1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,799 Welcome to Becker's Healthcare podcast. I'm Chris Sosa, 2 00:00:02,799 --> 00:00:04,240 your host, and I'm thrilled today to be 3 00:00:04,240 --> 00:00:06,160 joined by Ryan Cameron. He is the chief 4 00:00:06,160 --> 00:00:08,960 information and innovation officer at Children's Nebraska in 5 00:00:08,960 --> 00:00:09,460 Omaha. 6 00:00:09,839 --> 00:00:11,539 Ryan, thanks for joining us today. 7 00:00:11,839 --> 00:00:13,679 Oh my goodness. Thanks so much for having 8 00:00:13,679 --> 00:00:14,144 me. 9 00:00:14,705 --> 00:00:17,685 I am so excited about 2026 10 00:00:18,225 --> 00:00:20,945 and the future of of pediatric health care. 11 00:00:20,945 --> 00:00:23,824 It's gonna be an incredible year. Lots to 12 00:00:23,824 --> 00:00:25,904 talk about. That is so excellent. We can't 13 00:00:25,904 --> 00:00:28,119 wait to have you talk about anything and 14 00:00:28,119 --> 00:00:30,119 everything that your heart desires on that front 15 00:00:30,119 --> 00:00:30,619 line. 16 00:00:30,920 --> 00:00:32,840 Before we get running into, that part of 17 00:00:32,840 --> 00:00:33,420 the podcast, 18 00:00:34,039 --> 00:00:36,359 let's just take this moment to introduce yourself 19 00:00:36,359 --> 00:00:37,979 and tell us a bit about your organization. 20 00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:40,299 Yeah. I'd be happy to. So, 21 00:00:40,759 --> 00:00:43,244 I have the privilege of of serving Children's 22 00:00:43,244 --> 00:00:45,185 Nebraska in a pretty unique role. 23 00:00:46,524 --> 00:00:47,505 We have, 24 00:00:48,204 --> 00:00:51,405 not only the CIO roles, chief information officer 25 00:00:51,405 --> 00:00:53,804 as you recognize it, but we also have 26 00:00:53,804 --> 00:00:56,219 added innovation to that. So we've started, 27 00:00:56,600 --> 00:00:58,920 within the last, you know, five, six years 28 00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:01,000 to to call it the c I I 29 00:01:01,000 --> 00:01:01,739 o role. 30 00:01:02,200 --> 00:01:05,180 And so what that includes is enterprise IT, 31 00:01:05,239 --> 00:01:06,219 clinical engineering, 32 00:01:07,400 --> 00:01:09,655 you know, the data center, help desk, the 33 00:01:09,655 --> 00:01:12,215 things that you recognize from, you know, health 34 00:01:12,215 --> 00:01:13,435 care and IT support, 35 00:01:13,814 --> 00:01:14,635 but also the 36 00:01:15,734 --> 00:01:16,234 formality 37 00:01:17,015 --> 00:01:18,395 of an innovation program, 38 00:01:19,015 --> 00:01:22,314 which in our case means a dedicated innovation 39 00:01:22,454 --> 00:01:24,630 center. So we have a a space in 40 00:01:24,630 --> 00:01:27,350 place called the Mammal Innovation Center. It's 10,000 41 00:01:27,350 --> 00:01:30,090 square feet. It's just over a year old 42 00:01:30,710 --> 00:01:33,109 and, there's all sorts of programming and great 43 00:01:33,109 --> 00:01:35,189 things that come of that, to connect with 44 00:01:35,189 --> 00:01:37,430 our community, to connect with our clinicians and 45 00:01:37,430 --> 00:01:38,090 our providers, 46 00:01:38,695 --> 00:01:40,454 and everybody in the ops side to make 47 00:01:40,454 --> 00:01:41,755 sure we're continuously 48 00:01:42,135 --> 00:01:43,515 innovating as an organization. 49 00:01:44,375 --> 00:01:47,355 Children's Nebraska is the only private freestanding, 50 00:01:47,814 --> 00:01:49,355 children's hospital in the state. 51 00:01:49,895 --> 00:01:52,875 We've got about two thirty beds today, 52 00:01:53,530 --> 00:01:54,350 but tomorrow 53 00:01:54,969 --> 00:01:56,430 we're adding another 40. 54 00:01:57,609 --> 00:01:59,770 So on the seventh, I'm not sure when 55 00:01:59,770 --> 00:02:02,010 this will air, but on January 7, we 56 00:02:02,010 --> 00:02:04,490 will open the doors to our brand new 57 00:02:04,490 --> 00:02:06,270 behavioral health and wellness center. 58 00:02:06,784 --> 00:02:09,344 So we're very, very excited to offer that 59 00:02:09,344 --> 00:02:10,164 to the community 60 00:02:10,544 --> 00:02:12,784 and a big deal project for us and 61 00:02:12,784 --> 00:02:13,685 for our region. 