By Dr. Sowmya Viswanathan, Chief Physician Executive, Marlene Besnoff, CDI Program Director and Dr. Laura Arline, Chief Quality Officer, BayCare Health System In recent years, the healthcare industry has witnessed significant advancements in technology, particularly in the field of AI. AI is revolutionizing all aspects of healthcare, including Clinical Documentation Integrity (CDI). CDI programs play a critical role in ensuring accurate and comprehensive clinical documentation, which is essential for optimal patient care and reimbursement. By leveraging AI, CDI programs can enhance their effe ..read more

By Ellard Thomas, Director, Patient Access, Providence In today’s dynamic health care environment, particularly in the post-pandemic era, clinicians are continuously striving for excellence in patient care, whether it’s delivered virtually or on premise. However, amidst organizational and economic hurdles, they face mounting pressure due to the escalating demands of an expanding patient population. This, coupled with the challenges of maintaining a healthy work-life balance and sustaining peak performance, often leads to burnout, depersonalization, and stress among dedicated health care profes ..read more

By Joy N. White, Director, Clinical Care Operations & Interim Director, UCI Health In the bustling corridors of healthcare, nurses epitomize dedication and compassion.They tirelessly navigate long shifts, demanding tasks, and emotional strains. Their profession’s relentless pace highlights the overlooked necessity of self-care in their daily lives. Too often, their commitment transcends the boundaries of the profession, embodying a profound commitment to the well-being of others, and self-care frequently becomes a casualty. But there’s a glimmer of hope on the horizon: AI-driven self-care ..read more

Health system economics are increasingly under pressure. Challenged by nationwide clinical staffing shortages, decreasing reimbursements from government and private payors, and the increased administrative burdens associated with a value-based care environment, hospitals are seeking new strategies and solutions to ensure their sustainability. The dynamics of hospital profitability encompass a multitude of factors. On the frontline, patient experience and clinical expertise drive brand loyalty and case volume. Equally critical is back-end operational efficiency, from perioperative utilization t ..read more

By Romil Chadha, CMIO, University of Kentucky Healthcare What is CDSS? Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS) are sophisticated tools that utilize data within electronic health records (EHRs) to help healthcare workers make more reasonable clinical decisions. These systems provide timely, relevant information and patient-specific recommendations to enhance healthcare delivery and, thus, health. By integrating a wealth of medical knowledge, patient data, and other pertinent information, CDSS tools assist in diagnosing, prescribing, and managing patient care. They function as a second set of e ..read more

By Evan D. Collins MD, MBA, Orthopaedic Surgeon and Chief of the Hand & Upper Extremity Center, Houston Methodist As the population ages, the imbalance between the demand for care and providers of care will continue to fuel the need for innovative solutions in our healthcare system. Digital technologies continue to be developed and applying these solutions across the continuum of care is increasingly popular. Surgeons, such as myself, who are directly involved in patient care have witnessed firsthand the evolution of technology from an electronic health record (EHR) to today’s AI-based cli ..read more

By Raja Talati, CMIO, Midway Specialty Care Center I remember when clinical decision support (CDS) tools would tell me to do a mammogram on a male patient and a pap smear on an 85-year-old woman. A lot has changed since that time, and we need to embrace and understand how these incredible tools can help us in population health management (PHM) by reducing unnecessary illness and reigning healthcare spending. CDS has gone a long way since we started using electronic health records (EHRs). At the fundamental level, a well-oiled CDS program should provide real-time guidance to all healthcare prov ..read more

By Christopher J. Kelly, Associate CMIO for Data and Analytics, MultiCare Health System A baby girl comes to the pediatric ophthalmologist. She bounces happily in her mother’s lap but has a pronounced crossed eye. Infantile esotropia is usually a surgical condition. However, there is always a small chance of an underlying neurologic cause. The doctor asks questions about onset, progression and family history, then finds an otherwise unremarkable exam. The risk is of a brain problem is low, but how low? Is the next step surgery or an MRI? Similar questions play out in doctors’ offices thousands ..read more

By Chani A Cordero, CIO, Brooke Army Medical Center A gifted few have a memory of an elephant, smoothly juggling large amounts of information, but many of us rely on reminders. Similar to healthcare, it is impossible to remember every aspect of patient care. Medicine is quite complex, and memory alone cannot keep up with changing best practices, standards of care, and medical technology growth while simultaneously taking care of multiple patients. The relentless pursuit of safety in aviation and the chase for patient safety and quality in healthcare are often studied and compared. One of the w ..read more

By Preet Kukreja, Director, Population Health Initiatives, St. John’s Episcopal Hospital and Kinshuk Saxena, Lead – Commercialization Strategy and Operations, Novartis Kinshuk SaxenaUtilizing AI and Wearable Technology to Democratize Access to Physical Therapy in Underserved Populations through Tele-Rehabilitation When it comes to rehabilitation services, distance and cost should not be barriers to care. Tele-rehabilitation uses technology to bridge these gaps, delivering vital rehab to those who need it most. With over 2 billion people worldwide living with disabilities, innovative solutions ..read more