Author: Craig Joseph, MD

We optimized the medical record for everything… except medicine

Bryan Vartabedian recently wrote a sharp piece naming something clinicians have felt for years but rarely articulate clearly: much of what lives in the medical record looks professional, sounds plausible, and contributes very little to patient care. He called it medical slop. The term fits. Slop isn’t new. What’s new is the speed, scale, and […]

Designing for Health: Interview with Michael Hallsworth, PHD and Meredith Jones [Podcast]

In this episode Michael Hallsworth discusses the ideas behind his recent book, The Hypocrisy Trap, and explains why hypocrisy might not be as straightforward, or as bad as, we think. Meredith Jones shares practical tools rooted in behavioral science that help clinicians and public health professionals have more constructive conversations with patients. On today’s episode […]

Designing for Health: Interview with Becket Mahnke, MD [Podcast]

This episode examines how clinician well-being, patient communication, and digital workflows intersect inside modern healthcare organizations. Through Dr. Becket Mahnke’s experience as a pediatric cardiologist and Chief Medical Information Officer, the conversation highlights why reducing cognitive burden and redesigning care teams requires far more than technology fixes. They explore how expectation-setting, team-based workflows, and data-driven […]

Beyond burnout scores: The hidden risk in clinician engagement surveys

Every year, health system leaders review clinician engagement and burnout survey results with a familiar mix of hope and resignation. The numbers are rarely great, but they’re often “not terrible,” which can feel like a small win in an environment defined by constant pressure. A few slides later, leadership moves on, comforted by the sense […]

Designing for Health: Interview with Lisa Kilgore [Podcast]

This episode explores the complex ecosystem that underpins modern healthcare technology. From connected medical devices to the infrastructure, workflows, and security practices required to support them. They examine why clinical tools can no longer be understood as standalone products, but as tightly integrated components of a broader system that must function reliably to protect patient safety.

We measure everything in healthcare… except what matters

In a recent article in BMJ Digital Health & AI, Graham Walker, MD makes an appeal that feels obvious only in hindsight: before we can seriously talk about “what good looks like” in healthcare, we need more context. Not better slogans. Not more dashboards. Context. The kind of context that captures nuance, environment, and the […]

Designing for Health: Interview with Anita Vanka, MD and Robert Stern, MD [Podcast]

Medical documentation has evolved significantly from its traditional role as a tool for clinical communication and billing. Today, patients’ access to their own medical records enabled by initiatives like OpenNotes and federal mandates has transformed documentation into a shared space between clinicians and patients. This shift emphasizes transparency, trust, and partnership, requiring healthcare professionals to […]

Designing for Health: Interview with Steve Peltzman and Tim Woodward [Podcast]

Modern healthcare systems face increasing pressure to deliver exceptional patient experiences while managing operational efficiency. Traditional feedback mechanisms, such as post-visit surveys, often fail to capture real-time concerns and actionable insights. This gap has led to the exploration of innovative solutions that prioritize immediacy and simplicity, enabling healthcare providers to respond to patient needs as […]

If you want AI to think like a clinician, show it what clinicians see

When Mitesh Patel, MD, argued that self-driving cars didn’t truly accelerate (pun intended) until Tesla began feeding its algorithms massive volumes of real-world video, he wasn’t just offering a clever analogy; he was diagnosing healthcare’s AI problem. Dr. Patel’s central point is that transformative AI doesn’t emerge from better slogans or shinier interfaces; it emerges […]

Designing for Health: Aditi U Joshi, MD [Podcast]

Telemedicine has evolved from a niche concept into a cornerstone of modern healthcare delivery, overcoming early barriers such as regulatory constraints, reimbursement challenges, and cultural resistance. Initially perceived as complex, its technological foundation has always been relatively simple connecting two parties virtually. Today, virtual care is recognized for its ability to improve access, efficiency, and […]