Podcast Summary: Advancing Structural Heart Care and Embracing AI
Podcast: Becker’s Healthcare Podcast
Episode: Advancing Structural Heart Care and Embracing AI with Dr. Mario Göessl of Allina Health
Host: Laura Dearda
Guest: Dr. Mario Göessl, Director of Interventional Cardiology Fellowships, Director of Transcatheter Valve Therapies, and Interventional Cardiologist at Allina Health Minneapolis Heart Institute
Date: November 16, 2025
Episode Overview
This episode features an insightful conversation with Dr. Mario Göessl, a leading interventional cardiologist at Allina Health. Dr. Göessl provides a comprehensive view into the evolution of structural heart care, the impact and integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in clinical practice, and trends shaping the future of cardiology and healthcare at large. The discussion merges reflections on fellowship education, AI's potential and pitfalls, value-based care, and the shift of heart interventions to outpatient and ambulatory surgery center (ASC) settings.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Dr. Göessl’s Background and Role
[01:18]
- Trained in Germany and at the Mayo Clinic in the U.S.
- Roles include interventional cardiologist focused on structural heart disease (valve interventions such as Mitraclip, TAVR, Pascal, Watchman, etc.)
- Director of a fellowship program; directly involved in shaping and observing trends among incoming cardiology fellows.
2. Evolving Trends in Cardiology Training
[02:51]
- Impact of COVID-19:
- Noted less independence among recent trainees due to disruptions in traditional training caused by the pandemic.
- Trainees increasingly opt for broad subspecialty exposure (e.g., combining interests in structural heart disease and advanced heart failure), often due to job market uncertainties.
- Dr. Göessl’s perspective: "If you focus and follow one passion, you probably have a better success." [03:46]
3. Top Trends in Healthcare & Cardiology
A. Artificial Intelligence in Clinical & Operational Practice
[04:37 - 07:09]
- Clinical Applications:
- AI is used for advanced data interpretation, such as extracting rich information from EKGs for diagnosis and treatment.
- Operational Efficiency:
- AI integration, specifically ambient AI for clinical documentation, is a “game changer.”
- Dr. Göessl highlights:
"I can literally leave my patient room and within a minute, my note is written. It is such an effective, efficient tool that I now have at my hands at my iPhone, basically." [05:47]
- Value trade-offs: Slight reduction in note personalization is outweighed by increased patient interaction time.
B. AI: Opportunities and Risks
[07:09 - 09:01]
- Potential for AI to optimize scheduling and resource allocation, crucial given increasing procedure volumes and staffing limitations.
- Risks/Concerns:
- Patient safety and data security with the use of AI, especially as it moves closer to direct patient care.
- Emphasis on the need for robust controls within electronic medical records (EMR).
C. Value-Based Care and Patient-Centered Models
[09:15 - 11:23]
- Ongoing shift toward value-based care and even capitation, driven by payer incentives and system-wide reform.
- Challenges: Many health systems struggle with data granularity—the capability to accurately track outcomes and costs.
- Optimism about increased data integration and patient-centered approaches leading to “win-win” situations for patients and providers.
- Quote:
"With that trend to value based care, patients will have a better experience because it's not the focus on fee for service. The focus should and will be their outcomes, their experience and the selection of therapies that lead to that goal." [12:29]
4. The Future of Structural Heart Disease Care
[13:41]
- Growth in Minimally Invasive Valve Procedures:
- Increasing commercialization of devices (e.g., for tricuspid and mitral valves, TAVR) is driving referral growth.
- Valvular heart disease is increasingly prevalent and often undertreated.
- Operational Challenge:
- Capacity issues—limited slots in clinics and cath labs due to staff and resource constraints.
ASC (Ambulatory Surgery Center) Shifts
[15:08]
- Importance of moving lower-acuity interventions to ASCs to free up hospital capacity for complex procedures.
- Dr. Göessl’s institution (Minneapolis Heart Institute) has pioneered this approach to enhance operational efficiency:
"The trend...is to create space and volume shifts into our ASC. We have an ASC. We were one of the first ones who adopted it." [15:40]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On training trends and career focus:
"If you focus and follow one passion, you probably have a better success."
— Dr. Mario Göessl [03:46] -
On AI's impact on efficiency:
“Within a minute, my note is written. It is such an effective, efficient tool that I now have at my hands at my iPhone, basically.”
— Dr. Göessl [05:47] -
On creating operational efficiency:
"Otherwise we will not be able to cope with the patient volumes appropriately."
— Dr. Göessl [08:51] -
On value-based care's impact:
"With that trend to value based care, patients will have a better experience because it's not the focus on fee for service. The focus should and will be their outcomes, their experience and the selection of therapies that lead to that goal."
— Dr. Göessl [12:29] -
On ASCs and growth in structural heart intervention:
"We have an ASC. We were one of the first ones who adopted it. And I think that trend is another...to see a shift from lower acuity interventions from the hospital setting into the ASC."
— Dr. Göessl [15:40]
Key Timestamps for Reference
- 01:18 – Dr. Göessl’s background & training path
- 02:51 – Observations on fellowship trends post-COVID
- 04:37 – Top healthcare trends: AI & operational efficiency
- 05:47 – Real-world impact of ambient AI on documentation
- 07:09 – Opportunities and risks of AI in clinical workflows
- 09:15 – Value-based care trends and data integration
- 12:29 – Vision for value-based, patient-centered care
- 13:41 – Growth predictions for structural heart care & operational strategies
- 15:40 – Outpatient shift: Utilization of ASCs for cardiology
Conclusion
This episode offers a forward-looking analysis of the interplay between new technologies (particularly AI), evolving care models, and operational challenges in cardiology. Dr. Mario Göessl provides first-hand insights into how educational, clinical, and administrative spheres are adapting to post-pandemic changes and the ongoing march towards value-based, patient-centric heart care. The strategic shift towards using ASCs and embedding AI in practice are highlighted as pivotal trends that will define structural heart care in the coming years.