Risk Never Sleeps Podcast

Episode #194: ER Visits, Burnout, and the Bot That Changes Everything

Host: Ed Gaudet
Guest: Dan Nardi, CEO of Reimagine Care
Release Date: January 29, 2026

Episode Overview

In this insightful episode, Ed Gaudet reconnects with Dan Nardi, CEO of Reimagine Care, to discuss the rapidly evolving landscape of AI-driven virtual cancer care. The conversation explores the adoption of technology in oncology, workforce burnout, and systemic challenges that prevent healthcare from moving faster. Dan offers candid insights on leadership, company culture, and personal fulfillment in startup life—all through the lens of enhancing patient safety and delivering better cancer care.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Transformation of Cancer Care and AI Adoption

• Industry Shifts (02:16, 02:40)

  • Significant growth in virtual cancer care platforms in 2025, with AI adoption moving from novelty to expectation.
  • Providers once hesitant are now revisiting AI-based solutions:

    "Prospects and providers that we had talked to even a couple of years ago... are now starting to come around and be like actually, remember that conversation, we should talk again." – Dan Nardi (02:40)

  • Heightened interest and scrutiny, as health systems set up AI governance and review boards.

• AI in Clinical Pathways (04:23, 05:41)

  • Reimagine Care's “Remy” AI focuses on intent recognition and guided pathways, ensuring clinical standards are maintained.
  • Anticipation of more autonomous AI lending richer, more context-aware patient interactions.

Patient Access, Burnout, and the Human Element

• Rising Demand and Burnout (10:36, 13:51)

  • Oncology faces a growing gap between patient demand and provider supply, aggravated by increasing cancer incidence and burnout.
  • Technology—particularly AI—is critical for bridging this divide and preventing system overload.

• Benefits of Virtual Care (10:36)

  • Notable reductions in ER visits and "pajama time" (after-hours burdens on providers).
  • High satisfaction among patients and clinicians.

Internal AI Adoption and Culture

• Teamwide Embrace of AI (07:38, 09:12)
  • Reimagine Care actively encourages internal AI use, with department-specific preferences for tools like Claude or ChatGPT.
  • Standardized policies and a volunteer committee promote safe and effective adoption.
  • Emphasis on demystifying AI to overcome fear:

    "We really try and strive to have a learning culture here too. So we never want anyone to feel bad that they don't know something or don't know how to use something." – Dan Nardi (09:12)

The Slow Pace of Healthcare Change

• Systemic Inertia and Pilots (13:51, 15:00)

  • Frustration with healthcare’s slow movement and resistance to scaling proven innovations:

    "What keeps me up at night is the speed at which healthcare in this country works. It is so stinking slow...We need to start to break some of that traditional shackles..." – Dan Nardi (13:51)

  • Organizations often insist on repeating pilots, even when efficacy is documented elsewhere.

• Change Management as the Key (16:19)

  • Change management recognized as the central challenge, not technology itself.

Memorable Quotes

• On AI Guiding but Not Delivering Care (05:41):

  "AI is still doing a lot of the lower level, easier stuff...but we're not actually using the AI right now to provide care, which we shouldn't be." – Dan Nardi

• On Team Culture in Remote Startups (17:18):

  "We don't maybe spend as much time on team and culture...We try to manufacture those [serendipitous] moments." – Dan Nardi

• On Work-Life Presence (23:28):

  "It's not about the hours you work, it's about how present you are in the hours you're working." – Dan Nardi

Notable Moments & Timestamps

• AI Becomes the Expected, Not Work in Progress (02:40)
• Remy’s Patient Impact: 10,000+ Supported, Quarter Million Interactions (04:36)
• AI’s Near Future: Richer Memory, Context, and Autonomy (05:41–07:17)
• Internal Team Education and Guardrails Around AI (07:38–09:12)
• The Oncology Workforce Crisis and Technology’s Role (10:36)
• Silent Risks: Systemic Inertia (13:51–15:30)
• Change Management is Bigger Than Tech (16:19)
• Manufacturing Culture in a Remote World (17:18–20:04)
• Leadership: Being Present and Setting Boundaries (23:28–25:34)
• Personal Routines: Triathlons, Crossword Puzzles, and Family Connection (25:42–27:57)
• Broader Commentary: High School Education, Healthcare Literacy, and Financial Skills (28:22–31:34)
• Why Return to Startups? Love of Building and Early Stage (34:06–36:35)
• Closing Encouragement: Keep Showing Up for Change (36:55–37:33)

Unscripted and Candid: Leadership and Team Building

Dan shares how Reimagine Care’s culture intentionally creates time for virtual coffee sessions (every Tuesday at 9 AM), fostering informal connection and inclusion—especially important in a fully remote environment (17:18–20:04). He emphasizes the unique value of invisible practices, like encouraging team members to call rather than slack when digital threads get too long, and to be present with family at home.

Final Takeaways

• Expect continued and deepening adoption of AI in healthcare, particularly oncology, out of necessity rather than trend.
• Overcoming inertia and managing change are primary barriers to innovation, not technology itself.
• Teams flourish when culture is intentionally designed—even more so in remote startups.
• True leadership and fulfillment comes from being present, knowing your stage in a company’s journey, and embracing recharge routines.

Outstanding Quote (Closing Thoughts, 36:55):

"The healthcare delivery landscape is changing so much underneath our feet. Sometimes it feels fast, but the vast majority of the time it feels slow. So don't get disenfranchised. Keep showing up, keep making a difference, because every one of you are making a difference...The snowball, especially in the AI space of healthcare, is it's gaining steam, it's starting to roll downhill and, and I'm excited for what the year ahead has ahead for us." – Dan Nardi

Listen to this episode for real-world wisdom, practical change management in health tech startups, and a hopeful look at technology’s role in making oncology care better for everyone.