ProBook Healthcare and Health IT Influencers (Click on each influencer to be directed to commentary)

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2 ProBook Healthcare and Health IT Influencers (Click on each influencer to be directed to commentary) 1. Introduction to 2012 NHIT Week Pro Book 2. Brian Ahier Health IT Evangelist, Mid-Columbia Medical Center, Blogger - The Dalles, OR 3. Paul Cerrato Editor, InformationWeek Healthcare - Manhasset, NY 4. Willa Fields DNSc, RN, FHIMSS, HIMSS Board Chair; Professor, School of Nursing, San Diego State University - San Diego, CA 5. Don Fluckinger Health IT Features Writer, SearchHealth IT - Newton, MA 6. Jonathan Handler MD, FACEP, CMIO, M*Modal - Chicago, IL 7. C. Martin Harris MD,FHIMSS, CIO and Chairman, Information Technology Division, Cleveland Clinic - Cleveland, Ohio 8. Chris Hobson MD, CMO, Orion Health - Calgary, Canada Area 9. Regina Holliday Artist, Speaker, Social Media Blogger, Patient Advocate - Washington, DC 10. Brian T. Horowitz Freelance Technology and Health Writer - Forest Hills, NY 11. Andrew Litt MD, CMO, Dell Healthcare and Life Sciences - Park City, Utah 12. John Lynn Founder, HealthcareScene.com, Blogger - Las Vegas, NV 13. Scott MacLean MBA, CPHIMS, FHIMSS, HIMSS Board Chair-Elect; Deputy CIO and Director of IS Operations, Partners Healthcare - Newton, MA 14. Bernie Monegain Editor, Healthcare IT News, New Gloucester, Maine 15. John Moore Founder, Managing Partner, Chilmark Research - Cambridge, MA 16. Tom Sullivan Editor, Government Health IT - Suffern, NY 17. James Tcheng MD, FACC, Director, Duke Translational Medicine Institute - Durham, NC 18. Eric J. Topol MD, Cardiologist, Scripps Health, Author, The Creative Destruction of Medicine - La Jolla, CA 19. Corey Zeigler Program Manager, Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization - Watertown, NY 2

3 H. Stephen Lieber, CAE HIMSS President and CEO Now in its seventh year, National Health IT Week brings together organizations across the country to discuss, promote and celebrate the value and benefits of health information technology in improving the delivery of healthcare. The 2012 NHIT Week, held Sept , in Washington, D.C., includes more than 260 supporting organizations that believe in this cause. As one of these many supporting organizations, HIMSS offers the perspective of the stakeholders included in our 2012 NHIT Week ProBook. The pro of this title refers to almost 20 healthcare professionals who have offered their opinions and insights here. The book may be obvious, but it is an online compilation of the words and art of these contributors. I encourage you to read through these pages for thoughts that bring health IT to life based on each person s own experiences and expectations of technology. And thanks to the contributors for taking the time to be part of this 2012 National Health IT Week ProBook. H. Stephen Lieber, CAE HIMSS President and CEO 3

4 Collaboration across unaffiliated organizations will be the key to success and survival. Brian Ahier Health IT Evangelist Mid-Columbia Medical Center, Blogger The Dalles, OR What is the greatest impact health IT will have or has already had on our healthcare system? The greatest impact health IT has had on our healthcare system is creating an infrastructure for new payment and care delivery models to succeed. How can we increase adoption and meaningful use of health IT in hospitals and health systems across the U.S.? One way to increase adoption is allow a smoother on-ramp to the EHR Incentive Program for all providers. Only Medicaid providers have the option for first year adopt/implement/upgrade. Many providers do not meet the threshold for Medicaid eligibility and are finding it very difficult to meet the ninety day Medicare requirement right out of the gate. What advice would you give to the next generation of health IT leaders and their role in improving our healthcare system through advancement of IT? The healthcare system of the future will require organizations to develop a cooperative advantage rather than a competitive advantage. Collaboration across unaffiliated organizations will be the key to success and survival. What s one thing the general public should know about health IT that they do not already, and what s an easy way for them to get involved? One important point is the misconception is that a huge government database with all our health records is being created. The public needs to understand the federated model of the nationwide health information network and the privacy and security safeguards in place. The best way for consumers to get involved in health IT is to begin a conversation with their healthcare provider. What s one health technology you are most excited about? Health information exchange. The aggregation and distribution of health data creates a platform for mobile health, population health management, quality reporting and so much more. It is really a key infrastructure for health IT. 4

