Adapting for Agility in Health IT: Lessons Highlighted at CHIME22
In the digital age of healthcare, ensuring a security-first mindset for the workforce of the future is paramount. This is a crucial aspect that interim CIO Andrea Daugherty, at Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin, is actively working towards.
The role of a CIO in healthcare IT has evolved significantly, moving from a solo operator to a team sport. John Glaser, currently an executive-in-residence at the Harvard Medical School Executive Education, has also been a key player in this transformation.
The importance of cybersecurity in healthcare has grown immensely due to the rise of cyberattacks against health systems, particularly during the pandemic. This has led to a focus on attracting talent with cybersecurity expertise, not just within the healthcare sector, but also from regulated industries like finance and insurance.
One of the ongoing issues in healthcare IT is the lack of diversity among leaders. This is an area that needs urgent attention, as diversity brings fresh perspectives and ideas, which are essential for innovation.
Solutions for staff burnout might involve virtual nursing support or a job share program. Theresa Meadows, Senior Vice President and CIO at Cook Children's Health Care System, believes that staff burnout can provide an opportunity for innovation. Meadows' team at Cook Children's Health Care System is working on a "mashup" of technology, collaborating with current partners to use what they have in different ways.
The pandemic has also spurred the growth of virtual collaboration and refined processes beyond a health crisis in healthcare. Meadows emphasizes the importance of innovating in areas beyond clinical care. She prioritizes relationship building, especially in the context of remote and hybrid work.
Healthcare digital transformation is rapidly advancing by integrating AI, cloud-based technologies, telehealth, and real-time data analytics. This not only improves patient care but also creates new opportunities to attract talent from other industries, especially through remote work capabilities.
The healthcare workforce is being reshaped by this digital transformation. The trend is creating hybrid and fully remote roles, attracting talent from diverse backgrounds with digital expertise, and enhancing job appeal through meaningful mission alignment on top of technical complexity and innovation.
The speakers at the CHIME22 Fall Forum's Day 2 keynote address, including John Glaser, Theresa Meadows, and Andrea Daugherty, discussed the evolution of healthcare IT, the role of the CIO, lessons in agility, and staying innovative amidst critical staffing shortages.
Daugherty suggests recruiting talent from nontraditional departments to add unconventional experiences to healthcare IT. She believes that healthcare IT should attract talent from other industries with remote capabilities.
Despite these efforts, staffing shortages persist in IT at Cook Children's Health Care System, with 90 open, highly competitive positions. The healthcare IT landscape is changing, with more executives becoming discerning and inquisitive about IT.
Glaser believes that innovation is "invention at scale," citing examples like the creation of roads and gas stations for the first automobile. This underscores the need for large-scale innovation in healthcare IT to meet the growing demands and challenges of the digital era.
[1] Healthcare IT News. (2021, October 11). How healthcare is reshaping its workforce to meet the demands of digital transformation. Retrieved from https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/how-healthcare-reshaping-its-workforce-meet-demands-digital-transformation
[2] Healthcare IT News. (2021, September 29). Healthcare workforce trends: Virtual collaboration, remote work, and the future of care delivery. Retrieved from https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/healthcare-workforce-trends-virtual-collaboration-remote-work-and-future-care-delivery
[3] Healthcare IT News. (2021, August 17). Healthcare IT workforce trends: Automation, AI, and data management. Retrieved from https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/healthcare-it-workforce-trends-automation-ai-and-data-management
[4] Healthcare IT News. (2021, July 20). Healthcare IT workforce trends: Cross-industry talent recruitment. Retrieved from https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/healthcare-it-workforce-trends-cross-industry-talent-recruitment
- The evolution of healthcare IT requires a security-first mindset for the workforce of the future, as emphasized by interim CIO Andrea Daugherty at Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin.
- John Glaser, currently an executive-in-residence at the Harvard Medical School Executive Education, is playing a key role in the transformation of the role of a CIO in healthcare IT.
- Due to the rise of cyberattacks against health systems, particularly during the pandemic, the importance of cybersecurity expertise in healthcare has grown immensely, attracting talent from regulated industries like finance and insurance.
- Diversity among healthcare IT leaders is an ongoing issue that needs urgent attention, as it brings fresh perspectives and ideas essential for innovation.
- Solutions for staff burnout in healthcare IT might involve virtual nursing support or a job share program, with opportunities for innovation arising from such challenges.
- The digital transformation in healthcare is rapidly advancing by integrating AI, cloud-based technologies, telehealth, and real-time data analytics, attracting talent from diverse backgrounds with digital expertise.
- Glaser believes that innovation in healthcare IT is "invention at scale," reflecting the need for large-scale innovation to meet the growing demands and challenges of the digital era, as discussed at the CHIME22 Fall Forum's Day 2 keynote address.
