The athenahealth podcast

Episode 58: What the Summer 2026 Release means for athenaOne

The Summer 2026 Release shows how athenaOne is evolving to reduce administrative work, support stronger revenue cycle performance, and improve the patient experience. In this episode of the athenahealth podcast, we share a conversation with Chief Product Officer Paul Brient from the Summer 2026 Release Walk-through webinar about how AI and automation are being built into clinical, financial, and patient-facing workflows. You’ll also hear what these enhancements mean for practices today and how they support the longer-term vision for athenaOne.

Episode 57: Onboarding tips to build a strong foundation

Successful onboarding onto an EHR shapes everything that follows, from adoption to long-term performance. In this episode of the athenahealth podcast, we explore how thoughtful planning, workflow discovery, training, and change management help organizations prepare for a successful transition to athenaOne. We also discuss practical lessons for navigating implementation complexity, building internal confidence, and preparing for go-live with the right foundation in place.

Episode 56: Navigating the future of value-based care

As value-based care continues to evolve, independent practices face growing pressure to improve outcomes while navigating an increasingly complex healthcare environment. In the latest episode of the athenahealth podcast, we're joined by Sean Cavanaugh, Chief Policy Officer at Aledade, to discuss why accountable care is reaching an important inflection point, how technology can reduce administrative burden, and why strong partnerships are helping practices succeed while delivering better care for patients. Check out the Aledade's page on the athenahealth marketplace to learn more here: https://athenaconnect.athenahealth.com/marketplace/product/aledade-app

Episode 55: AI tools for better patient experience

How can practices increase throughput without sacrificing the patient experience? In our latest athenahealth podcast episode, we highlight two upcoming athenaOne enhancements that streamline scheduling, improve patient communication, and reduce staff workload. From waitlist scheduling to AI-assisted patient conversations, these tools will help patients connect with care more easily and help staff focus on what matters most.

Episode 54: Modernization and sustainability at Tribal health centers

Modernization at Tribal health centers requires respect, partnership, and understanding of Tribal sovereignty. In the latest episode of the athenahealth podcast, we're joined by Tony Lucero, a Tribal health consultant and enrolled member of Isleta Pueblo to discuss how Tribal health centers are redefining what modernization means when driven by Tribal priorities, not external timelines, and how community health leaders are strengthening financial sustainability, supporting staff through workforce challenges, and leveraging innovation in ways that preserve culture and build trust with their communities.

Episode 53: Addressing physician sentiment in the Spring 2026 Release

We're joined by Dr. Nele Jessel, Chief Medical Officer, to go in-depth on the results from the 2026 Physician Sentiment Survey -- our annual survey of 1,000+ physicians nationwide across specialties, practice sizes, and locations -- and to look at how the features in the Spring 2026 Release address the hopes, concerns, and perspectives we're hearing from survey respondents and users of athenaOne.
To learn more about the Physician Sentiment Survey, please visit the athenaInstitute page at athenahealth.com.

Episode 52: Reducing your revenue cycle work

As part of the Spring 2026 Release Walk-through webinar this week, we welcomed Nora Iluri, who leads the teams building and updating revenue cycle workflows in athenaOne. In the latest athenahealth podcast, we share our conversation with her about the ways we’re reducing your revenue cycle tasks and using AI to get you paid faster and more comprehensively.
The Spring 2026 Release comes to athenaOne from March 18-20. Learn more about the Spring 2026 Release by visiting the Release Centers on the Success Community.

Episode 51: Incentivizing providers to close encounters faster

The latest episode of the athenahealth podcast looks at the vital work being done in rural communities, where healthcare providers must overcome unique geographic, economic, and infrastructure challenges to deliver comprehensive care – with the help of athenaOne solutions. Get tips for engaging patients with limited internet connectivity, using incentive programs and athenaOne tools to drive clinical efficiency, and preparing reluctant clinicians for AI adoption while maintaining the personal touch that's essential to building trust in tight-knit communities.

Episode 50: How your peers transitioned to Enhanced Self Check-in

As of November, over one-third of eligible appointments on athenaOne saw patients using Enhanced Self Check-in – a significant jump even from the 23% we were seeing at the end of 2024. Enhanced Self Check-in supports practices with the ability to capture important patient information in advance of an encounter, including expanded automated check-in messaging, insurance card capture, collecting online patient payments, patient screeners, and medications review. In the latest episode of the athenahealth podcast, we're joined by Virginia Urology to hear more about how they adopted Enhanced Self Check-in.

Episode 49: Curing complexity with the athenaInstitute

Healthcare stands at a crossroads. While AI breakthroughs and innovation dominate the headlines, complexity remains a persistent challenge for too many practices nationwide. Navigating this ever-evolving landscape can feel overwhelming, but at athenahealth, we view complexity not as a barrier, but as an invitation to lead.
In the latest episode of the athenahealth podcast, we introduce you to the athenaInstitute, athenahealth’s platform for championing ideas and actions that help cure complexity in ambulatory care. Through timely insights, expert collaboration, and a spotlight on industry-shaping innovation, the athenaInstitute aims to accelerate meaningful progress for practices and the patients they serve.
Learn more by navigating to https://www.athenahealth.com/athenainstitute.