In his latest installment of his "Five questions all health systems should ask" series, Patrick Woodard, MD, CIO at Monument Health, highlights the critical need for health systems to focus on the true beneficiaries of their design—patients and staff—rather than prioritizing billing and internal workflows. He argues that this misalignment often leads to inefficiencies and a burden of "invisible labor" for those involved in patient care. Woodard emphasizes the importance of adopting patient-centered approaches, maintaining operational discipline for improved efficiency, and making technology choices that align with the organization's mission. He cautions against allowing financial pressures to overshadow the primary goal of healthcare: effectively serving patients. Ultimately, he advocates for a shift towards human-centered design in healthcare systems.

Rethinking Healthcare Design: Prioritizing Patients Over Profit LinkedIn

Charles Worthington, the Chief Technology Officer and Chief AI Officer at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, stresses the importance of prioritizing human problem-solving over technology in AI implementation. He believes that addressing the most pressing issues within the VA should come first, using technology, including AI, as a tool for creative solutions. Since 2017, Worthington has led efforts to modernize the VA's digital services and enhance veteran experiences, focusing on areas like benefits processing and health data interoperability. His role also involves ensuring the safe and effective use of AI by promoting governance and measuring the impact of over 100 AI initiatives currently in use at the VA.

VA CTO Prioritizes Human Insight Over Tech in AI Implementation Healthcare IT News

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare is prompting hospitals and health systems to appoint Chief AI Officers (CAIOs) to manage AI governance and implementation. This trend highlights the sector's acknowledgment of AI's potential benefits and associated risks, such as patient safety and regulatory compliance. The article lists 48 notable CAIOs from various institutions, illustrating the growing focus on AI leadership. These executives, including Ashley Beecy from Sutter Health and Michael Burns from Michigan Medicine, are responsible for leveraging AI technologies to improve healthcare delivery while navigating the complexities involved.

Hospitals Appoint Chief AI Officers to Navigate Healthcare's AI Revolution Charge AI

Recent findings from Press Ganey reveal a slight decline in employee engagement among healthcare workers in 2024, following an earlier improvement post-pandemic. The overall engagement score fell by 0.02 on a 5-point scale, with the most notable drops among physicians and advanced practice providers. In response, the American Hospital Association collaborated with Press Ganey and healthcare leaders to identify four key challenges to improving employee and physician experience: balancing competing priorities, managing change, fostering psychological safety, and securing senior management support for workforce investments. These insights suggest that addressing individual performance areas in isolation may hinder overarching improvements and stress the importance of a coordinated strategy.

Healthcare Employee Engagement Declines: Key Challenges Uncovered AHA