Thursday - June 4th, 2026
Apple News
×

What can we help you find?

Open Menu
March 11th, 2026

AI in Hospice: What Every Leader Needs to Know | Part One

  1. AI in Hospice: What Every Leader Needs to Know | Part One Chris Comeaux 30:40

Send a text

Artificial Intelligence is rapidly entering healthcare—but what does it actually mean for hospice leaders?

In this episode of TCNtalks / Anatomy Of Leadership, host Chris Comeaux sits down with Ernesto Lopez, Founder and CEO of 1520 AI, to explore the real impact of AI in hospice care.  Ernesto brings a rare perspective as a registered nurse, healthcare executive, and AI founder, combining decades of hospice leadership experience with formal training in data analytics from Harvard Business School.  

Together they unpack what artificial intelligence in healthcare really does, why many leaders misunderstand it, and how hospice organizations can adopt AI responsibly without compromising the human-centered mission of end-of-life care.  They also discuss the growing number of AI vendors entering the hospice space, the risks around data Security and patient privacy, and why leaders must Exercise caution before integrating new technologies.

If you’re a hospice leader, healthcare executive, compliance professional, or nonprofit leader, this conversation will help you understand how to approach AI adoption in hospice, avoid common mistakes, and use Technology as an accelerator—not a replacement—for compassionate care.

What You’ll Learn

•  What AI actually does (and what it doesn’t)
•  How large language models like ChatGPT process information
•  The biggest mistakes healthcare leaders make with AI adoption
•  Why data governance and security are critical
•  How hospice leaders can use AI responsibly to support mission-driven care

About the Guest

Ernesto Lopez is the Founder & CEO of 1520 AI, a company developing artificial intelligence tools focused on hospice quality, compliance, and clinical operations.  He previously spent more than two decades leading healthcare organizations across hospice, home Health, and hospital settings.  

About the Host 

Chris Comeaux is the President and CEO of Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN) and host of the TCNtalks / Anatomy of Leadership podcast.  A respected leader in healthcare and organizational strategy, Chris has spent decades helping mission-driven organizations strengthen leadership, culture, and operational excellence—particularly within hospice and serious illness care.

Chris is also the author of The Anatomy of Leadership: The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Effective Leadership, where he explores how purpose-driven leadership shapes strong teams and enduring organizations.  Through his podcast and writing, Chris equips leaders with practical tools to navigate complex challenges, lead with integrity, and align strategy with mission.

On TCNtalks / Anatomy of Leadership, Chris brings thoughtful conversations with leaders across healthcare, nonprofit, and business sectors—exploring topics such as leadership, Innovation, healthcare transformation, and the future of compassionate care.

TCN Talks explores leadership, healthcare innovation, and mission-driven organizations.

👉 S

The Anatomy of Leadership podcast explores the art and science of leadership through candid, insightful conversations with thought leaders, innovators, and change-makers from a variety of industries. Hosted by Chris Comeaux, each episode dives into the mindsets, habits, and strategies that empower leaders to thrive in complex, fast-changing environments. With topics ranging from organizational culture and emotional intelligence to navigating disruption and inspiring teams, the show blends real-world stories with practical takeaways. The goal is simple yet ambitious: to equip leaders at every level with the tools, perspectives, and inspiration they need to lead with vision, empathy, and impact.

https://www.teleioscn.org/anatomy-of-leadership

Chris Comeaux President / CEO of TELEIOS / Podcast Host

I am currently the President/CEO of Teleios Collaborative Network which is like a co-op of nonprofit hospice and palliative care organizations. I am also CEO of Teleios Consulting Group. The goal of the collaboration is to harness the best of each hospice and enable the network to better care in each community for the patients and families being served as well as introduce innovations across the membership network and work with payers for new innovative solutions for those dealing with serious or advanced illness.

I am also host two podcasts, Anatomy Of Leadership and TCNtalks. Anatomy of Leadership was inspired by my book "The Anatomy of Leadership" which I wrote for Leaders, visionaries, and change-makers. The podcast delves deep into the essence of purpose-driven and high-performance leadership.

The show guides you through a journey of discovery—revealing how effective leadership can significantly alter the trajectory of our teams, organizations, our lives, and the world at large.

We examine topics like:

- Self-Mastery
- Caring for Others
- Influence
- Intention
- Cause and Purpose

Bio

Over the years, I have become nationally known as a leader in our country’s hospice and palliative care industry, where I spent a large portion of my career as President/CEO of Four Seasons in western North Carolina, a 2009 American Hospital Association Circle of Life Award Winner. In 2005, the Carolinas Center for Hospice and End of Life Care honored me with the Peter Keese Leadership Award.

In 2006, I left Four Seasons for two years to build an alliance between the prestigious national healthcare consulting firm, the Studer Group, and Covenant Hospice in Pensacola. The vision was to transform, develop, and grow leaders throughout the hospice and palliative care world. With this venture from its infancy to an established coaching firm partnering with post-acute healthcare organizations from New York to California. I returned to Four Seasons in 2008 to apply everything learned in the trenches on leadership to an organization I knew and loved.

My hospice career began in 1997 at Covenant Hospice in Pensacola, Florida. Earlier in my career, where I worked with KPMG Peat Marwick, a “Big Four” CPA consulting firm, and with Cooper Industries, a Fortune 100 Company, in its Executive Development Program.

I have a Masters in Leadership from the Thayer Institute for Performance Virtuosity.

I am blessed to have a wonderful wife, Deshia and a proud parent of 5 children (3 boys and 2 girls). Love spending time outdoors with my family, reading, and learning in the mountains of Western North Carolina.