5 The best way for consumers to get involved in health IT is to begin a conversation with their healthcare provider. Brian Ahier Health IT Evangelist Mid-Columbia Medical Center, Blogger The Dalles, OR Health IT is necessary but not sufficient to achieve the Triple Aim of improving the experience of care, improving health, and reducing costs. Brian Ahier works as Health IT Evangelist at Mid-Columbia Medical Center. He is a City Councilor in The Dalles, Oregon and also serves on the Board of Mid-Columbia Council of Governments, and Q-Life, an intergovernmental agency providing broadband capacity to the region. Brian now sits on Oregon s HIO Executive Panel as implementation of statewide services is under way. He has written for Government Health IT, Healthcare IT News, and ihealthbeat and he blogs at O Reilly Radar and on his own site at Facebook: Google Plus: LinkedIn: YouTube: 5

6 The CMS EHR incentive program has succeeded in getting large numbers of healthcare providers onto the digital highway. Paul Cerrato Editor InformationWeek Healthcare Manhasset, NY How has the conversation about health IT evolved and/or progressed since last year s National Health IT Week? The CMS EHR incentive program has succeeded in getting large numbers of healthcare providers onto the digital highway; mobile health vendors have come up with inventive ways to get the public involved in measuring their health status; and telemedicine has become a viable option for thousands of patients who previously had no access to medical care. What is the greatest impact health IT will have or has already had on our healthcare system? Health IT, in conjunction with several federal mandates, has forced hospitals and medical practices to become more accountable for the diagnostic procedures and treatment protocols they use. We now have several IT tools in place to help providers determine which diagnostic and therapeutic options really work and which ones are a waste of time and money. What are the major challenges to hospitals and healthcare providers as we move toward a new century of health technology? First and foremost is the challenge of reducing the nation s healthcare economic costs WITHOUT compromising quality of care. It remains to be seen whether ACOs, Meaningful Use, and related initiatives will achieve that goal. To date, the research suggests that large provider organizations will get there, but many smaller players will struggle, cut corners, and fail. How can we increase adoption and meaningful use of health IT in hospitals and health systems across the U.S.? We need more physician buy-in at the grass roots level. Most of the movers and shakers in academic medicine speak well about the transformative value of health IT but many doctors in the trenches aren t convinced. What advice would you give to the next generation of health IT leaders and their role in improving our healthcare system through advancement of IT? In working with clinicians, you need an artful blend of respect and irreverence. 6

7 The public needs to realize that digitalized medical data, while not 100% secure, is more secure than paper records. Paul Cerrato Editor InformationWeek Healthcare Manhasset, NY What s one thing the general public should know about health IT that they do not already, and what s an easy way for them to get involved? If we ever hope to get their full cooperation, the public needs to realize that digitalized medical data, while not 100% secure, is more secure than paper records. We need more public service campaigns to convince them. And fewer data breaches! What s one health technology you are most excited about? State of the art clinical support systems, including tools like Isabel Healthcare and diagnostic supercomputers, like Watson. Health IT is poised to profoundly re-engineer and improve how medical care is delivered in the United States. Paul Cerrato, Editor of InformationWeek Healthcare, has worked as a healthcare editor and writer for 30 years. Previously the Executive Editor of Contemporary OBGYN, he also served as senior editor of RN magazine. The winner of 6 Jesse Neal Editorial Awards, considered the Pulitzer Prize of business journalism, Paul has been extensively published in the business and medical literature, including Business and Health and the Journal of the American Medical Association. 7

