Today, health systems are implementing technologies that give them access to a plethora of data. However, the data must be collected, standardized and analyzed through the correct lens to make it truly actionable.
An expert panel weighed in on healthcare technology implementation and data management at the Becker's Hospital Review Health IT + Clinical Leadership 2018 conference, May 10 to May 11 in Chicago. The panel included:
• Angela Lewis, director of clinical informatics at Tenet Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, Calif.
• Bhavik Thakur, MD, CEO of ZipDoc — a HappyDocs Innovation
• Tamara R. Schaeffer, BSN, RN, executive director of quality and risk, acute care services at Indianapolis-based Community Health Network
• Carola Endicott, vice president of product strategy at Cardinal Health Inventory Management Solutions
• Wyatt Yelverton, health solutions executive, Lenovo
Ms. Schaeffer discussed the benefits of EMRs and being able to gather lots of data.
"With EMRs we focus on outcomes. We have more data, and as that data gets more integrated there is so much data to help us understand patients and what is going to happen to them...You can pull that data and find where you need to improve. We are trying to get ahead of the infection. We are looking at analytics down to each unit for each element of each [evidence-based] bundle. That partnership, getting the data out of the EMR and using it to make changes is going to be key."
Ms. Lewis noted the difference between technology deployment and true provider adoption.
"Happy clinicians and happy providers mean happy patients. We have implemented apps for patient experience and are implementing hourly rounding. There is a difference between implementation and adoption. If you automate bad processes, you may make things even more unsafe for patients."
Ms. Endicott brought up the importance of automation in supply chain management.
"One reason there are delays with [technology] implementation is that we take for granted the status quo because we think there isn't a solution for something or we can't afford it...Being able to automate [supply chain] processes with the better standards, [is important.] And automation allows you to gather data to improve your supply chain operations and management."
Mr. Yelverton discussed the future implications of healthcare technology with the advent of new capabilities, such as artificial intelligence.
"We have a great opportunity to positively impact the lives of our patients and render care self-contained within the data, but when you introduce [artificial intelligence], it scares providers because it raises the possibility we are going to replace jobs. The insight we can adopt for applications of big data and AI is that it is an augmentation component to what we are already practicing. It helps a doctor, nurse, family member provide care in a way that is simplified."
Dr. Thakur, however, noted the increase in technology use and availability of large amounts of data might be leading to provider burnout.
"Burnout is...a question that keeps coming up. How to we leverage technology to achieve the triple aim. What's driving this problem? Three things. One, the problems that existed before the explosion of technology. Two, the advent of EMRs. And three, [the fact that almost] every device has a health component tracking data. Technology is everywhere, and [it is] collecting data with disparate health points. [This] is being pushed out to the provider level. So, should [physicians] do something about it? But it's disparate and not really actionable. So, more and more physicians are burning out."
Editor's note: Quotes have been lightly edited for length and clarity.