Will AI replace nurses? In this episode of Tech It to the Limit, Elliott welcomes back nursing innovation guru Bonnie Clipper to tackle the question she gets asked on LinkedIn more than almost any other: will AI replace nurses? Bonnie makes the case that most AI tools on the market today were built for physician workflows, not nursing ones, and that nursing's "last mile" role in healthcare, the hands on, emotional, human work, is exactly what keeps it furthest from automation. They dig into trust data from recent studies on clinician AI adoption, why nurses currently report lower AI literacy and trust than physicians, and what it would actually look like for AI to clear the noise out of a nurse's shift instead of adding to it. The segment wraps with a lightning round game, Nurse GPT or Portugese, mixing nursing AI trivia with questions about Bonnie's future expat life.

Then, recorded live at ViVE, Elliott sits down with Kirk Barnes, a digital health commercialization strategy expert whose career spans pharma, biotech, venture capital, economic development, and startup incubation at Georgia Tech's ATDC. Kirk shares the networking philosophy that's carried him through layoffs, startup shutdowns, and career pivots: real networking is about giving before you need anything in return. The conversation turns to one of the most expensive and common mistakes digital health founders make: hiring salespeople without understanding sales as its own discipline. Kirk unpacks his "suspect vs. prospect" framework, why sales is really about monetizing problem solving rather than convincing someone of something, and previews the launch of his new venture, the Digital Health Sales Institute.

Tune in to hear why both nursing's future and digital health sales success come down to the same idea: trust has to be earned, and earned early, before you ever need to cash it in.

In this episode:

• [00:00] Podcast welcome
• [00:53] Meet Bonnie Clipper
• [02:25] Will AI replace nurses?
• [03:27] Why nursing workflows matter
• [06:35] The last mile of nursing
• [11:12] Building trust and AI literacy
• [16:13] The Nurse GPT game
• [23:54] Hokey Pokey ad break
• [25:48] Meet Kirk Barnes
• [26:56] Dad joke icebreaker
• [27:34] Kirk's career origin
• [29:10] Recession and startups
• [30:02] Networking before you need it
• [31:16] Building a healthtech program
• [34:38] Sales hiring pitfalls
• [38:02] Monetizing problem-solving
• [40:15] Launching the Sales Institute
• [43:05] Wise Nugs recap
• [47:40] Final wrap and credits

Resources:

Tech It To The Limit Podcast

• Website
• Apple Podcast
  

Bonnie Clipper

• LinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnieclipper
  

Kirk Barnes

• LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirkbarnes/
• Digital Health Sales Institute: https://digitalhealthsalesinstitute.com/

Elliott Wilson

• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewelliottwilson
  

Is that poop or chocolate? Are you wearing underwear? My kid just dropped the F bomb in public…The list of parenting pain points is endless, and health tech can help solve for them! Tune in to find out Elliott and Sarah’s most painful points and what ChatGPT thinks health tech gurus should do about them. Plus, head back to school to learn how to build the evidence base for your digital health solution, whether you work at an Academic Medical Center or a VC-backed startup. Tech It to the Limit!!!

Original music by: Evan O’Donovan

Other music by: SoulProdMusic and Coma-Media from Pixabay

Resources for parents:

• www.Healthchildren.org Kids & Tech: Tips for Parents in the Digital Age - HealthyChildren.org
• How Parents Can Talk About AI and ChatGPT With Their Kids - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Prompt for ChatGPT: “You are a creative product design expert. Create 3 options for a health-related technology solution for [this common parenting problem] The options should be humorous and feasible technology product ideas for parents with children under 12, using technologies such as but not limited to predictive analytics, machine audio and natural language processing, computer vision, VR/AR, automation, robotics, sensors and wearables, generative AI, and computing devices. Products should seem like they could exist with current technology. Include a catchy, pun-based name and a light-hearted, hyped-up 2-3 sentence description for each idea.”

Boomer vs. Millennial. Gen X vs. Gen Z. Gen Alpha vs. the AI bot it just programmed…It’s every generation for themselves in an all-new episode of your favorite humorous health tech podcast! Join Elliott Wilson and Sarah Harper as they unpack the generational baggage of healthcare technology and discuss everything from digital natives to digital bystanders. This episode kicks the ageism out of health tech and is sure to have you and your relatives singing “Kumbaya” around the VR campfire.

• Age Differences in the Use of Health Information Technology Among Adults in the United States: An Analysis of the Health Information National Trends Survey - PubMed (nih.gov)
• Inter-generational Effects of Technology: Why Millennial Physicians May Be Less at Risk for Burnout Than Baby Boomers - PMC (nih.gov)
• Older adults can use technology: why healthcare professionals must overcome ageism in digital health - PMC (nih.gov)
• How Gen Z are reshaping the healthcare industry | World Economic Forum (weforum.org)

In this episode of Tech It To The Limit, hosts Sarah Harper and Elliot Wilson revisit generational myths in digital health and reveal why age isn’t the real barrier to adoption. Through their new game, Fact Check Fever, and a deep dive into the Capability-Motivation-Context (CMC) framework, they show how design, usability, and trust matter far more than birth year. From busting stereotypes to exploring how health systems can design with users, not for them, it’s a witty, insightful look at the future of inclusive, human-centered innovation.