62 00:02:14,305 --> 00:02:16,644 And, Children's Nebraska proper, 63 00:02:16,944 --> 00:02:18,884 also has about 50 specialties 64 00:02:19,504 --> 00:02:21,125 and primary care as well. 65 00:02:21,819 --> 00:02:22,959 Wow. You guys are 66 00:02:23,659 --> 00:02:25,900 incredibly busy and growing, and and that that's 67 00:02:25,900 --> 00:02:28,319 a great sign. Sure are. Yeah. Organization, 68 00:02:28,780 --> 00:02:30,459 but, yeah, the community. Yeah. Yeah. Go ahead, 69 00:02:30,459 --> 00:02:31,739 please. I didn't mean to cut you off. 70 00:02:31,739 --> 00:02:32,219 No. 71 00:02:32,539 --> 00:02:33,039 It's 72 00:02:33,485 --> 00:02:34,384 it's dizzying. 73 00:02:35,245 --> 00:02:37,104 You know, I've been with the organization, 74 00:02:37,884 --> 00:02:39,264 just over four years. 75 00:02:39,965 --> 00:02:40,365 And, 76 00:02:40,764 --> 00:02:42,525 you know, I'm relatively new to health care. 77 00:02:42,525 --> 00:02:43,965 I like to say I have a bachelor's 78 00:02:43,965 --> 00:02:46,650 degree in health care, but, I certainly have 79 00:02:46,650 --> 00:02:48,409 have cut my teeth on the the technology 80 00:02:48,409 --> 00:02:50,489 and the innovation side of the house. So 81 00:02:50,489 --> 00:02:51,150 I'm continuously 82 00:02:51,449 --> 00:02:52,349 learning and, 83 00:02:52,969 --> 00:02:54,669 just to be a part of an organization 84 00:02:54,729 --> 00:02:56,989 that's very growth oriented and focused, 85 00:02:58,009 --> 00:03:00,169 really getting out there and meeting our patients 86 00:03:00,169 --> 00:03:02,625 where they're at and and pushing kind of 87 00:03:02,865 --> 00:03:04,965 pediatric health care as a whole, 88 00:03:05,504 --> 00:03:07,844 it's just been super exciting. It it is 89 00:03:08,384 --> 00:03:09,764 not what I expected 90 00:03:10,305 --> 00:03:10,805 when, 91 00:03:11,264 --> 00:03:13,185 I first started working in health care, and 92 00:03:13,185 --> 00:03:15,025 and I'm very pleased to say that. I'm 93 00:03:15,025 --> 00:03:16,110 pleased to say that 94 00:03:16,669 --> 00:03:19,629 I have found pediatrics to be just a 95 00:03:19,629 --> 00:03:22,289 passionate, wonderful place to work in health, 96 00:03:22,830 --> 00:03:25,150 where a lot of people are really pushing 97 00:03:25,150 --> 00:03:26,909 hard to make sure that we provide the 98 00:03:26,909 --> 00:03:28,289 very best care for kids. 99 00:03:29,064 --> 00:03:30,665 Ryan, you've already mentioned some of the things 100 00:03:30,665 --> 00:03:33,165 that Children of Nebraska has on its right. 101 00:03:33,865 --> 00:03:36,665 Let's take a look back just momentarily here. 102 00:03:36,665 --> 00:03:38,104 So what would you say is the most 103 00:03:38,104 --> 00:03:41,145 important initiative initiative rather that you led last 104 00:03:41,145 --> 00:03:43,050 year? I mean, specifically, what it take to 105 00:03:43,050 --> 00:03:44,590 launch it, and what were the results, 106 00:03:45,129 --> 00:03:45,789 to date? 107 00:03:46,250 --> 00:03:46,729 Yeah. 108 00:03:47,289 --> 00:03:48,969 There's a couple of them, but if I 109 00:03:48,969 --> 00:03:50,969 if I only can pick one, I know 110 00:03:50,969 --> 00:03:53,050 I I'm limited here on time. The the 111 00:03:53,050 --> 00:03:54,669 one and only I would talk about 112 00:03:55,094 --> 00:03:56,794 is, we started 113 00:03:57,254 --> 00:03:59,514 an initiative that we call Hey Medicaid 114 00:04:00,694 --> 00:04:01,194 and, 115 00:04:01,735 --> 00:04:05,114 what Hey Medicaid does, it's a agentic AI 116 00:04:05,574 --> 00:04:06,074 application 117 00:04:06,375 --> 00:04:07,275 and platform 118 00:04:08,055 --> 00:04:11,959 that patients can use to navigate the process 119 00:04:12,340 --> 00:04:12,819 of, 120 00:04:13,139 --> 00:04:14,759 doing certification and recertification, 121 00:04:15,939 --> 00:04:17,240 for Medicaid coverage. 122 00:04:18,019 --> 00:04:20,660 And, it's the first of its kind that 123 00:04:20,660 --> 00:04:21,959 at least we're aware of 124 00:04:22,264 --> 00:04:23,564 and we're really really 125 00:04:23,944 --> 00:04:26,925 enthusiastic and excited to bring this out. Medicaid's 126 00:04:27,384 --> 00:04:30,504 really critical and important to pediatric providers and 127 00:04:30,504 --> 00:04:31,564 pediatric hospitals. 128 00:04:32,504 --> 00:04:35,019 It does represent kind of a large portion 129 00:04:35,019 --> 00:04:37,180 of our population, and they do need that, 130 00:04:37,579 --> 00:04:39,279 as either primary or coinsurance. 131 00:04:40,060 --> 00:04:43,019 And so helping really ease the complexity of 132 00:04:43,019 --> 00:04:43,759 that process 133 00:04:44,379 --> 00:04:46,699 is important for us. When we can shift 134 00:04:46,699 --> 00:04:47,439 the conversation 135 00:04:47,819 --> 00:04:48,959 about access 136 00:04:49,464 --> 00:04:51,084 and make it about care, 137 00:04:51,785 --> 00:04:54,904 that really is impactful for parents and for 138 00:04:54,904 --> 00:04:57,225 families and, of course, for the kids that 139 00:04:57,225 --> 00:04:57,884 we support. 