8 The adoption is increasing with the federal incentives, and adoption will continue to increase... Willa Fields DNSc, RN, FHIMSS HIMSS Board Chair; and Professor, School of Nursing, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA How has the conversation about health IT evolved and/or progressed since last year s National Health IT Week? The conversations are progressing beyond what system to purchase and how to implement it, to how to get value from the data in the system. How do we transform healthcare through the appropriate use of technology? We really do seem to be progressing with using electronic health records for measurement and improving care. Providers are also realizing the importance of information exchanges, so their patient records can be more complete with data from other providers. What is the greatest impact health IT will have or has already had on our healthcare system? Making care more efficient and safer through implementation of electronic health records with provider order entry and clinical decision support systems, and having patient information and reliable references /information available online, will help ensure better care, safer care and more evidence- based care. What are the major challenges to hospitals and healthcare providers as we move toward a new century of health technology? Usability of the systems and health information exchanges and incorporating the new technology into clinical workflows remains a challenge, partly because of usability issues. Once the systems are installed and being used, then we need reliable ways to exchange the data across systems. The change effort is massive. We need to change the way we give care and how we communicate with others. The various systems need to be easier to use and interoperable. How can we increase adoption and meaningful use of health IT in hospitals and health systems across the U.S.? The adoption is increasing with the federal incentives, and adoption will continue to increase as health technology is easier to learn, increases user efficiencies and provides for safer care and outcomes. What advice would you give to the next generation of health IT leaders and their role in improving our healthcare system through advancement of IT? Focus on improving the usability of the systems and bringing value to users through improved workflow efficiencies and safer care. The public will embrace health information technology, if they trust their privacy and confidentiality is being protected, and they are receiving better and safer care. 8

9 Willa Fields DNSc, RN, FHIMSS HIMSS Board Chair; and Professor, School of Nursing, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA The public will embrace health information technology, if they trust their privacy and confidentiality is being protected, and they are receiving better and safer care. What s one thing the general public should know about health IT that they do not already, and what s an easy way for them to get involved? Safer care can be provided in organizations and medical practices with electronic health records. What s one health technology you are most excited about? Clinical decision support systems that assist clinicians provide evidence-based care. Health IT is transforming healthcare by providing the necessary tools for more efficient, safer and cost effective healthcare. Willa Fields, DNSc, RN, FHIMSS, Professor in the School of Nursing at San Diego State University in San Diego, California, has a diverse background in clinical nursing, education, research, performance improvement, management, and information systems that span more than 40 years. She teaches courses in Informatics, Personnel Management, and Quality Improvement in the graduate nursing program. Her research area of interest is exploration of practices that improve patient safety and the provision of patient care. Specific investigations include the effects of computerized physician order entry on medication safety events and nurses work, and attitudes, knowledge/skills, practice, and barriers to evidence-based practice (EBP). From 2000 to 2006 Dr. Fields was the Vice President of Patient Care Systems in the Information Systems Department at Sharp HealthCare in San Diego, California. She had responsibility for the patient care computer systems, including implementation of new core clinical systems that included physician order entry. Dr. Fields has also published widely in the professional literature. She received her Doctorate in Nursing Science from the University of San Diego and her Masters of Science in Nursing from San Diego State University. Dr. Fields serves as the current HIMSS Board Chair with her term from July 2012 to June

