Podcast Summary

Podcast: Becker’s Healthcare Podcast
Guest: Dr. Samuel O. Jones IV, MD, MPH, FACC — Director, Inpatient EP Services, The Chattanooga Heart Institute, Memorial Hospital
Host: Laura Dardo
Date: December 1, 2025
Episode Theme: Innovations and challenges in cardiology and healthcare, with an emphasis on workforce dynamics, the integration of AI, and the transformation of care delivery.

Episode Overview

In this engaging episode, Dr. Samuel O. Jones IV discusses the most pressing trends and innovations shaping the future of cardiology. The conversation centers on workforce shortages, the strategic role of artificial intelligence (AI), and the ongoing transformation from hospital-centric to outpatient and patient-centered care models. Dr. Jones offers practical insights, shares real-world examples from his institute, and underscores the importance of adapting both technologically and culturally to these rapid changes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Dr. Jones' Background and Perspective (00:32–01:17)

• Summary: Dr. Jones introduces himself as a clinical electrophysiologist and outlines his experience in leadership roles at Common Spirit Health and the American College of Cardiology, with a focus on registries, quality improvement, and advocacy initiatives.
• Notable Quote:

  “Overall, it really fits into the niche and things I'm interested in, including how we're going to transform care. ASCs are something that we've been looking at very carefully... Certainly how we're going to adopt AI is something I've been following.” (B, 00:52)

2. Top Three Healthcare Trends in Cardiology (01:32–05:17)

• 1. Workforce Challenges

  • Aging population increasing demand, complexity of patient cases rising
  • Shortage of cardiologists: “...we may just not have enough clinicians, at least in our current model, to take care of it.”
  • Imminent retirements: 27% of cardiologists over age 61 as of 2019; projected loss of ~547 cardiologists/year due to retirements outpacing training
  • Notable Quote:

    “We have the epitome of a supply, demand, mismatch, meaning that we’ve got a lot of patients who want to see us... We've never seen patients quite like this before.” (B, 01:36)

• 2. Role of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

  • AI extending beyond imaging into administrative, scheduling, triage, care navigation, and clinical decision support
  • Potential to optimize use of the entire cardiovascular care team
  • Notable Quote:

    “If we do that right, then maybe we can help with some of the workforce issues just by getting everyone to really focus at the top of their license...” (B, 03:52)

• 3. Care Transformation: Outpatient Shift & Technology

  • Shift from hospital to ambulatory settings (ASCs), echoing trends in other specialties
  • Goals: expand access, improve patient experience, maintain quality, and control costs
  • More telehealth, remote monitoring, patient-centric pathways
  • Notable Quote:

    “…We’re seeing sort of a transformation and a translocation of care that’s gonna go out [of hospitals]… All of those same principles for why things are moving out of the hospital will happen in cardiology as well.” (B, 04:15)

3. Addressing the Cardiologist Workforce Shortage (06:28–08:04)

• It’s a “multi-pronged approach”:
  • Can’t just expand training — GME system limitations, long training pipeline
  • Potential pathway adjustments: shorten training, remove select barriers
  • Redesign care pathways; maximize roles for the entire cardiovascular care team
  • Embrace technology and AI to support diagnosis and efficiency
• Notable Quote:

  “It's not just about the physician, it's about the entire care team. And I think in cardiology we're really blessed more than any other specialty that we have really embraced that idea...” (B, 07:09)

4. What’s Exciting Right Now: Innovation and Care Pathways (08:28–10:02)

• Dr. Jones emphasizes optimism amidst challenges:
  • Innovation in procedures—quicker, safer, less need for hospital admissions
  • AI’s potential, but requires careful oversight
  • Focus on patient experience and continual improvement with patient-centric delivery
• Notable Quote:

  “While the burden is great, I think that the opportunities then just are going to keep showing themselves more and more.” (B, 08:33)

5. Real-World Example: Leveraging Technology at The Heart Institute (10:31–12:15)

• Adoption of advanced cardiac CT imaging:
  • Non-invasive tests helping to guide which patients need further catheterization
  • Fewer unnecessary interventions; higher intervention rate for those who need it
  • Continuous care through remote monitoring for hypertension, lipids, arrhythmias
• Notable Quote:

  “By leveraging some of the technologies that's come out, we're able to get the right patient to the right place at the right time... we have a champion who watches carefully how we're doing with all these...” (B, 10:36)

6. Growth Strategy for the Next Year (12:25–13:26)

• Focus on “smarter pathways,” not just increasing procedural volume
• Efficiency, patient-centered care, and technology integration as markers of excellence
• Careful implementation of AI; preserve clinical decision-making authority
• Notable Quote:

  “We have to make sure that when we do that, we're still keeping the clinician front and center... we can't be dependent upon [AI], we still have to drive that...” (B, 12:59)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On AI’s role:

  “It's going to be more use of telehealth, it's going to be using more diagnostic, rhythm and device care to help us really get to patients really where they are, rather than have them come to us.” (B, 05:08)

• On improving patient outcomes:

  “We're trying to find out how do we get the patient the right procedure at the right time. And by leveraging that technology, we're absolutely doing that.” (B, 11:20)

• On responsibility in innovation:

  “You have to know who is responsible and we can't be dependent upon it [AI]. We still have to drive that, and I think that's what's going to be really critical for us as part of our growth strategy.” (B, 13:12)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:32 — Dr. Jones’ background & interests
• 01:32 — Top healthcare trends: workforce, AI, care transformation
• 06:28 — Addressing the cardiologist shortage: multi-pronged strategy
• 08:28 — What excites Dr. Jones about the future
• 10:31 — Real-life example: imaging innovations & continuous care
• 12:25 — Growth strategy for the next 12 months

Conclusion

This episode offers practical, forward-looking insights into the state of U.S. cardiology. Dr. Jones highlights the urgency of addressing workforce shortages, the promise and responsibility inherent in AI adoption, and the necessity to redesign care delivery for efficiency and patient centricity. Concrete examples and genuine enthusiasm underscore his belief that, despite significant challenges, this is an unprecedented era of opportunity for heart care and U.S. healthcare at large.