Frank Speidel, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Healthcare IT Leaders identifies eight “ates” for managing change in healthcare IT.
In the fifth century B.C., Heraclitus said, “You cannot step into the same stream twice.” This metaphorical insight is frequently acknowledged but oft not appreciated. All things, both living and inanimate, are changing. We have no choice, as change is inevitable, but managing change is possible. Without planning and consideration, we may be swept away by the turbulence when we enter the stream of change. With insight and consideration, we may leave our stream cleansed and refreshed.
What planning and consideration works for managing the changes of IT application to an operating health system? Consider the eight “ates.”
1. Contemplate
What are the changes the IT implementation is bringing to the system and its operations? To find out, secure a room with a whiteboard and dry-erase markers, select a diverse set of healthcare representatives from your organization, order pizza and let them describe all the interactions entailed by the new IT implementation. These participants are the core group (the Planning Task Group, or PTG) for facilitating that change, and through this exercise, they should learn the organization’s processes for proper delivery of care. The group should formulate an effective implementation plan, visualizing all potential outcomes after the IT change, and understand how they will support the values and mission of your organization.
2. Communicate
Share the understanding of the why, where and what of the change. Why are we doing this implementation? If we can improve care we provide from this implementation, the change sells itself.
Where is this change taking us? Show the journey and the challenges along the way. When it’s complete, what will the care we provide look like? What will we be doing differently? What will our patients experience? This story, like all good tales, must be told and retold, across different venues and media. Talk to employees one on one, hold department meetings and host organization-wide town halls repeatedly. Include the C-suite and board members, as well as key medical staff. Amplify the feedback loop, too. Communication is best when it’s reciprocal.
3. Cultivate
Early in the planning phase, identify and include key members of the medical staff and organization. These thought leaders should be part of the planning group (See “contemplate.”). Engage them in meaningful participation, and they will be the strongest champions of its implementation, assuring widespread adoption. More importantly, the end product will work for both patients and providers.
4. Anticipate
Everyone prefers to discover obstacles in ways other than by running into them. The PTG should also be tasked with imagining significant road blocks (vendor bankruptcy, union work stoppage, etc.) and have scripted responses that, at a minimum, outline initial steps to calm fears and solve the problem.
Some providers/physicians may need more support than others. Have readily identifiable “coaches” skilled in the technology, but more skilled in the human interaction. Be ready to assign a uniquely selected coach to help grow those colleagues into IT champions.
5. Motivate
The goal of a successful IT transformation should be more than its use and adoption. The real success of the implementation is in the improvement of the care we provide, not in reporting the medical staff adoption percentage. When the implementation works, it is the best motivator for adoption and use. Never lose sight of the incredible passion of the providers for doing what is right for their patients.
6. Evaluate
Segment the implementation into manageable parts. The concept is a nod to the old “How do you eat an elephant?” adage. And the answer is, “One bite at a time.” Measure progress in parts that count toward the end goal, and share those successes and opportunities in a friendly, non-threatening manner.
7. Celebrate
When these components are completed, communicate and celebrate. For example, say as part of your IT project, all physicians are required to attend a one-hour pre-implementation training session. At department meetings, recognize those physicians who have completed this goal, as well as mention them in organization newsletters. This is also a good time to remind participants of the “why” of the initiative and share information on upcoming milestones.
8. Regenerate
Remember we started by understanding that change is inevitable for all things. Knowing this, we know there is never any finish line for the implementation process. While we may successfully implement an EHR that reduces imaging studies, decreases readmissions within 30 days and minimizes medication errors, there will always be opportunities to improve delivery of care. Over time, this means you’ll need to add new members to the PTG and rotate out other ones. In “term-limiting” PTG service, you’ll expand the knowledge breadth and depth of the IT implementation throughout your organization.
About the Author:
Frank X. Speidel, MD, MBA, FACEP is Chief Medical Officer for Healthcare IT Leaders, a consultancy and HIT staff augmentation firm that matches IT talent to hospitals and health systems for EMR, ICD-10 and analytic engagements.
Featured image credit: edlimphoto via cc
