Becker’s Healthcare Podcast – Episode Summary

Guest: Jason Hill, Innovation Officer, Ochsner Health
Host: Gracelyn Keller
Recording: Live at the 10th Annual Health IT Digital Health and RCM Meeting
Date: November 29, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Gracelyn Keller interviews Dr. Jason Hill, the Innovation Officer at Ochsner Health, about cutting-edge uses of artificial intelligence in healthcare. The conversation dives into generative AI, operational challenges, legislative impacts, and strategies for healthcare leaders navigating technology-driven change. Dr. Hill shares firsthand experiences from Ochsner, providing both strategic insights and practical advice for innovating within health systems.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Jason Hill’s Background and Approach to Innovation

• Jason Hill is a practicing hospitalist trained in internal medicine and pediatrics, with significant experience in clinical informatics and engineering.
• He entered AI and machine learning (ML) work before the COVID-19 pandemic, later becoming involved with generative AI as it rose to prominence.

Quote:

“I am engineer by trade as well, so engineer before I was a doctor, so I have a lot of work and background in computer science.” (03:04)

2. Prominent Use Cases for AI in Healthcare

• Ambient Listening: Described as “the real Cinderella story” of recent generative AI advancements for transforming how clinical documentation is done.
  • Evolution from early scribe tools to platforms enabling:
    • Vocal biomarkers
    • Automated revenue cycle tasks
• Revenue Cycle Automation: AI excels in automating prior authorizations, denial management, and backend processes, offering system-wide efficiencies.
• Voice and Agentic AI: Early proof-of-concept work with AI voice agents for both clinical and non-clinical interactions.
• Clinical Decision Support: Noted rapid developments, like AI models outperforming humans on medical licensing exams, raising new questions about integration.

Quote:

"The real Cinderella story that's come out of generative AI most recently is ambient listening... It’s not just a way to Scribe and create a note, but also to create voice as a platform.” (02:13)

“Denials are actually a key part of the revenue cycle... being able to look at that was something most people are looking at prior auth on the front end. I think denials on the back end are actually more important.” (03:10)

3. Balancing Innovation with Operational Constraints

• In healthcare’s low-margin environment, innovation is risky and must be managed carefully.
• Genuine transformation is difficult; most changes are incremental unless leadership commits to calculated risk-taking.
• Ethical & Liability Challenges:
  • Behavioral health and AI companions (like ChatGPT) pose risks for delusional thinking and require careful ethical considerations.
  • As AI “agents” interact with patients, liability questions multiply—does the doctor bear all risk?
• Core Challenges: Cost constraints, ethics, and liability are the main barriers to implementation.

Quote:

“A successful innovation company or innovation enterprise is an enterprise that is prepared to fail. And I think when you’re running on a 1.5, 2.5 percent margin... your willingness to take on risk... is somewhat constrained.” (05:08)

“As you reach AI into the clinical realm… If I have 15 agents… talking to my patients, adjusting their medicine… what does my role become? Am I just the lightning rod for liability…?” (06:23)

4. Impact of Legislation on Health IT

• Federal policy is still undecided on how to regulate AI; policymakers risk reacting to extremes.
• The role of government should extend beyond regulation—providing incentives and aiding technology transitions.
• Federal investment in rural health innovation is viewed as vital, especially in states like Louisiana where many counties are rural.

Quote:

“There’s generally sort of two prevailing opinions: One is that [AI] is magic… the best thing ever. And the other is that it’s horrible… will cause the end of humanity… The truth is, obviously, between those two extremes.” (08:25)

“I’m hopeful that that money that they’ve been able to set aside can help support and bolster businesses that will drive better health care for patients that are disadvantaged.” (10:39)

5. Advice for Healthcare Leaders: Listen to the Front Line

• True value of technology, like ambient listening, is most apparent to frontline clinicians—not upper management.
• A strong distinction between measurable ROI and immeasurable, life-changing impact experienced by staff.
• Leaders should seek input directly from clinicians and patients, considering technology as a vehicle for transformation rather than mere efficiency.

Quote:

“Listen to your front line… If you ask any doctor that has ever used ambient listening, they will tell you that it is immeasurably valuable.” (11:09)

“No one has ever walked up to me and have been like, thank you so much for implementing this electronic health record… But the first time I did ambient, I had doctors finding me in big meetings… saying, this has changed my life. Thank you.” (12:22)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Innovation Risks:

  “You really have to be very thoughtful about how you apply your capital and how you apply your humans and how you apply the people in that.” (05:18)

• On Progressive Tech Value:

  “You could either develop revenue cycle to make an individual person… a little more efficient, or you could create revenue cycle in a way… to completely make the person calling the phone not have to do that and instead spend their time doing higher value activities…” (13:12)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:45–01:50] – Dr. Hill’s background and entry into Health IT and AI
• [02:11–04:40] – Major AI use cases: ambient listening, RCM, clinical support
• [05:01–07:44] – Balancing innovation with risk, ethical issues, operational constraints
• [08:00–10:50] – Impact of federal/state legislation and rural health focus
• [11:02–13:33] – Practical advice for leaders: measuring value, listening to frontline feedback

Final Takeaway

Dr. Jason Hill underscores that the future of healthcare innovation relies on blending pragmatic risk management with bold transformation, thoughtful consideration of ethics and liability, and—above all—valuing insights from the clinicians and patients most affected by new technologies.