Ryan Thousand at CHIME Fall Forum

Ryan Thousand, CIO of Dahl Memorial Healthcare in rural Montana, discusses the unique challenges and opportunities of leading a critical access hospital in a small community. From leveraging AI and strategic partnerships to enhance patient care and operational efficiency, to his decision to join the Panda Health family for its vendor-agnostic, community-driven approach, Ryan shares his passion for empowering rural health systems with innovative solutions.

Recent Episodes

Healthcare providers are under increasing pressure to meet consumer expectations without adding an administrative burden. According to a survey conducted by The Harris Poll in June 2024, 18% of the 2,092 American adults who were surveyed had received an unexpected medical bill of $1,000 or more in the past year, and 50% said they would…

Economic mobility is often portrayed as a straight climb. In reality, it’s shaped by adversity, identity, and access to opportunity. As research from the University of Michigan notes, mobility requires not only income, education, and employment, but also more intangible resources such as social inclusion and power—the ability to make choices and exert influence….

The U.S. healthcare system is strained by rising costs, uneven quality, and fragmented care navigation. Employers are bearing the brunt, spending more without always securing better care for their teams. According to the RAND Corporation, one effective strategy is to “change their network and benefit designs to encourage patients to use lower‑priced, higher‑value providers…