Semantic Health & the Future of Medical Coding with Dr. Nicola Sahar | 94

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In this episode of Sidecar Sync, co-hosts Mallory Mejias sits down with Dr. Nicola Sahar to explore how a University of Toronto med student dove head-first into clinical AI research and went on to found Semantic Health, an AI-powered medical coding platform later acquired by the American Academy of Professional Coders in 2023. They unpack the art and science of medical coding, discuss why AI will augment rather than replace coders, dive into the critical role of data privacy and private-cloud deployments in healthcare AI, and share why associations are uniquely positioned to guide their members through this AI transformation.
Dr. Nick Sahar is a Canadian physician and health tech entrepreneur who co-founded Semantic Health. In 2023, Semantic Health was acquired by the American Academy of Professional Coders - AAPC - marking a significant milestone in the adoption of AI in healthcare operations. Today, Dr. Sahar remains an active voice in the healthcare AI space, focused on building tools that support clinicians and improve patient care.
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolasahar/
Semantic Health - https://www.semantichealth.ai/
AAPC - https://www.aapc.com/
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Amith Nagarajan is the Chairman of Blue Cypress, a family of purpose-driven companies and proud practitioners of Conscious Capitalism. The Blue Cypress companies focus on helping associations, non-profits, and other purpose-driven organizations achieve long-term success. Amith is also an active early-stage investor in B2B SaaS companies. He’s had the good fortune of nearly three decades of success as an entrepreneur and enjoys helping others in their journey.
https://linkedin.com/amithnagarajan
Mallory Mejias is passionate about creating opportunities for association professionals to learn, grow, and better serve their members using artificial intelligence. She enjoys blending creativity and innovation to produce fresh, meaningful content for the association space. Mallory co-hosts and produces the Sidecar Sync podcast, where she delves into the latest trends in AI and technology, translating them into actionable insights.
https://linkedin.com/mallorymejias

فصل ها

1. Introduction (00:00:00)

2. Dr. Sahar’s Journey: Med Student to AI Entrepreneur (00:02:42)

3. Understanding Traditional Medical Coding (00:09:54)

4. AI & Human-in-the-Loop Augmentation (00:11:07)

5. Acquisition by AAPC: A Strategic Partnership (00:16:40)

6. Coder Sentiment: Embracing vs. Fearing AI (00:20:43)

7. Ensuring Data Privacy & Secure AI Deployments (00:24:58)

8. Educating Members & Exploring Future AI Trends (00:31:20)

9. Wrap-Up: Final Thoughts & What’s Next (00:36:52)