Key Takeaways

• Generational myths don’t hold up: Boomers use portals, Gen Z cares about privacy, and every group struggles with clunky design, not just “digital natives.”

• Design trumps demographics: Adoption isn’t about age, it’s about usability, accessibility, and human-centered design.

• Follow the CMC framework: Capability, motivation, and context, not birth year, to predict whether people engage with health tech.

• Health equity requires intention: Neutral AI does not exist; equity has to be actively built into technology.

• The biggest unifier isn’t age: A diagnosis, condition, or shared health journey brings people together across generations more than labels like Boomer or Gen Z.

In this episode:

• [00:00:13] Welcome & episode introduction
• [00:00:55] Recap of Mayo Clinic live show
• [00:02:36] Looking ahead to HLTH: speakers, tracks, and the health tech “fashion week” vibe
• [00:05:08] Conference tracks & awards
• 00:07:13] Launching Fact Check Fever: busting myths on portals, EHR burnout, Gen Z TikTok habits, and more
• [00:07:37] Fact Check Fever: generational myths & data
• [00:19:24] Break for fake sponsor: Patient Portal Plus Plus
• [00:20:44] Sincere segment: CMC framework for health tech adoption
• [00:22:24] Deep dive: CMC framework explained
• [00:31:17] Designing with, not for, users
• [00:35:31] Break for fake sponsor: Bias Focals
• [00:37:14] Spicy Nugs: co-host lightning round
• [00:46:41] Closing thoughts, HLTH call-to-action, and Elliot’s health tech haiku

Resources

Tech It To The Limit Podcast

• Website
• Apple Podcast

Sarah Harper

• LinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahbethharper

Elliott Wilson

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewelliottwilson

In this episode of Tech It to the Limit, Sarah Harper and Elliott Wilson chat with Elizabeth Boudreau, ex-AWS exec and co-founder of Practical Acceleration. They kick off with a satirical “SnoreSense” pitch, then dive into real talk on building meaningful healthcare tech, covering equity, trust, and designing for life’s seasons. Honest, smart, and full of heart—don’t miss it.

Key Takeaways

• Tech equity starts at the margins. Building inclusive digital health solutions means designing first for the communities most often left out. Not only is it ethical, it's a smart strategy.

• Startups need soul and structure. Elizabeth encourages founders to reject burnout culture and instead design businesses that align with their energy, values, and the season they’re in.

• AI needs boundaries and trust. Success in health tech is about more than algorithms; it’s about solving real problems, with real people, in ways that build confidence and connection.

• Talk to the people you're building for. Your user knows what’s broken. You just have to ask. Assume less. Ask more. Build better.

In this episode:

• [00:00:00] Introduction: July birthdays, post-Pride recovery, and co-host reunion in NYC
• [00:02:37] Startup satire: “Snore Sense” pitch parody AI pillows, shame graphs, and FDA awareness
• [00:08:18] Interview with Elizabeth Boudreaux, Co-Founder of Practical Acceleration
• [00:11:30] What is tech equity? Designing with, not just for, underserved communities
• [00:16:50] AI hype cycle: The danger of black box solutions in healthcare
• [00:18:00] The future of tech that disappears—ambient voice and reconnection at the bedside
• [00:19:55] Women in tech: Navigating leadership, equity at home, and saying yes to the unknown
• [00:26:07] A day in the life of a founder: Lists, calendars, and no such thing as “typical”
• [00:30:04] Redefining success: Building companies that match your life stage
• [00:35:35] Behind the scenes: Putting HIPAA data in the public cloud for the first time
• [00:40:50] Founder advice: Talk to your user, challenge your assumptions, solve real problems
• [00:45:12] Wise Nuggets: Career truths, growth seasons, and the ROI of building slow

Guest

Elizabeth Boudreau is co-founder of Practical Acceleration, a firm that helps health tech companies scale with purpose. A digital transformation leader, she previously drove U.S. healthcare strategy at AWS, launching its first consumer diagnostics product during COVID-19.

With a career built on innovation and inclusion, Elizabeth has led HIPAA-compliant cloud projects, championed techquity, and advised both startups and governments. Her mantra: success isn’t about the grind, it’s about building a life that works.

Resources

Elizabeth Phillips Boudreau

• Practical Acceleration
• Elizabeth Boudreau

Sarah Harper

• Sarah Harper

Elliott Wilson

• Elliott Wilson
• Flying Pig Consulting

In this Nurses’ Month special episode, Tech It to the Limit co-hosts Sarah Harper and Elliott Wilson honor nurses for their dedication and pivotal role in healthcare innovation. This episode explores the ongoing challenges in digital healthcare technology, the mistakes made by overlooking nurses in tech design, and offers a behind-the-scenes look at how we can create nurse-centered designs to improve healthcare systems. They also interview Dr. Katie Boston-Leary, Senior VP of Equity and Engagement at the American Nurses Association, who brings over 30 years of leadership experience to discuss how health tech can better serve nurses and patients alike.

