April 7th, 2026
What Happens When Your Bot Can't Solve the Problem
I typed "talk to a human." The chatbot said: "I don't understand your question." I tried "representative." The chatbot said: "I don't understand." I tried "none of the above." The chatbot ...
March 30th, 2026
I asked for a human.
The system transferred me. Someone—or something—responded. And I still wasn't sure if I was talking to a person or a bot.
Here's what I've gotten very suspicious of: When you get transferred and you know it's not ...
March 24th, 2026
Healthcare and other organizations are increasing using automation, specifically AI automation, to expedite a wide range of processes and interactions. That can be a very good thing, for organizational efficiencies and for patient experiences.
But these interactions don’t always work the ...
January 27th, 2026
There’s a saying you’ve probably heard: “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
That’s particularly true in healthcare. Think about the typical patient/physician interaction. The patient comes in with a problem or concern. The ...
January 19th, 2026
Understanding patient experience and what influences decision-making is a strategic priority across the healthcare industry. But getting inside the heads of consumers can’t be achieved solely with surveys. Using qualitative research including ethnography or observational research is incredibly revealing. Our ...
October 7th, 2025
AI spotlights the need for human connection
You may or may not realize it but many of the conversations you have with the companies and brands you’re a customer or client of aren’t taking place with people—they’re taking place with bots, ...
September 29th, 2025
The costly disconnect between what we advertise and what we can actually deliver
Healthcare is notorious for its silos—departments that are hyper-focused on their own work but fail to fully understand how their work needs to link to other departments. Marketing ...
September 22nd, 2025
How bad-mouthing teammates can destroy patient trust
I had an opportunity recently to accompany a family member to an appointment for major surgery. I always learn a lot at these visits and am always attuned to what goes well and areas ...
June 10th, 2025
You asked for it, but are you ready?
Patient experience still ranks among healthcare executives' top concerns, and we're often brought in to help organizations dig deeper into what's behind their patient experience scores.
"We want to know how to improve," they ...
May 20th, 2025
Compassion is the Foundation of Human-Centered Care
This past week has been one of the most taxing in my life. Losing our home to a fire that destroyed everything has been devastating but, as with any tragedy, there are blessings.
In the ...