, restore focus on patient connection, and help healthcare teams deliver more meaningful, human-centered care.This episode is sponsored by Vituity.

In this episode, Laura Dyrda, Vice President and Editor-in-Chief at Becker’s Healthcare, shares insights on the rise of hospital mergers and acquisitions, the balance between financial performance and mission-driven goals, and key industry trends shaping the next phase of healthcare strategy.

This episode features Michael McKendall, Chief Pharmacy Officer at InclusivCare, as he discusses strategies for improving patient outreach, key trends he’s following in the healthcare space, and the leadership principles that drive effective and compassionate care.