What Data Means for the Future of Pediatric Hospitals

Data Driven Leadership

A single error in a medical record can change a child’s life.

Theresa Meadows has spent her career making sure that doesn’t happen.

In this episode, Jess Carter talks with Theresa, who recently transitioned from CIO at Cook Children’s Health Care System to a new role at symplr. Theresa recalls her unlikely path from transplant nurse to technology leader and shares how those dual perspectives influenced the way she thinks about data, trust, and patient care.

Their conversation touches on the complexity of pediatric records, the challenges of moving entire hospitals onto electronic systems, and the opportunities she sees for AI to ease the burden on clinicians. Woven through it all are the leadership lessons Theresa carried from the bedside to the boardroom, and now into her work guiding the next generation of healthcare innovation.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why pediatric hospitals face different data challenges than adult care facilities

• How electronic health record conversions can affect patient safety

• What healthcare leaders should prioritize in their first 90 days in a new role

Things to listen for: (00:00) Introduction to the episode with Theresa Meadows

(02:15) Training physicians on early physician order entry systems

(08:16) Career lessons from mentors and moving into Cook Children’s

(09:53) Unique data challenges faced in pediatric healthcare

(13:17) Transitioning hospitals to electronic health records successfully

(19:38) Advice for leaders in their first 90 days

(23:41) Where AI and technology are taking healthcare next

(30:50) Why mentorship starts with speaking up about your goals