Becker’s Healthcare Podcast Episode Summary Episode: Vi-Anne Antrum, System Chief Nursing Officer, Cone Health
Release Date: June 20, 2025

Introduction

In the June 20, 2025 episode of Becker’s Healthcare Podcast, host Vayanne Antrim engages in an insightful conversation with Diana Antrim, the System Chief Nursing Officer at Cone Health. Recording live at the 15th annual meeting, the episode delves into Cone Health’s strategic initiatives, leadership philosophies, and the technological advancements shaping the future of healthcare.

Guest Profile: Diana Antrim

Diana Antrim serves as the System Chief Nursing Officer for Cone Health, an integrated healthcare delivery system based in Greensboro, North Carolina. Cone Health encompasses five hospitals, approximately 160 ambulatory sites, the Triad Healthcare Network accountable care organization, and the Health Team Advantage payer product. In December, Cone Health became part of Risent Health alongside Geisinger, marking a significant expansion in their healthcare network. As Diana states, “I am the system Chief Nursing Officer for Cone Health located in Greensboro, North Carolina, where an integrated healthcare delivery system with five hospitals, about 160 ambulatory sites...” (00:44).

Innovative Initiatives: Leveraging AI for Patient Engagement

One of the standout initiatives discussed by Diana is Cone Health’s integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance patient engagement, particularly for those with chronic conditions. Over the past year, Cone Health partnered with Lirio to develop a hypertension module aimed at reaching underserved patients battling high blood pressure. This program successfully outreached to approximately 3,000 patients, with a remarkable 58% of them scheduling and attending primary care appointments. Diana highlights the success of this initiative, noting, “...we’ve outreached to about 3,000 patients and 58% of those patients have gone on to make primary care appointments” (01:37).

Navigating Industry Challenges: Financial Pressures and Uncertainty

When addressing the most significant challenges facing the healthcare industry, Diana identifies financial pressures exacerbated by an uncertain political and regulatory landscape as paramount. Cone Health is proactively strategizing to ensure resilience amidst potential financial fluctuations. “I think financial pressures are the biggest thing facing us right now, particularly in an uncertain political landscape and regulatory environment,” Diana explains (02:41). The organization is focused on implementing measures that will sustain exceptional patient care regardless of external economic shifts.

Leadership Insights: Emphasizing Grace and Curiosity

Diana shares a profound leadership lesson that has been instrumental in navigating the complexities of the healthcare environment: the importance of balancing grace with curiosity. She emphasizes the need to actively listen and understand frontline staff’s experiences rather than making assumptions. “The biggest lesson... is to really bias toward grace and really be curious with people seeking to understand versus assuming what’s happening,” Diana asserts (03:25). This approach fosters a supportive and communicative workplace, essential for effective healthcare delivery.

Technological Transformations: AI Enhancing Healthcare Operations

The conversation shifts to the transformative role of technology in healthcare, with a particular focus on AI applications at Cone Health. Diana outlines several key areas where AI is driving efficiency and improving operations:

• Revenue Cycle Management: AI has significantly reduced the time spent on writing denial letters from an average of 22 minutes to just 5 minutes, allowing revenue cycle team members to focus on higher-impact tasks. “Our revenue cycle team members went from spending about 22 minutes on average writing a denial letter to now 5 minutes reviewing a written denial letter from AI,” she notes (04:18).

• Ambulance Services: AI assists non-clinical dispatchers in prioritizing patient transports, enhancing response times and resource allocation. Diana remarks, “In our ambulance service, we worked with AI to help prioritize transports for our dispatchers... and we’ve really seen some great wins from that” (04:18).

• Digital Healthcare Tools: The implementation of Copilot in leadership teams has streamlined meeting processes by capturing notes, assigning key takeaways, and centralizing information. This tool has enabled leaders to dedicate more time to actionable tasks rather than administrative note-taking. “Everything’s kind of housed in one place so we’re really starting to see some wins across the board from AI,” Diana adds (04:18).

These technological advancements underscore Cone Health’s commitment to integrating innovative solutions to enhance operational efficiency and patient care.

Conclusion

Diana Antrim’s insights on the Becker’s Healthcare Podcast highlight Cone Health’s proactive strategies in embracing AI, addressing financial challenges, and fostering empathetic leadership. Her emphasis on leveraging technology to improve healthcare delivery and operational efficiency positions Cone Health as a forward-thinking leader in the healthcare industry. The episode concludes with Diana expressing gratitude for the opportunity to share Cone Health’s initiatives and vision.

Notable Quotes:

• “I think financial pressures are the biggest thing facing us right now, particularly in an uncertain political landscape and regulatory environment.” — Diana Antrim (02:41)
• “The biggest lesson... is to really bias toward grace and really be curious with people seeking to understand versus assuming what’s happening.” — Diana Antrim (03:25)
• “Our revenue cycle team members went from spending about 22 minutes on average writing a denial letter to now 5 minutes reviewing a written denial letter from AI.” — Diana Antrim (04:18)

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights shared by Diana Antrim on the Becker’s Healthcare Podcast, providing valuable takeaways for listeners interested in the evolving landscape of healthcare leadership and technology.