Podcast Summary: Becker’s Healthcare Podcast

Guest: Colleen Mallozzi, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Informatics Officer, Jefferson Health
Host: Erica Carbajal
Date: January 3, 2026

Overview

This episode explores the evolving landscape of nursing informatics at Jefferson Health. Colleen Mallozzi shares her strategies and hands-on approaches to reducing the burdens of electronic health record (EHR) documentation, the pilot of new “ambient listening” technology, change management in clinical care, and how AI could transform both the patient and caregiver experience. The discussion underscores Jefferson’s bold goal to return 10 million hours to clinicians by 2028, fostering a more humane workplace for frontline staff.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Colleen’s Background and Approach to Informatics

• [01:08] Colleen outlines her transition from clinical nursing at Penn Medicine to nursing informatics leadership at Jefferson Health, emphasizing work during the COVID pandemic that sparked her interest in large-scale healthcare technology challenges.
• At Jefferson, her role sits “at the intersection of nursing, technology, quality, and operations,” aiming to link bedside clinical care directly with tech innovation.

Quote:

“My role sits at the intersection of nursing, technology, quality and operations, but with this very specific focus on clinical bedside work and how technology impacts it.”
– Colleen Mallozzi [01:38]

Tackling Nurse EHR Burden Through “Project Starlight”

• [03:09] Colleen describes a hands-on, empathetic approach—observing and shadowing nurses “at the shoulder”—to identify EHR pain points.
• Project Starlight: Focused on reducing “small, non-negotiable challenges” in the EHR dynamic, including unnecessary clicks and documentation steps.
  • Reduced nurse documentation time by about 15 minutes per nurse, per shift so far, with larger changes planned.
  • Emphasis on “giving time back” to caregivers – not increasing workload, but improving well-being and direct patient care.
• Philosophy: “Technology can’t be a friction. It has to give time back… If it’s not an innovation, then it really becomes noise in their day to day.”

Quote:

“After about a year's worth of work and digging through flow sheets and pick lists… we were able to take it down about 15 minutes per nurse, per shift. And we're just getting started.”
– Colleen Mallozzi [04:11]

The 10 Million Hour Goal & Future Initiatives

• [05:04] Jefferson Health’s ambitious goal: Give clinicians back 10 million hours by 2028 (30 minutes per nurse, per shift), to support rest, well-being, and holistic nursing experience.
• Ambient Listening Technology:
  • Pilot launches in January 2026.
  • Aims to automate documentation by allowing nurses to “nurse out loud” while the device captures and files notes into the EHR, freeing time for patient engagement.

Quote:

“Our caregivers deserve to be caregivers and not, you know, technicians that are entering things into a computer.”
– Colleen Mallozzi [04:46]

“Ambient listening is a big, huge thing that is going to help us get there... It really enables nurses to have a device that’s listening, that’s going to help them file documentation into their flow sheet.”
– Colleen Mallozzi [06:34]

Change Management & Overcoming Cultural Barriers

• [07:54] Colleen notes that while technology is easy to implement, “change management and culture shift” are the bigger challenges.
  • Every nurse will undergo simulation sessions to practice “nursing out loud,” a shift especially tough for new nurses.
  • Selection of pilot units based on data: stable staffing, mix of experience, and strong leadership.
  • Openly welcomes feedback and pushback, promising to stop initiatives that don’t truly support staff.

Quote:

“We are taking that hands-on time, that hands-on approach to manage the change… I am unapologetically going to be saying no in the new year to things that don’t serve us, don’t serve our nurses and don’t serve our patients.”
– Colleen Mallozzi [09:32 & 09:59]

Training & Rollout Details

• [10:36] Simulation and training sessions start January 6th and 7th, with tech go-live end of January 2026.
  • Staff are “living on this unit” to provide support and refine processes.
  • The team is excited, but focused on changing practice and engagement—not just implementing gadgets.

Quote:

“It’s about the change in how we practice and engage with staff... we handed our group an EHR... There are some negatives that came with it. Two and a half hours of documentation per shift is a long, long time.”
– Colleen Mallozzi [10:55 & 11:24]

Organizational Growth & The Role of AI

• [11:48] Key to future growth: retaining workforce, managing resource shortages, and adapting to supply chain pressures.
• AI seen as a strategic tool to:
  • Support workforce management and reduce administrative burden.
  • Boost revenue cycle efficiency (billing and coding).
  • Improve patient care coordination and “get people to the right resources.”
• Nurse managers, often with 30-100 direct reports, can be unburdened with the right technology.

Quote:

“AI has huge potential to unburden the administrators who are overseeing large groups of clinicians... so they can do the thing they signed up to do.”
– Colleen Mallozzi [12:44]

Memorable Closing Moments

• [14:03] Colleen’s optimism highlights the pace of change and commitment:

  “Things are moving very, very fast, but we are running alongside of it, trying to do the best that we can for our people.”

• The host and guest express mutual excitement for 2026, particularly for the ambient nursing rollout.

Notable Quotes With Timestamps

• “My role sits at the intersection of nursing, technology, quality and operations, but with this very specific focus on clinical bedside work and how technology impacts it.” (Colleen Mallozzi, [01:38])
• “After about a year's worth of work...we were able to take it down about 15 minutes per nurse, per shift. And we're just getting started.” (Colleen Mallozzi, [04:11])
• “Our caregivers deserve to be caregivers and not, you know, technicians that are entering things into a computer.” (Colleen Mallozzi, [04:46])
• “Ambient listening is a big, huge thing that is going to help us get there... a device that's listening, that's going to help them file documentation.” (Colleen Mallozzi, [06:34])
• “I am unapologetically going to be saying no in the new year to things that don't serve us, don't serve our nurses and don't serve our patients.” (Colleen Mallozzi, [09:59])
• “AI has huge potential to unburden the administrators who are overseeing large groups of clinicians... so they can do the thing they signed up to do.” (Colleen Mallozzi, [12:44])
• “Things are moving very, very fast, but we are running alongside of it, trying to do the best that we can for our people.” (Colleen Mallozzi, [14:03])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Background & Role: [01:08]
• EHR Workflow Improvements – Project Starlight: [03:09]
• Time Savings Results: [04:11]
• 10 Million Hours by 2028: [06:07]
• Ambient Listening Tech Overview: [06:34]
• Change Management & Simulation Training: [07:54], [10:36]
• AI & Organizational Opportunities: [11:48]
• Outlook for 2026: [14:03]

This episode is a deep dive into practical, people-first digital transformation in nursing. Colleen Mallozzi’s vision: leverage technology to restore humanity and joy to clinical care.