MGMA Insights: Crystal Washington on Generative AI for Healthcare Leaders

Futurist, author, and Hall of Fame speaker Crystal Washington joins this episode of the MGMA Insights Podcast. Crystal shares her expertise on generative AI and its practical applications for healthcare leaders. As an upcoming keynote speaker at the MGMA Leaders Conference in Orlando (September 28 - October 1), Crystal breaks down the AI landscape, debunks common myths, and provides actionable strategies for medical practice leaders navigating technology adoption without getting overwhelmed.

[02:35] - Becoming a futurist: Crystal explains her path from hospitality management to consulting for global brands, and how she developed her futurist mindset.

[06:25] - Grounding AI in reality: Artificial intelligence has been around since the 1950s; generative AI is simply the newest wave, not an oracle.

[07:49] - Generative AI hype vs. reality: Crystal cautions leaders to separate engineering insights from corporate hype and stock-price-driven narratives.

[10:12] - Healthcare leaders and limited time: Practical advice on dedicating even 10–15 minutes a day to keep informed without feeling overwhelmed.

[11:31] - Problem-first adoption: Why leaders should identify their top three challenges before chasing new technology solutions.

[12:56] - What to expect from her keynote: Leaders Conference attendees can look forward to fun, interactive, and pragmatic ways to use AI in daily life and in healthcare operations.

Resources:

• MGMA Leaders Conference 2025: Learn more and register
• MGMA Membership: Access tools, communities and educational opportunities - Learn more and register
• Crystal Washington — Visit crystalwashington.com

Additional Resources:

• MGMA Playbooks
• MGMA Events
• MGMA Consulting
• MGMA DataDive
• MGMA Stat
• MGMA Podcasts

Email us at dwilliams@mgma.com if you would like to appear on an episode. If you have a question about your practice that you would like us to answer, send an email to advisor@mgma.com. Don't forget to subscribe to our network wherever you get your podcasts.