Because of Thanksgiving weekend, the #HITsm chat took a break. However, it was back this week, and there were five questions, rather than the usual four. The topics came from @2healthguru, and revolved around the role of HIT in ACOs.
The first question asked was: Many accept at face value that HIT is essential for effective #ACO implementation, do you agree? Why? Why not? There weren’t a lot of responses to this first question Many accept at face value that HIT is essential for effective #ACO implementation, do you agree? Why? Why not?
There weren’t as many responses to this question as there sometimes are, but here are a few of the tweets that seemed most popular:
@healthstandards T1. Defintely the ‘connectivity spine’ but connecting what?? Cowboys or pit crews essential to ACO. #HITsm #ACO
— Gregg Masters (@2healthguru) November 30, 2012
T1: Absolutely agree. #HIT fuels more efficient collaboration, which is hugely important factor for #ACO#hitsm
— TigerText (@TigerTextApp) November 30, 2012
T1: It’s like doing algebra without a calculator: it can be done, but why not use tools to make it easier? #HITsm
— Mark James (@cardiologyHIT) November 30, 2012
The next topic focused on this: Where does culture fit in the mix? Can you graft ‘coordinated care’ onto a cowboy (or cowgirl) referral network? This question sparked a lively discussion with a lot of good points made. It was hard to pick just a few, but here is a conversation I feel is worth noting. Another participant called out for @BangorBeacon’s thoughts on this topic, because apparently it’s his area of expertise. Although he didn’t seem to have a lot of time during the chat today, he did have something to say. Here is one of the conversations I saw.
Even with our ACO, we are staffing up on care coordinators… warm handoffs are the most effective way to help patients #HITsm
— Bangor Beacon(@BangorBeacon) November 30, 2012
@bangorbeacon Is that more for the patients’ peace of mind or for communication btw care providers of care history? #HITsm
— Chad Johnson (@OchoTex) November 30, 2012
@ochotex It’s both. Through Beacon we’ve seen the benefit of the relationship of a care coordinator for both provider and patient #HITsm — Bangor Beacon(@BangorBeacon) November 30, 2012
@bangorbeacon @ochotex Still need a human hand to guide, comfort, and answer questions…. #HITsm — Jon Mertz (@jonmertz) November 30, 2012
The next item on the agenda was, how important is understanding culture and organizational workflows to achieve coordinated, seamless care? This was another interesting topic, with equally interesting responses. I thought this way a unique way of expressing the idea.
T3: Culture eats strategy for lunch.#HITsm — Jarrod Sandel (@JarrodSandel) November 30, 2012
I also thought this tweet went well with the topic:
We need more hospitals and clinics willing to consider new workflows that technology makes possible.Change can be good.#HITsm
— docBeatApp (@docBeatApp) November 30, 2012
Topic four was: What will it take for the #ACO and #HealthIT system to work as developed? When I saw this, I predicted there would be a lot of different answers, and I was right. Here are a few of the suggestions that stood out to me:
Examples? The patient is PART of the team. You work WITH the patient to set attainable goals. It takes a lot more 1-1 time. #HITsm
— Bangor Beacon(@BangorBeacon) November 30, 2012
T4: I think connectivity is key to any #ACO system.#HITsm
— docBeatApp (@docBeatApp) November 30, 2012
T3: Physician culture is transitioning rapidly to consumer mobile devices – #HIT must follow suit #hitsm
— TigerText (@TigerTextApp) November 30, 2012
And finally (still with me?), the extra question — which is a little more up my alley: Can social media ‘detect and amplify’ (preconfigure) preferred community referral interactions to grease the skids of an #ACO?
I think that most everyone had checked out by this point, but this is my favorite response:
T5: if hospitals can get it right, social media could help them gain access & trust of community & info out there #HITsm <still a bit uphill
— Melissa Cole(@MelissaColeHTR) November 30, 2012
