Becker’s Healthcare Podcast
Episode Summary: Chinomnso Nnodum, MHA – Executive Director of Access at Stamford Health
Date: November 17, 2025
Guest: Chinomnso Nnodum, MHA
Host: Scott Becker
Main Theme / Purpose
This episode features Chinomnso Nnodum, Executive Director of Access at Stamford Health, discussing her role in optimizing patient access and virtual care, the ongoing digital transformation at Stamford Health, major trends impacting healthcare access (including AI and telehealth), and advice for emerging healthcare leaders, with a special focus on lifelong learning.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Introduction to Stamford Health and Role of the Guest
[00:21 – 01:00]
- Chinomnso Nnodum introduces herself as Executive Director of Access at Stamford Health, an independent hospital in Lower Fairfield County, Connecticut.
- She oversees all aspects of “access”—the experience as patients enter Stamford’s healthcare system, especially regarding virtual care.
Defining and Improving Patient Access
[01:00 – 02:16]
- Scope of Access:
- Begins the moment a patient seeks care, encompassing referral processes, referral management and coordination.
- Includes appointment scheduling via centralized/decentralized call centers or online platforms.
- Focuses on patient engagement through digital tools: patient portal, SMS, and more.
- Covers the pre-care experience—all steps before meeting a provider.
- Notable Quote:
“All of that happens before they're actually standing in front of a provider or nurse or anything like that is really access.”
— Chinomnso Nnodum [01:53]
Current Focus: EHR Optimization & Workflow Integration
[02:26 – 03:54]
- Stamford Health recently transitioned to EPIC as their new EHR (Electronic Health Record) system in March 2025.
- The organization’s current focus is “optimization”—leveraging EPIC’s features, redesigning workflows, breaking down departmental silos, and fostering shared patient experiences.
- Notable Quote:
“…now that we're all in one system, now that we're all in one record, how do we get to a place where we are working together and thinking of our patients as shared patients with a shared registration, shared experience.”
— Chinomnso Nnodum [03:19] - This optimization is expected to be a major focus area through the next fiscal year.
Key Trends in Healthcare: AI, Telehealth, Patient Empowerment
[04:03 – 06:09]
- AI (Artificial Intelligence):
- Acknowledged as a major trend; Stamford Health is exploring its use, especially on the clinical side and beginning to look at non-clinical applications.
- Telehealth:
- Remains a big priority, particularly for facilitating same-day access.
- Current government shutdown has put funding in flux, but the commitment remains to expand telehealth offerings.
- Expanding same-day telehealth to meet patient expectations is crucial.
- Online Scheduling & Patient as “Care Team Champion”:
- Pushing to implement online scheduling across specialties and services.
- Emphasis on patient self-service; empowering patients to be active collaborators in their care.
- Notable Quote:
“They are the largest, most untapped part of the care team. And so we want to make sure our patients feel as empowered as possible…”
— Chinomnso Nnodum [05:43]
- Striving for Stamford to maintain its leadership and meet modern patient access standards.
Leadership Advice for Emerging Healthcare Leaders
[06:18 – 08:08]
- Understand the US Healthcare System:
- Importance of a strong foundational knowledge of the complex U.S. healthcare system, whether through formal learning or self-education.
- Skill: “Zoom In & Zoom Out”:
- Leaders should be able to both focus on details (“explicit visit types and durations”) and maintain a broad perspective (“where's our organization going?”).
- Notable Quote:
“Being able to zoom in and zoom out I think is a special skill set that benefits leaders. And so as a young leader, I would emphasize that as a skill or quality to try to hone.”
— Chinomnso Nnodum [07:43]
The Value of Lifelong Learning in Healthcare Leadership
[08:30 – 11:45]
- Chinomnso emphasizes the necessity and value of continuous learning beyond formal education.
- Stays connected to educational institutions, attends webinars, symposiums, and community events.
- Healthcare information is constantly evolving (technology, policy, medicine, trends).
- Personal Habits:
- Habitually keeps up with new research, reads medical journals, and participates in professional events.
- Finds value in informal learning, such as reading articles or listening to industry podcasts.
- Career Philosophy:
- Lifelong learning is “required” for healthcare leaders to stay aware of ongoing changes and patient needs.
- Notable Quote:
“Lifelong learning looks so different. It doesn’t necessarily mean going back to a formal education… it can just mean, like I said, reading an article... maybe listen to some podcast episodes like this and learning from other leaders...”
— Chinomnso Nnodum [10:57]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Patient Access:
“Access is really the experience of the patient as they're trying to enter the organization... All of that stuff that happens before they're actually standing in front of a provider or nurse... is really access.”
— Chinomnso Nnodum [01:07, 01:53] -
On EHR Optimization:
“... now that we're all in one record, how do we get to a place where we are working together and thinking of our patients as shared patients with a shared registration, shared experience.”
— Chinomnso Nnodum [03:19] -
On AI in Healthcare:
“We at Stamford just dipping our toes in trying to learn more, a lot more use cases. On the clinical side I think that we've already implemented and have been using and starting to explore the non clinical applications as well.”
— Chinomnso Nnodum [04:13] -
On Patient Empowerment:
“They are the largest, most untapped part of the care team. And so we want to make sure our patients feel as empowered as possible…”
— Chinomnso Nnodum [05:43] -
Advice for Emerging Leaders:
“Being able to zoom in and zoom out I think is a special skill set that benefits leaders...”
— Chinomnso Nnodum [07:43] -
On Lifelong Learning:
“Lifelong learning can mean a lot of different things. And it is, you know, something I very much believe in and feel that I am. Part of my work requires that—requires staying fresh and knowledgeable of what's happening around me.”
— Chinomnso Nnodum [11:33]
Important Timestamps
- 00:21 — Guest introduction & Stamford Health overview
- 01:00 — What “Access” means at Stamford Health
- 02:26 — Focus on EHR transition, optimization, and interdepartmental collaboration
- 04:03 — Trends: AI, telehealth, online scheduling
- 06:18 — Leadership advice for new/aspiring healthcare managers
- 08:30 — The importance and daily practice of lifelong learning in healthcare
- 11:45 — Episode conclusion
Summary Takeaways
- Chinomnso Nnodum provides a comprehensive look into her role optimizing patient access at Stamford Health, especially through recent digital transformation initiatives.
- The discussion highlights ongoing sector trends, particularly the rising importance of AI, telehealth, and self-service patient tools.
- Nnodum stresses the dual necessity of granular process management and big-picture vision for healthcare leaders.
- The lasting message is the importance of lifelong learning, with Nnodum serving as a model through her continued engagement with education and curiosity about industry changes.