8/6/2019 Top 10 IT Questions- Staying Ahead of a Constantly Evolving Landscape

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877.802.4593 | www.BESmith.com

Top 10 IT questions: Staying aheadof a constantly evolving landscape

By Rich Miller, MBA, and Mike Supple

In todays fast-moving healthcare environment,

your organizations ability to keep up with the

latest information technology advances is a key

ingredient to long-term success. With myriad IT

demands on the horizon, achieving peak productivity

and financial performance while seamlessly moving

patients through the continuum of care is more

critical and difficult than ever before. Its

time to ask a few tough questions to ensure your

organization is prepared to successfully address the

challenges of a constantly evolving IT landscape.

1. How will you develop an IT plan for thelong-term, when the future is uncertain?First, lay the foundation by meeting the standards

in place today. Then, consider outsourcing manage-

ment of IT infrastructure and generic systems that

dont contribute to patient care or core business

objectives for example, an e-mail system. Nows

the time to take advantage of the many hosting

options on the market. Outsourcing these systems

will allow you to focus your resources on implementing

critical technology and complying with futurestandards as they are being finalized.

2. How will you ensure you have the right ITleadership to address short-term challenges?Seasoned leadership will be crucial to the successful

adoption of new technology. However, its also

important to remain flexible as your organizations

IT needs change. One way to stay nimble and control

costs in a changing environment while ensuring

you have best-in-class IT leaders in place to address

short-term initiatives is to leverage the interim

option. Interim IT leaders with a clinical background

are particularly valuable, since they understand how

information technology impacts patient care and can

successfully integrate IT with clinical operations.

3. How will you leverage IT to reap the benefits ofparticipating in an accountable care organization (ACO)?To take full advantage of the financial benefit an ACO

offers, youll need an effective IT infrastructure to

automate manual processes and integrate systems to

gain efficiencies. Designing a system that allows

organizations to share data with each other, physicians

and patients presents a complex challenge. To

prepare, establish partnerships with firms that have

a proven track record of building these systems and

meet with other healthcare organizations in your

market to start constructing plans for data sharing.

4. Is IT a competitive weapon or an expensewithin your organization?Historically, healthcare professionals viewed IT as

a way to send the bills out and make sure the orga-

nization is getting paid. Many are realizing that in

addition to impacting profitability, information can

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be as valuable to quality care as a stethoscope or a prescription.

To remain competitive in todays market, a providers IT capability

needs to function on a higher level than rival organizations.

5. Are you part of a Health Information Exchange (HIE)?Sharing patient information through a single, authoritative source

is an exciting vision. Today, the process of supplying the same data

to every provider is error-ridden and frustrating for the patient.

HIEs present an ideal solution for solving the challenges patients

experience as they seek care from providers employed by separate

and competing organizations. Healthcare IT leaders must support

the concept of an HIE in their communities, either by participating

in an existing initiative or by leading an effort to establish one.

6. How secure is your data?

Data security technology is quickly evolving. IT departments thatcan keep up with the latest innovations are rare. And with both

physicians and patients using personal devices to access health

data, its no longer possible to use a traditional closed security

setting yet security requirements are as stringent as ever. To

keep data secure under these circumstances, many IT leaders

are starting to rely on external expertise with the ability to stay

current on the latest technology advances.

7. How will you ensure your organization qualifies for federalstimulus funding for meaningful use of EHR?

With Stage 1 in effect and $27 billion in reimbursement and

penalties at stake, its crucial for providers to position themselvesto meet meaningful use requirements, or theyll be leaving money

on the table. In many cases, organizations with considerable

resources have been investing toward this goal for years and

may already have the platforms in place to implement the new

technology requirements. One solution for those that dont

currently have the internal expertise to address this issue is to

bring in an interim IT expert who can quickly assess the situation

and develop an action plan for meeting meaningful use requirements

on time to qualify for stimulus dollars.

8. Whats your adoption strategy for ICD-10 coding?The transition to ICD-10 coding in October of 2013 represents a

vast leap in complexity and will require a substantial investment in

training and management. And, each payer will migrate to the newcoding system at a different time, which will be challenging for

providers. In order to be ahead of the curve when the new stan-

dards go into effect, it is crucial to develop a plan for training staff

and physicians and designing processes to ensure proper usage. In

addition to preparing internally, eliminate any potential surprises

by working with significant payer organizations to understand

their ICD-10 change plans before the transition takes place.

9. Does your team have experience in multiple IT platforms?With the rising prevalence of ACOs that will demand greater data

sharing capability, the need for multiple platform experience in

providers IT departments will increase, in both the acute careand ambulatory settings. This means it will be critical to assemble

a contemporary team of IT professionals whether internal or

external who have worked within the various available platforms

and possess the flexibility to quickly acquire new knowledge and

skills in an ever-changing technology market.

10. What is your technology optimization and usage adoption strategy?Theres a lapse in time often months to years from when health-

care workers begin using new technology to when its benefit becomes

evident in their daily jobs. For many, especially those who are slower

to adopt new technology, this can make it difficult to see the value, so

naturally they resist the change. Additionally, training and processesmust meet the needs of both novices and experts. IT leaders who offer

a proven track record in the design and implementation of successful

technology adoption/optimization programs will be invaluable.

Next stepsThe answers to these 10 questions will help you gauge your IT teams

readiness with the issues on the immediate horizon. No matter where

your organizations IT capability stands today, help is available to

ensure youre well prepared for the complex challenges that lie ahead.

Top 10 IT Questions: Staying ahead of a constantly evolving landscape

2011 B. E. Smith, Inc. WP0211

B. E. Smith: Integrated Healthcare Leadership SolutionsFounded in 1978, B. E. Smith is a full-service leadership solutions

firm for healthcare providers. B. E. Smiths comprehensive suite

of services includes Interim Leadership, Permanent Executive

Placements and Consulting Solutions. The company is comprised

of veteran healthcare leaders who partner with each client to

create a solution that uniquely fits that clients individual needs.

Recently, B. E. Smith placed more than 600 leaders into health-

care organizations worldwide.

For more information, visit www.BESmith.com or call 877.802.4593.

Rich Miller, MBA,is senior vice president of IT and Talent Strategies atB. E. Smith. A results-oriented leader, Miller excels in the design and

implementation of leading-edge information technologies, as well as building

IT teams with a commitment to quality, execution and operational excellence.

Formerly the CIO of a leading health information systems company with

$2 billion in annual revenue, Miller has served in numerous senior executive

roles during his 25-year career in IT.

Mike Supple is senior vice president of Business Development at

B. E. Smith. With more than 20 years of leadership experience working

within the health information technology solutions industry including

both the acute care and ambulatory markets he leads healthcare

organizations through new solutions offerings and IT issue resolution.