Downtime Procedures
Downtime Procedures is the podcast where healthcare innovation meets human ingenuity. Hosted by Rich G. Kenny, Chief Clinical Officer at Veritas Labs, and Dr. Dan Weberg, a healthcare leader with expertise in innovation and transformation, this show dives into the real stories behind healthcare’s operational challenges.
Each week features candid conversations with executives, frontline leaders, and innovators tackling everything from workforce transformation to crisis management. Hear how system failures turn into opportunities for innovation, how leaders navigate complexity, and how healthcare can harmonize human touch with digital transformation.
Subscribe now to hear stories of resilience, leadership, and lessons learned when healthcare systems go manual.
Downtime Procedures
03 - A VISION FOR INNOVATION 🚀 Rich Kenny & Ruth Yomtoubian on Centralizing Innovation, Executive Buy-in, and Humility
In this episode of Downtime Procedures, host Rich G Kenny speaks with Ruth Yomtoubian, Chief Innovation Officer at VSP, about driving innovation in healthcare with a focus on artificial intelligence (AI). They explore how centralized approaches, futurist insights, and humility in execution can redefine the healthcare landscape.
Best Moments:
(01:26) Ruth's background in corporate innovation and experience at AT&T Foundry
(03:23) VSP's vertically integrated structure and health-focused approach
(04:32) Surprising insights about innovation in healthcare compared to other industries
(07:29) Developing futurist reports to elevate understanding of AI trends
(12:56) The importance of centralization in AI implementation and avoiding siloed approaches
(15:17) Creating a scoring matrix to understand what's valuable to the organization
(19:15) The concept of "functional stack" in implementing AI tools across different departments
(32:35) Leveraging fractional AI teams to access high-caliber talent on demand
(37:26) The importance of humility and continuous learning in approaching AI implementation
(38:29) Healthcare as a value-add industry and its potential for AI adoption
Guest Bio:
Ruth Yomtoubian is the Chief Innovation Officer at VSP, specializing in eye care benefits and innovation in healthcare. With a background in corporate innovation at AT&T Foundry, Ruth has been leading VSP's efforts to explore emerging trends, particularly in AI, and translating them into actionable strategies. Her expertise focuses on creating value through centralized innovation and leveraging talent for transformative initiatives.
