Health system

Thank you so much for tuning into the Becker's Healthcare podcast series.

Today we're going to talk about the growing trend of AI agents in the health system and what leaders can do to keep operations secure.

And joining me for this conversation we have Jason Elrod, a healthcare chief information security officer and executive advisor to Elisity.

Jason, great to have you on the podcast.

And I know AI agents is something that's becoming more and more a part of healthcare conversations, not just in the health IT space, but really across the leadership board.

So wanted to make sure that we get ourselves grounded first in what you're seeing happening here.

As I mentioned, we're seeing AI agents start to show up inside of health systems today, and I'd like to know from you what that looks like operationally.

And how does an agent actually end up with access to a health system environment?

Uh, and again, you have one of the largest, uh, YouTube followings when it comes to health.

Um, that, that sounds like an alarm bell, right? If we're looking at the, the healthcare system in general, that there are so many people, right? That are saying, "Yeah, these results that I'm getting from this are not, not what I want, not what I'm looking for." Where-- I guess, you know, what do you see as kind of the state of our healthcare system? And, uh, again, maybe bring in a little bit about some of the work, uh, you know, that you've been involved in over the past couple of years that, uh, really...

D- do you think we're at least starting to recognize the problem and maybe starting to identify some changes that we can do on a systematic level that are gonna help?

Good question, because that's what I've been trying to do.

I did my residency in emergency medicine in the Bay Area.

I've worked at several health systems.

And I am just really passionate about helping improve our healthcare delivery system and helping improve more so the delivery system health outcomes for people.

And I think, you know, as I was evaluating, I was at BayCare during COVID and, you know, we just were able to help support the community during a difficult time.

What I found is, at least at the time, there was more focus on reactive care.

And reactive care applies when someone is sick, they come to you.

That's why in health systems are called patients.

Well, what's happening in those organizations and several organizations is this whole concept of really being proactive with managing of conditions and managing patients.

Yeah.

And do they have complaints about like how the medical system has sort of educated them about these symptoms? Like, do they do they have complaints, I guess, about, you know, the medical care that they've gotten up to the time that they see you?

Yeah, I would say most of the patients I talk to are very discouraged and have been told either birth control and maybe birth control isn't an option for them because they've had a DVT.

They can't take estrogen or they've been told that all their other only option is a hysterectomy.

And to walk in to a consultation and be told you're going to have major abdominal surgery to help with your symptoms is frightening.

So to be able to offer something where you go home the same day, you have some cramping, like you said, no narcotics, but very good symptom management rather quickly, it's a great option for patients.

I think a lot of women are, you know, there's lots of barriers, right? So trust in the medical system, you know, understanding exactly what's going on in their body.

I think all of that, you know, sets them back from maybe wanting a surgery.