When AtlantiCare’s executive team decided it was time to transform patient care vision, CEO Michael Charlton knew they had to go all-in. They developed and rolled out Vision 2030 as an organizational commitment to success.
“What we stood on stage and told the world was, AtlantiCare is done partially solving problems,” he said during an episode of the “Becker’s Healthcare Podcast.” “I think healthcare in this country, we focus on just partially solving problems. We never get to the root cause. So our new philosophy is we’re going to get to the root cause and we’re going to do the hard work to transform.”
But they couldn’t do it alone. AtlantiCare is forging key partnerships, including one with Cleveland Clinic for cancer care, and another with Oracle to become a more digitally engaged health system.
“We were the first healthcare system in the world to sign on to the partnership with Oracle, and it’s about more than just delivering a new EHR. It’s really about the clinical data that backs up the EHR and then what becomes actionable. We have all these shiny new toys we talk about in healthcare, which is incredibly frustrating in my career. First it was the triple aim, then it’s the quadruple aim, then it’s the digital front door. But what I found is that they’re typically a mile wide and an inch deep. There’s not much to them. Our relationship with Oracle is really going to deliver depth here.”
AtlantiCare is integrating all systems enterprisewide with Oracle’s platform to ensure continuity of care. They’re taking a longitudinal view of maintaining patient health status and expanding access to care. In partnership with neighboring academic institutions, AtlantiCare is also working on solving social issues including homelessness and life expectancy.
“It’s incredibly exciting work right now and we’re laser focused on achieving these goals and not partially solving any of these problems anymore,” said Mr. Charlton. He added, “The key to any great organization is making sure you have singleness of purpose.”
Mr. Charlton is proud of how quickly AtlantiCare is transforming, especially given the complexity of healthcare organizations. He believes building the right relationships with team members, patients, community members and partners will continue to drive organizational success.
“We have a lot of people in the industry, and in most industries, that their knowledge is a mile wide and about an inch deep, and that frustrates me because we start looking at shiny new toys, whether it’s technology, whether it’s new leadership styles, but the core of everything is about relationships,” he said. “You have to build the relationships and build the trust because we’re all going to have difficult conversations. There’s going to be creative tension as you transform organizations, and you’ve got to have some karma in the bank. If there’s no karma in the bank, if there’s no trust, you’re not moving the needle.”
Most change management initiatives fail, and Mr. Charlton is well aware of the risks. That’s why he’s become a deep learner around leadership and philosophy, leaning into core relationships.
“You build those relationships, you create an environment of trust and holistic learning where people are curious and they’re confident to have creative tension in the room,” he said. “I think you have a very strong organization, and you have a path to success.”
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