140 00:04:58,665 --> 00:04:59,404 Yeah. Certainly. 141 00:04:59,785 --> 00:05:00,285 Anything 142 00:05:00,745 --> 00:05:02,504 you can do to say to a patient's 143 00:05:02,504 --> 00:05:03,245 like, okay. 144 00:05:03,569 --> 00:05:04,849 Here are all these changes that are being 145 00:05:04,849 --> 00:05:06,610 made, but this is how we're going to 146 00:05:06,610 --> 00:05:08,069 make it easier for you. 147 00:05:08,930 --> 00:05:09,430 Yeah. 148 00:05:09,889 --> 00:05:12,689 And, you know, it's it's funny. We we 149 00:05:12,689 --> 00:05:13,189 benefit 150 00:05:13,490 --> 00:05:17,269 from this incredible technology on the consumer side 151 00:05:17,409 --> 00:05:18,469 of of life. 152 00:05:19,154 --> 00:05:21,634 We've got smart devices and, you know, I 153 00:05:21,634 --> 00:05:23,574 I have this really tactile memory, 154 00:05:24,274 --> 00:05:27,314 and it's it's interesting because one of my 155 00:05:27,314 --> 00:05:29,714 favorite things is reminiscing about going to a 156 00:05:29,714 --> 00:05:30,615 record store 157 00:05:30,995 --> 00:05:33,395 and, you know, using your fingers and thumbing 158 00:05:33,395 --> 00:05:35,370 through it. In my generation, it was CDs, 159 00:05:35,370 --> 00:05:37,210 but there are still records and tapes out 160 00:05:37,210 --> 00:05:39,449 there too. I guess I'm kinda dating myself 161 00:05:39,449 --> 00:05:42,030 a bit there, but I miss it. But 162 00:05:42,410 --> 00:05:45,370 the magic of today is whatever I wanna 163 00:05:45,370 --> 00:05:47,050 listen to, I I don't have to save 164 00:05:47,050 --> 00:05:48,795 my money to go get an album and 165 00:05:49,035 --> 00:05:50,875 hope that the whole album is awesome and 166 00:05:50,875 --> 00:05:52,395 not just the one song or the two 167 00:05:52,395 --> 00:05:54,254 songs that I was hoping to hear. 168 00:05:54,955 --> 00:05:57,435 I just speak into the air. I mean, 169 00:05:57,435 --> 00:05:59,675 how how magical is that that I just 170 00:05:59,675 --> 00:06:01,514 vocalize, hey, I would like to listen to 171 00:06:01,514 --> 00:06:03,055 this and it happens. 172 00:06:03,769 --> 00:06:06,649 And so with with hey, Medicaid, that's really 173 00:06:06,649 --> 00:06:08,589 our starting vision point is 174 00:06:08,970 --> 00:06:11,129 how could you have your phone in front 175 00:06:11,129 --> 00:06:12,829 of you and just use your voice. 176 00:06:13,289 --> 00:06:15,769 It's got, you know, 17 different languages that 177 00:06:15,769 --> 00:06:17,930 translates into real time, helps you through the 178 00:06:17,930 --> 00:06:19,524 entire process end to end. 179 00:06:20,144 --> 00:06:22,404 And we think it's gonna be really great 180 00:06:22,625 --> 00:06:25,985 for, you know, young families today who are 181 00:06:25,985 --> 00:06:29,344 accustomed to this consumer magic that's, you know, 182 00:06:29,344 --> 00:06:31,664 health care really hasn't delivered quite yet, but 183 00:06:31,664 --> 00:06:33,649 it's happening, And it's it's exciting to be 184 00:06:33,649 --> 00:06:35,970 on the forefront of that. That that makes 185 00:06:35,970 --> 00:06:38,389 total sense. And and, hopefully, it won't be 186 00:06:38,529 --> 00:06:40,689 long at all before your patients are thinking, 187 00:06:40,689 --> 00:06:43,649 you know what? Children's Nebraska has our, you 188 00:06:43,649 --> 00:06:45,250 know, needs in mind, and and this is 189 00:06:45,250 --> 00:06:47,189 how they're fulfilling them. So that's why Absolutely. 190 00:06:48,285 --> 00:06:51,404 Alright. So now let's look ahead, into at 191 00:06:51,404 --> 00:06:53,644 least several exciting things that you and children's 192 00:06:53,644 --> 00:06:54,685 Rask have coming up. 193 00:06:55,165 --> 00:06:55,665 Specifically, 194 00:06:56,444 --> 00:06:59,004 not gonna limit your number, Ryan. So let's 195 00:06:59,004 --> 00:07:00,625 ask what are the big priorities 196 00:07:01,339 --> 00:07:03,420 and the headwinds that you're focused on for 197 00:07:03,420 --> 00:07:04,720 2026? 198 00:07:05,020 --> 00:07:06,319 Wow. That's a great question. 199 00:07:07,740 --> 00:07:08,400 You know, 200 00:07:08,860 --> 00:07:11,180 we want to do our best, not only 201 00:07:11,180 --> 00:07:14,014 as as an organization serving our region 202 00:07:14,314 --> 00:07:16,975 and our state, but to be highly collaborative 203 00:07:17,115 --> 00:07:18,574 with other children's hospitals 204 00:07:19,435 --> 00:07:22,314 and to really build an innovation ecosystem where, 205 00:07:22,314 --> 00:07:24,495 you know, all children can really benefit. 206 00:07:25,354 --> 00:07:25,854 And, 207 00:07:26,714 --> 00:07:29,350 two key things that come front to mind 208 00:07:29,410 --> 00:07:31,669 is this notion of digital therapeutics 209 00:07:32,529 --> 00:07:34,230 and where that whole 210 00:07:34,689 --> 00:07:36,949 space of of service is headed. 211 00:07:37,810 --> 00:07:40,529 It was very limited even, you know, four 212 00:07:40,529 --> 00:07:42,930 years ago. There really was a strata of 213 00:07:42,930 --> 00:07:45,705 things, you know, like simple wearables or smart 214 00:07:45,705 --> 00:07:46,205 stethoscopes, 215 00:07:47,225 --> 00:07:49,785 maybe some remote patient monitoring tech that was 216 00:07:49,785 --> 00:07:50,285 emerging. 217 00:07:50,985 --> 00:07:53,404 But now we're seeing just incredible 218 00:07:53,865 --> 00:07:55,004 innovations and development, 219 00:07:55,800 --> 00:07:56,779 for us specifically 220 00:07:57,159 --> 00:07:59,339 in the behavioral health and wellness center. 221 00:08:00,439 --> 00:08:03,019 We were fortunate enough to receive 222 00:08:03,479 --> 00:08:05,959 a significant grant from the James M. Cox 223 00:08:05,959 --> 00:08:06,459 Foundation 224 00:08:07,159 --> 00:08:09,000 that is funding a lot of the work 225 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:10,699 that we're doing with virtual reality 226 00:08:11,865 --> 00:08:15,384 and looking at that as an essential element 227 00:08:15,384 --> 00:08:17,324 in kind of our care and treatment plans. 228 00:08:17,384 --> 00:08:18,425 So if you think about, 229 00:08:19,225 --> 00:08:20,925 trying to manage anxiety, 230 00:08:22,024 --> 00:08:22,925 really understanding, 231 00:08:23,384 --> 00:08:24,764 you know, interplay, 232 00:08:25,305 --> 00:08:26,444 with social interactions, 233 00:08:27,060 --> 00:08:29,139 You know, virtual reality can be an incredible 234 00:08:29,139 --> 00:08:30,899 and helpful tool for that. And, you know, 235 00:08:30,899 --> 00:08:33,940 we've got compelling science and research that's backing 236 00:08:33,940 --> 00:08:36,899 the effectiveness of that, so we're definitely doubling 237 00:08:36,899 --> 00:08:37,399 down. 238 00:08:37,940 --> 00:08:41,299 What's really great about that is because the 239 00:08:41,299 --> 00:08:42,519 platform is digital 240 00:08:43,274 --> 00:08:45,195 and we live in kind of this, you 241 00:08:45,195 --> 00:08:46,014 know, iTunes 242 00:08:46,714 --> 00:08:49,914 esque environment where you can share resources very 243 00:08:49,914 --> 00:08:51,375 easily with other hospitals, 244 00:08:51,754 --> 00:08:54,334 we're not building content exclusively for ourselves. 245 00:08:55,049 --> 00:08:58,190 We are a 100% collaborating with other, pediatric 246 00:08:58,330 --> 00:09:00,990 institutions across the Children's Hospital Association 247 00:09:01,450 --> 00:09:03,690 and really being thoughtful and mindful about what 248 00:09:03,690 --> 00:09:06,350 can we build that is gonna be impactful, 249 00:09:06,914 --> 00:09:08,534 for children all across the country, 250 00:09:09,154 --> 00:09:11,735 with digital therapeutics in behavioral health. 251 00:09:12,595 --> 00:09:14,514 May I write that that's just fascinating to 252 00:09:14,514 --> 00:09:17,394 me, especially the virtual reality part of it. 253 00:09:17,394 --> 00:09:19,235 I mean, I don't remember I'm I'm sure 254 00:09:19,235 --> 00:09:20,514 you told me about this, but I think 255 00:09:20,514 --> 00:09:22,799 others have mentioned this to me as well, 256 00:09:22,799 --> 00:09:23,299 how 257 00:09:23,679 --> 00:09:25,779 useful virtual reality can be to 258 00:09:26,240 --> 00:09:28,879 a custom get children accustomed to that environment 259 00:09:28,879 --> 00:09:29,700 because hospitals. 260 00:09:30,240 --> 00:09:32,879 Right? And now to hear that it's alright. 261 00:09:32,879 --> 00:09:35,779 Yeah. Let's adapt this to therapy as well. 262 00:09:36,065 --> 00:09:38,544 Has the acceleration of that technology in terms 263 00:09:38,544 --> 00:09:40,065 of how it's being used with therapy, has 264 00:09:40,065 --> 00:09:42,464 that surprised you at all? I mean Oh, 265 00:09:42,464 --> 00:09:44,884 yeah. Yeah. It's, I mean, it's astounding. 