Chris Hutchins on Using AI to Humanize Healthcare | The Executive Outlook

In this special edition of The Executive Outlook, we had the privilege of speaking with Chris Hutchins, a healthcare data and AI advisor with over 20 years of experience transforming healthcare through data and technology. What makes Chris’s story truly inspiring is his unique ability to blend deep compassion for people with the power of advanced technology.

From Basement to Breakthroughs

Chris's journey into healthcare technology started long before he became a well-known advisor. As a young boy, he spent weekends in the basement of a hospital where his mother worked, surrounded by stacks of X-ray films. This early exposure to the hospital environment left a lasting impression on him, especially the way doctors, despite their demanding work, showed immense care and focus on each patient.

Years later, Chris found his calling in using data and technology to support healthcare workers. His goal was always to help caregivers provide the best possible care, even if he wasn’t directly involved in patient care.

Leading Change During the Pandemic

Fast forward to 2020, and Chris found himself at the center of New York’s largest healthcare system during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The hospitals were overwhelmed, and every minute mattered. However, Chris and his team had already developed the Currently Admitted Patient Index, a tool that helped track patient data in real time across 21 hospitals. This tool became a crucial asset during the pandemic, helping healthcare leaders manage resources effectively, plan for future needs, and ensure patients received the care they needed.

Chris’s philosophy was clear: "Data only becomes meaningful when it brings people together to act." The tool became a lifeline for those at the forefront of the pandemic, enabling hospitals to respond swiftly and efficiently during the crisis.

Human-Centered Technology

One of Chris Hutchins core beliefs is that technology should never overshadow the human aspect of healthcare. Data and AI, for him, are tools designed to empower healthcare professionals, not replace them. By listening to the needs of doctors, nurses, and other caregivers, Chris believes data can provide real, actionable solutions.

For instance, he advocates for ambient listening AI tools that can transcribe doctor-patient conversations, saving doctors valuable time on administrative tasks and allowing them to focus more on patient care. This form of AI, in particular, stands out for its potential to improve communication between patients and doctors and ensure critical information is documented more efficiently.

AI for Better Healthcare

Chris envisions AI playing a transformative role in healthcare, from improving medical imaging to automating rule-based tasks like billing and insurance claims. But he’s also cautious. He warns that bias can creep into AI if it’s built on incomplete data or without diverse input. “We need to listen more than we build,” he says, emphasizing the importance of understanding the people who will use these technologies.

For Chris, AI isn’t just about efficiency. It’s about ensuring that technological advancements align with the realities of healthcare workers’ challenges and the needs of patients.

The Human Side of Technology

Beyond his professional work, Chris’s personal experiences during the pandemic reinforce his belief in the importance of human connection. Like many others, he faced isolation during lockdown. This reinforced his view that technology should be used to bring people closer, not push them apart.

Chris also shared an interesting example of how AI tools like ChatGPT helped him in his own work. By uploading over a decade of his articles and presentations, Chris found new connections and insights from his past work, which improved his current projects. For Chris, AI is about working smarter, not replacing humans.

Chris Hutchins: A Leader in Human-Centered Data

Chris Hutchins is more than just a data expert—he’s a leader who believes in the power of technology to improve people’s lives. His story is a reminder that data isn’t just about numbers; it’s about helping people and making a real impact on their lives. Through his work, Chris has shown that even the most advanced technology can be humanized when developed with empathy and an understanding of real-world challenges.

To hear more from Chris, check out his podcast episode on Spotify: Listen to the Podcast.

Want to explore more about Chris’s insights and work? Read more here.