David Scher, MD, DLS Healthcare Consulting
When one discusses business acumen, it is usually applied to individuals. What I plan to discuss is the business acumen that hospital administrators should have when considering implementation of IT and mHealth technologies.
It is well known that one of the biggest priorities of hospital administrators today is implementing IT technologies that will have their institutions meet Meaningful Use (MU) standards. The most important step in this process in my view is having the right Chief Information Officer (CIO) in place. Many hospitals did not invest or invest wisely in CIOs. Good ones are now hard to find. There are presently hospitals that are actually outsourcing this position. The job is taking on increasing importance, not only because of the focus on MU, but because of the role of the CIO in implementing even more complex projects including wireless technologies and strengthening IT security (a daily headline grabber). Along with the CIO are other IT employees. Many IT workers wanting to get into healthcare are getting formally trained but are being turned away while being told they do not have enough clinical experience. These people might thrive under the right administrator and support.
Good business acumen is always planning for the future. That includes budget planning and care coordination around outcomes-based and patient satisfaction-driven reimbursement. Out-of-the-box thinking is required for this. Wireless health technologies including remote monitoring, patient adherence, diabetic, COPD, telemedicine, and others will be adopted by those with a superior vision, I believe.
The above points may seem simplistic but are quite critical. The basics include the right leadership and vision. A good CIO who adopts technologies which are game changers is the formula. Understood in this discussion is the administrative and financial support given the CIO by the CEO, who likewise needs to share this vision. It is a difficult road for hospitals that plan on weathering the storm ahead. Let’s plan carefully and invest wisely in key personnel and technologies.
David Lee Scher, MD, FACP, FACC, FHRS, is Director at DLS HEALTHCARE CONSULTING, LLC concentrating in clinical and business development of wireless health products. He is a former cardiac electrophysiologist with 20 years experience as a well-respected clinical trial investigator, human subject research committee chair, Medicare committee member, and medical device industry consultant and key opinion leader. Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Diseases, and Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology, Dr. Scher was a pioneer adopter of remote patient monitoring. He lectures worldwide on the benefits of wireless technologies.
Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/david-lee-scher-md/27/16a/90
Dr. Scher can be reached at: dlschermd@gmail.com
Twitter:dlschermd
A large survey of sales reps found that knowledge of evidence-based medicine and clinical practice guidelines, as well as information related to managing the business aspects of a healthcare practice, are the two best ways to get a foot in the door with physicians.
Posted by: myboomernation.com | 07/22/2012 at 01:56 AM