266 00:09:45,504 --> 00:09:47,424 You know, earlier, I was talking about this 267 00:09:47,424 --> 00:09:49,365 notion of of being magical. 268 00:09:49,930 --> 00:09:52,009 And I I think that's a fair description 269 00:09:52,009 --> 00:09:53,070 of where we're at. 270 00:09:53,769 --> 00:09:56,250 What I what I would share is we 271 00:09:56,250 --> 00:09:57,629 are living in a future, 272 00:09:58,009 --> 00:10:00,810 and and I mean an immediate future, not, 273 00:10:00,810 --> 00:10:02,490 you know, a five year horizon, I mean, 274 00:10:02,490 --> 00:10:03,764 within, you know, months 275 00:10:04,725 --> 00:10:06,504 where everybody is a developer 276 00:10:07,045 --> 00:10:08,424 and you can utilize, 277 00:10:09,524 --> 00:10:12,105 you know, prompt based AI technology 278 00:10:12,725 --> 00:10:14,965 not just to give you text based answers 279 00:10:14,965 --> 00:10:17,144 from searching a web page, but to generate 280 00:10:17,205 --> 00:10:18,210 rich media content. 281 00:10:19,170 --> 00:10:19,670 So, 282 00:10:20,450 --> 00:10:23,190 when you work with highly skilled and qualified 283 00:10:23,330 --> 00:10:23,830 clinicians 284 00:10:24,529 --> 00:10:27,029 who understand the right therapies, 285 00:10:27,809 --> 00:10:30,210 understand how to help children who are in 286 00:10:30,210 --> 00:10:32,149 crisis, help them develop new skills, 287 00:10:32,705 --> 00:10:35,024 We can make as many simulations as we 288 00:10:35,024 --> 00:10:36,085 would like to make 289 00:10:36,465 --> 00:10:38,384 and, you know, I'll even open the door 290 00:10:38,384 --> 00:10:40,625 to a possibility that I think is is 291 00:10:40,625 --> 00:10:43,105 also coming very quickly and that all of 292 00:10:43,105 --> 00:10:45,684 that can be customized to the individual patient. 293 00:10:46,429 --> 00:10:48,350 So, you know, I I think about when 294 00:10:48,350 --> 00:10:50,269 you take compliance training and it's kind of 295 00:10:50,269 --> 00:10:51,730 the canned content and, 296 00:10:52,350 --> 00:10:54,110 everybody is just kind of sitting there hitting 297 00:10:54,110 --> 00:10:56,429 the buttons and, you know, laughing at the 298 00:10:56,429 --> 00:10:58,690 the bad acting and the things with that. 299 00:10:58,909 --> 00:11:00,449 All all of that's going away 300 00:11:00,750 --> 00:11:01,250 where 301 00:11:01,674 --> 00:11:04,415 you can interact with a VR device 302 00:11:05,195 --> 00:11:07,215 and have really important 303 00:11:07,835 --> 00:11:10,875 content that does more than compliance, but actually 304 00:11:10,875 --> 00:11:14,014 gets into competency, actually gets into skill development, 305 00:11:14,394 --> 00:11:16,475 and the things that really help young people 306 00:11:16,475 --> 00:11:16,975 navigate, 307 00:11:17,860 --> 00:11:20,659 a really difficult environment right now for for 308 00:11:20,659 --> 00:11:24,039 behavioral health and wellness. So, it's interesting that 309 00:11:24,579 --> 00:11:27,559 things like social media and phone time negatively 310 00:11:27,860 --> 00:11:28,759 impact children, 311 00:11:29,139 --> 00:11:31,059 but we can also kind of fight fire 312 00:11:31,059 --> 00:11:33,995 with fire and say let's lean into using 313 00:11:33,995 --> 00:11:38,014 things like rapid development with AI, virtual reality 314 00:11:38,315 --> 00:11:39,774 to help children navigate, 315 00:11:40,634 --> 00:11:43,115 a really difficult kind of environment out there 316 00:11:43,115 --> 00:11:45,054 now. And so it's it's a weird dynamic, 317 00:11:45,115 --> 00:11:45,615 but 318 00:11:46,070 --> 00:11:48,309 it's it's dizzying how fast things are going. 319 00:11:48,309 --> 00:11:51,110 You can develop apps and simulations almost instantly 320 00:11:51,110 --> 00:11:51,610 today. 321 00:11:52,149 --> 00:11:54,730 Well, weird, but certainly very encouraging that there 322 00:11:55,589 --> 00:11:57,350 are health systems such as yours that are 323 00:11:57,350 --> 00:11:58,409 saying, you know what? 324 00:11:59,144 --> 00:12:00,985 Doesn't have to be used in this way 325 00:12:00,985 --> 00:12:02,845 all the time. Right? Here's how it Right. 326 00:12:03,144 --> 00:12:04,264 That that's a great way to look at 327 00:12:04,264 --> 00:12:06,925 it. Yeah. I I we're certainly hopeful. 328 00:12:07,465 --> 00:12:09,065 You know, we we wanna be mindful and 329 00:12:09,065 --> 00:12:11,225 careful. You know, we we have lots of 330 00:12:11,225 --> 00:12:11,725 safeguards. 