As I read last week’s fascinating new Nature Digital Medicine article from NYU researchers about why we should and how we must integrate health informatics with operational information technology (IT), I was struck by how similar both the problem and solution are to the challenges of modern patient engagement. Let me explain.
In the olden days (think 2010), patient engagement consisted mostly of hospitals running commercials on TV, radio, and newspapers: “Come to our hospital for your surgery because we have the best doctors, or the best food, and maybe even the highest quality and best outcomes.” Today, we have the concept of the digital front door wherein we contemplate and redesign the patient journey.
The concept of the digital front door revolves around creating a unified, patient-centered interface that simplifies access to healthcare services. It encompasses everything from online appointment scheduling and telehealth services to digital check-ins and personalized health portals. This digital transformation ensures that patients can engage with healthcare providers effortlessly, fostering a more efficient and satisfying healthcare experience.
How does this relate to the potentially esoteric conversation about operational IT departments and health informatics? It’s important to understand that historically, academic health informatics and operational IT departments have operated in silos, which, as the article explains, hinders a health system’s ability to adapt and scale in response to technological advancements. Health informatics, initially developed in academic settings, has traditionally focused on research and innovation, whereas operational IT has managed the infrastructure necessary for hospital functions. The advent of enterprise electronic health records (EHRs) and the digitization of healthcare have necessitated a more collaborative approach between these two domains.
As the NYU researchers point out, healthcare systems that want to leverage their informaticians alongside their operational IT experts must break down unnecessary silos, foster and manage collaboration, and use their technology effectively and intentionally. The parallels between digital integration and patient-centered care are instructive.
In the same way that redesigning the patient journey involves unifying various touchpoints into a seamless experience, merging health informatics and IT requires the dissolution of traditional silos. Historically, health informatics focused on research and innovation while IT managed operational infrastructure. Bringing these two domains together ensures that technological advancements are effectively integrated into everyday clinical practice, much like a digital front door unifies patient interactions.
Redesigning the patient journey requires collaboration between clinical staff, IT professionals, and patient experience experts. Similarly, integrating health informatics and IT calls for a synergistic approach where informaticists and IT teams work together. This collaboration ensures that digital health tools are not only innovative but also practical and user-friendly, ultimately enhancing both patient care and operational efficiency.
The digital front door leverages cutting-edge technology to streamline patient interactions, from mobile apps that offer appointment reminders to AI-driven chatbots providing immediate assistance. This technological integration is paralleled in the merging of health informatics and IT, where advanced data analytics, EHR systems, and AI are harnessed to improve clinical decision-making and patient outcomes.
NYU’s journey towards integrating its Medical Center IT (MCIT) and Department of Health Informatics (DHI) provides a compelling case study. By establishing the DHI within the MCIT, NYU Langone Health created a unified hub that fosters collaboration and innovation. This strategic alignment has enabled the organization to leverage disruptive technologies, such as generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), in ways that enhance both operational and academic missions.
So, what are some key takeaways from this article?
- Strategic and intentional planning: Just as a digital front door requires a clear strategy and patient-centric design, integrating health informatics and IT demands deliberate planning and a focus on end-user needs.
- Iterative improvements: Both processes benefit from continuous evaluation and iterative adjustments. Patient feedback is crucial in refining the digital front door, while ongoing collaboration between IT and informatics teams ensures that integrated systems remain effective and adaptive.
- Holistic approach: Emphasizing a holistic approach that considers all stakeholders – patients, clinicians, researchers, and IT professionals – ensures that both patient journeys and health informatics initiatives meet the comprehensive needs of the healthcare ecosystem.
Redesigning the patient journey through a digital front door is not just about adopting new technologies; it's about creating a seamless, integrated experience that aligns with patients’ expectations and needs. Similarly, merging health informatics and IT within academic medical centers transforms how healthcare is delivered, making it more efficient, innovative, and patient-centered. As healthcare continues to evolve, these similar paths of integration and patient-centered design will be key to achieving a truly modern, responsive healthcare system.