This Week Health: Conference

August 8, 2024: Sue Schade, Principal of StarBridge Advisors, interviews Heather Nelson, SVP and CIO at Boston Children's Hospital, about the transformative power of technology in healthcare. Heather shares insights from Boston Children's recent transition to an all-Epic EHR system, highlighting the significance of internal resource utilization and the challenges of governance and willingness to change. She emphasizes the importance of connected care, the role of AI in driving transformation, and the future of ERP systems. How does Boston Children's approach to integrating advanced technologies like 5G networks and Gen AI impact patient care and operational efficiency? What are the broader implications of unifying practice and platforms in a complex healthcare environment? Heather's reflections on leadership, resource management, and continuous improvement offer a comprehensive view of navigating large-scale IT implementations in healthcare. Tune in to explore the strategies behind Boston Children's innovative tech solutions and their journey toward enhancing patient and provider experiences.Key Points:02:18 Boston Children's Hospital Overview03:18 Transition to EPIC: Project Mosaic12:23 Future Plans: ERP Modernization23:17 AI Sandbox30:59 Top Priorities for the FutureSubscribe: This Week HealthTwitter: This Week HealthLinkedIn: Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

August 6, 2024: Dr. Albert Villarin, VP and CMIO of Nuvance Health, hosts Dr. Michael Poku, Chief Clinical Officer at Equality Health, to explore the transformative role of social determinants of health and AI in healthcare. Dr. Poku delves into how non-medical factors significantly influence health outcomes and discusses Equality Health’s mission to narrow health disparities in Medicaid populations. How can AI be harnessed to address the social determinants of health effectively? What are the practical applications of SDOH data in improving health equity? Dr. Poku outlines principles for leveraging SDOH data, emphasizing the integration of actionable data across care continuums and empowering community-based organizations. How can technology and the human touch be balanced to maintain humanity in healthcare? This episode invites listeners to consider the potential of AI to transform healthcare while preserving the essential human connection in patient care.Key Points:01:36 Understanding Social Determinants of Health03:54 Leveraging AI to Address SDOH11:46 Future of Equality in HealthcareSubscribe: This Week HealthTwitter: This Week HealthLinkedIn: Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

August 1st, 2024: Tressa Springmann, SVP, CIO, and CDO for LifeBridge Health, explores the dynamic and evolving role of the CIO in healthcare. Tressa shares her unique journey from biochemistry research to healthcare IT leadership, emphasizing mentorship's critical role and adaptability's importance in career development. As they discuss digital transformation, Tressa highlights LifeBridge Health's innovative digital front door strategy and its unexpected successes, such as the touchless check-in process that streamlined operations and enhanced patient engagement. How does the CIO balance the need for technological innovation with organizational change management? What are the challenges and opportunities presented by AI in healthcare? And how can healthcare organizations ensure effective digital transformation while maintaining high standards of care and patient satisfaction? Tressa’s insights provide a roadmap for navigating these complex issues, making this episode a must-listen for healthcare leaders aiming to drive impactful change.Key Points:01:24 Meet Tressa Springmann: Career Journey02:01 The Evolving Role of the CIO08:33 Digital Transformation in Healthcare17:59 AI and Technology Governance23:46 Empowering Patients and CliniciansSubscribe: This Week HealthTwitter: This Week HealthLinkedIn: Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

July 31, 2024: Bill Russell hosts a solution showcase with Drew Koerner, Healthcare CTO at ServiceNow, and Muhammad Siddiqui, CDO and CIO of Reid Health, on the transformative power of digital automation in healthcare. The conversation delves into the practical applications of ServiceNow in healthcare IT, addressing how it streamlines workflows, reduces manual tasks, and enhances patient care experiences. How can automating routine processes improve efficiency in healthcare systems? What role does ServiceNow play in unifying disparate systems and creating a centralized hub for healthcare operations? The guests explore the integration of ServiceNow with EHR systems like Epic and Workday, highlighting real-world examples such as optimizing discharge processes and managing medical devices. Key Points:00:34 The Importance of Provider Experience01:11 Digital Transformation with ServiceNow02:38 ServiceNow in Action: Real-World Applications06:04 Innovative Use Cases and Future Plans12:46 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsSubscribe: This Week HealthTwitter: This Week HealthLinkedIn: Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

July 30, 2024: Jake Lancaster, CMIO of Baptist Memorial, and Kelsey Reed, Director of Patient Care from Phoebe Putney Health System, delve into the critical issue of nursing shortages and burnout. How are healthcare organizations like Phoebe addressing the exacerbated challenges post-pandemic? What innovative strategies are being implemented to support overburdened nurses? Kelsey Reed shares Phoebe's journey of adopting virtual nursing to offload administrative tasks, enhance patient care, and improve nurse engagement. How effective are these virtual models in practice, and what have been the measurable impacts on quality metrics and patient satisfaction? She also discusses how she is rolling out technology like MEDITECH Expanse Point of Care to lessen the burden on nurses by enabling documentation from smartphone devices. As Phoebe continuously looks ahead, what other cutting-edge initiatives are being planned to further support healthcare staff and improve patient outcomes? MEDITECH's Nursing solutionsLearn more about MEDITECH ExpanseKey Points:01:01 Kelsey Reed on Nursing Shortages03:22 Implementing Virtual Nursing at Phoebe15:18 Addressing Nursing Burnout and Turnover19:35 Future Innovations at PhoebeSubscribe: This Week HealthTwitter: This Week HealthLinkedIn: Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

