In this episode of Hospitals in Focus, host Chip Kahn explores the digital renaissance revolutionizing health care—a golden age of pioneering technologies not seen since the 1960s, when computers first standardized medical records and diagnostics. Today, with nearly everything digitized, organizations are actively discussing the regulatory and ethical frameworks necessary to navigate these advancements, while protecting against the increasing prevalence of cyber threats.

The future of health care looks promising thanks to new innovations, but thoughtful implementation is crucial, and Ardent Health is leading the way forward.

Joining Chip on the episode is Anika Gardenhire, Ardent Health’s inaugural Chief Digital and Information Officer, to explore how Ardent is thoughtfully embracing digital innovation with reason and purpose.

In this episode, Chip and Anika discuss:

• Conceptual Frameworks for Digital Transformation: The importance of leveraging data to drive innovation and improve patient outcomes.
• Use Cases at Ardent Health: Examples where Ardent Health is implementing digital solutions to enhance operational efficiency and patient care.
• Cybersecurity and Protecting Patient Information: Strategies for safeguarding patient data against cyberattacks in an increasingly digital landscape.

Guest Bio:

As chief digital information officer, Ms. Gardenhire oversees the development and implementation of Ardent's digital strategy across the organization. She is responsible for ensuring digital initiatives are fully integrated into Ardent's strategic plan with a focus on leveraging data to support digital transformation. Ms. Gardenhire also oversees Ardent’s IT infrastructure and systems, as well as data strategy and governance.

An experienced caregiver and clinical informatics leader, Ms. Gardenhire joined Ardent in September of 2023, and has previously served as chief digital officer and regional vice president of digital and clinical systems at Centene Corporation. She also held various roles at Intermountain Healthcare, including assistant vice president of digital transformation. Ms. Gardenhire holds a bachelor of science in nursing from the University of South Carolina’s Mary Black School of Nursing and master’s degrees in clinical informatics and management from Duke University.