Leaders from across the healthcare and business communities came together March 20 in Louisville for the Kentucky Chamber’s 2nd Annual Healthcare Innovation Summit, presented by Consoliplex, to explore how innovation and new approaches to care are improving access to healthcare and strengthening Kentucky’s workforce.
The Technology Frontier: Utilizing AI, New Technology, and the Power of Partnerships to Enhance the Provider and Patient Experience
Artificial intelligence is starting to change how care is delivered across Kentucky, with leaders highlighting its ability to expand access and strengthen the state’s healthcare system.
Jon Adams of Microsoft, Christin Godale of LifeSciKY, Chelsea Ex-Lubeskie of the University of Kentucky College of Medicine and UK HealthCare, Dr. Tama Thé of UK HealthCare, and Landon Borders of UK Innovate discussed how partnerships among health systems, researchers, and technology and life sciences organizations are helping advance AI innovation in Kentucky.
Speakers pointed to growing use of AI to better connect patients to care, particularly in rural areas where access has long been limited. Dr. Thé framed that opportunity as a shift toward “healthcare without walls,” describing it as “a fundamental step change in the way that we practice medicine.”
The Future of Healthcare and the Business Community
Kentucky Chamber Board Chair Conrad Daniels of HJI Supply Chain Solutions and Chamber Board Member Purna Veer of V-Soft Consulting joined Kentucky Chamber President and CEO Ashli Watts to discuss how healthcare trends are affecting employers and their workforce.
Speakers said rising healthcare costs are shaping business decisions, as employers balance the cost of benefits with hiring and growth. These challenges are especially difficult for small and mid-sized businesses and are beginning to affect Kentucky’s economic competitiveness.
“Small to mid-sized businesses are the backbone of our economy, and they’re also getting hit the hardest,” Daniels said, highlighting how rising healthcare costs are placing a greater strain on smaller employers with fewer resources to absorb those increases.
They also discussed how employers are increasing their support for employees, including helping them better understand their benefits, improving access to services like mental health care, and encouraging greater use of preventive care.
The Role of Precision Medicine: What It Is, How It Works, and Why It Matters
Precision medicine is reshaping how care is delivered, with a growing focus on using patient-specific data to guide decisions. Jaime Grund of St. Elizabeth Healthcare, Dr. Curtis Koons of Bluegrass Precision Wellness, Dr. Richard Lozano of Pathology & Cytology Labs, Inc., and Dr. Stephen Behnke of Lexington Clinic shared how this approach is already being applied across the healthcare system.
Panelists explained that precision medicine uses genetics and patient data to guide care, helping identify risk earlier and deliver more targeted treatment across areas like cancer care and medication management. Advances in technology, including wearable devices and artificial intelligence, are expanding this approach, improving personalization of care while helping reduce health complications and cost over time for patients.
The Role of Hospitals in the Future of Healthcare
Kentucky Chamber leaders Garren Colvin of St. Elizabeth Healthcare, Matt Grimshaw of Saint Joseph Health, Dr. Gerard Colman of Baptist Health, and Beth Davisson of the Kentucky Chamber Foundation, discussed how hospital leaders are navigating change and positioning Kentucky’s healthcare system for the future.
Leaders highlighted how innovation—from telehealth to new care models—is expanding access and reshaping how systems serve their communities. The conversation also underscored Kentucky’s leadership in tackling shared challenges. The three health systems represented on the panel highlighted their collaboration to expand lung cancer screenings across the state, an effort that has helped identify cancer earlier and improve outcomes. Leaders pointed to this kind of alignment across organizations as a model for addressing other statewide health challenges.
Panelists also emphasized the need for a workforce equipped to adapt to new technologies, while noting broader challenges like housing availability and connecting talent to opportunities across the state.
AI Tools that Improve Healthcare for Both Clinicians and Patients
Dr. Audria Denker of Galen College of Nursing and the Kentucky Board of Nursing, Dr. Michael Newkirk of CenterWell Primary Care, Doug Owens of Signature Healthcare, Reta Underwood of Consultants for Long Term Care, and Jim Musser of the Kentucky Hospital Association discussed how AI is improving efficiency for administrative functions and supporting care delivery.
In clinical settings, tools that capture and organize notes are cutting time spent on documentation, while in education, AI is supporting student learning and workforce preparation. Panelists noted ongoing challenges around accuracy, data sharing, and regulation—especially in long-term care—and emphasized the importance of keeping a “human in the middle” to support, not replace, clinical decision-making.
Managing Chronic Disease in the Modern Workforce
Chronic health issues continue to impact workforce participation, productivity, and healthcare costs, driving a more connected approach to conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and kidney disease.
Dr. Anthony Bashall of Franciscan Physician Network Indiana Heart Physicians, Craig Beavers of Baptist Health Paducah, Brett Hayes of UofL Health, and Dr. Ben Mudd of the Kentucky Pharmacists Association discussed how this approach is shifting care toward prevention and better long-term outcomes.
Panelists highlighted opportunities to address weight-related health issues earlier, with newer treatments like GLP-1 medications improving outcomes when combined with lifestyle changes. They also emphasized the importance of ongoing support through movement, education, and guidance to help patients stay healthy and active.
From the Clinic to the Capitol: The Role of Government in the Future of Healthcare
Sen. Stephen Meredith, Rep. Robert Duvall, Rep. Kimberly Poore Moser, and Annie Santos of the Kentucky Chamber discussed legislative efforts this session focused on Medicaid sustainability, workforce development, and expanding access to care, particularly in rural communities, as rising costs and workforce shortages continue to pressure Kentucky’s healthcare system.
Lawmakers highlighted proposals to improve care delivery and reduce administrative costs, while maintaining stability in Kentucky’s Medicaid program.
They also stressed the need to grow the healthcare workforce through better data, recruitment and retention, and new pathways into the profession, including Senate Bill 137, which would create licensure options and provisional pathways for internationally trained practitioners. They also emphasized the need to expand access through telehealth and stronger primary care systems.
Innovation in Rural Health: Creating Care Anywhere
Danielle Harmon of Appalachian Regional Healthcare, Donald H. Lloyd II of UK St. Claire, Trudi Matthews of UK HealthCare, David Melanson of the University of Kentucky, Larry Rector of River Valley Health and Rector Business Solutions, and Erin Shea of UK Innovate highlighted success stories happening across Kentucky—from community health workers to regional collaborations—that are expanding access, lowering costs, and connecting patients to care earlier, particularly in rural areas.
Speakers emphasized stronger coordination across healthcare, education, and community partners to better connect patients to care. They also highlighted prevention as a key strategy, along with addressing barriers like transportation, to improve access and build healthier communities over time.