Becker’s Healthcare Podcast Interoperability at scale: The path to smarter, connected care
Jan 9, 2026
Scott Sagehorn, Vice President and General Manager at Stryker Medical, dives into the transformative power of interoperability in healthcare. He discusses the challenges posed by COVID-19 and the limitations of point solutions. Scott emphasizes the need for ambient intelligence that integrates seamlessly into clinician workflows. Key to success are middleware, real-time analytics, and choosing technologies that simplify processes. He also shares indicators of success for smart hospitals, including reduced variation and happier staff, all while emphasizing the importance of governance and co-design.
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Stryker’s Smart Care Origin Story
- Scott Sagehorn describes leading Stryker's Smart Care business unit combining devices, Vocera, and digital platforms.
- He explains the team's focus is turning fragmented equipment and point solutions into connected, intelligence-driven ecosystems.
Ambient Intelligence Is Only One Input
- Ambient intelligence must disappear into the background to give clinicians time back and avoid creating extra work.
- Scott Sagehorn says ambient is only one input and must combine with workflows and product data to add value.
Enterprise Problems Outgrew Point Solutions
- Hospitals face intensified enterprise-level pressures like workforce shortages and cost that single point solutions can't solve.
- Scott Sagehorn notes hospitals invested heavily in smart products that often operate in silos and frustrate leaders.