Becker’s Healthcare Podcast
Episode: Dr. Ashwani Bhatia, CEO of BayCare Clinic
Date: October 6, 2025
Host: Laura Dardo
Episode Overview
This episode features Dr. Ashwani Bhatia, CEO and Chief Medical Officer of BayCare Clinic, discussing the evolving landscape of healthcare leadership. Dr. Bhatia shares insights into BayCare's physician-led model, recent successes in community outreach and outpatient care, top organizational priorities (including access, rural outreach, and cybersecurity), and strategic perspectives on integrating artificial intelligence. The conversation provides a robust look at balancing innovation, cost management, and patient-centric care within a dynamic healthcare environment.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Introduction to BayCare Clinic and Leadership Model
- [01:17] Dr. Bhatia introduces himself and BayCare Clinic as Northeastern Wisconsin’s largest physician-led specialty group, with over 1,000 staff serving 10 communities.
- Physician Governance: BayCare’s unique approach involves physicians as owners and leaders guiding strategy and innovation.
- Quote:
“What makes us unique is our model, especially where we have physicians who just don’t practice with us but they are owners but they also govern and innovate and shape strategy for BayCare Clinic.”
— Dr. Bhatia [01:17]
- Quote:
Major Wins and Successes (Past Year)
- [02:15] Two-fold success focus:
- Community Investment: $500,000 pledged over 5 years for mental health awareness via the BayCare Clinic Foundation. Initial grant recipient: Family Health Services.
- Outpatient Surgery Strategy: Shifting high-volume procedures to ambulatory settings to improve experience, throughput, and cost, while preserving hospital resources for high-acuity care.
- Quote:
“This has actually improved patient experience...and preserved our hospital capacity for higher acuity care.”
— Dr. Bhatia [02:35]
- Quote:
Current Top Priorities and Challenges
- [04:04] Three main organizational focuses:
- Expanding Access in Underserved and Rural Communities: Specialists travel to and serve patients in their communities.
- Patient Satisfaction: Prioritizing care delivery at the community level.
- Cybersecurity as Patient Safety: Heavy investment in cybersecurity infrastructure and staff training.
- Quote:
“Cybersecurity is just not an IT issue anymore. It has become a patient safety issue as well, because the disruption it causes is of magnified proportions.”
— Dr. Bhatia [04:52]
- Quote:
Expanding Access: Outpatient and Telehealth Strategies
- [06:09] BayCare’s approach emphasizes accessible, local care for elective and specialty services:
- Partnering with Advocate Health to serve critical access/rural hospitals.
- Growth in virtual post-op visits (telehealth) to reduce travel burden.
- Quote:
“We are looking at a strategy where we can do post op visits through telehealth...so that we reduce even some of that distance traveled by some of our patients.”
— Dr. Bhatia [06:54]
- Quote:
Cybersecurity: Commitment and Governance
- [08:17] Cybersecurity strategy centers on:
- Treating cybersecurity as foundational, not optional.
- Cost management by employing a fractional Chief Security Officer.
- Focused investments in areas of highest vulnerability.
- Comprehensive staff involvement and culture-building, including interactive training.
- Quote:
“Cybersecurity has to be treated as more foundational rather than optional. That was many years ago. I think we have learned our lessons.”
— Dr. Bhatia [08:20]
- Quote:
The Role and Future of AI in Healthcare
- [10:17] High-level overview of AI’s transformative potential:
- Anticipation of $180 billion in healthcare AI investment by 2030.
- AI pilot projects for clinical decision support and documentation reduction.
- Balancing innovation with physician trust and understanding.
- Speed of execution, alignment, and “demystifying AI” are emphasized.
- Quote:
“The challenge for us being physician owned is going to be balancing innovation with physician trust, making sure these tools feel like partners.”
— Dr. Bhatia [10:38] - Quote:
“If it is done right, I think it will reduce burnout...eventually support value based care where all the healthcare organizations are striving for.”
— Dr. Bhatia [12:32]
- Quote:
Vision for Leading a Thriving Organization (Next 3-5 Years)
- [13:18] Keys for future success:
- Disciplined growth strategy with enhanced rural healthcare reach.
- Shifting more care to outpatient and office settings, aligning capital and workforce accordingly.
- Emphasizing health & wellness for clinicians, and preventative health for the community.
- Integrating foresight, speed of execution, and broad community engagement.
- Quote:
“Ultimately, I feel thriving over the next five years...would mean leading with having a foresight, understanding that the speed of execution is going to be important and aligning our physicians and healthcare staff in changes.”
— Dr. Bhatia [14:20]
- Quote:
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Physician-Led Governance:
“They are owners but they also govern and innovate and shape strategy for BayCare Clinic.”
— Dr. Bhatia [01:17] -
On Outpatient Strategy:
“It has preserved our hospital capacity for higher acuity care.”
— Dr. Bhatia [02:35] -
On Cybersecurity:
“It has become a patient safety issue… the disruption it causes is of magnified proportions.”
— Dr. Bhatia [04:52] -
On AI Integration:
“The challenge… is going to be balancing innovation with physician trust, making sure these tools feel like partners.”
— Dr. Bhatia [10:38] -
On Preparing for the Future:
“We need a disciplined growth strategy. And... we should not forget a lot of our populations live in rural healthcare. We need to enhance that and meet those patients in their communities.”
— Dr. Bhatia [13:19]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 01:17: Introduction to BayCare Clinic and leadership model
- 02:15: Recent wins: Community investment and outpatient expansion
- 04:04: Current top issues: Access, rural outreach, and cybersecurity
- 06:09: Expanding access through partnerships and telehealth
- 08:17: Cybersecurity as patient safety – strategy and staff training
- 10:17: Growth opportunities: AI adoption and innovation
- 13:18: Long-term vision: Disciplined growth and preparing for a changing future
Conclusion
This conversation with Dr. Ashwani Bhatia spotlights BayCare Clinic’s pioneering physician-led model and their innovative approaches to community investment, outpatient care, cybersecurity, and AI integration. Dr. Bhatia emphasizes the need for balance between technological adoption and human trust, disciplined and inclusive growth, and an unwavering commitment to patient- and provider-wellbeing for a resilient healthcare future. The episode is a strong resource for leaders seeking practical strategies to navigate the healthcare sector’s fast-changing landscape.