Becker’s Healthcare Podcast

Episode: Meeting the Moment: Schneider Electric’s Commitment to the Pulse of U.S. Healthcare

Release Date: August 20, 2025
Host: Lucas Voss
Guests: Brahim Santos (US Segment Leader for Healthcare, Schneider Electric), Drew Byrd (VP, Enterprise Sales, Schneider Electric)

Episode Overview

This episode focuses on Schneider Electric’s evolving partnership with the U.S. healthcare sector. The discussion dives into the rapid surge in energy demand, the need for resilient and reliable hospital operations, and Schneider Electric’s strategic investments in innovation and support to improve patient outcomes. Brahim Santos and Drew Byrd explain how Schneider’s tailored approach addresses the unique needs of healthcare organizations, emphasizing continuous engagement and a “patient first” philosophy extending beyond initial project completion.

Key Discussion Points

1. Schneider Electric’s Role in Healthcare (00:41)

• Drew Byrd introduces Schneider as a global leader in energy management, automation, and digital solutions, with a mission to help customers achieve critical objectives related to infrastructure, resiliency, and sustainability.
  • Quote: “We serve a variety of end markets with solutions focused around electrical infrastructure and digital technology solutions, automation, resiliency and sustainability with really the end goal of providing our customers support around their most critical business objectives.” (00:41)

2. National Energy Trends and Healthcare’s Growth (01:12)

• U.S. electricity consumption is at an all-time high and will continue to climb, driven in part by healthcare's infrastructure needs—more beds, aging populations, and the electrification of hospital systems.
• Drew Byrd highlights Schneider’s response:
  • $700M+ investment in US operations by 2027.
  • 22 US-based manufacturing sites for faster delivery and support.
  • Recognition: Gartner’s #1 global supply chain organization for three consecutive years.
  • Quote: “Schneider Electric recently announced our planned investment of over 700 million in U.S. operations through 2027... Our commitments to US manufacturing empowering the US economy are really stronger than ever.” (01:50)
  • Quote: “For the third consecutive year, Schneider Electric ranked as Gartner's number one global supply chain organization.” (02:51)

3. Healthcare-Specific Tailored Partnerships (04:02)

• Schneider employs a dedicated healthcare segment in the US, offering access to a broad portfolio and industry-focused experts.
  • 21,000 employees drive digital transformation.
  • Over 1,200 service reps ensure “always-on” healthcare facilities.
  • Engagement spans from design and ideation to first patient and ongoing operations.
  • Quote: “Our healthcare team is led by core account leaders aligned to customers... One really important area for healthcare is services.” (04:40)
• Brahim Santos’s background from the healthcare “owner side” enhances Schneider’s empathetic approach.

4. Understanding Customers & Customizing Solutions (06:39)

• Brahim Santos underscores that each healthcare organization’s needs are unique; Schneider’s first step is listening.
  • Many clients only know about Schneider’s traditional products, not the full digital offering.
  • Key message: “Don’t let the tail wag the dog”—begin with client needs, not products.
  • Quote: “Often it's just the tip of the iceberg of them understanding what Schneider has to offer for them... We try to figure out who they are and how we can best help them.” (07:28)

5. The “First Patient” Philosophy and Day Two Support (09:09)

• First Patient is not the finish line, but a checkpoint:
  • Major projects focus on the moment a facility treats its first patient, but support and improvement continue from day two onward.
  • Unscheduled downtime is unacceptable—focus is on reliability.
  • Two healthcare R&D innovation hubs ensure continuous engineering improvements.
  • On-site validation labs allow clients to test and validate equipment before broad deployment.
  • Quote: “We have to make sure we don't see first patient as a finish line, but it's really a checkpoint… Now it's all about patient care.” (09:17)
  • Quote: “With a lot of our digital deployments, we will actually create on-site validation labs so that our clients can actually test and validate what equipment is going to be deployed.” (10:23)

6. Continuous Improvement & Innovation (11:04)

• Both guests reiterate that as energy consumption and digital innovation accelerate, solution partners must also evolve.
• Continuous support and consistent innovation are essential for healthcare resilience.
  • Quote (Lucas Voss): “Partners need to progress, just like Schneider Electric is progressing to be able to support health systems the best way possible.” (11:20)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Healthcare is mission critical and how we engage with our customers really starts from design and ideation stage on through to project completion into first patient and beyond...”
  – Drew Byrd (05:28)

• “Unscheduled downtime... is unacceptable. Right? Especially on scheduled downtime.”
  – Brahim Santos (08:08)

• “We no longer allow the tail to wag the dog. Right? We try to figure out who they are and how we can best help them.”
  – Brahim Santos (07:48)

• “We have to make sure we don't see first patient as a finish line, but it's really a checkpoint...”
  – Brahim Santos (09:17)

• “With that, in addition to figuring out what's needed in the industry from an engineering standpoint, we have continuing engineering where we make sure that we hone in and we keep those offerings crisp and relevant...”
  – Brahim Santos (09:58)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:41 — Introduction to Schneider Electric’s focus and offerings
• 01:12 — Impact of rising US electricity demand; Schneider’s investment in domestic operations
• 04:02 — Dedicated US healthcare segment and tailored support strategies
• 06:39 — Customer conversations: Customizing solutions beyond standard offerings
• 09:09 — The “First Patient” concept and ongoing, real-time operational support
• 11:04 — Importance of innovation and continuous improvement

Summary & Takeaways

Schneider Electric recognizes healthcare as a highly specialized, mission-critical sector facing accelerating demands in energy and resilience. The company is responding with major investments in US manufacturing, a robust supply chain, dedicated healthcare teams, and ongoing support that prioritizes patient care and operational continuity. They advocate a long-term, partnership-based approach, underpinned by constant listening, innovation, and day-two operational support—helping healthcare organizations not just meet, but exceed, the operational challenges of today and tomorrow.