331 00:12:12,345 --> 00:12:13,929 You know, there there's a lot of press 332 00:12:13,929 --> 00:12:17,149 out there about people who, quote unquote vibe 333 00:12:17,210 --> 00:12:18,669 code their way to success. 334 00:12:19,210 --> 00:12:20,809 That can be very risky, can be very 335 00:12:20,809 --> 00:12:21,309 dangerous. 336 00:12:21,850 --> 00:12:22,350 So, 337 00:12:23,690 --> 00:12:25,230 balanced with my enthusiasm 338 00:12:25,610 --> 00:12:28,269 for rapid development and really leaning into digital 339 00:12:29,195 --> 00:12:31,274 therapeutics. Of course, you know, my advice and 340 00:12:31,274 --> 00:12:33,915 guidance would be to, as you think about 341 00:12:33,915 --> 00:12:36,634 investing in those technologies or endeavoring into that 342 00:12:36,634 --> 00:12:37,134 direction, 343 00:12:37,595 --> 00:12:38,735 have some great safeguards, 344 00:12:39,595 --> 00:12:41,835 be very mindful about security and and how 345 00:12:41,835 --> 00:12:44,220 you kind of develop those things, but it 346 00:12:44,220 --> 00:12:46,799 it is a very plausible reality. 347 00:12:47,580 --> 00:12:50,240 It it's crazy that the cost of entry 348 00:12:50,379 --> 00:12:53,100 to be innovative right now is next to 349 00:12:53,100 --> 00:12:53,600 zero. 350 00:12:54,299 --> 00:12:55,519 And to invite 351 00:12:55,944 --> 00:12:58,264 all of your providers and your ops people 352 00:12:58,264 --> 00:13:00,504 and and all these great skilled people that 353 00:13:00,504 --> 00:13:02,184 work in a hospital to be a part 354 00:13:02,184 --> 00:13:04,664 of that development process is a total game 355 00:13:04,664 --> 00:13:05,164 changer. 356 00:13:06,024 --> 00:13:06,524 Excellent. 357 00:13:06,904 --> 00:13:08,824 Thank you for laying all that out, Ryan. 358 00:13:08,824 --> 00:13:10,350 I mean, I'm sure our audience is gonna 359 00:13:10,350 --> 00:13:11,170 love all that. 360 00:13:11,629 --> 00:13:13,230 It's very easy to understand the way you 361 00:13:13,230 --> 00:13:15,090 put it. Let's veer into this. 362 00:13:15,550 --> 00:13:16,870 I don't wanna say it's a bummer of 363 00:13:16,870 --> 00:13:18,990 a question because it doesn't have to go 364 00:13:18,990 --> 00:13:21,710 into that territory. But I do wanna ask, 365 00:13:21,710 --> 00:13:22,910 like, what do you think is the hardest 366 00:13:22,910 --> 00:13:24,475 thing you're going to do this year? And 367 00:13:24,475 --> 00:13:26,794 that could be way too exciting project you 368 00:13:26,794 --> 00:13:28,894 have, but, you know, take it away. 369 00:13:29,195 --> 00:13:29,595 Yeah. 370 00:13:30,394 --> 00:13:32,794 You know, I we all health care providers 371 00:13:32,794 --> 00:13:34,334 have a difficult battle ahead. 372 00:13:35,195 --> 00:13:36,574 And and that battle, 373 00:13:37,370 --> 00:13:39,850 it it isn't a different one. It's just 374 00:13:39,850 --> 00:13:41,710 the scale and the scope and the complexity 375 00:13:41,850 --> 00:13:43,309 continues to be difficult. 376 00:13:44,250 --> 00:13:46,570 We are never going to be able to 377 00:13:46,570 --> 00:13:49,149 recruit our way out of, you know, staffing 378 00:13:49,210 --> 00:13:49,710 crisis. 379 00:13:50,745 --> 00:13:52,665 There's never gonna be enough specialists. There's never 380 00:13:52,665 --> 00:13:53,965 gonna be enough nurses. 381 00:13:54,745 --> 00:13:56,524 Health care is in really high demand. 382 00:13:56,904 --> 00:13:58,445 In Nebraska in particular, 383 00:13:59,465 --> 00:14:03,384 we are very focused on extending our service 384 00:14:03,384 --> 00:14:06,540 footprint into rural areas so that the quality 385 00:14:06,600 --> 00:14:08,860 of care that you have access to 386 00:14:09,240 --> 00:14:11,340 in the state and in our neighboring states 387 00:14:11,800 --> 00:14:12,620 doesn't waver. 388 00:14:13,160 --> 00:14:13,980 You know, the 389 00:14:14,360 --> 00:14:15,800 the kiddos that we serve that are in 390 00:14:15,800 --> 00:14:16,940 our metro areas, 391 00:14:17,639 --> 00:14:19,720 should get high quality and so should everybody 392 00:14:19,720 --> 00:14:21,684 that lives in ag and farming communities as 393 00:14:21,684 --> 00:14:23,065 well. They should be equal. 394 00:14:23,764 --> 00:14:26,725 And so that's tough. A lot of rural 395 00:14:26,725 --> 00:14:28,644 providers are are closing. We're seeing a lot 396 00:14:28,644 --> 00:14:31,445 of pediatric wards get shut down. You know, 397 00:14:31,445 --> 00:14:33,764 the the the saying that is a little 398 00:14:33,764 --> 00:14:35,669 bit trite, but 100%, 399 00:14:35,750 --> 00:14:37,909 you know, spot on and important for us 400 00:14:37,909 --> 00:14:39,450 is no margin, no mission. 