Charting the Course: Cook Children’s Journey to a Tech-Empowered Nursing Future

Russ, President & CEO, CHIME

Charity Darnell, MSN, RN, Vice President, Chief Clinical Informatics Officer, Cook Children’s Health Care System  

Imagine a future where 95% of the administrative tasks nurses handle are automated. According to CHIME’s President & CEO Russ Branzell, this future is not so distant—he predicts it will be a reality in as little as five years. On today’s Leader to Leader podcast episode, Russ is joined by two leaders from the prestigious Cook Children’s team, Charity Darnell, Vice President and Chief Clinical Informatics Officer, and CHIME’s 2023 CIO of the Year, Theresa Meadows, who weigh in on this bold vision. They also provide their own insights on how emerging technology will be leveraged in the future to reduce nursing burdens and ultimately drive better clinical outcomes for patients.

During this insightful episode, Charity and Theresa offer a glimpse into the innovative strategies Cook Children’s is adopting and exploring to address nursing shortages and combat burnout, aiming to enhance overall experiences for providers and patients alike. From virtual assistants to ambient listening, they outline opportunities for leveraging emerging technology to decrease the operational burden on nurses and improve communication pathways. The conversation also delves into the significant role that mentoring and ensuring alignment between IT and operations plays in an organization’s ability to effectively address the challenges posed by the nursing shortage. Join us as we unravel the future of healthcare and how emerging technology, in the hands of forward-thinking leaders, has the power to revolutionize patient care and nurse well-being.