The AMDIS Connection: A Banner Year, with Course Corrections
The 20th annual AMDIS Physician-Computer Connection Symposium marked a banner year. Turnout for the annual conference was larger than ever before, with more than 250 people. We saw a number of individuals whom we've never had before in Ojai, Calif. For many reasons, this was a time to celebrate the evolution of the CMIO role in the U.S.
There were several reasons for this evolution. Legislation, such as the HITECH Act, has made a tremendous difference in terms of national awareness, but most importantly, it's also gotten the attention of the medical profession in a way that nothing else could. The meaningful use program, and soon-to-come accountable care organization model, have created an environment in which providers across the U.S. are now figuring out how to, rather than whether to, incorporate health IT in day-to-day practice.
That being the case, we're focusing on the real value of health IT rather than the traditional discussion about the best systems to purchase and the best strategy to implement. These are still important discussions to have, but we're now entering into an era of mass acceptance of health IT as well. New issues must be hammered out, such as: How do I extract the value (i.e., the data) from the implementation process? How do I start to demonstrate the value of the data to my hospital? How do I start to engage colleagues about the importance of this as a responsibility in the practice of medicine, rather than something they have to be encouraged, cajoled or sometimes threatened to accept?
We are now entering the new discussion: Why using health IT in the practice of medicine is equivalent to being a well-informed and responsible clinician. This is important because clinicians who understand this will be focused more on what the technology is supposed to support—that is, healthcare—rather than the tools themselves. Second, the value has to be in the context of the practice of medicine, rather than who has the coolest dashboard or the fastest implementation time. This is a shift from health IT as a peripheral to the practice of medicine to a new role at the core in the practice of medicine.
The AMDIS meeting included celebration of getting to this point, and of being inclusive. There were so many fresh faces, evidence of the growth of the ranks of CMIOs across the U.S. These new people were excited, and also had a little trepidation about how to do what they're being asked to do, because the CMIO role is not yet a commonly held position or career.
The meeting was abuzz with both an anticipation and beginning of a course correction, if you will, in how different legislation is occurring. We're not beginning the discussion of meaningful use anymore—we're well into it, at least in its first phase. There were some sobering reflections on what's working and what isn't.
We need course corrections so we can make adjustments and get to where we need to be. It's the culmination of all the struggles with tools that are not just adequate for the job. However, they will be getting better because the outcomes are showing value.
There were several reasons for this evolution. Legislation, such as the HITECH Act, has made a tremendous difference in terms of national awareness, but most importantly, it's also gotten the attention of the medical profession in a way that nothing else could. The meaningful use program, and soon-to-come accountable care organization model, have created an environment in which providers across the U.S. are now figuring out how to, rather than whether to, incorporate health IT in day-to-day practice.
That being the case, we're focusing on the real value of health IT rather than the traditional discussion about the best systems to purchase and the best strategy to implement. These are still important discussions to have, but we're now entering into an era of mass acceptance of health IT as well. New issues must be hammered out, such as: How do I extract the value (i.e., the data) from the implementation process? How do I start to demonstrate the value of the data to my hospital? How do I start to engage colleagues about the importance of this as a responsibility in the practice of medicine, rather than something they have to be encouraged, cajoled or sometimes threatened to accept?
We are now entering the new discussion: Why using health IT in the practice of medicine is equivalent to being a well-informed and responsible clinician. This is important because clinicians who understand this will be focused more on what the technology is supposed to support—that is, healthcare—rather than the tools themselves. Second, the value has to be in the context of the practice of medicine, rather than who has the coolest dashboard or the fastest implementation time. This is a shift from health IT as a peripheral to the practice of medicine to a new role at the core in the practice of medicine.
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The meeting was abuzz with both an anticipation and beginning of a course correction, if you will, in how different legislation is occurring. We're not beginning the discussion of meaningful use anymore—we're well into it, at least in its first phase. There were some sobering reflections on what's working and what isn't.
We need course corrections so we can make adjustments and get to where we need to be. It's the culmination of all the struggles with tools that are not just adequate for the job. However, they will be getting better because the outcomes are showing value.