10 Once they demand it, the providers will have more of a market-driven reason than just helping payers do more efficient business. Don Fluckinger Health IT Features Writer SearchHealth IT, Newton, MA How has the conversation about health IT evolved and/or progressed since last year s National Health IT Week? Final Stage 2 rules are out, and deadlines are set. Confusion around ICD-10 implementation is cleared. HIEs are getting built. Telemedicine adoption seems to have hit some sort of tipping point where it s going to be used for ACO healthcare and not just in its traditional specialty areas. In short, technology seems to be meshing better with all these other ideas to move some of these theories of care improvement into practice. I m a skeptic at heart, but it does look like it s evolving. What is the greatest impact health IT will have or has already had on our healthcare system? HIE. The example I like to give is, I live in New Hampshire. If I am in a car accident in Arizona and am lying on a gurney in an emergency room unconscious, I d like the physician there to know whether or not I am allergic to penicillin. That will happen before I retire. What are the major challenges to hospitals and healthcare providers as we move toward a new century of health technology? Major challenges are: One: Systems interoperability or lack thereof, because vendors feel they can t interact for competitive reasons. Two: Hospitals that feel they can t do HIE because of competitive reasons. The patients are getting a raw deal. How can we increase adoption and meaningful use of health IT in hospitals and health systems across the U.S.? Get patients interested in it. Show them the value of better care that incurs less cost and inconvenience and life disruption. Once they demand it, the providers will have more of a market-driven reason than just helping payers do more efficient business. What advice would you give to the next generation of health IT leaders and their role in improving our healthcare system through advancement of IT? Understand analytics, business intelligence (BI) principles and how to aggregate usable apples-to-apples data from multiple sources for more-advanced reporting on quality measures than we can imagine at this point in time. 10

11 When you go to a specialist, demand that he/she have copies of your data electronically in hand. Don Fluckinger Health IT Features Writer SearchHealth IT, Newton, MA What s one thing the general public should know about health IT that they do not already, and what s an easy way for them to get involved? When you go to a specialist, demand that he/she have copies of your data electronically in hand. When you go back to your primary care physician, demand that provider has the data from the specialist in hand. BE indignant when it doesn t happen. You don t have to accept no for an answer; it s just too late for physicians to not be doing this for your benefit. What s one health technology you are most excited about? The smartphone and tablet. They re not healthcare specific, per se, but they make consuming health knowledge and basic messaging/calendaring/information exchange so much more portable and usable. And they have cameras! So they can be telemedicine endpoint; they can be used to, for example, (this actually happened with me) a picture of your 4-year-old daughter s bug bite to a primary care doctor to see if an in-person appointment is needed (it wasn t!). They will enable better clinical workflow and better care. Health IT, when it works, is an amazing alloy forged of workflow, technology and end-user training. Don Fluckinger covers healthcare IT technology issues for SearchHealthIT.com. His 20 years of journalism experience includes covering topics as diverse as document technologies, hospital safety, nutrition, respiratory care department management and clinical research regulations. His interests include antiques and collectibles, as well as rock, blues and jazz. His articles have appeared in publications and websites, including PDFzone.com, Briefings on Hospital Safety, The Boston Globe, Billboard and Antiques Roadshow Insider. Google+: LinkedIn: 11

12 Tomorrow, care will dramatically improve when health IT can leverage the elegance and power of human language as data. Jonathan Handler MD, FACEP, CMIO M*Modal, Chicago, IL How has the conversation about health IT evolved and/or progressed since last year s National Health IT Week? As we implement government-driven changes, we are learning where theoretical benefit conflicts with real-world success. This has created a growing conversation around enhancing EMR usability and preserving clinician efficiency that is critical to achieving the most health from every second of care. What is the greatest impact health IT will have or has already had on our healthcare system? Today, health IT improves care by providing clinicians and researchers with some of the highly structured patient data that had been trapped in silos. Tomorrow, care will dramatically improve when health IT can leverage the elegance and power of human language as data. In the future, care will be transformed when health IT can apply artificial intelligence to all this data and dynamically generate highly effective individualized care plans. What are the major challenges to hospitals and healthcare providers as we move toward a new century of health technology? Our needs in healthcare are evolving at a much faster rate than our ability to respond. This pace of change will accelerate and pose serious challenges. The challenge of change will be even greater if standardization through health IT anchors us so firmly to old problems and yesterday s best practices that we cannot address new needs or take advantage of tomorrow s innovations. How can we increase adoption and meaningful use of health IT in hospitals and health systems across the U.S.? Unless users adopt health IT, there can be no meaningful use, and unless health IT saves time for users, there will be no adoption. The first step on that path is to make the computer adopt the human language of speech and free text instead of forcing clinicians to adopt the computer s language of checkboxes and radio buttons. What advice would you give to the next generation of health IT leaders and their role in improving our healthcare system through advancement of IT? You only get what you demand of your IT, so demand greatness. Great technologies are rising tides that lift all boats, not tradeoff seesaws, where one side must go down as much as the other side goes up. 12

