Todd Conklin, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Care New England Health System

Todd Conklin, Executive Vice President and CFO of Care New England Health System, joins Andrew Kass on the Becker's Healthcare Podcast to discuss key trends and strategic priorities shaping modern healthcare. Conklin highlights artificial intelligence as a transformative force—moving beyond analytics to serve as a clinical co-pilot for providers, particularly through ambient technology that streamlines documentation and improves patient-provider interactions. He emphasizes AI’s role in enhancing efficiency, enabling earlier disease detection, and addressing physician burnout. Conklin also underscores two other critical trends: escalating healthcare costs and the strategic consolidation of health systems into interconnected ecosystems, often through partnerships with tech firms. Within Care New England, he shares enthusiasm for innovations like AI-driven workflows, home-based care, behavioral health expansion, and specialty pharmacy services—areas aligned with a shift from sick care to preventative, predictive, and patient-centered models. He concludes by outlining a growth strategy focused on productivity, accessibility, and long-term sustainability in an aging population. The conversation reveals a forward-looking CFO deeply engaged in both operational innovation and systemic transformation. Conklin’s insights reflect a balanced view: excited by AI’s potential to improve care delivery and reduce administrative burdens, yet cautious about its initial cost implications. His emphasis on ecosystem-building, digital health, and longevity-driven care signals a health system adapting to demographic and technological shifts. The episode offers a compelling look at how financial leadership is increasingly central to healthcare innovation, with a focus on making care more intelligent, continuous, and human-centered.