Key Takeaways

• The importance of nurse-centered design in healthcare tech and why it’s essential for designers to involve nurses throughout the entire product lifecycle
• How AI and automation in healthcare tools are often ineffective without input from nurses, leading to errors and inefficiencies
• The impact of gender bias and misogyny in technology development, contributing to the underrepresentation of nurses in health tech decision-making
• The need for empathy in leadership, where healthcare leaders must engage with their teams, understand their challenges, and adapt technology to support—not replace—human connection
• Dr. Katie Boston Leary’s insights into diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in healthcare, and how healthcare leaders should be responsible for both the intent and impact of their decisions

In this episode:

• [00:00:00] Introduction to Nurses Month & Why It’s Important to Highlight Nurses in Tech
• [00:02:05] New Segment: Tech That Didn’t Ask a Nurse, Highlighting Tech Blunders
• [00:17:00] Why nurse-centered design matters and how it benefits patient outcomes
• [00:20:00] Interview with Dr. Katie Boston Leary: Nurses Leading the Charge for Change in Health Tech
• [00:23:30] The Role of DEI in healthcare leadership and tech development
• [00:27:00] How to approach repairing trust in technology and healthcare
• [00:30:30] Empathy, collaboration, and leadership: Building a better tech ecosystem for healthcare
• [00:38:00] Wrapping up Nurses Month & Honoring Healthcare Workers
• [00:40:30] Closing Remarks: Stay Tuned for Next Month’s Episode

Notable Quotes:

[03:40 - 03:59] “If you’re building healthcare technology without involving nurses, you’re doing it wrong. You can’t create something that works for them if you don’t ask them what they need.” – Elliott Wilson

[12:14 - 12:30] “Technology is meant to support nurses, not to make their jobs harder. We’ve got to get it right from the start.” – Sarah Harper

[34:01 - 34:15] “You can’t fix healthcare with just a product. You need the right people at the table, and that includes the nurses who are on the front lines every day.” – Dr. Katie Boston-Leary

Resources and Links

Dr. Katie Boston-Leary

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiebostonleary

Sarah Harper

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahbethharper/

Elliott Wilson

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewelliottwilson/

In this special Pride Month episode of Tech It to the Limit, co-hosts Sarah Harper and Elliott Wilson dive into LGBTQ+ health equity, inclusive tech, and leading authentically in healthcare. They’re joined by Jason Bellett, Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer at Eko Health, whose intelligent stethoscope is transforming how providers detect heart disease. Jason opens up about his journey as an openly gay founder, the intersection of innovation and equity, and the urgent need for inclusive leadership.

Key Takeaways

• LGBTQ+ healthcare has come a long way—but the fight for equity and access continues.
• Eko Health’s AI-powered stethoscope enables early heart disease detection through FDA-cleared algorithms and inclusive design.
• Algorithmic equity matters: representative datasets and diverse health partners are key to reducing bias.
• Authentic leadership in healthcare requires visibility and courage, especially in today’s climate.
• In the face of policy rollbacks, private sector leaders must step up to build inclusive tech and equitable systems.

In this episode:

• [00:00:00] Pride Month kickoff + queer health visibility
• [00:01:25] “Holz Check” LGBTQ+ healthcare rights timeline
• [00:08:27] 10+ health tech companies advancing queer care
• [00:12:28] Interview with Jason Bellett
• [00:15:30] What is an intelligent stethoscope?
• [00:20:15] Equity in AI + reducing algorithmic bias
• [00:25:35] Eko’s role in smart hospitals and virtual care
• [00:27:46] What Jason wishes he knew 10 years ago
• [00:31:05] Leading authentically as a gay founder
• [00:34:14] Advice for LGBTQ+ health tech professionals
• [00:38:45] Call to action for DEI in healthcare
• [00:42:22] Spicy Nuggets: Buzzwords, pride, and cooties

Resources and Links

Jason Bellett

• LinkedIn
• Eko Health

Pride Month Spotlights

• Folks Health
• Plume Health
• QueerDoc
• OutCare Health
• Howard Brown Health
• Mazzoni Center
• Fenway Health
• Euphoria Apps
• MyLabBox
• For Them
• Equality MD

Dr. Aditi Joshi of Telehealth.org joins Sarah and Elliott for a riveting play-by-play of the all-too-familiar faceoff between federal budget negotiations (again…) and healthcare providers about permanent reimbursement for telemedicine. Dr. Joshi also shares advice from her book, Telehealth Success: How to Thrive in the New Age of Remote Care, for healthcare organizations across the globe who are just beginning to dip their toes in the vast waters of creative use cases for virtual care. Be there, or be square!

Original music by: Evan O’Donovan