13 You only get what you demand of your IT, so demand greatness. Jonathan Handler MD, FACEP, CMIO M*Modal, Chicago, IL What s one health technology you are most excited about? I am most excited by the potential of personalized healthcare. Instead of care based on sweeping generalizations from research on diverse populations, health IT will guide care by listening to you, studying your genes, assessing your proteins and using data from other patients just like you. Health IT is I m not sure, let s ask the computer. Jonathan A. Handler, MD, FACEP is the Chief Medical Information Officer for M*Modal, a board-certified emergency physician, a medical informaticist with 20 years of experience, and an adjunct associate professor of Emergency Medicine at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. LinkedIn: LinkedIn.com/in/jonhandler 13

14 What we say matters, and access to health information technology tools should be a part of our conversation. C. Martin Harris MD, FHIMSS CIO and Chairman, Information Technology Division, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio What is the greatest impact health IT will have or has already had on our healthcare system? In addition to some of the more obvious improvements health information technology systems have delivered to clinicians and patients over the past several years, such as increased connectivity, secure access to information, and new, online services that are enhancing the relationship between patients and physicians, I think that health IT s greatest impact may actually be the sense of perspective that it has brought to our nation s broader healthcare discussion. What advice would you give to the next generation of health IT leaders and their role in improving our healthcare system through the advancement of IT? My advice to the next generation of health IT leaders is to actively embrace the full range of new opportunities that are now available as a result of the way health IT is becoming so integrated in the very fabric of medical practice. When we talk about the advancement of health IT, what we are really talking about is the ongoing transformation of the healthcare delivery model the two can no longer realistically be regarded as separate endeavors. So the next generation of health IT leaders should see themselves as being, in a very real sense, the next generation of healthcare delivery leaders; and consequently, they should fortify themselves with as much knowledge and understanding as they can about the practical, operational and financial aspects of the organizations they choose to serve. What s one thing the general public should know about health IT that they do not already, and what s an easy way for them to get involved? I think that one thing the general public may not fully realize is just how persuasive their voices can be. Each of us, at some time, has been and will be again, a patient. Inevitably, we all need the services of medical professionals. And at this moment in history, when so much attention is being paid to the structure and design of the healthcare system by so many people in public life, people in private life should understand that they can impact how that system will be organized by expressing their preferences through the questions they ask, and the choices they make. As patients, we should all understand that when we visit a physician, we are, for that time, the absolute focus of that physician s attention. What we say matters, and access to health information technology tools should be a part of our conversation. As patients, we should expect secure, online access to our personal health information through electronic tools; because, in a transformed healthcare model, each of us can become an active participant in the decision making process with your caregivers through the effective use of these tools. This kind of patient/physician partnership can ultimately help improve the quality of the service delivered, and the outcomes of the care received. 14

