Episode Overview
Podcast: Becker’s Healthcare Podcast
Guest: Brittany Cyriacks, Clinical Informatics Program Director, UCHealth
Host: Grace Lynn Keller
Date: October 15, 2025
Theme: Harnessing Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Care, and Informatics in Healthcare Transformation
This episode explores how emerging technologies, particularly AI and virtual care models, are shaping clinical workflows and patient outcomes at UCHealth. Brittany Cyriacks shares frontline insights on operationalizing technology, balancing innovation and regulation, and the crucial role of informatics in healthcare transformation.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Brittany Cyriacks’ Professional Journey (00:48 – 01:24)
- 17 years as a nurse at UCHealth, progressing from bedside roles to professional development and clinical informatics.
- Oversees a large virtual health center, leading programs that redesign care delivery through virtual nursing models.
Quote:
"I started as a clinical nurse…then transitioned into clinical informatics...currently for UC Health. We have a very large virtual health center and I am the informatics program director over all of those programs…"*
– Brittany Cyriacks [00:48]
2. Practical AI Use Cases in Nursing and Informatics (01:44 – 02:46)
- AI in healthcare "is not new," especially in nursing; predictive models (sepsis, deterioration) are longstanding tools.
- Shifted the burden of clinical decision-making from bedside nurses to virtual ICU nurses, who act on early warning signals.
- Virtual nurses review charts, place orders, and manage care proactively.
- Result: Standardization and scalability — positive patient outcomes (e.g., decreased mortality) and easy rollout across new hospitals.
Quote:
"We've been using sepsis predictive model and deterioration predictive model through our EHR...instead of giving them to the very busy bedside nurse, we have virtual ICU nurses that get that signal instead...we've seen some really great outcomes and decrease in our mortality by really standardizing that model."*
– Brittany Cyriacks [01:44]
3. Navigating Digital Transformation: Leadership, Governance, and User Engagement (02:46 – 03:55)
- Crucial role for informatics teams in change management and bridging technical solutions with clinical workflows.
- Emphasis on engaging both clinicians and patients early to define real problems and adopt solutions tailored to actual needs.
- The approach: "We're not going to find a problem for a solution. We need a solution for the problems that we're already having."
Quote:
"You really need to bring in an informatics team...they really help with that change management...being that voice between the technical solutions and the workflow...advocating for the right solution..."*
– Brittany Cyriacks [03:06]
4. Impact of Legislation and Regulatory Shifts (03:55 – 04:42)
- Regulatory flexibility during COVID allowed for rapid growth in remote patient monitoring (RPM).
- Post-pandemic tightening required workflow redesign (e.g., stricter billing requirements).
- Positive: Medicaid now covers RPM for more patients, expanding access.
Quote:
"During COVID we obviously were given a little bit more leeway in compliance...as they've gotten a little more stringent, we've had to kind of redesign our workflow to make sure...we're getting everything...from a checklist perspective to be doing the billing."*
– Brittany Cyriacks [04:06]
5. Preparing for the Future: Advice to Healthcare Leaders (04:42 – 05:24)
- Warning of "AI fatigue" and technology burnout amid rapid innovation outside the organization vs. slower internal processes.
- Stress on the importance of thoughtful governance, avoiding hype, and focusing on targeted, impactful solutions.
Quote:
"I think we run the risk of having some AI fatigue, technology fatigue...I think we're gonna have to find a really good balance...make sure that our solutions are fitting what our organization is trying to tackle."*
– Brittany Cyriacks [04:51]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- "We're not going to find a problem for a solution. We need a solution for the problems that we're already having." – Brittany Cyriacks [03:18]
- "We've seen some really great outcomes and decrease in our mortality by really standardizing that model." – Brittany Cyriacks [02:20]
- "I think we run the risk of having some AI fatigue, technology fatigue...we have to make sure that our solutions are fitting what our organization is trying to tackle." – Brittany Cyriacks [04:51]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:48 – Brittany’s background and journey in clinical informatics
- 01:44 – Practical AI models and virtual nursing implementation
- 03:06 – Advice for leaders: change management, engaging informatics teams
- 04:06 – Adapting to regulatory changes and billing for remote monitoring
- 04:51 – Leadership advice for managing technology adoption and governance
Summary
Brittany Cyriacks shares real-world strategies for integrating AI and virtual care in a large health system, emphasizing the power of informatics teams as change agents. She stresses adaptability in the face of regulatory change, urges a practical, problem-solving approach to technological innovation, and cautions leaders to guard against "AI fatigue" by aligning solutions with organizational needs. This concise yet comprehensive conversation offers actionable insights for organizations navigating the fast-evolving intersection of technology and care delivery.