Faces of Digital Health

In this episode of Faces of Digital Health, host Tjasa Zajc sits down with Bart de Witte for a candid conversation on what agent-based AI really means for healthcare.

Recorded during a car ride in Ljubljana, the discussion explores why healthcare needs an operating system for AI agents, the risks of agent autonomy, privacy-by-design through on-device AI, and why monolithic EHRs struggle with the next generation of clinical workflows.

Bart also shares his vision for open, decentralized AI ecosystems, certified clinical agents, and swarm intelligence and explains why Europe may be uniquely positioned to lead this shift.

A practical, forward-looking episode for anyone working at the intersection of healthcare, AI, and digital infrastructure.

Youtube video version: https://youtu.be/F_GRfIbqJJM?si=qheSsKvcg6WXUqTU

As artificial intelligence rapidly enters healthcare, bold claims about replacing doctors dominate headlines. But on the clinical frontline, the reality is far more complex.

In this episode of Faces of Digital Health, oncologist Dr. Derrick Khor shares an unfiltered view from inside the NHS, unpacking what AI actually changes — and what it doesn’t.

Rather than framing AI as a threat, the conversation explores how it already supports clinicians and patients alike: simplifying complex medical information, helping patients understand their diagnoses, and accelerating access to evidence. Yet the biggest constraint isn’t technology — it’s data. Without reliable access to their own health records, patients and AI tools alike remain limited.

The discussion also tackles a growing contradiction in healthcare systems: simultaneous staff shortages and doctor unemployment. Training bottlenecks, hiring freezes, pay erosion, and misaligned workforce planning have created a situation where well-trained clinicians struggle to find roles, even as demand for care continues to rise.

Beyond workforce pressures, Dr. Khor explains why most health tech never makes it into daily clinical use. Solutions often fail not because they’re unsafe or ineffective, but because they don’t fit real workflows. If technology adds friction even a single unnecessary click — clinicians won’t adopt it.

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Ambient documentation is becoming normal in clinics. But the most interesting “voice” capability may not be transcription at all.In the latest episode of Faces of Digital Health, Henry O'Connell (Canary Speech) explains why voice biomarkers stalled for decades: the field analyzed words, not the neurological signal behind speech production.Canary’s approach focuses on the “primary data layer”—how the central nervous system drives respiration, vocal cord vibration, and articulation in real conversational speech.

A few details that stood out:

⏱️ ~45 seconds of conversation can be enough for assessment

🎛️ 2,590 voice features analyzed every 10ms (millions of data points)

🎯 Reported accuracy: 98%+ for progressive neurological conditions (e.g., Parkinson’s/Huntington’s/Alzheimer’s), while behavioral health tends to be lower (often in the 80s)

🌍 Validation is repeated per language/culture—no “deploy and hope” model

🧭 Use cases go beyond diagnosis: screening in primary care, clinical trials outcome tracking, and even in-room aggression risk signals to help protect staff

One line that captures the idea: it’s about measuring what’s present in the moment—objective signals that complement clinical judgment.

Time stamps:

00:00 Introduction to Voice Biomarkers in Digital Health

01:48 Historical Context and Evolution of Voice Analysis

06:52 Innovative Approaches to Voice Data Analysis

08:54 Technical Insights into Voice Analysis

16:07 Accuracy and Efficacy of Voice Biomarkers

28:27 Challenges and Acceptance in Clinical Practice

35:04 Ethical Dilemmas in Genetic Testing

36:32 Understanding Genetic Information and Its Implications

37:58 Objective vs. Subjective Assessments in Mental Health

39:59 Proactive Care and Early Detection of Cognitive Decline

42:43 Technology in Wellness and Employee Mental Health

45:18 Data Privacy and Ethical Considerations in Health Tech

49:06 Remote Monitoring and Clinical Trials

01:00:57 Future of Health Technology and Global Expansion

Youtube: https://youtu.be/662VfHhdSFQ?si=t80_PblCf1L6dv4V

Website: www.facesofdigitalhealth.com

Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/

The conversation explores the impact of robots on mental health and their role in healthcare. Anthropologist Tanja Ahlin and Faces of digital health host Tjasa Zajc discuss the fascination with robots, the ambiguous identity of robots, their use in elder care, the challenges of integrating robots, the global perspective on robots, and the misconceptions and realities of robots. The conversation explores the impact of technology on different generations, the role of individual choices in technology use. The speakers also talk about concerns about children and technology, the role of parents, and the impact of technology on human development and creativity. It also emphasizes the importance of optimism and flexibility in adapting to technology.

Chapters


02:00 The Fascination with Robots


15:01 Robots in Elder Care


14:15 The Global Perspective on Robots


20:46 Misconceptions and Realities of Robots


29:57 Technology and Generational Sensitization


35:19 The Role of Technology in Creativity


44:28 The Societal Impact of Technology


51:54 The Biological and Psychological Impact of Technology

In this episode, Dipak Kalra, President of the European Institute for Innovation through Health Data, joins Faces of Digital Health to break down the real progress (and real gaps) in European health data, from legacy “hybrid” paper/digital workflows to the underused potential of clinical decision support that depends on structured data.

We explore what EHDS changes—especially the promise of a standardized, downloadable patient dataset—and what it could unlock for patient-facing apps, analytics, and more active self-management. We also tackle the hard questions: how to protect citizens from misuse and scams, how opt-out choices might create bias in research and AI, why “beating clinicians with a stick” won’t fix data quality, and why delays aren’t just bureaucratic—they can translate into avoidable harm.

02:00 The State of Healthcare Data in Europe
07:59 Challenges in Data Interoperability
12:31 The Role of Patients in Data Management
16:37 AI and Data Privacy Concerns
22:01 Patient Consent and Data Usage
28:00 Optimism for the Future of Health Data
31:03 Optimistic Futures for EAGDS
33:02 Preparing for EHDs: Readiness and Challenges
35:48 Data Quality and Workforce Challenges
37:58 Delays and Future Discussions on EHDs
39:53 The Urgency of Health Data Readiness
42:38 The Evolving Role of Patients in Healthcare
50:19 Building Trust Among Healthcare Stakeholders
57:58 The Future of Healthcare Data Discussions