On October 9th, Dr. Bowers will give a presentation on “Saving Lives in Slow Motion™ – Population Health Built Upon Patient Relationships” at Becker’s Annual Health IT + Revenue Cycle Conference. As part of an ongoing series, Becker’s is talking to healthcare leaders who plan to speak at the conference, which will take place October 9-12, 2019 in Chicago.
To learn more about the conference and Dr. Bowers’ session, click here.
Question: As a leader, how do you stay connected to the actual work that is being done – and not just by watching others execute, but by executing yourself? If so, how do you balance between leading and executing personally?
David Bowers: In my 40+ years as a physician, I’ve always practiced medicine, regardless of whether I was an executive or a front line physician. I believe that in order to have credibility with physicians and to keep one’s finger on the pulse of change it is important to be in touch with the day to day challenges and changes in clinical medicine when one is seen as a clinical leader. I led the development and implementation of a health system electronic medical record and I continued to see patients, thereby experiencing the challenges involved with such a huge undertaking. It also helped me to better understand the process and gave me credibility for success and team building.
Q: What does healthcare need more of? Less of?
DB: One of the high priority initiatives at the Dept. of Veterans Affairs is promoting the implementation of Telemedicine throughout the system. When I was in the private sector and taking care of the general population, it was evident that the early adopters of this technology were younger people. They recognized the ease of access and communication. It led to a reduction in face to face visits and more communication via electronic avenues. With the Veteran population, it has been a more difficult process. Many of our patients are older (thinking about our Vietnam vets) and I realize that the routine appointment with their doctor is an essential part of their connection with their community. The veterans look forward to coming to the medical center and just making a day out of their time there. I see them just hanging out in the lobby or the dining area. It is an important social event for them and one that would be missing when they are on a computer or cell phone with their provider. As Hippocrates said, ” a physician shall not prescribe without feeling the pulse”. I can see the wisdom of that statement in today’s world.
What contributes to better conversations between a health system’s financial and clinical leaders?
At Becker's 4th Annual CEO + CFO Roundtable, taking place November 2–5 in Chicago, more than 1,500 hospital and health system executives tackle decisions that determine whether organizations thrive or merely survive: protecting margins under cost pressure, choosing where to grow, renegotiating payer relationships, stabilizing the workforce and proving real ROI on technology. This is where leaders work through them together, face-to-face. Apply for complimentary registration now.
