160: Where will REAL Healthcare Innovation Come From?
Rafael Salazar II, MHS, OTR
Healthcare Consultant | Digital Health, Positioning, Clinical Ops and Go to Market Strategy
*Note: This podcast & video were originally published on our website here on 8/6/2025.
Healthcare Disrupted: Why the Next Big Innovation Won’t Come From Healthcare
In this episode of the Better Outcomes Show, we dive into a bold prediction about the future of healthcare: The next wave of real innovation — the kind that transforms how we deliver care, engage patients, and improve outcomes — won’t come from within the healthcare industry. Instead, it will come from outside. Tech giants like Amazon, Apple, Walmart, and others are entering the healthcare space not to play by the traditional rules, but to rewrite them. They’re not dependent on fee-for-service reimbursement or burdened by legacy EMR infrastructure. They’re consumer-first, data-driven, and laser-focused on convenience and outcomes — not billing codes.
So, what does this mean for providers, practice owners, and healthcare leaders?
It means the time to adapt is now.
What we cover in this Episode:
Why the healthcare industry is structurally incapable of disrupting itself
How tech giants are positioned to lead the next wave of healthcare innovation
The business models these companies are using — and how they differ from traditional healthcare
What small-to-mid-sized providers can do to stay relevant and competitive
How to rethink your value proposition outside of third-party payer systems -Where the opportunities lie for independent clinics to innovate at the edges
We post videos of certain podcast episodes, including this episode, which can find on the YouTube Channel.
Connect with Me
For More:
Join Rafael E. Salazar II, MHS, OTR/L (Rafi), principal of Rehab U Practice Solutions and host of The Better Outcomes Showas he explores the possibilities of a new healthcare. Guests range from clinicians trying new techniques and treatments to executives and entrepreneurs exploring new technology, innovative service delivery methods, business models, and organizational structures. Grab a copy of the book: Better Outcomes: A Guide to Humanizing Healthcare. Or, hire Rafi to speak at your organization or event.