602 - AI and Clinical Coding in Action: Improving Patient Outcomes with Insights from HIMSS26
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In this episode of Talking HealthTech, host Peter Birch sits down with Troy Kennedy, VP of Client Partner Technology at Solventum, to explore the transformative role of AI in clinical coding and healthcare outcomes. Kennedy, with over 30 years in healthcare technology, traces the evolution of clinical coding from early computer-driven systems to today’s AI-powered solutions, emphasizing that coding is the 'digital language of health'—a critical layer for measuring care quality, risk, and outcomes. He explains how tools like Solventum’s 360 and Compass integrate computer-assisted coding, clinical documentation improvement (CDI), and quality management to enable hospitals to make data-driven decisions, reduce administrative burden, and improve patient care. The discussion highlights how AI is not replacing coders but repurposing them for higher-value clinical and strategic work, especially in Australia where CDI adoption is growing amid unique funding models. Kennedy stresses the importance of choosing experienced AI partners with strong governance, regulatory compliance, and a balanced approach to technology—avoiding the AI hype while leveraging the right tools at scale. Key takeaways include: AI should be viewed as a tool to augment, not replace, clinical expertise; accurate documentation is foundational to meaningful health data; CDI and AI together enable proactive care improvement; and successful AI implementation requires deep domain knowledge, regulatory awareness, and a strategic, phased approach. The episode underscores that while Australia’s healthcare system has distinct characteristics, it can learn from U.S. experiences in cloud and AI adoption—especially in building trust through compliance and transparency. Ultimately, the goal is to use AI to free clinicians from repetitive tasks and empower them to focus on patient-centered decision-making.
Clinical coding is the 'digital language of health' that enables fair comparison of patient outcomes and care quality across systems.
AI in healthcare should be used to augment human expertise—not replace it—by automating repetitive tasks and freeing clinicians for higher-value work.
Successful AI implementation requires experienced partners with strong governance, regulatory compliance, and a deep understanding of clinical workflows.
Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI) is essential for accurate data, especially in systems where funding is tied to care quality and patient outcomes.
Australia can leverage U.S. lessons in cloud and AI adoption by prioritizing security, compliance, and stakeholder trust.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Introduction and Newsletter Invite
Peter Birch introduces the episode and invites listeners to join the Talking HealthTech newsletter for weekly updates on health tech news, events, and jobs.
Introducing Troy Kennedy and Solventum's Mission
Troy Kennedy shares his 30-year journey in healthcare tech, his transition from IT to meaningful health innovation, and his role at Solventum, formerly part of 3M Healthcare, focused on reimagining clinical coding for better outcomes.
The Digital Language of Health: Understanding Clinical Coding
“One of the best ways to describe what coding is, is it's the digital language of health. We create methodologies and approaches to measure how health is applied.”
The Evolution of AI in Clinical Coding
“You can't do one without the other. And we also have to think about the fact that in medicine, it's the combination of art and science.”
CDI, Funding Models, and the Australian Context
“The documentation has to be accurate so that therefore those measurements are accurate.”
“You wouldn't hire a contractor that's never really used the tools to frame and build a house. So you want someone that actually knows how to use the tools of AI.”
“You can't do one without the other. And we also have to think about the fact that in medicine, it's the combination of art and science.”
“The first thing I would do is really choose a partner in your AI journey that understands the problem that you're trying to solve.”
Host
Guest
Troy Kennedy
person
Solventum
organization
Australia
place
HIMSS
organization
United States
place
360 and Compass
product
3M Healthcare
organization
Cloud Computing
other
AHIMA
organization
GPDR
other
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