Designing for Health: Interview with Kevin Dufendach, MD and Andy Spooner, MD
Pediatricians are some of the most meticulous clinical professionals, and for good reason. The tiniest error in a NICU or PICU can have massive implications for a patient. This detail-oriented mindset often leads pediatricians to gravitate toward clinical informatics, as the same outlook applies to the world of electronic health records (EHR) and clinical data. In today’s data-driven environment, nothing exists outside the EHR, so how can pediatricians and other […]
How to succeed in value-based care without really trying
In 1952, Shepherd Mead wrote How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, a tongue-in-cheek “instruction manual” based on his experiences climbing the corporate ladder. Sample chapter titles included “Stab the Right Backs,” “The Look of Suffering,” and don’t forget “Be a Meeting-Leaver.” The book was soon turned into a Broadway musical and then a […]
Designing for Health: Interview with Lalita Abhyankar, MD [Podcast]
The job requirements of a physician are so much more than what’s learned in medical school. In this modern, connected technological environment, skillsets must include digital know-how, emotional intelligence, data management, and even the basic concepts behind software development. While the electronic health records (EHR) environment has led to a massive increase of data, learning […]
Before implementation, think about prehabilitation
Most of us are familiar with the concept of rehabilitation. After a surgery or an injury, a patient typically works with a physical or occupational therapist to try to regain previous functionality or, at the very least, learn to minimize deficits. By definition, rehab occurs after some sort of insult has already happened to us. […]
Designing for Health: Interview with Billy Nicolich [Podcast]
In 2008, authors Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein published their book Nudge, popularizing nudge theory and bringing a new focus on behavioral economics into the worlds of business and government. In their book, they demonstrate how small but intentional adjustments to a given environment, or “nudges,” can gently push users toward a desired outcome. In […]
Designing for Health: Interview with Margaret Lozovatsky, MD [Podcast]
In 2013, the American Board of Preventive Medicine (ABPM) officially recognized clinical informatics as a board-certified subspecialty. With this board certification, the ABPM raised informatics to the ranks of other subspecialties (such as addiction medicine and medical toxicology), and in doing so, made a statement: Informatics is not just a nice-to-have background for some physicians, […]
Burnout’s triple threat: Compromising care, clinicians, and cash flow
Since well before the pandemic, healthcare system leaders and hospital executives have been focused on clinician burnout, and for good reason. In 2017, the National Academy of Medicine published a call to explore and address the problem, highlighting burnout as an “underrecognized threat to safe, high-quality care.” They noted that more than half of U.S. […]
Designing for Health: Interview with Deepti Pandita, MD [Podcast]
Electronic health records (EHR) implementations have inevitable challenges and unexpected hurdles. Even when executed successfully, new or existing technologies can exacerbate health inequities and widen gaps in clinical care. Well-intended technological advancements are often not able to reach their full potential due to a lack of intentional feedback from key stakeholders across the care landscape, […]
Designing for Health: Interview with Bre Loughlin [Podcast]
The critical role nurses play in the direct care of patients has never been more apparent. As nurse burnout and mental health challenges have contributed to a long-term nationwide nurse shortage – a trend that has been greatly exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. While the need to keep staff in the workforce is paramount, it […]
Designing for Health: Interview with Evan Heigert [Podcast]
Clear communication is critical in every industry, but it is paramount in healthcare. The information being communicated is inherently complex, highly scientific, and often intimidating. How this information is received will determine the health and well-being of all of the individuals being treated, leaving little room for error. While accuracy and expertise on the clinical […]