Humanity, empathy, and respecting patient wishes are paramount when navigating the complexities of end-of-life care.

In this episode of Straight Outta Health IT, Gil Bashe, Chair of Global Health and Purpose for FINN Partners, delves into these sensitive topics. Drawing from his unique background as a combat medic, ordained clergy member, and health innovation advocate, Gil discusses the crucial, yet often misunderstood, differences between palliative care, hospice care, and end-of-life planning. He clarifies that palliative care focuses on improving comfort and quality of life at any point during a serious illness, potentially alongside curative treatments.

Hospice care, conversely, is typically reserved for the final stages, Gil explains, when the focus shifts entirely to comfort and dignity, often requiring additional medical support but tailored to the individual's needs and choices. Host Christopher Kunney shares poignant family experiences, grounding the conversation in real-life challenges. Together, they explore the emotional difficulties faced by patients, families, and even clinicians in initiating these necessary conversations and making decisions, highlighting the discomfort many doctors feel.

Gil also strongly emphasizes the enduring importance of human connection, intuition, and empathy over purely technological solutions, urging listeners to prepare emotionally and spiritually, perhaps even through letters, alongside legal documents like living wills.

Tune in and learn why understanding these distinctions and respecting a patient's final wishes are essential aspects of compassionate care!

What does it really take to lead in healthcare policy and data innovation as a woman, and how do we navigate the power, pitfalls, and politics that come with it?

In this episode of Straight Out of Health IT, Kat McDavitt, President of Insenna, and Lisa Bari, former CEO of Civitas Networks for Health, reflected on their personal experiences as young women in executive roles, highlighting gender-based challenges in the workplace. Kat described her transition from a female-dominated PR consultancy to a more male-centric corporate environment, where she had to adapt her communication style to be heard and recognized. She noted subtle biases, such as having her ideas repeated by men who then received credit, and observed how motherhood often placed an added burden on women’s careers. Lisa, who does not have children, shared how she witnessed the “maternity tax” affect her peers and emphasized the disproportionate negative feedback that women in leadership still receive compared to men, regardless of qualifications or performance.

Shifting focus, Lisa discussed her work at Civitas, a nonprofit that supports its members, primarily public health and healthcare data organizations, in navigating policy, advocacy, and data-sharing frameworks. She stressed the importance of clear messaging, coalition-building, and adaptability, especially during times of policy change. One example she gave was California’s complex and siloed efforts to connect social care and clinical data through Medicaid reforms, where her team works to guide stakeholders toward more integrated solutions that serve patients better.

Kat elaborated on data value and governance, pointing out that while many organizations recognize the financial potential of healthcare data, few understand the broader ecosystem of data use rights and legal limitations. She cautioned against unethical data acquisition practices and warned of the growing commoditization of health data. Both Lisa and Kat highlighted the importance of lawful and transparent data use, noting common misunderstandings about patient ownership of data in the U.S. and advocating for stronger governance and clearer contract negotiations to ensure responsible and equitable data practices.

Tune in for candid reflections on gender dynamics in leadership, the complexities of healthcare data governance, and the evolving role of policy in shaping equitable health systems!

Is FHIR the key to seamless healthcare interoperability? Let’s discuss its impact on AI, security, and patient care.

In this episode, Dr. Ambreén Zaman-Riaz, a physician, healthcare innovator, and leadership expert, as well as the co-founder of Uppshot Lifesciences and host of the Leadership in Medicine Podcast, and our host, Christopher Kunney, a distinguished healthcare technology strategist, serving as Managing Partner and Digital Transformation Strategist at IOTECH Consulting and host of the Straight Out of Health IT podcast, the evolving role of interoperability in healthcare, particularly the shift from HL7 to FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources). Christopher highlights how FHIR’s open standards, API-based structure, and cloud compatibility improve data sharing, patient access, and integration with emerging technologies like AI and machine learning.

Dr. Zaman-Riaz asks about FHIR’s impact, its role in AI evolution, and its future in patient-centric care. Christopher emphasizes that FHIR enables real-time data aggregation, predictive analytics, personalized medicine, and improved clinical decision support. He predicts AI-driven "digital doctors" and virtual care platforms will rely on FHIR for seamless, cost-effective healthcare delivery, especially in remote areas.

They also discuss security concerns, with Christopher stressing the importance of encryption, blockchain, and secure APIs to protect patient data. Blockchain, in particular, is seen as a promising tool for data integrity, fraud prevention, and secure information exchange. Dr. Zaman-Riaz notes that her work involves integrating blockchain for oncology data management and patient-controlled records.

Join Christopher Kunney and Dr. Ambreén Zaman-Riaz as they dive into the transformative impact of FHIR, the role of AI in healthcare, and the future of secure, patient-centric data sharing!