Episode Description
In this episode of the Health System CXO podcast, Robin Brand interviews Nick Bartz, co-founder and CEO of Kairon Health. This conversation covers the importance of understanding the operational realities of healthcare, the role of technology in facilitating change, and the challenges of implementing value-based care.
Key Takeaways
Change Management Is the Bottleneck: Healthcare transformation stalls not from lack of data, but from a lack of tools that drive behavior change among frontline staff.
AI That Listens, Not Leads: Large language models are most effective when parsing qualitative feedback—not generating strategy—helping identify friction points and next steps.
Annual Wellness Visits Expose Real Barriers: Financial concerns, not clinical resistance, often stall AWVs. Kairon helps uncover and address these blockers directly.
Care Management as a Growth Area: LLM-powered insight extraction from patient conversations could streamline overburdened care managers’ workflows.
Start Small with Risk: Health systems should begin with their most engaged PCPs before expanding risk arrangements—broad participation too early dilutes impact.
Persistent Payer-Provider Disconnect: MA payers want stars and risk coding; providers excel at care delivery. Aligning these strengths remains a work in progress.
The full transcript of our conversation is also available to read. Show the Transcript.

About Our Host
Robin Brand Vice President Industry Insights
This conversation covers the importance of understanding the operational realities of healthcare, the role of technology in facilitating change, and the challenges of implementing value-based care.