In the fast-paced and ever-changing world of healthcare, uncertainty is the only certainty. From global pandemics to cybersecurity threats, regulatory shifts, and economic downturns, healthcare IT leaders are forced to constantly navigate stormy seas. As an IT Leader, we must lead with confidence and compassion, demonstrate strength and understanding. Uncertainty[…]
Protecting Trusted Guardrails: The Perils of Removing Essential Protections
Guardrails – whether physical, organizational, or behavioral – are vital mechanisms that ensure safety, protect privacy, maintain standards, safeguard free expression, and shield individuals from both their own actions and the influence of those in power. They provide guidance across diverse contexts, from physical infrastructure and organizational governance to clinical[…]
Beyond the Status Quo: 16 Transformative Steps for Healthcare in the Digital Age – Part 2
It’s that time of year again when prognosticators and futurists compile a top 10 list for the upcoming year. This blog focuses on healthcare writ large and healthcare IT (HIT) where overlaps are common. Given the increasing complexity of this shared environment, this top 10 list grew to 16. This[…]
Beyond the Status Quo: 16 Transformative Steps for Healthcare in the Digital Age – Part 1
It’s that time of year when prognosticators and futurists compile a top 10 list for the coming year. This blog focuses on healthcare writ large and healthcare IT (HIT) where overlaps are common. Given the increasing complexity of this shared environment, this top 10 list grew to 16. This is[…]
11 Steps to Prepare for 2025 – Big Challenges – Bigger Opportunities
If you’re fortunate enough to work in healthcare and IT, every year presents a significant mix of big challenges and even bigger opportunities. 2025 is no exception. One of HIT’s paradigms for approaching challenges is to focus on people, process, and technology – technology being the easiest of the three.[…]
Show the Strength of Wisdom: Choose Kindness
As new parents, we wanted to instill an important life lesson in our children. From a very young age, we often asked them the same question repeatedly: “What is the most important thing to remember?” Their answer was simple: “Be nice.” Over time, however, my children – wise beyond their[…]
Future Proof Your IT Environment: Strategies to Address Technology Debt
Addressing technology debt[i] in the health IT environment is crucial for ensuring patient safety, regulatory compliance, efficiency, data security, scalability, innovation, and cost efficiency. Healthcare IT professionals and their organizations must leverage technology effectively to deliver high-quality care while staying competitive in an evolving healthcare landscape. There are many factors[…]
Safeguarding Our Digital Foundations: The Case for Cybersecurity as a Utility
Cybersecurity is an international challenge. Cybersecurity threats are on the rise. Bad actors, including those that are nation-sponsored, focus on vulnerable targets and critical infrastructures. Healthcare has become a favorite target. The news media has been flooded by reports that the Change Healthcare cyberattack is having ‘far-reaching’ effects on providers,[…]
Technology Debt – when your infrastructure has been ignored too long
“What do you mean “there is an executive level downtime committee that meets weekly”? As I stated this, I must admit I was a bit incredulous. Although it was only my first week as CIO at a large academic medical center, I had never encountered in my prior 8 years[…]
Auditors Should be a Leader’s Best Friend
It’s January, a new beginning in many ways. It’s common as a New Year approaches to spend some time thinking about, hopefully celebrating, the past and planning for the future – from both a personal and professional perspective. That review sometimes elicits resolutions – to improve, to make a brighter,[…]