15 Sometimes we hear it called remote monitoring, but I think of it more as instant action. C. Martin Harris MD, FHIMSS CIO and Chairman, Information Technology Division, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio What s one health technology you are most excited about? One health information technology that really excites me is more of concept than a single device. It is the idea of moving the expert guidance and oversight of a clinician out of the examination room, and taking it with you, anywhere and everywhere you go. Sometimes we hear it called remote monitoring, but I think of it more as instant action. By integrating different technology systems, it is possible to create virtual connections between devices that can collect the kind information about a patient a clinician needs, such as blood glucose levels for diabetics, and transmit it back to clinician s practice where pre-determined measures can trigger the appropriate clinical intervention. This is moving the practice of medicine from an episodic management model, to a more continuous management model which offers the promise of more effective treatment outcomes. Also, it allows us to offer these highquality services in more cost-effective delivery models which will ultimately deliver the value that our healthcare system promises to every American. Health IT is health CARE. C Martin Harris, MD, MBA, is the Chief Information Officer and Chairman of the Information Technology Division of Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. Additionally, Dr. Harris is responsible for strategic business planning for Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Harris received his undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. His residency training in general internal medicine was completed at The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. He completed a Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholar fellowship in General Internal Medicine at The University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and holds a Masters in Business Administration in Healthcare Management. 15

16 Using a patient portal enables patients to actively participate in their care in partnership with their care providers. Chris Hobson MD, CMO Orion Health, Calgary, Canada What is the greatest impact health IT will have or has already had on our healthcare system? Health IT, specifically HIEs that bridge across silos and have the right level of functionality, enables clinicians to better coordinate care, share more and better quality data, reduce duplicative, costly tests and enhance communications between providers. Health IT that enables patients to gain access to their integrated data via, for example, patient portals linked to an HIE, offers a number of benefits. Using a patient portal enables patients to actively participate in their care in partnership with their care providers. With ICD-10 looming on the horizon and improving the detailed quality of clinical data captured, HIEs will enable clinicians to access the tools and analytics they need for better clinical decision-making and optimal payment reimbursement. What are the major challenges to hospitals and healthcare providers as we move toward a new century of health technology? A major challenge with the current healthcare system is its fragmented nature (i.e., fragmented providers and payers.) The most promising method we have to bridge the fragmented components is the widespread adoption of interoperable health IT connected to health information exchanges. Other major challenges in the movement toward complete interoperability include standards harmonization, privacy and security concerns, cost and clinical adoption. Clinicians and administrators face the daily challenges of staying abreast with the rapid pace of health reform and choosing the best technology strategy to support their organizations as they adopt the various reforms. Current reform efforts include Meaningful Use Stage 2, ICD-10 and new payment and delivery models, such as accountable care organizations and patient-centered medical homes. Other important challenges include the need for a mobile health strategy that maintains the privacy and security of personal health information. Smaller, private HIEs need to grapple with clinical adoption, clinical relevance and sustainability. Nevertheless, they are a popular model for many healthcare provider organizations. Private HIEs may impact end user workflow more significantly than the large, statewide HIEs, increasing the effort required for successful implementation. 16

