Ballad Health Cio: technology should “fade in the background”

During its five years at the IOC of Johnson City, Ballad Health, based in Tennessee, Pam Austin helped the architect at a digital transformation at the system level focused on the rationalization of technology, improving the workflows of clinicians and the expansion of access to care through the largely rural imprint of the organization.

One of the most impactful projects that Austin has led is the standardization of Ballad’s technological infrastructure in its 20 hospitals – half of which serve rural communities – by consolidating systems and in transition to a single unified epic platform.

This effort was to reduce redundant applications and stimulate conviviality for clinicians, she said. Austin stressed that conviviality is a crucial part of digital transformation.

“We are working in close collaboration with our members of the front-line team in clinical fields to understand their workflows and what their points of pain are. We are talking about their use of the DME and what a better experience should look like, because conviviality is critical-if a tool adds more clicks or complexity, that will not last,” she said.

She thinks that most tools should simply “fade in the background” – which means that they work behind the scenes to allow more face time between patients and providers. The ultimate goal is to ensure that technology supports, rather than complexes, care provision, especially in rural communities, serve them.

In rural areas, the largest obstacle is not technology – it is change management, Austin noted.

“In rural communities, you will see that patients often have long -standing relationships with their suppliers directly. And then we introduce digital care models such as Télésanté – so that it must be done with care, not a disturbance. We have to take a patient = first approach. We focus on intuitive tools and suppliers. Adoption occurs faster, ”she explained.

She also noted that all IT initiatives at Ballad are starting by meeting a clear clinical and / or operational need – the health system does not simply implement technology for technology.

In Austin’s opinion, CIOs should be more strategic than ever.

“We must be forward – looking at the technology that descends the pipe and preparing our organization accordingly. And then we integrate analysts and managers and directors in each of the operational areas – we therefore understand what is happening in the income cycle, in the pharmacy, in the laboratory, in radiology, in nursing and with our suppliers, both on the outpatient and in the active field. Remember.

His work underlines how health ISSIs are no longer just computer leaders – but now the main engines of culture, quality of care and organizational cohesion.

Source: Metamorworks, Getty Images