401 00:14:40,309 --> 00:14:42,230 And we have to do everything we can 402 00:14:42,230 --> 00:14:44,149 to be very mindful and good stewards of 403 00:14:44,149 --> 00:14:46,629 the dollars we have available to provide high 404 00:14:46,629 --> 00:14:47,529 quality care, 405 00:14:48,230 --> 00:14:51,644 across a complex landscape with very few providers, 406 00:14:52,665 --> 00:14:54,665 and hopefully land a perfect 10 at the 407 00:14:54,665 --> 00:14:55,165 end. 408 00:14:55,625 --> 00:14:56,125 So, 409 00:14:56,745 --> 00:14:58,904 it's a high knowledge, high complexity place to 410 00:14:58,904 --> 00:15:01,384 work, but I think technology can be a 411 00:15:01,384 --> 00:15:02,125 good catalyst, 412 00:15:02,665 --> 00:15:04,044 to help you get there 413 00:15:04,930 --> 00:15:05,430 provided 414 00:15:06,370 --> 00:15:06,870 your 415 00:15:07,250 --> 00:15:10,129 with your people and your very people first 416 00:15:10,129 --> 00:15:11,110 and and focused. 417 00:15:11,889 --> 00:15:12,790 Children's Nebraska 418 00:15:13,170 --> 00:15:15,430 has a program. It's our people first promise, 419 00:15:15,810 --> 00:15:17,029 and we we invest 420 00:15:17,764 --> 00:15:20,105 in the folks that work in our organization. 421 00:15:20,245 --> 00:15:22,184 And sometimes that investment means 422 00:15:22,644 --> 00:15:24,644 let's find a way to upscale. Let's find 423 00:15:24,644 --> 00:15:27,524 a way to understand, you know, automation and 424 00:15:27,524 --> 00:15:28,664 AI a little better. 425 00:15:28,965 --> 00:15:31,039 Let's find a way to understand what, you 426 00:15:31,039 --> 00:15:33,120 know, the day to day work life is 427 00:15:33,120 --> 00:15:35,679 for you and just really dig in and 428 00:15:35,679 --> 00:15:37,759 roll up our sleeves so that we can 429 00:15:37,759 --> 00:15:39,679 support the folks that are providing care. And 430 00:15:39,679 --> 00:15:41,940 so I'm hopeful about where we're going, 431 00:15:42,495 --> 00:15:45,375 but I am under no illusion that the 432 00:15:45,375 --> 00:15:48,195 landscape of providing care is is very tough. 433 00:15:48,975 --> 00:15:50,915 No doubt. And you meant you mentioned this 434 00:15:51,295 --> 00:15:53,875 a little bit. You talked about how 435 00:15:54,415 --> 00:15:54,915 some 436 00:15:55,679 --> 00:15:58,240 pediatric departments are closing across the country, and 437 00:15:58,240 --> 00:16:00,820 that's certainly very difficult. There are many other 438 00:16:00,879 --> 00:16:04,000 health systems, though, like yours that are expanding 439 00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:06,960 in whatever they possibly can to still reach 440 00:16:06,960 --> 00:16:08,100 those patients. Right? 441 00:16:08,399 --> 00:16:10,804 So on that note, what do you see 442 00:16:10,865 --> 00:16:12,085 as Children's Nebraska's 443 00:16:12,625 --> 00:16:15,345 best opportunities for growth in the next year 444 00:16:15,345 --> 00:16:15,924 or so? 445 00:16:16,465 --> 00:16:18,144 It won't surprise you to hear me say 446 00:16:18,144 --> 00:16:19,365 think outside the box. 447 00:16:20,225 --> 00:16:23,205 You know, another way of saying that is, 448 00:16:23,850 --> 00:16:26,169 you know, I would say that most people, 449 00:16:26,169 --> 00:16:27,949 their horizon is way too low. 450 00:16:28,409 --> 00:16:30,669 You have to be leaning into 451 00:16:31,690 --> 00:16:34,250 what is work gonna look like, what is 452 00:16:34,250 --> 00:16:36,264 life gonna look like, what are, you know, 453 00:16:36,264 --> 00:16:38,284 social economics gonna look like? 454 00:16:38,745 --> 00:16:40,745 Not only at the end of 2026, 455 00:16:40,745 --> 00:16:42,264 but, you know, in the next three to 456 00:16:42,264 --> 00:16:44,264 five years. And it it'll be profoundly different 457 00:16:44,264 --> 00:16:46,845 for everybody just because this this whole technology 458 00:16:46,904 --> 00:16:47,884 machine is moving 459 00:16:48,424 --> 00:16:49,644 at a profound rate. 460 00:16:50,149 --> 00:16:52,789 So, you know, what we're doing to be 461 00:16:52,789 --> 00:16:54,090 resilient and proactive 462 00:16:54,629 --> 00:16:56,889 is thinking about, you know, 463 00:16:57,750 --> 00:16:59,769 not just building more hospitals. 