Who am I? Let’s assume that we’ve solved the positive person identification problem and we know with 100% certainty the identity of the person who’s come for a health or care interaction. Do we really “know” them? I think not. Even today with the proliferation of electronic records and the[…]
Who Belongs at the Center of Everything We Do?
Ask a healthcare system leader where they focus and the answer will generally be the same, “We put the patient at the center of everything we do.” Laudable, but examine how budgets are spent, where efforts are focused, and you’ll find that providers are more often at the center. This[…]
IT Is Reaching Commodity Status – Are You Taking Advantage?
Though my business card says Principal, I’d prefer the term Provocateur. As a year-long challenge to traditional thinking, I have proposed the notion to professional friends and colleagues that many skills, processes, and technology in the healthcare sector have reached commodity status. That change presents great potential benefits for the[…]
CHIME/HIMSS 2019 – Recovering from HIT Hyperstimulation
I just returned from HIMSS19, HIT’s Magic Kingdom appropriately hosted in Orlando, FL at the cavernous Orange County Convention Center. The options for professional growth were immense and overwhelming – how does anyone or even a well-organized team get to attend more than 300 education sessions, visit 1,400 vendor booths,[…]
Prepare to visit HIMSS2019 – Health IT’s Magic Kingdom
The annual HIMSS Conference is upon us. The big question is how to prepare. First step is to visit the HIMSS19 website to review the schedule. Next get comfortable shoes. Then make sure your personal fitness tracker will measure your steps and minutes of exercise for the purposes of explaining[…]
10 Steps to Prepare for 2019 – Big Challenges – Bigger Opportunities
The advent of a New Year finds the media filled with reviews of the past year and Top 10 predictions about the future from esteemed prognosticators. I’d like to join the other forecasters and warmly welcome 2019 with a call to action in a challenging, yet opportunity rich healthcare environment.[…]
Meaningful Communication – 10 Lessons from Life
It ’s not just words, grammar, language, and the medium that are critical to communicating important messages – it’s the process. Every aspect of our being involves communications. Our ability to communicate effectively creates connections that establish trust which builds a bond with benefits for all participants. Not always a[…]
Everyone Must Participate in Making Healthcare Secure!
I just returned from the CHIME and HIMSS events in Las Vegas. I’m recovering from the overstimulation both inside and outside the events. It’s always a treat to see old friends, make some new friends, and enjoy the smorgasbord of education and vendors. If chaos precedes innovation, then I’m happy[…]
Predictions for 2018 – Our Future is Bright
Against my better judgment, I volunteered to author this blog. It’s that time of year when many predictions are published. Both professionals and philosophers alike are aware of the challenges of looking into the future. First the image below speaks volumes to the difficulty of doing so for those professionals[…]
Patients First! Patience Always!
Soon after I began working as a CIO at Presbyterian Healthcare System (PHS) in Dallas in 1992 – 25 years ago – I asked the staff to hang a banner with those 4 words printed with a bold 12-inch font in the data center. It was placed strategically to ensure[…]