Inside CHIME: AEHIX16 Focuses on the Role Technology Plays in Transforming Care

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Weinstock 70x70 11.10.16 by Matthew Weinstock
Director of Communications and Public Relations, CHIME

During the second annual AEHIX Fall Forum, speakers focused on understanding the ROI for such technologies as telemedicine and cloud computing.

At Orlando Health, a telemedicine program for congestive heart failure patients has successfully reduced readmissions. In Oregon, telemedicine is being used to connect with patients in a remote part of the state and avoid lengthy and costly trips to the hospital. These success stories, and others, were highlighted during the second annual AEHIX Fall Forum in Phoenix last week.

The two-day meeting, which brings together CHIME’s three affiliate groups — the Association for Executives in Healthcare Information Applications, the Association for Executives in Healthcare Information Security and the Association for Executives in Healthcare Information Technology — focused on understanding the ROI for such technologies as telemedicine and cloud computing. Bridget Barnes, CIO at Oregon Health & Sciences University, detailed how OHSU set up a telemedicine outpost in Mitchell, OR, nearly 200 miles southwest of Portland, to provide prenatal care, telepsychiatry and other services. OHSU has also utilized telemed to allow parents to check in with their children’s physicians rather than forcing them to drive long distances for post-op checkups.

“We are truly bringing care to people,” Barnes said.

Sitting on a panel to discuss the merits of cloud computing, John Hamm, director of technology support and CTO, Texas Children’s Hospital; Jim Stalder, chief technology officer, Cook Children’s Health Care System; and Peter Rock, director of technical support services, Kaweah Delta Health Care District; outlined some of the key considerations that IT leaders and executives need to consider before moving forward. A thorough cost-benefit analysis is essential, they said.

“What are your service level agreement expectations,” Rock said. “What’s the status of your information and network security?”

But AEHIX16 was all nuts and bolts. George “Buddy” Hickman, executive vice president and CIO, Albany Medical Center, closed things out by recalling a series of life and leadership lessons he’s learned from mentors and friends throughout his life, including:

  • Nurture creativity
  • Play to your strengths
  • Not all good is rewarded, nor bad punished
  • If you are the conductor, your mission is to reach the performers
  • Care sincerely
  • Speak the other person’s language
  • Find your voice
  • Stop and redo if you sound like Dilbert’s boss

More Inside CHIME Volume 1, No. 30: