Clinical Automation Projects That Offer the Clearest ROI
This story will look at the most important core clinical information systems — EMR, CPOE, clinical documentation, eMAR, pharmacy, and PACS — and how CIOs and their teams are deriving ROI from the implementations of those systems. The ROI includes the following: significantly improved clinician workflow; improved patient safety and patient care quality; and improved operational efficiency. In addition, the very ability to participate in P4P programs, which are soon to go mandatory via Medicare, will rely on clinical automation. This story will look at organizations that have reaped significant ROI returns already, and how they view the strategic imperatives in these areas. One key element in all this is the need to optimize clinician workflow and operational efficiency in the context of not enlarging clinical staffs in a time of economic challenge. Contact Mark Hagland
Lean Management/TPS
The financial crisis has impacted hospitals and health systems across the country, and led executive leaders to search for more effective ways to improve processes without exhausting more funds. Rather than just trying to stay afloat during tough economic times, savvy CIOs are implementing lean management methods that focus on streamlining processes, increasing employee satisfaction and enhancing patient care, all while improving the organization’s financial outlook. In this article, we will look at how methods like the Toyota Production System are being leveraged to help eliminate waste and engage the workforce, what best practices are being employed, and how forward-thinking organizations are going lean to take control of their bottom line. Contact Kate Huvane Gamble
Outsourcing
With health organizations facing smaller budgets, executive leaders are considering different options to maintain effective business operations while saving costs. One method CIOs turn to is outsourcing; according to a recent KLAS study, 12 percent of U.S. hospitals with at least 100 beds are now outsourcing a majority or all of the IT department. But does farming out the infrastructure, various IT tasks or even the whole shop really help the bottom line, or is does it make more financial sense to keep IT in-house? In this article, we’ll examine how outsourcing can potentially help — and hurt — health systems, identify what factors may determine whether an organization is a viable candidate for outsourcing (or in-sourcing) and take a hard look at the dollars involved. Contact Kate Huvane Gamble
Palm Vein Scanning/Patient Recognition Technologies
Maintaining identity and preventing fraud has always been a challenge for front-end registration. The use of biometrics for protecting patient privacy while providing prompt and accurate patient ID may seem like something out of the future, but is already at use at hospitals today. Many say palm vein scanning may be a solution to common ADT and billing problems — and a chance to increase revenue. HCI talks with some hospitals that have incorporated this technology into their front end, and others who found that its use in the ED can help identify patients that are comatose or unresponsive. We’ll show you how palm vein scanning not only maintains patient confidentiality, but reduces the cost associated with duplicate medical records. Contact Daphne Lawrence
Patient flow Automation Software
Hospitals are working to alleviate overcrowding by making better use of existing capacity. Several software products, combined with process redesign, promise to reduce time lags in patient flow. What are the keys to attaining ROI from these solutions? What are the pitfalls? This story will spotlight some IT leaders who, in partnership with other hospital officials, have reported solid financial gains by quantifying reductions in bed assignment and room turn-around times, improving patient discharge transportation times, and decreasing incoming and outgoing call volumes for patient accommodations. Contact David Raths
Case Management Optimization/Clinical
As the Medicare RAC Audit Program moves forward and as the CMS/Joint Commission core hospital measures initiative evolves, hospitals' need to document authorizations and clinical details of patient cases is becoming more and more essential to payment, as well as to efficiency. This story will look at the key role that case management optimization/automation will play in this area, and at successes of individual hospital organizations in this sphere. Contact Mark Hagland
Asset Tracking
In a time of increasingly straitened capital budgets, asset tracking will become crucial to optimizing resource use in all clinical departments. This story will look at the strategies leading-edge hospitals and health systems are taking to optimize asset tracking, from the highest-level strategic standpoint. Contact Mark Hagland
Server Management
Server consolidation and virtualization represent an important new technology for controlling the proliferation of infrastructure costs. Hospitals that have implemented virtual servers have seen their footprint shrink, maintenance and energy costs go down, and can tell their staff and communities they are contributing to a greener environment. But what does it take to replace a room full of servers with a slim box? HCI talks to hospitals that have implemented this new technology — and shares the plusses and minuses of the project. Contact Daphne Lawrence