464 00:17:00,309 --> 00:17:01,769 Hospitals are really expensive. 465 00:17:03,045 --> 00:17:04,565 You know, in the metro, it made sense 466 00:17:04,565 --> 00:17:06,484 for us to to set up a a 467 00:17:06,484 --> 00:17:09,684 dedicated behavioral health and wellness center. We had 468 00:17:09,684 --> 00:17:10,184 tremendous 469 00:17:10,644 --> 00:17:12,105 support and philanthropy 470 00:17:12,404 --> 00:17:13,305 from Constance, 471 00:17:14,900 --> 00:17:18,579 and the pediatric mental health, institute there. So, 472 00:17:18,579 --> 00:17:19,079 like, 473 00:17:19,460 --> 00:17:21,880 we're very fortunate that we have those opportunities. 474 00:17:22,660 --> 00:17:24,039 But the larger battle 475 00:17:24,819 --> 00:17:27,140 is how do we meet patients in their 476 00:17:27,140 --> 00:17:27,585 home? 477 00:17:28,144 --> 00:17:30,625 How do we get, you know, access to 478 00:17:30,625 --> 00:17:32,865 care that's virtual? How do we lean into 479 00:17:32,865 --> 00:17:34,005 telehealth, telemedicine? 480 00:17:34,784 --> 00:17:37,524 Those are the things that ultimately are gonna 481 00:17:37,904 --> 00:17:40,464 help that pressure valve and really help us 482 00:17:40,464 --> 00:17:40,964 adapt. 483 00:17:41,984 --> 00:17:43,284 Consider for a moment, 484 00:17:43,799 --> 00:17:45,580 in Nebraska, in many cases, 485 00:17:46,519 --> 00:17:49,019 a patient and family may have to travel 486 00:17:49,080 --> 00:17:51,799 three hours or more one way to get 487 00:17:51,799 --> 00:17:53,820 from some of our rural communities 488 00:17:54,440 --> 00:17:57,174 into a a city or a town that 489 00:17:57,174 --> 00:18:00,234 actually has a Children's Nebraska clinic or facility, 490 00:18:00,934 --> 00:18:02,315 that's ready to help them. 491 00:18:02,615 --> 00:18:05,014 So at every opportunity where we can provide 492 00:18:05,014 --> 00:18:06,234 high quality care, 493 00:18:06,615 --> 00:18:08,929 in the home using telehealth or telemedicine, 494 00:18:09,389 --> 00:18:11,389 that's really gonna help us out a lot. 495 00:18:11,629 --> 00:18:13,009 From the provider perspective, 496 00:18:13,710 --> 00:18:15,009 it's a little quicker. 497 00:18:15,549 --> 00:18:17,250 They can see more patients. 498 00:18:17,710 --> 00:18:19,869 We wanna be mindful that they have really 499 00:18:19,869 --> 00:18:21,950 good focused time with them and they're not, 500 00:18:21,950 --> 00:18:23,765 you know, spending all their time in the 501 00:18:23,765 --> 00:18:24,265 EHR, 502 00:18:25,204 --> 00:18:27,605 doing multiple clicks and they're actually working on 503 00:18:27,605 --> 00:18:30,325 care. So it really is about leaning into 504 00:18:30,325 --> 00:18:30,825 technology, 505 00:18:31,845 --> 00:18:34,644 shifting our focus in our conversation from access 506 00:18:34,644 --> 00:18:36,265 and automating those things 507 00:18:36,599 --> 00:18:38,920 into a conversation that is a 100% care 508 00:18:38,920 --> 00:18:39,420 focused. 509 00:18:40,279 --> 00:18:41,720 Ryan, thank you so much for joining us 510 00:18:41,720 --> 00:18:43,559 today and letting us know how to lose 511 00:18:43,559 --> 00:18:44,059 Nebraska 512 00:18:45,000 --> 00:18:47,480 is working through this whole technology machine as 513 00:18:47,480 --> 00:18:48,059 you progress. 514 00:18:48,694 --> 00:18:50,855 What you're doing with AI, everything. I mean, 515 00:18:50,855 --> 00:18:52,054 we can't wait to share this with our 516 00:18:52,054 --> 00:18:53,815 audience, and, you know, we'll see you at 517 00:18:53,815 --> 00:18:56,295 our upcoming conference. And, honestly, I just look 518 00:18:56,295 --> 00:18:58,535 forward to next time our pass goes. Yeah. 519 00:18:58,535 --> 00:19:00,535 Thanks so much for having me, and, really 520 00:19:00,535 --> 00:19:03,090 looking forward to to being at the event. 521 00:19:04,029 --> 00:19:06,289 I've started to kinda look at the lineup 522 00:19:06,590 --> 00:19:08,190 and a lot of the folks that will 523 00:19:08,190 --> 00:19:10,210 be speaking on different panels and the keynotes. 524 00:19:10,590 --> 00:19:12,509 It is going to be an incredible year. 525 00:19:12,509 --> 00:19:14,269 So I I hope to see lots of 526 00:19:14,269 --> 00:19:17,061 friends and colleagues at the event. And, Chris, 527 00:19:17,061 --> 00:19:19,141 hopefully, you and I can connect this time. 528 00:19:19,141 --> 00:19:20,421 Yeah. I couldn't put it that better by 529 00:19:20,421 --> 00:19:22,601 myself. Thanks, Ryan. Thank you.