July 25, 2024: Alan Cain, the CISO of the Rail Delivery Group in the UK joins for this Keynote episode. With his extensive background in cybersecurity, he discusses the lessons that can be found in UK cyber regulations when applied to healthcare systems. Alan's insights into supply chain management, third-party risk, and the importance of proactive monitoring raise essential questions about the robustness of current cybersecurity practices. What measures can organizations take to ensure continuous compliance rather than mere certification? Alan also touches on the human element of cybersecurity, including the significance of educating clients and their families. How does this holistic approach contribute to overall security? This episode prompts listeners to reflect on their cybersecurity strategies and the importance of a collaborative and comprehensive approach.Key Points:00:00 Meet Alan Cain: Background and Expertise01:48 Cybersecurity in the Rail Industry04:12 Supply Chain Management and Third-Party Risk11:12 Training and Education in Cybersecurity18:56 Final Thoughts and Key TakeawaysSubscribe: This Week HealthTwitter: This Week HealthLinkedIn: Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

July 24, 2024: Tom Stafford (Healthcare CTO at CDW), Chris Akeroyd (Executive VP and CIO of Children’s Health), and Theresa Meadows (SVP and CIO of Cook Children’s) join Bill for a Solution Showcase. They discuss how initial cloud enthusiasm meets real-world challenges, such as data retrieval issues and vendor lock-in, and how these experiences shaped their current strategies. What lessons can be drawn from early cloud adoption missteps, and how do healthcare organizations ensure security and flexibility in their cloud architecture today? As they navigate the shift from traditional data centers to cloud-based solutions, how do they balance innovation with the practical needs of healthcare delivery? Key Points:00:52 Early Cloud Adoption Challenges02:26 Strategic Cloud Migration04:47 Cloud Security and Governance16:25 Staff Transition and Training22:15 Future of Data Centers and CloudSubscribe: This Week HealthTwitter: This Week HealthLinkedIn: Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

July 23, 2024: In this Executive Interview Bill Russell is joined by Michael Robinson, VP of Healthcare Solutions for the Americas at Omnissa, to explore the evolution of Omnissa. How does Omnissa's independence from Broadcom enable greater agility and innovation in healthcare IT solutions? What impact will their emphasis on a seamless, secure, and efficient digital foundation have on both patient and employee experiences? The discussion delves into the integration of generative AI in healthcare, the benefits of a holistic platform over point solutions, and the critical alignment with EHR vendors like Epic. As healthcare systems strive for pre-pandemic financial stability, can these advanced technologies truly streamline operations and enhance user experiences without increasing complexity? Listen in to discover how Omnissa is positioning itself as a pivotal player in transforming healthcare IT.Key Points:00:00 Michael Robinson and Omnissa's Mission03:46 Transition and Contracts05:45 Efficiency and AI09:16 Clinician Experience and Closing RemarksSubscribe: This Week HealthTwitter: This Week HealthLinkedIn: Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

July 23, 2024: Sue Schade, Principal of StarBridge Advisors, interviews Pam McNutt, SVP and CIO at Methodist Health System, to delve into her 31-year tenure and the evolution of the organization. They explore what has driven Methodist's growth in the competitive Dallas-Fort Worth market and the impact of AI on both clinical and administrative operations. How do AI advancements in biomedical engineering and physician productivity tools shape the future of healthcare? Pam also addresses the pressing issue of vendor partnerships amidst widespread acquisitions—how do CIOs balance financial prudence with technological innovation? The conversation highlights Methodist's strong family culture and Pam's advocacy for healthcare IT policy involvement. What role should CIOs play in shaping industry regulations?Key Points:00:00 Guest Introduction: Pam McNutt01:25 Pam McNutt's Journey at Methodist Health05:18 Current Priorities and Innovations at Methodist12:13 Vendor Relationships and Challenges16:48 Workforce Challenges and Future OutlookSubscribe: This Week HealthTwitter: This Week HealthLinkedIn: Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

UnHack (the Podcast): Regulation Realities - Navigating New Norms in Cybersecurity July 22, 2024: In this episode of Unhack the Podcast, Drex DeFord brings together top healthcare CISOs to discuss the evolving landscape of cybersecurity regulations and how healthcare organizations prepare to meet these new requirements. Featuring insights from Jason Elrod, Jigar K., Greg Garneau, and Aaron Weismann, the discussion covers challenges such as impending regulations, government mandates, and the importance of standardizing cyber performance goals. Special guest Sarah Richardson joins the conversation to provide additional perspectives on regulatory impacts and strategies for maintaining robust cybersecurity practices in healthcare.Key Chapters:00:05 Introduction00:35 Cyber Regulation in Healthcare03:48 Jason Elrod CISO Multicare08:37 Jigar Kadakia CISO Emory Healthcare11:22 Greg Garneau CISO Hospital Sisters Health System16:11 Aaron Weismann CISO Main Line Health18:40 Wrap Up with Sarah Richardson34:37 OutroRemember, Stay a little paranoid.Subscribe: This Week HealthTwitter: This Week HealthLinkedIn: Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer