There is one thing that is amazing about working in healthcare. No matter what your role, we all continue to drive toward a similar mission... do good for those you have the privilege to serve! Your role may be in a healthcare organization or a vendor serving that organization, at the end of the day everything we do is for common goals...improve healthcare delivery and reduce cost.
That was the excitement from HIMSS 2012. We are all in this together.
Earlier in the week at the CHIME CIO Forum, the theme was we are all in this together...and as CIOs; we have a ton of responsibility on our shoulders to work with our executive colleagues to make things happen and provide a leadership role. Especially since the tools of technology and change management will make a significant impact.
It all boils down to a simple concept... communicate with each other.
Talk about fears and concerns...
Talk about change...
Talk about skills or lack there of... but also...
Talk about potential...
Talk about what is in and what is out of our control...
Talk about the future... and then... plan & execute because in the end, we are trying to improve healthcare delivery and reducing cost in our system as an industry, as a community and as a nation.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Time Has Passed ... But The Goal Remains
It has been a long time since my last post to this blog. I took some time to reflect over the holidays with my family and close friends. Early in the year, I decided it was time to make a move not for career but for my family. I stepped down as a CIO to begin the process of moving back to the Boston area. My wife and I are both originally from that area and look forward to spending more time with family and friends.
With this decision came a decision to take on a new opportunity with a different company. I find myself on the "dark" side working for a great vendor. One that is innovative and is bringing many great solutions to the market. What I find funny is that my philosophy has not changed but rather the scope of positive impact I can make in the industry has changed. I am responsible to assist our clients in the Midwest region with their adoption of the technology and to achieve their strategic and operational goals using this technology. As I firmly believe, technology is only 20% of the equation....the other 80% comes from the way we use the technology and become meaningful users.
Healthcare is important to us all and many of us on the inside may not follow our own advice. Recently I learned about some family medical history that I was not aware of but certainly is important for me to know. I recalled a conversation with my primary care doctor during my last physical (when that was, I will leave blank as it was long ago) and he mentioned that I need to learn more about the family medical history. Think about his comment as 20% of the technology equation (provided me data) but I did not do much with it until recently (the 80% part of the equation). So I did not become a meaningful user of medical advice. I am now. My next physical is pending my primary care doctor’s availability. Nice doctor and worth the wait for his service and advice which I will now become a meaningful user of the information he provides.
A Meaningful User of electronic health records and a meaningful user of medical advice have one thing in common.... the user needs to change their past practice. Everyone wins in the end
With this decision came a decision to take on a new opportunity with a different company. I find myself on the "dark" side working for a great vendor. One that is innovative and is bringing many great solutions to the market. What I find funny is that my philosophy has not changed but rather the scope of positive impact I can make in the industry has changed. I am responsible to assist our clients in the Midwest region with their adoption of the technology and to achieve their strategic and operational goals using this technology. As I firmly believe, technology is only 20% of the equation....the other 80% comes from the way we use the technology and become meaningful users.
Healthcare is important to us all and many of us on the inside may not follow our own advice. Recently I learned about some family medical history that I was not aware of but certainly is important for me to know. I recalled a conversation with my primary care doctor during my last physical (when that was, I will leave blank as it was long ago) and he mentioned that I need to learn more about the family medical history. Think about his comment as 20% of the technology equation (provided me data) but I did not do much with it until recently (the 80% part of the equation). So I did not become a meaningful user of medical advice. I am now. My next physical is pending my primary care doctor’s availability. Nice doctor and worth the wait for his service and advice which I will now become a meaningful user of the information he provides.
A Meaningful User of electronic health records and a meaningful user of medical advice have one thing in common.... the user needs to change their past practice. Everyone wins in the end
Friday, November 19, 2010
The Thankful CIO
As we approach the Thanksgiving week and prepare to celebrate with friends, families and a few football games, I thought it would be a good idea to post what I am thankful for in my life. I am absolutely thankful for my family and my friends. I am also thankful for those who stand up for freedom and serve our country. There are so many ways to serve our country. Teachers, Police and Fire, Parents raising good kids who understand what it means to be an American . We also have many brave men and women serving over seas who make a great sacrifice and deserve our thanks not just next week but every day of the year. If you see a military member in full dress, just a hat or even a license plate that states veteran, take a moment and say thank you! It is one regret I have in my life that I never served but as a good friend told me as he headed off to serve, my job was to take care of my family and help his while he was gone. I hope I served him well.
I am also thankful for what I do in health care. It was not long ago when I did not know what I wanted to be when I grow up. Do you know what is interesting? I am so passionate about what I do in health care, it actually feels like it is keeping me young. It is a great feeling and every day is a challenge. Some days end very well and others not so well but I just continually learn and adjust. One of my colleagues recently told me " If you were in a job that you were not intellectually challenged, you would probably go nuts!" She is right!
The intellectual challenge is not only from people much smarter than me but also from front line staff who have wonderful ideas that I have never even thought of over my fifteen years doing what I do. I have a very open door leadership style. If you have an idea, I have a large whiteboard where you can draw it and have a discussion. I love to see the passion in the eyes of people when they talk through their idea. Some of these ideas work and some do not but the process is what counts at the end. This brings me to the next thing for which I am thankful.
I am thankful for the supervisor (at an unnamed vendor) told me that I would not succeed when I openly told her I was interested in interviewing for a position with a large client. I used the chain of command at that organization all the way to the VP to explain why I was interested in this move. Everyone else was supportive except for the supervisor. So I am thankful that she challenged me by telling me I would not succeed! I moved on and did an excellent job!
I am thankful for a great man I worked for at a national health care company who taught me the working parameters of a good project manager. Increased my confidence and allowed me to make the decisions needed for the success of the project. I am thankful for being mentored by a CEO in a small community hospital in CA who taught me the relationship between a CEO and a young IT Director. My job was to provide him information, he would add his judgement and together collaborated on decisions. I am thankful for another great person who recognized my talent and then called me three years later for my first CIO role. I am thankful for the many physicians, nurses, executives, board members that recognized my talent and provided me with great opportunities. However...I am most thankful for my staff whose talent, dedication, hard work and passion make things happen and make me look successful! Thank you to those dedicated professionals and folks that I have the privilege to recognize as colleagues.
Also, one other thing. A great quote I recently read:
"Behind every successful man is a woman saying "Who? Him? I don't think so."
Thank you especially to my wife and kids who have dealt with the many career moves and they smile every step of the way but at times, I know they want to kick me in the pants.
So on this Thanksgiving take time to appreciate and be thankful for the important things in life. Your family, friends and opportunities that you have been presented with through your life. Without these, I would not be where I am today but rather somewhere else with less passion and less happiness probably...and certainly not feeling younger. I could not imagine doing something different than working in health care to make it better!
I am a Thankful CIO!
I am also thankful for what I do in health care. It was not long ago when I did not know what I wanted to be when I grow up. Do you know what is interesting? I am so passionate about what I do in health care, it actually feels like it is keeping me young. It is a great feeling and every day is a challenge. Some days end very well and others not so well but I just continually learn and adjust. One of my colleagues recently told me " If you were in a job that you were not intellectually challenged, you would probably go nuts!" She is right!
The intellectual challenge is not only from people much smarter than me but also from front line staff who have wonderful ideas that I have never even thought of over my fifteen years doing what I do. I have a very open door leadership style. If you have an idea, I have a large whiteboard where you can draw it and have a discussion. I love to see the passion in the eyes of people when they talk through their idea. Some of these ideas work and some do not but the process is what counts at the end. This brings me to the next thing for which I am thankful.
I am thankful for the supervisor (at an unnamed vendor) told me that I would not succeed when I openly told her I was interested in interviewing for a position with a large client. I used the chain of command at that organization all the way to the VP to explain why I was interested in this move. Everyone else was supportive except for the supervisor. So I am thankful that she challenged me by telling me I would not succeed! I moved on and did an excellent job!
I am thankful for a great man I worked for at a national health care company who taught me the working parameters of a good project manager. Increased my confidence and allowed me to make the decisions needed for the success of the project. I am thankful for being mentored by a CEO in a small community hospital in CA who taught me the relationship between a CEO and a young IT Director. My job was to provide him information, he would add his judgement and together collaborated on decisions. I am thankful for another great person who recognized my talent and then called me three years later for my first CIO role. I am thankful for the many physicians, nurses, executives, board members that recognized my talent and provided me with great opportunities. However...I am most thankful for my staff whose talent, dedication, hard work and passion make things happen and make me look successful! Thank you to those dedicated professionals and folks that I have the privilege to recognize as colleagues.
Also, one other thing. A great quote I recently read:
"Behind every successful man is a woman saying "Who? Him? I don't think so."
Thank you especially to my wife and kids who have dealt with the many career moves and they smile every step of the way but at times, I know they want to kick me in the pants.
So on this Thanksgiving take time to appreciate and be thankful for the important things in life. Your family, friends and opportunities that you have been presented with through your life. Without these, I would not be where I am today but rather somewhere else with less passion and less happiness probably...and certainly not feeling younger. I could not imagine doing something different than working in health care to make it better!
I am a Thankful CIO!
Friday, October 8, 2010
Goodbye Phoenix and thank you to CHIME!
This week was a fantastic week spending time with professional colleagues from around the country representing thousands of hospitals. There were many excellent educational sessions and plenty of time to network. Over 750 attendees with most of the attendees being CIOs in healthcare.
As I made the rounds and chatted with many people, it became rather clear. We are all addressing similar issues and the role of the healthcare CIO is rapidly changing... for the better I believe but some are struggling with their leadership's view on the CIO role. At this time in healthcare history, the CIO role, expertise, knowledge and ability to look across an organization rather than a silo is extremely important. If meaningful use is not achieved, it will become the CIOs issue. Why? It's a simple person to blame and the excuses are easy. Go ahead and pick one:
1) The wrong technology was selected and since the CIO deals with technology..Bang!
2) The physicians didn't accept the technology and therefore the fault of the CIO.. Bang!
3) Meaningful use? How can we achieve that without physician acceptance and since the docs are not accepting the technology...Bang!
OK, so what is a CIO to do? I think it's decision time for all CIOs. Are you in the right organization? Use your vision and see where the ship is heading. Right direction? If not, how can we change the course? Very easy... by using the structure of the organizational complexities to our benefit which will be the benefit of the organization in the long run. But, this can only be done if you are able to have the opportunity to have the conversation with key leaders. But wait, what if you do not have that opportunity... if an organization does not value the CIO role and important function as part of the transformational leadership team then you have two choices:
1) Go find another CIO role
2) Go into consulting
Many opportunities with both options but at the end, if you believe in the purpose of the CIO, you will not only probably be happier professionally but also be more meaningful to healthcare and the patients we have the privilege to serve... Become the Meaningful CIO.
As I made the rounds and chatted with many people, it became rather clear. We are all addressing similar issues and the role of the healthcare CIO is rapidly changing... for the better I believe but some are struggling with their leadership's view on the CIO role. At this time in healthcare history, the CIO role, expertise, knowledge and ability to look across an organization rather than a silo is extremely important. If meaningful use is not achieved, it will become the CIOs issue. Why? It's a simple person to blame and the excuses are easy. Go ahead and pick one:
1) The wrong technology was selected and since the CIO deals with technology..Bang!
2) The physicians didn't accept the technology and therefore the fault of the CIO.. Bang!
3) Meaningful use? How can we achieve that without physician acceptance and since the docs are not accepting the technology...Bang!
OK, so what is a CIO to do? I think it's decision time for all CIOs. Are you in the right organization? Use your vision and see where the ship is heading. Right direction? If not, how can we change the course? Very easy... by using the structure of the organizational complexities to our benefit which will be the benefit of the organization in the long run. But, this can only be done if you are able to have the opportunity to have the conversation with key leaders. But wait, what if you do not have that opportunity... if an organization does not value the CIO role and important function as part of the transformational leadership team then you have two choices:
1) Go find another CIO role
2) Go into consulting
Many opportunities with both options but at the end, if you believe in the purpose of the CIO, you will not only probably be happier professionally but also be more meaningful to healthcare and the patients we have the privilege to serve... Become the Meaningful CIO.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
The Team - Your role as GM, coach and mentor
I do not think that it should take a CIO in any industry a long time to understand the importance of their team. I guess the first question is " do you consider your employees staff members or team members?". There is a difference I have found over the years. It makes more of a difference for me on a professional level. If I look at the group as "staff" it becomes easier to just let them do their jobs. If I consider the same group "team members", I have a different level of interest in making sure they succeed... simply because I am in the same game and also a member of this team. My role is not a player but rather the GM, Coach, Mentor, Hitting Instructor, Pitching Coach, etc.... the funny thing is... I'm not a great baseball player but then again, we are not playing baseball. We are playing a different game called Healthcare, which is not a game by any definition.
While sitting at a bar enjoying an ice cold beverage this evening, ESPN is showing a recap of the 2004 American League Championship Series Game 6. By full disclosure, I love the Sox!!! Yankees not so much but you do have to hand it to some Yankees. Joe Torre is baseball! Amazing! What made the Sox successful in 2004? I don't think we will ever completely know but as a Boston fan, we will take it. What I did notice in 2004 and also during the recap, there was an environment that could be felt. There was a certain energy that cylinders were firing at the right time. Everyone was doing their part..even Schilling!! However, it was the team that executed and executed well.
To achieve what we need to do in healthcare, our team members must execute well on a daily basis. Healthcare is complex. We must understand it from a technical level as well as operational. There is no longer a role for the CIO to function only as the technical expertise. We are change agents in healthcare. We must take the lead role to facilitate conversations and sometimes those conversations are tough based on the organizational complexities we face at times. It is our role to invest in the front line but also address the front office executives as we move our organizations into the future of healthcare.... ok...who is ready to be the 2004 Sox!! In order to do so, we must take a lead role and be the Meaningful CIO that healthcare needs for this transition and support of Healthcare Reform..... whatever that may be but something is brewing.
Good luck!
While sitting at a bar enjoying an ice cold beverage this evening, ESPN is showing a recap of the 2004 American League Championship Series Game 6. By full disclosure, I love the Sox!!! Yankees not so much but you do have to hand it to some Yankees. Joe Torre is baseball! Amazing! What made the Sox successful in 2004? I don't think we will ever completely know but as a Boston fan, we will take it. What I did notice in 2004 and also during the recap, there was an environment that could be felt. There was a certain energy that cylinders were firing at the right time. Everyone was doing their part..even Schilling!! However, it was the team that executed and executed well.
To achieve what we need to do in healthcare, our team members must execute well on a daily basis. Healthcare is complex. We must understand it from a technical level as well as operational. There is no longer a role for the CIO to function only as the technical expertise. We are change agents in healthcare. We must take the lead role to facilitate conversations and sometimes those conversations are tough based on the organizational complexities we face at times. It is our role to invest in the front line but also address the front office executives as we move our organizations into the future of healthcare.... ok...who is ready to be the 2004 Sox!! In order to do so, we must take a lead role and be the Meaningful CIO that healthcare needs for this transition and support of Healthcare Reform..... whatever that may be but something is brewing.
Good luck!
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Where to start?
This is a simple yet very interesting question as it begins with many variables that would impact the answer. Where to start depends on your organization structure, organizational complexities, current governance in place, current IT strategy or path and its alignment with meaningful use and most importantly how engaged are the clinicians in the process today....ok...too many variables.... start with a Blocker and Squid assessment.
This simple assessment tool is something that was presented at some conference along the way and I can't even recall who the presenter was or where it was presented. I do think the presenter would be proud that the concept sank in and was applied successfully.
Here it is:
Four quadrants = Blocker, Squid, Allie, Champion
Definition of each:
Blocker = Someone that is completely against the idea and has the ability to influence other key stakeholders. This person could send your initiative is a tailspin rather quickly.
Squid = Not against and not for the initiative. Floats around the topics and is not overly engaged in the process. A squid could communicate that the initiative is not important but also does this by not saying a negative word. Just the actions alone...just like a squid floating in the ocean.''
Allie = Right there with you. Engaged in the process and the initiative but not necessarily taking a lead role
Champion = The person who would stand shoulder to shoulder with you from the beginning to the end. Will stand in front of the hard decisions that are made during a transition to meaningful use and will help influence all of the Blockers, Squids, and Allies to do more for the good of the organization and the overall goals.
Your job = Plot the key stakeholders into the appropriate category.
What are your results? I am going to assume heavy on the Squids and Allies with a couple of Blockers. Is the only champion you? Is it only you and maybe one other person? If you are heavy on the Squids, you have a problem. If you have a few Blockers, who are they? Are they very influential? If yes, you have a problem.
Your goal is to begin to shift your Blockers and Squids. Fill in the Allie box. Build a few Champions. These key stakeholders are not just key stakeholders but also future users of the systems to be deployed to achieve meaningful use. This shift will take time and make sure you have one thing in your toolbox ready to go.... an open schedule for dinner. It may take a few steak dinners to make the shift happen but at the end, the path to meaningful use is much clearer and to have a few friends on the journey with you makes it much more enjoyable....otherwise you have some back seat drivers.
Good luck starting.
This simple assessment tool is something that was presented at some conference along the way and I can't even recall who the presenter was or where it was presented. I do think the presenter would be proud that the concept sank in and was applied successfully.
Here it is:
Four quadrants = Blocker, Squid, Allie, Champion
Definition of each:
Blocker = Someone that is completely against the idea and has the ability to influence other key stakeholders. This person could send your initiative is a tailspin rather quickly.
Squid = Not against and not for the initiative. Floats around the topics and is not overly engaged in the process. A squid could communicate that the initiative is not important but also does this by not saying a negative word. Just the actions alone...just like a squid floating in the ocean.''
Allie = Right there with you. Engaged in the process and the initiative but not necessarily taking a lead role
Champion = The person who would stand shoulder to shoulder with you from the beginning to the end. Will stand in front of the hard decisions that are made during a transition to meaningful use and will help influence all of the Blockers, Squids, and Allies to do more for the good of the organization and the overall goals.
Your job = Plot the key stakeholders into the appropriate category.
What are your results? I am going to assume heavy on the Squids and Allies with a couple of Blockers. Is the only champion you? Is it only you and maybe one other person? If you are heavy on the Squids, you have a problem. If you have a few Blockers, who are they? Are they very influential? If yes, you have a problem.
Your goal is to begin to shift your Blockers and Squids. Fill in the Allie box. Build a few Champions. These key stakeholders are not just key stakeholders but also future users of the systems to be deployed to achieve meaningful use. This shift will take time and make sure you have one thing in your toolbox ready to go.... an open schedule for dinner. It may take a few steak dinners to make the shift happen but at the end, the path to meaningful use is much clearer and to have a few friends on the journey with you makes it much more enjoyable....otherwise you have some back seat drivers.
Good luck starting.
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