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The Chaos Whisperers of Healthcare

The Chaos Whisperers of Healthcare

By: Dr. Megan Carter DNP RN NEA-BC
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 Join Dr. Megan Carter and healthcare industry innovators who are leading the charge on healing the broken US healthcare system as Chaos Whisperers. Chaos Whisperers are clinicians and leaders who are done with burnout, overwhelm and interruptions that prevent them from focusing on what matters most. Dr. Carter and her guests share practical tips and tools to help you lead with impact. Whether it's simplifying a chaotic calendar, getting back more time in patient care or leveraging the latest in AI tech...every listener will walk away with tools and strategies they can use at work right away. Connect with Dr. Carter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-megan-carter-dnp-rn-nea-bc/ Economics Hygiene & Healthy Living Leadership Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • S1 EP9: AI Won’t Solve Chaos — But It Might Clear a Path

    S1 EP9: AI Won’t Solve Chaos — But It Might Clear a Path
    Jul 14 2025
    Summary In this episode of Chaos Whispers of Healthcare, Dr. Megan Carter interviews Rich Kenny, a nurse leader and AI expert, discussing the evolving landscape of AI in healthcare. Rich shares his experiences in leadership, the importance of relationships in chaotic situations, and how curiosity and frustration drove him towards innovation. The conversation delves into the significance of AI in healthcare, the challenges leaders face in keeping up with technology, and the ethical considerations surrounding AI deployment. Rich emphasizes the need for nurses to be involved in AI development and the potential benefits and threats AI poses to patient care. Takeaways Curiosity and frustration can drive innovation. Nurses must advocate for better tech integration. AI is already present in many healthcare tools. Clinician documentation burden is a key area for AI implementation. Greatest gift: AI can (and should) help alleviate non-essential task burden for all clinicians so they can get more direct care time with patients (research shows more direct care time leads to safer outcomes) Greatest threat: AI tools are capable of potentiating pre-existing bias in healthcare systems that can further harm marginalized communities (“digital redlining”) Nurses play a vital role in AI deployment success. Ethics and liability in AI are critical considerations, including “missed use” opportunities Chaos Whispering Practical Tips 1. AI literacy: speakers/workshops/virtual events (such as Rich Kenny) 2. Where to get reliable AI information. 3 P’s (Publications, People, Pilots): a. New England Journal of Medicine b. AONL (Leadership Innovation Technology Transformation) committee/resources c. Robbie Freeman (CNIO Mount Sinai): https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbie-freeman-rn/ d. Michael Carey (DUSON): https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-cary-98262375/ e. Micky Tripathi (Chief AI Implementation Officer Mayo Clinic ): https://www.linkedin.com/in/micky-tripathi/ f. Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS): https://www.himss.org/ g. Health systems with innovative AI pilots/adoptions: Kaiser Permanente, Intermountain Health, Mayo Clinic h. Health Management Academy (HMA): https://hmacademy.com/ 3. Key facts about AI every healthcare leader should know: a. AI is already here (sepsis/deterioration indices, CT scanners, etc) so it’s not about getting ready but more about embracing it and implementing it in an ethical way as it evolves b. There is significant industry focus on leveraging AI to relieve documentation burden on physicians through scribing, but it’s coming to nursing and will be complex c. Nurses are KEY to the adoption/implementation of AI tools. Always ensure a nurse and/or nurse leader is at the discussion table. d. Considering ethics and liability: not only is misuse of AI a focus but also missed use (as in, has the health organization missed an opportunity to leverage AI to improve outcomes) Connect with our Guest: You can find Rich Kenny on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richgkenny/ Connect with Dr. Carter: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-megan-carter-dnp-rn-nea-bc/ Company Website: https://www.mchealthcareconsultingllc.com Podcast official website: https://www.mchealthcareconsultingllc.com/cw-podcast Keywords healthcare leadership, AI in healthcare, nurse leadership, innovation, technology integration, chaos in healthcare, healthcare challenges, nursing informatics, healthcare technology, patient care
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    28 mins
  • S1 EP8: Toxic Leadership in Scrubs: Breaking the Silence in Healthcare

