AI and Healthcare

What is the biggest challenge in data normalization? - with Mika Newton

Data normalization in healthcare isn't just complex – it's mission critical. When a simple lab result like hemoglobin A1C can be recorded under half a dozen different names, clinicians face real obstacles in tracking trends, managing care, and making timely decisions. Mika Newton, CEO of xCures, and Rajiv Haravu, SVP of Product Management at IMO Health, break down why non-standardized data jeopardizes care quality, public health insights, and patient safety. From mismatched lab terms to inconsistent clinical narratives, they explore how definition decay and evolving medical language complicate interoperability and downstream data uses. Learn the frameworks and methodologies IMO Health uses to combat variability – leveraging clinical terminologists, curated content releases, and continuous surveillance of healthcare terminology. Discover how structured and narrative data normalization impacts providers, IT leaders, and healthcare operations.

The Fight to Clean Up Healthcare Data - with Mika Newton [FULL PODCAST]

Healthcare data is messy, inconsistent, and buried in narrative. AI sounds like the solution. Until it isn’t. In this episode of AI and Healthcare, xCures CEO Mika Newton speaks with Rajiv Haravu, SVP of Product Management at IMO Health, to dissect the real-world challenges of data normalization. From inconsistent documentation of basic lab tests to extracting insights from billions of unstructured notes, Rajiv explains why AI alone falls short - and how precision tools, editorial standards, and clinically-informed design can bridge the gap.

What real pain points in healthcare can AI help with? - with Dr. Sanjay Juneja

Emergency rooms are overwhelmed, not just by medical crises, but by the fallout of systemic failures. A growing number of patients are showing up with issues rooted in poverty, housing instability, and food insecurity. AI is helping change that. By connecting underserved patients to billions in unclaimed public benefits, new tools are offering a path to preventative care that begins outside the hospital walls. Dr. Alister Martin explains how AI is being used to bridge the gap between policy and care, reduce avoidable ER visits, and ease pressure on a healthcare system that spends billions treating conditions that could be prevented. When patients get access to the support they already qualify for, outcomes improve - and so does the bottom line.

Should proficiency in AI be considered in medical school applications?—with Dr. Sanjay Juneja

As AI becomes a core part of modern medicine, the way we train future doctors may be due for a serious rethink. Empathy and adaptability, not just chemistry and memorization, could define what makes a good physician in the age of augmented intelligence. With language models becoming standard tools for both patients and providers, skills like prompting, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence may soon matter more than traditional academic benchmarks.

How can wearables warn you before a stroke?—with Dr. Sanjay Juneja

What started with a rabbit heart in a physiology lab led to a career focused on preventing strokes through early detection of atrial fibrillation. A Stanford cardiologist shares how that moment sparked a lifelong interest in cardiac rhythms and how today’s wearables can now detect AFib through simple, continuous monitoring, long before symptoms appear. This shift from reactive care to early detection marks a major step forward in heart health, powered by straightforward algorithms and a growing role for AI in predicting cardiovascular risk.

Why Waiting for a Heart Attack Is Outdated—with Dr. Sanjay Juneja [Full Podcast]

What if your smartwatch could detect a heart condition before you ever felt a symptom? Stanford cardiologist Dr. Euan Ashley reveals how AI and wearables are quietly reshaping the future of healthcare, from spotting silent strokes to redefining what “normal” health looks like. Why do we service our cars and inspect bridges, but wait for our bodies to break down before acting? That question sets the stage for a deep dive into proactive medicine, where tools like the Apple Watch are already catching atrial fibrillation early, and continuous health monitoring could alert us to problems years in advance. Beyond the wrist, AI is transforming everything from clinical documentation to access to specialist care. But big questions remain: Can algorithms be truly equitable? Will personalized prevention ever reach everyone? From ambient AI scribes to the end of “one-size-fits-all” medicine, this is a glimpse into healthcare’s next chapter, where your heart might be talking long before you notice.

How good or bad is healthcare data?—with Mika Newton

AI is only as good as the data behind it, and in healthcare, that data is often messy, outdated, and biased. As systems create digital versions of patients, known as twins, the risks increase when data deteriorates or is used without informed consent. Understanding how data breaks down over time, how it's mislabeled or misused, and why clean, well-governed data matters is essential to creating safer, smarter tools that actually work for people, not against them.

Who Owns Your Health Data?—with Mika Newton

Health data is deeply personal, yet it rarely belongs to the individual. Hospitals, labs, tech platforms, and researchers hold the information that defines our health, often without clear consent or transparency. As data grows more valuable, the people it comes from are often excluded from its benefits. Shifting ownership, improving access, and creating real control are essential steps toward giving individuals the power they deserve over their own health information.