TDP 146: NerdMDs Co-founder & Heidi Health CMO Dr. Adam Carewe: What Actually Happened at Kaiser Permanente with AI Scribes, How CMIOs Think About Vendor Selection, Problems Old Culture Orgs face with New Tech

Subscribe on: RSS | SPOTIFY | APPLE PODCAST | GOOGLE | BREAKER | ANCHOR

On this episode of The Digital Patient, Dr. Joshua Liu, Co-founder & CEO of SeamlessMD, and marketing colleague, Alan Sardana, chat with Dr. Adam Carewe, Co-founder at NerdMDs, and CMO at Heidi Health, about "What actually happened at Kaiser Permanente with AI Scribes, How CMIOs think about Vendor Selection, Problems Old Culture Orgs face with New Tech, and more..." Click the play button to listen or read the show notes below.
‍

Audio:

‍

Video:

‍

Guest(s):

• Dr. Adam Carewe (@adamcarewe), Co-founder at NerdMDs, and CMO at Heidi Health
• Dr. Joshua Liu (@joshuapliu), Co-founder & CEO at SeamlessMD

‍

‍Episode 146 - Show Notes:

[00:01:19] Early Tech Influences and Healthcare Journey
Dr. Carewe recounts his early passion for technology, sparked by his grandfather, and how this interest evolved into a career in healthcare and informatics. His transition from studying kinesiology to pursuing medicine was fueled by a pivotal experience in cardiac rehab.

[00:05:07] The Origins of NerdMDs and TechDad
Dr. Carewe shares how his continuous involvement with technology led to the creation of NerdMDs and his personal brand, TechDad. He discusses the importance of tech literacy for physicians and how NerdMDs was born out of the desire to improve healthcare technology for physicians.

[00:11:47] AI Scribes
Dr. Carewe provides insights into how ambient technology, such as Nuance’s DAX Copilot, is being adopted, the barriers to entry for new technologies, and the role of large incumbents versus startups.

[00:13:07] Challenges in Implementing AI and New Technologies in Healthcare
Dr. Carewe discusses the challenges healthcare organizations face when integrating new technologies, including regulatory hurdles and the complexity of hospital systems. He explains the importance of understanding both the organizational and clinical needs for successful tech adoption.

[00:16:26] Healthcare Innovation and Vendor Selection
Dr. Carewe shares his approach to evaluating healthcare vendors and the importance of relationships and future vision. He also highlights the potential for real differentiation in ambient scribe technologies and what healthcare systems should look for in their technology partners.

[00:29:13] The Future of Healthcare and AI
Looking ahead to 2025 and beyond, Dr. Carewe makes predictions on the future of healthcare AI, with a focus on precision screening and personalized medicine. He emphasizes the need for more targeted care that treats patients as individuals rather than populations.

[00:30:07] Direct Primary Care and Patient-Doctor Relationships
Dr. Carewe highlights the growing demand for direct primary care models that offer more personalized care experiences. He discusses the pros and cons of this model and how it might impact the broader healthcare system.

[00:35:07] The Changing Role of Physicians with AI
The conversation turns to the role of AI in transforming how physicians work. Dr. Carewe believes that AI will replace many of the tasks doctors do today, but will never fully replace the role of the physician, instead allowing them to focus on what they are uniquely trained to do.

[00:36:07] Balancing Complex and Simple Tasks in Healthcare
Dr. Carewe and the hosts explore the balance between handling complex tasks and simpler, more routine tasks in healthcare. He emphasizes the importance of using technology to reduce burnout while maintaining job satisfaction for clinicians.

[00:40:07] Addressing Cognitive Load in Healthcare
Dr. Carewe explains how reducing cognitive load through tools like ambient scribes can improve the day-to-day experiences of healthcare providers, reducing burnout and improving their ability to focus on patients.

[00:41:59] Pitfalls of Old Organizations Implementing New Tech
Dr. Carewe unpacks his concept of “new tech + old organizations = costly old organizations,” explaining the common pitfalls established healthcare organizations face when trying to adopt new technologies.

‍

Fast 5 Lightning Round:‍

1. Favorite book:
   The Heart of Innovation: A Field Guide to Navigating Authentic Demand
   ‍
2. Person to Meet:
   His grandfather, who introduced him to technology. Adam wishes his grandfather could see today’s technological advancements, like electric vehicles, which would have amazed him despite his background in oil and gas.
   ‍
3. Preferred Superpower:
   Mind reading, as long as there is a way to turn it off when needed.
   ‍
4. Healthcare Belief:
   The complexity of healthcare, including the intricacies of billing, claims processing, and the overall "machine" of healthcare operations, which outsiders may not realize.
   ‍
5. Last Film/TV Show:
   Loot (Apple TV show). Adam found it hilarious and comparable to Ted Lasso in terms of writing and humor. He also mentioned re-watching Stranger Things with his 11-year-old.