    S1 EP8: Toxic Leadership in Scrubs: Breaking the Silence in Healthcare
    Jul 7 2025
    Summary In this episode of Chaos Whispers of Healthcare, Dr. Megan Carter interviews Dr. Dan Weberg, an expert in healthcare innovation and toxic leadership. They discuss Dr. Weberg's journey into healthcare innovation, the challenges of toxic leadership in healthcare settings, and practical strategies for addressing these issues. The conversation emphasizes the importance of recognizing toxic behaviors, the impact of leadership on workplace culture, and the need for accountability in healthcare leadership. Takeaways Dr. Weberg's journey into healthcare innovation began in nursing school. Experiencing barriers can drive innovation and change. Toxic leadership creates a chaotic and unproductive work environment. Recognizing toxic behaviors is the first step to addressing them. Documentation of toxic behaviors is crucial for accountability. It's important to have conversations about toxic leadership. Leaving a toxic environment can be liberating and necessary. Healthcare leaders must hold themselves accountable for their actions. 78% of employees may quiet quit due to toxic leadership. Leadership should be treated with the same scrutiny as clinical quality issues. Chaos Whispering Practical Tips: 1. Understand the definition of what “toxic leadership” is (and what it is not)-See chapter in Leadership for Evidence Based Innovation 3rd Edition 2. Document (for yourself) the behaviors you are observing in your leader that are causing concern 3. If you feel safe to do so, meet with your leader and share your observations. Use evidence-based communication strategies (such as Crucial Accountability). a. An example would be “On these occasions, I have observed XYZ behavior. The impact on me has been that I feel (insert your feeling). Is that your intention?” b. If the conversation does not go well, consider including a third party such as HR or another leader for the next conversation. 4. Consider seeking your peers’ feedback on whether they are experiencing similar toxic behaviors from this leader. 5. If no attempts at resolution are resolved, or ifthere is no support structure in place, it may be time to consider a different work environment where you can feel safe and thrive. 6. Know that you are not alone and the impact of toxic leadership is clearly established in leadership literature. Connect with our guest: Dr. Dan Weberg LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drnursedan/ Instagram: @DrNurseDan Website: www.drnursedan.com Listeners get a 20% discount on the book mentioned in the podcast, “Leadership for Evidence Based Innovation 3rd Edition” by going to: https://drnursedan.com/publications Connect with Dr. Carter: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-megan-carter-dnp-rn-nea-bc/ Company Website: https://www.mchealthcareconsultingllc.com Podcast official website: https://www.mchealthcareconsultingllc.com/cw-podcast Keywords healthcare innovation, toxic leadership, healthcare leadership, nursing, healthcare system, leadership strategies, workplace culture, healthcare professionals, mental health, organizational behavior
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    19 mins
  • S1 EP7: What Comes After the Exit: Leading Without a Title

    S1 EP7: What Comes After the Exit: Leading Without a Title
    Jun 30 2025
    Summary In this episode of the Chaos Whisperers of Healthcare podcast, Dr. Megan Carter engages with Patches Seely, a seasoned healthcare leader, to explore the complexities of career transitions in the healthcare sector. They discuss the emotional turmoil associated with unexpected job changes, the importance of community support, and practical strategies for resilience. Patches shares her journey as a healthcare innovator, emphasizing the need for emotional intelligence in leadership and the value of maintaining connections throughout one's career. The conversation highlights the significance of laughter and joy in navigating the challenges of the healthcare industry. Takeaways Innovation is driven by cognitive curiosity and emotional understanding. Career transitions can evoke feelings of self-doubt, fear and shame (this is to be expected!). Building a supportive community is crucial during career changes. Reflecting on personal contributions can help regain confidence. Engaging with a network can lead to unexpected opportunities. Self-care and professional help are vital during stressful transitions. Maintaining connections can provide emotional support and guidance. Laughter and joy are essential for well-being in healthcare. Understanding the emotional impact of layoffs is important for resilience. Proactive networking can open doors for future opportunities. Chaos Whispering Practical Tips 1. Proactively build community throughout your career so that this group can be your support during a career pivot (whether expected or not). 2. Nurture your community connections on a regular basis, even if it’s a quick text/email/virtual chat. Be willing to offer support/help as often as you can. 3. In the first 30/60/90 days of a career transition, reach out to your community and ask them for their insight: “What do you believe are my performance strengths?” “What domains of knowledge do you believe I am an expert in?” 4. Lean on past sources of gratitude/acknowledgement to remind yourself of the impact you have made on others. 5. Acknowledge that you are in a high-stress phase of life and seeking professional support for your mental health is a best practice. 6. Recognize signs of spiraling (obsessive thoughts, inability to move past a moment in time) and lean fully into self-care and grace. Connect with our Guest: You can find Patches Seely on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patches-seely/ Connect with Dr. Carter: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-megan-carter-dnp-rn-nea-bc/ Company Website: https://www.mchealthcareconsultingllc.com Podcast official website: https://www.mchealthcareconsultingllc.com/cw-podcast Keywords healthcare, career transitions, innovation, resilience, emotional impact, community support, nursing leadership, healthcare technology, burnout, personal growth
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    31 mins
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