Aligning IT with Clinical Care: Providence‘s Strategy for Success
Healthcare IT departments face a constant challenge: ensuring technology truly supports care delivery, rather than hindering it. Providence,a large health system,has made important strides in bridging this gap through a focused strategy centered on training,robust governance,and direct observation of clinical workflows. this article details how they’re achieving alignment, offering valuable lessons for any healthcare association navigating similar complexities.
The Challenge of Application Sprawl & Workflow Variation
Many hospitals struggle with an overwhelming number of applications - often exceeding 2,000. This creates operational and financial burdens. But simply cutting costs isn’t the answer. Effective IT alignment requires understanding that workflows differ dramatically between specialties. A one-size-fits-all approach simply won’t work.
Rationalizing Applications: A collaborative Approach
Providence prioritizes application rationalization, aiming to reduce costs and simplify maintenance. Though, their approach isn’t top-down. as their Chief Digital and Information Officer, Arpan Paliwal, emphasizes, it’s about collaboration.
It’s not an IT initiative; it’s about understanding what your teams are trying to accomplish and identifying existing tools that can meet those needs. Providence leverages governance structures to evaluate new requests against existing solutions. This prevents unneeded purchases and reduces application sprawl.
governance: Empowering Clinical Leaders
The key to successful rationalization is avoiding the perception of IT simply saying “no.” Providence’s governance model ensures decisions are made with clinical and operational leaders. this fosters buy-in and minimizes resistance to change.
Here’s how it works:
Governance Committees: These committees, comprised of stakeholders across the organization, collaboratively evaluate application requests. Service Line Program Managers: Dedicated program managers work closely with specific departments (cardiovascular, surgery, etc.) to identify needs and scalable solutions.If a tool proves successful in one location, it’s considered for enterprise-wide adoption.
Addressing Shadow IT with Understanding
Despite governance efforts, “shadow IT” - applications purchased outside of official channels - remains a challenge, particularly with the ease of cloud-based solutions. Providence doesn’t punish this behavior. Rather, they view it as a learning prospect.
If a team bypasses official channels,the focus is on understanding why. Was communication lacking? Is the governance process too cumbersome? the goal is to improve the system, not stifle innovation.
Practical Steps for IT-Clinical Alignment
Ready to improve IT alignment within your organization? here are actionable steps, inspired by Providence’s success:
Proactive IT Rounding: Regularly visit clinical settings to observe workflows firsthand. Identify pain points and opportunities for betterment.
Staged Training: Don’t rely on one-time onboarding. Layer training throughout the system lifecycle, reinforcing skills during updates and addressing emerging needs.
Empowered Governance: Establish governance committees with strong clinical representation to collaboratively manage application requests and rationalization.
Service Line Focus: Utilize program managers aligned with specific service lines to identify and champion enterprise-wide solutions.
Manage Shadow IT Strategically: Address unauthorized purchases as learning opportunities, focusing on improving communication and streamlining governance. Workflow-Specific Training: Customize vendor-provided training through your internal clinical informatics teams to ensure relevance to your specific workflows.
The Importance of Continuous Learning
Palis offers a crucial piece of advice for healthcare IT leaders: “Constantly learn.” The healthcare landscape is constantly evolving. You must be willing to iterate, adapt, and improve your approach to IT alignment.
By prioritizing collaboration, understanding clinical needs, and embracing continuous improvement, your organization can unlock the full potential of technology to enhance care delivery.
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