Shiv Rao: Enabling Better Patient Care with AI

In episode 81 of The Gradient Podcast, Daniel Bashir speaks to Shiv Rao.Shiv Rao, MD is the co-founder and CEO of Abridge, a healthcare conversation company that uses cutting-edge NLP and generative AI to bring context and understanding to every medical conversation. Shiv previously served as an Executive Vice President at UPMC Enterprises, managing the provider-facing portfolio of technology investments and R&D. He is a practicing cardiologist in UPMC's Heart and Vascular Institute.Have suggestions for future podcast guests (or other feedback)? Let us know here or reach us at [email protected] to The Gradient Podcast:  Apple Podcasts  | Spotify | Pocket Casts | RSSFollow The Gradient on TwitterOutline:* (00:00) Intro* (01:34) Shiv’s medicine/technology/VC background* (05:45) Difficulties for tech in healthcare and how this informs Shiv’s approach* (10:52) “Productivity with a smile” and how AI can make medicine feel more human* (12:35) Shiv’s experiences in medicine and how Abridge’s product helps doctors* (16:10) How the role of a clinical team could evolve* (19:30) Abridge’s partnerships and real-life use cases* (23:00) Shiv’s perspectives on concerns about bias/trust/privacy* (25:25) Clinical decision support vs “automating doctors”* (29:07) Transparency and Abridge’s user experience* (35:20) Algorithmic solutionism vs human-focused approaches to technology development * (38:50) Ways AI might impact healthcare* (41:10) Generative AI applications* (45:00) Generative AI opportunities beyond documentation* (49:25) Innovation and reducing friction, UX* (50:56) Why people make wild predictions about AI* (54:25) What it means to “automate away” a doctor, how we’re misusing the medical workforce* (56:10) Shiv’s advice for people interested in AI + healthcare* (1:00:04) OutroLinks:* Abridge Homepage Get full access to The Gradient at thegradientpub.substack.com/subscribe