17 Better access to complete health information and care coordination will result in a higher quality healthcare system for clinicians and patients alike. Chris Hobson MD, CMO Orion Health, Calgary, Canada How can we increase adoption and meaningful use of health IT in hospitals and health systems across the U.S.? Engaging clinicians in the decision-making and health IT purchasing processes helps facilitate greater buy-in and adoption. It is also important to involve clinicians in the long-term governance of the solution, ensuring that it continues to evolve over time to deliver real clinical value, meet their workflow needs and satisfy all clinical safety and privacy requirements. An effective health IT solution is one that can be configured easily, and therefore, modified to meet ongoing clinical needs. For community-based clinicians, simplification of the number of systems clinicians need to learn, along with technology and user interface (UI) improvements, such as single sign on and user-friendly clinical portals, will help promote widespread adoption. What advice would you give to the next generation of health IT leaders and their role in improving our healthcare system through advancement of IT? The next generation of health IT leaders should continue to use technology, including mobile devices and telehealth tools, in the service of providing better care to patients. Better access to complete health information and care coordination will result in a higher quality healthcare system for clinicians and patients alike. Success in health IT requires long-term persistence, and there are many forces that can derail the best-intentioned efforts. The next generation of health IT leaders will need to understand the current strategies, maintain their focus, and continue to press toward the key points of bridging a fragmented system and enabling clinical value from the technology. Health IT leaders will need to remain flexible, as healthcare reform continues to evolve to include new payment models that may or may not look like ACOs. In the next five years, it is possible that cost pressures will influence more dramatic measures for innovative payment models. Proposed IT solutions need to be flexible and scalable enough to effectively meet the needs of a changing healthcare system. What s one health technology you are most excited about? Clinically targeted business intelligence (analytics) that provides actionable information drawn from data captured across the HIE will generate useful data that helps researchers quickly identify public health trends or disease outbreaks and clinicians render the best and most appropriate treatment regimens. Health IT is the future for new, sustainable models of care delivery and a healthier population. Dr. Chris Hobson s areas of expertise include: physician adoption; health information exchange; disease management; population health; and patient safety. He has 20 years clinical experience as an internist and primary care physician and 13 years in health IT. During that time he has worked globally in a wide range of roles from clinical consulting to senior management, practicing in both primary and secondary care settings prior to joining Orion Health. Dr. Hobson is a Fellow of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners, and holds an MBA. Dr. Hobson is also a noted presenter at industry-leading global events such as HIMSS, e-health Canada, Care Continuum Alliance, e-health Initiative, Advances in Health Informatics, TEPR and many others. 17

18 No longer considered just a tool for the VA, multiple companies are pledging to release data through Blue Button directly to patients. Regina Holliday Artist, Speaker, Social Media Blogger, Patient Advocate, Washington, DC How has the conversation about health IT evolved and/or progressed since last year s National Health IT Week? Blue Button charged the playing field. No longer considered just a tool for the VA, multiple companies are pledging to release data through Blue Button directly to patients. The data dump itself is needed, the third party apps that appear later could be glorious. What is the greatest impact health IT will have or has already had on our healthcare system? On May 22, 2011, Joplin, Missouri was devastated by a tornado. A local hospital suffered great damage but was albe to help patients within days because they had adopted an electronic medical record system 21 days before the cyclone hit. How can we increase adoption and meaningful use of health IT in hospitals and health systems across the U.S.? As our utilization of broadband increases, we will see more adoption from providers due to the affordability of cloud-based systems. The practicality and ease of access will be very attractive to patients, and consumer demand will increase. 18

19 Listen to the younger generation; their habits are a good reflection of what is to come. Regina Holliday Artist, Speaker, Social Media Blogger, Patient Advocate, Washington, DC What advice would you give to the next generation of health IT leaders and their role in improving our healthcare system through advancement of IT? Look to other industries, hire from without your typical work force. Ideally, a leader s mind should look 10 years into the future and make judgments accordingly. Stay abreast of the health IT news in social media; crowd thinkers are often years ahead of current practice. Listen to the younger generation; their habits are a good reflection of what is to come. 19

20 I expect CDS to work better than a children s toy and I want Watson-quality CDS. Regina Holliday Artist, Speaker, Social Media Blogger, Patient Advocate, Washington, DC What s one thing the general public should know about health IT that they do not already, and what s an easy way for them to get involved? E-prescribing used in conjunction with medical reconciliation would help patients a great deal. This is an area that is in great need of attention, with current users relying on paper spread-sheets to coordinate care. What s one health technology you are most excited about? I think we need to see CDS (clinical decision suport tools) for patients as well as doctors. Time is wasted in the triage setting. Patients could be feeding data directly into a device that adds to the data set and allows CDS to be without error or emotionality. I expect CDS to work better than a children s toy and I want Watson-quality CDS. Health IT is the ship, not the destination. 20