Healthcare IT & Transformation

Clinically Drive Projects

Don’t just say your clinical system projects are clinically-driven. Make them clinically-driven! Anything less could fail. I’m not saying its easy. It can be challenging in any environment but the perception alone that a clinical system project is IT-driven can cause resistance, limited participation and even ultimate failure.

So what does it mean to be clinically-driven? Does it mean physicians and other clinicians make all the decisions? No. It means clinical system projects and the clinical functionality within them are prioritized based on added clinical value. Further the more widespread the effect of the clinical value within the organization the higher the functionality should be prioritized on the list.

Are clinicians involved in functional decisions? Absolutely! Engagement of physicians and other clinicians is to achieving a system which meets their clinical needs. Be prepared to alter your normal engagement strategies!

• Clinician champions should be celebrated within the organization.
• Communicate often and at the convenience of busy docs (early mornings, evenings).
• One of my favorite methods to get participation is always offer food at your clinician communication sessions.
• Get invited to all the meetings and committees they already attend.
• Go on walkabouts with key physicians and see the deficiencies through their eyes.
• Don’t be afraid of naysayers…. embrace them. Fear manifests itself in many ways and one day they will be your champions

So what role should IT play in clinical system projects?

IT is a partner. IT should enable productive business including the business of medicine. IT is key in other areas as well though. They often hold the budget for large clinical system initiatives. IT also often understands the technology components that must be in place in order to achieve the clinical goals. For example, with many integrated clinical information systems there is a significant amount of foundational work that must be done to even be able to implement CPOE. IT’s role is to demonstrate the technology path needed to achieve clinical goals.

If you subscribe to my definition of IT then your IT staff are not just technologists…

• They are transformational thinkers
• They often have clinical or process improvement backgrounds
• They are competent technologists
• They focus on customer service and patient-centricity

There will be challenges for IT to maintain its balanced role but it will pay off with successful implementations. Honesty and a clear, logical plan for progression will take you far. A common pitfall is the clinician desire to implement a standalone specialty product just to solve their isolated clinical issues. IT can play a pivotal role in defining the greater good of collaborating towards clinical value for the entire organization and sometimes the community and beyond. Whether the organization’s strategy is one of an integrated clinical system or an interfaced best of breed approach there will be constraints to maintain the integrity of the strategy and achieve the organization wide goals.

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