Episode 3 – Michelle Hager – Building Sustainable Rural Health Strategies, Fast (Part 2)

Episode 5 - RHTP Planning for Compliance and Success with Christian Milaster

In this episode of Healthcare Rewired, Mark Noble sits down with Christian Milaster, Founder and CEO of Ingenium Digital Health Advisors, to unpack what it really takes for rural hospitals and health systems to succeed under the Rural Health Transformation Program. As states move rapidly from funding awards to implementation and CMS accountability, many organizations face tight timelines, unclear expectations, and pressure to demonstrate measurable outcomes. Christian shares practical guidance on how leaders can position their organizations for success by aligning initiatives with community needs, designing programs with sustainability in mind, and building the internal capabilities required to launch new services, not just operate existing ones. The conversation explores why change management, clinician engagement, and thoughtful workflow design are just as critical as technology itself, and introduces a simple framework for verifying the strategic, financial, and clinical value of new programs so outcomes can be measured from day one.  Together, Mark and Christian explore: * Why CMS reporting timelines feel compressed and how organizations should realistically interpret early progress expectations. * How rural providers can align their strategic plans with state RHTP priorities to strengthen applications and impact. * The difference between operating services and launching new ones and why many implementations fail without the right internal capabilities. * The biggest barriers to innovation adoption, including clinician change resistance, workflow design, and integration challenges. * A simple verification framework for ensuring new programs demonstrate strategic value, financial sustainability, and clinical relevance. * Why clinician engagement and change management often determine success more than the technology itself. Tune in for an actionable conversation on how rural healthcare leaders can move beyond compliance to build lasting, sustainable programs that expand access and improve outcomes for their communities.

Episode 4 - Dr. Roy Schoenberg - The Caregiver Shortage Emergency: Can AI Help Our Aging Population?

Host Mark Noble is joined by Dr. Roy Schoenberg, Founder and CEO of Aileen and former CEO of Amwell, for a timely look at the growing crisis in elder care and the role AI can play in addressing it. Roy discusses why caregiver shortages are reaching unsustainable levels, why traditional age-tech hasn’t delivered meaningful change, and how an AI companion focused on connection, not clinical tasks, may offer a new path forward. He also shares his perspective on responsible AI use for vulnerable populations and how solutions like Aileen could support both professional caregivers and families. Together, Mark and Roy explore: * Why the elder-care crisis is accelerating, and what’s driving caregivers into the “red zone.” * How AI companions differ from traditional digital health tools and why relationships, not reminders, may be the unlock. * What responsible use of AI looks like for vulnerable populations, especially amid a lack of clear regulation. * How home-care and senior-living organizations may be the critical entry point for AI-supported companionship. * The distinction between AI that improves efficiency and AI that reshapes care models and why that matters for rural health transformation. * Why future-proofing AI strategies means staying agile, not locking innovation into fixed models. Tune in for a thoughtful, hopeful, and urgent conversation about the future of elder care, the role AI can play, and why this moment calls for bold, human-centered innovation.

Episode 3 – Michelle Hager – Building Sustainable Rural Health Strategies, Fast (Part 2)

In Part 2 of our Rural Health Transformation series, host Mark Noble sits down with Michelle Hager, Managing Partner at Blue Cirrus Consulting and one of Becker’s Top Women in Health IT to Know, to unpack what it takes to build sustainable, data-driven rural health strategies under tight deadlines. With $50 billion in new federal funding and only months for states to submit plans, Michelle offers practical insights into how leaders can balance centralization vs. regional models, apply lessons from broadband expansion, and design technology frameworks that ensure long-term success beyond one-time funding.

Episode 2 - Dr. Saurabh Chandra - Turning Rural Health Funding into Sustainable Change

In this episode of Healthcare Rewired, host Mark Noble sits down with Dr. Saurabh Chandra, Chief Telehealth Officer at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, one of the first federally designated Centers of Excellence for Telehealth in the United States. Together, they explore the real-world challenges facing rural healthcare: provider shortages, chronic disease burdens, and the growing risk of hospital closures. As states prepare their plans for the Rural Health Transformation Program, Dr. Chandra shares a clear call to action: act fast, act smart, and design with sustainability in mind. From remote patient monitoring to multi-specialty telehealth networks, Dr. Chandra outlines how states can use technology and data to build programs that endure beyond five years of funding. His roadmap is simple: start with proven solutions, scale what works, and collect the data that will prove long-term value. This is a conversation about urgency, opportunity, and the responsibility to turn historic funding into measurable impact for rural America.

Episode 1 - Dr. Karen Rheuban - Pioneering Telemedicine at UVA

Meet Dr. Karen Rheuban, a trailblazer in telemedicine and the driving force behind the University of Virginia's Center for Telehealth. In this episode, Dr. Rheuban shares her journey from a practicing pediatric cardiologist to a leader in digital health innovation. Discover how she overcame early challenges, engaged with policymakers, and transformed healthcare access for rural communities. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to understand how to shift the paradigm in healthcare. Tune in to learn from Dr. Rheuban's invaluable insights and experiences.