Interested CIOs, consultants and analysts may contact the writers until Oct. 8.
Cover Story -- HITECH preparation: "Got people?"
The issue of human resources is going to be a significant one for most hospitals going into the intense phases of preparation to apply for ARRA-HITECH stimulus funds. Given the small number of people in the healthcare industry who have extensive experience with EMR and especially CPOE implementations at the level of execution, hospital and health system CIOs will have to think, plan and act very strategically going forward. On the one hand, there is the distinct possibility of losing highly capable and skilled members of one's own IS team. And on the other hand, there is the strong possibility of being left behind in a nationwide stampede to obtain the best consultants to help prepare and execute EMR/CPOE rollouts, as the entire industry will be seeking skilled help at the same time. This cover story will look at the critical human resources issues involved in this industry-wide push, and will showcase interviews with CIOs and CMIOs, consultants, and industry observers regarding the must-do's and must-don'ts going forward. [email protected]
CLINICAL
Physician documentation in EMRs will be a lynchpin of achieving meaningful use in hospitals, and some are already turning to speech recognition as a documentation solution for the physician narrative. While structured notes can reduce some burden on the physician, finding the correct balance between structured and unstructured notes is a challenge. And while voice recognition can lower an organization’s transcription costs, some docs are not interested in editing their own (possibly error-ridden) voice-recognized notes. How can these offerings be balanced when some high earners want to stick with business as usual? [email protected]
FINANCIAL
For many CIOs, HITECH has pushed a lot of IT initiatives to the back burner — and high on that list is ICD-10. Though it’s still several years away, the potential for losing reimbursement is high. Can CIOs afford to risk waiting on an ICD-10 strategy when they will surely be held accountable by the CFO for any lost revenue? HCI will take a look at IT strategies for the changeover, including governance, project management, new titles, managing outside links, and identifying and mitigating risk. We’ll include the latest timelines and answer the question, when it comes to ICD-10, does a CIO lead or follow? [email protected]
Administrative
In this story, editor Kate Gamble will conduct a one-on-one interview with a hospital CIO who is either planning or involved in a major administrative implementation (document management, staffing/scheduling, patient-flow management, etc.). Gamble would like to discuss your current plans as well as your overall administrative strategy, focusing also on issues like how systems are leveraged to improve operational efficiency, and how the economy is impacting your organization’s plans. Contact: [email protected]
WIRELESS
With fewer intensivists available to treat the higher patient volumes brought on by aging baby boomers and chronic disease patients, hospital leaders are leveraging eICUs to connect providers and patients virtually. This article will examine what is required from an infrastructure standpoint to enable nurses and physicians in rural and satellite locations to communicate with providers in ICUs. We’ll look at the software used to feed real-time data, including vital sign and test results between locations, and the tools used to analyze information and alert staff to potential problems. It will also explore the possible benefits of eICUs, such as more effective use of staff and decreased length of stay for patients, as well as the pitfalls. [email protected]
IMAGING -- Telestroke Programs
Some innovative hospital organizations are beginning to create telestroke programs, which link on-call neurologists and radiologists to emergency department physicians and sometimes even ambulance EMTs, in order to help quickly assess and diagnose patients who may be undergoing strokes. When successful, such programs can dramatically improve patient outcomes. We'll look at what's involved and at the CIO role in facilitating this important type of care advance. [email protected]
Policy
The Best of David Raths’ Policy Blog (Contact: [email protected])
