Becker’s Healthcare Podcast: Interview with Dr. Nathan A. Merriman – December 25, 2025

Guest

Nathan A. Merriman, MD, MSCE
Interim Senior Medical Director, Surgical Specialties, Digestive Health Clinical Program, Intermountain Medical Center

Host: Francesca Matthews

Episode Overview

This episode features Dr. Nathan Merriman, a leader in digestive health and surgical specialties at Intermountain Medical Center. The discussion centers on the evolving landscape of healthcare delivery—particularly GI care—through patient-centered innovations, cost reduction strategies, care team collaboration, and the growth of ambulatory endoscopy centers (ASCs). Dr. Merriman brings a unique perspective, having experience across academic medicine, private practice, and organizational leadership, as well as an MD/MSCE background and focus on clinical innovation.

Key Points & Insights

Dr. Merriman’s Background and Approach

(00:19–02:45)

• Dr. Merriman has broad experience: trained in academia (UNC Chapel Hill, University of Pennsylvania), transitioned to private GI practice in Delaware, co-managed an endoscopy center, engaged with startups, and joined Intermountain Health in 2020.
• Emphasizes blending best elements from academics, private practice, and health systems.
• Strong focus on Intermountain’s mission: “helping patients live their healthiest lives and working together to prevent avoidable suffering across our communities.” (02:30)

Top Three Trends in Healthcare Today

(03:13–05:25)

1. Patient-Centered Care & Access

   • Emphasizes the need for human-centered care design.
   • Quote:

     “I've never done a colonoscopy without a patient's help... If we leave our patients out of the design of care, we're going to lose them.” (03:44, Dr. Merriman)

2. Healthcare Cost Unsustainability

   • Notes urgent awareness of healthcare's rising, unsustainable costs.
   • Warns of the consequences if cost structures do not change.

3. Team-Based Care Innovation & Technology

   • Describes innovation as more than just technology—“proactive care” and using care teams to identify and intervene earlier in disease processes.
   • Quote:

     “Proactive care I believe is a form of care innovation and so using team-based care models to innovate with our patients would be number three.” (05:10, Dr. Merriman)

The Importance of Competition (for Good)

(05:32–06:52)

• Dr. Merriman views competition as a positive force—when it centers on improving outcomes for patients.
• Frames competition not as adversarial among providers, but as collective battle against disease, e.g., colon cancer.
• Quote:

  “How do we compete against colon cancer? …we’re all teammates fighting against colon cancer.” (05:44, Dr. Merriman)

• Advocates for collaborating to improve safety, lower costs, and enhance human-centered care.
• Quote:

  “…competing on the right things to help make care better and more affordable for our patients.” (06:45, Dr. Merriman)

Growth Strategy at Intermountain: Ambulatory Endoscopy Centers (ASCs)

(07:21–11:33)

• When Dr. Merriman arrived in 2020, Intermountain had no ASC endoscopy centers; he found this surprising given his private-sector experience.

• Over five years, Intermountain launched new ambulatory endoscopy centers and merged with SEL Health, expanding to Colorado.

• Upcoming facilities:

  • Altaview ASC (with ENT, ophthalmology, GI)
  • McKay Dee Ambulatory Endoscopy Center opening next week (first fully ambulatory GI ASC in Utah)
  • Riverton Hospital HOPD to ASC conversion (opening summer 2026)
  • St. George Ambulatory Endoscopy Center (early 2027)

• Significance: Converting hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs) to ASCs is self-disruptive (“making less money”) but aligns with lower-cost, patient-centered values.

• Quote:

  “We are disrupting ourselves… the cost of care for our patients is going to go down as we make that disruption and it’s the right thing to do.” (08:52, Dr. Merriman)

• Benefits of ASC model:

  • Enhances connections among physician partners (many are co-investors/owners).
  • Bolsters recruitment, engagement, operational efficiency, and shared learning across sites.
  • Physician investment and ownership create alignment and innovation (private practice lessons brought into a system context).

The Value Proposition of Physician Investment and Partnership

(11:33–12:45)

• Historical norm: Intermountain didn’t have ASCs; this is changing rapidly.
• Involving physicians as investors/owners helps with:
  • Partner alignment
  • Recruitment
  • Innovation and operational efficiency
• Quote:

  “It’s a unique value proposition we have as a health system to have physicians being able to invest… that’s helped with recruiting. It’s helped with also physicians being very engaged and aligned on operational efficiency…” (12:11, Dr. Merriman)

Notable Quotes & Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|---------|-------| | 03:44 | Dr. Merriman | “I've never done a colonoscopy without a patient's help. …If we leave our patients out of the design of care, we're going to lose them.” | | 05:44 | Dr. Merriman | “How do we compete against colon cancer? …we’re all teammates fighting against colon cancer.” | | 06:45 | Dr. Merriman | “Competing on the right things to help make care better and more affordable for our patients.” | | 08:52 | Dr. Merriman | “We are disrupting ourselves… the cost of care for our patients is going to go down as we make that disruption and it’s the right thing to do.” | | 12:11 | Dr. Merriman | “That’s helped with recruiting. It’s helped with also physicians being very engaged and aligned on operational efficiency…” |

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:19–02:45 — Dr. Merriman’s background and transition to Intermountain
• 03:13–05:25 — Top three healthcare trends
• 05:32–06:52 — Excitement about positive competition and team approach
• 07:21–11:33 — Intermountain’s ASC expansion strategy and self-disruption for lower cost care
• 11:33–12:45 — Physician partnership and innovation as a strategic value

Tone and Style

Dr. Merriman is candid, mission-driven, and collaborative—drawing on wide-ranging experience to offer a nuanced, future-focused view of GI care and system transformation. The conversation is grounded in practical examples, values-driven leadership, and optimism about strategic innovation in healthcare delivery.

Summary prepared for listeners seeking an actionable, insider view of major trends, leadership strategies, and innovations shaping GI and ambulatory care at leading U.S. health systems.