Founder Mode Episode 21 - The Healthcare Innovation Bottleneck with Rebecca Shufeldt

In this episode, we chatted with Rebecca Shufeldt. She’s the founder of Ignite Healthcare Solutions. She shared what’s really slowing healthcare down—and how to fix it. She highlighted that with EHR systems and revenue cycle issues, "Go Live" isn’t the end. Instead, it marks the beginning of the real work.

Rebecca’s big idea?

Great systems don’t just install tech. They empower people. No matter if you’re a provider, founder, or front-desk staff, your tools should work for you. They should make your job easier, not harder.

Healthcare's Hidden Bottlenecks

A lot of people think tech problems are the main issues in healthcare.

Rebecca notes that the main hurdles are change management and a lack of optimization.

Go Live is just the beginning. Many clinics go live with a new EHR system and then stop. That's when the real work begins. You need to adjust workflows, train teams, and listen to feedback.

"Go Live isn’t the finish line. It’s where the real work starts."

Why AI Helps—but Culture Has to Catch Up

AI is already transforming healthcare. Voice AI tools can handle calls, set up appointments, and refill meds. They also help reduce wait times. That saves real people real time—without losing the human touch.

But AI isn’t magic. Many teams resist automation because they don’t want to lose staff they value. Rebecca sees this often and flips the script:

“We don’t need to replace Betty. We need to upskill her.”

The goal isn’t to eliminate jobs—it’s to reduce burnout and let teams focus on the work that matters.

Revenue Starts at the Front Desk

Revenue cycle issues begin as soon as a patient arrives.

A bad insurance choice or a missed referral can cause a series of denials. Rebecca says AI works best at the front end. It helps verify insurance, guide scheduling, and spot errors before they happen.

“If you don’t have an amazing front-desk team, AI can help fill the gap.”

And if you do have a strong team? Use tech to help them shine.

Train, test, and customize EHR systems. Clinics tend to fail when they apply the same approach to everyone. Every practice is unique, so their systems should match that. Rebecca came up with a method called the “Silver Bullet Strategy” that anyone can use.” It makes onboarding easier and stays flexible in the background.

5 Key Takeaways

Go Live is Day One: The work starts after launch. Training, testing, and optimizing drive results.
AI Cuts Admin Tasks: It automates scheduling. It checks eligibility and handles referrals.
Every practice is unique: A one-size-fits-all EHR setup doesn't work. Customize workflows to match how your team works.
Empower, Don’t Replace: AI should free up staff to do better work—not make them obsolete.
Retention Begins with Respect: Good pay, flexible hours, and light workloads keep burnout at bay.

Final Thoughts

If you’re in healthcare or fixing issues, Rebecca’s message is simple. Systems need to serve people. The right tech, when used well, can lower stress, enhance care, and boost revenue.

But the key isn’t just the software. It’s how you manage the change.

When you deploy AI, update EHRs, or improve workflows, listen, train, and test. That’s how real change happens—in healthcare and beyond.

🎧 Listen to Episode 21 here: