AI @ HLTH : Listening to Health: Using Speech to Improve Care and Reduce Burnout

In this episode, host Sandy Vance sits down with Henry O’Connell, Co-Founder & CEO of Canary Speech, to explore how voice AI is transforming healthcare. Canary Speech is pioneering vocal biomarker technology—using subtle patterns in speech to replace subjective assessments with objective, actionable data.

From measuring pain levels to aiding in the diagnosis of conditions like Anxiety, depression, Huntington's, Parkinson's, MCI, Canary’s tools are designed to improve accuracy and speed in healthcare decision-making. This innovation not only helps patients receive the right care faster, but also supports nurses and clinicians by reducing burnout, improving workplace safety, and streamlining workflows.

If you’re curious about the future of AI in healthcare, digital health innovation, or how speech analysis can change the way we approach diagnostics and patient care, this conversation is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

In this episode, they talk about:

• Addressing the growing challenge of aggression in healthcare settings
• Measuring ROI while reducing risk, preventing burnout, and improving employee retention
• Using voice AI to assist in diagnosing ADHD, autism, and scaling pain assessments
• Upcoming projects at Canary Speech, including collaboration with Microsoft’s Dragon software
• Helping providers deliver more empathetic, patient-centered care
• Fast implementation! Canary can be deployed in days, not weeks, for new clients

A Little About Henry:

Henry O’Connell is the CEO and co-founder of Canary Speech, a leading AI health tech company using real-time vocal biomarkers to screen for mental health and neurological conditions. With over two decades of experience in technology leadership, including roles at Hewlett-Packard, Gilson, and the NIH, he has served on the boards of multiple tech companies globally. A passionate advocate for voice technology in healthcare, O’Connell regularly speaks on the transformative potential of AI and vocal biomarkers to improve disease detection, patient monitoring, and clinical decision-making. He aims to provide health screening that is accessible, objective, and scalable.