Barb Sivek

Chief Operating Officer, CHIME Foundation 

 

What does innovation in Health IT mean to you? 

Having worked in this industry for nearly four decades, I can say that innovation in Health IT means that every ounce of innovation leads to a patient receiving more effective care that is of higher quality, safer, and more accessible than ever before. The changes I have seen have been phenomenal. The motivation behind every innovative advancement has been the goal to improve patient care. We have come a long way, from inefficient paper records stored in doctors' offices and hospitals to sophisticated electronic health records that a patient can access on their phone. Quite the journey, indeed.

What made you become involved in healthcare technology?

I entered Health IT as an early careerist with little knowledge of the field. My first role in Health IT was working as a project manager implementing radiology systems. At the time, these were paper-intensive processes that we were converting electronically. We faced significant resistance but soon won over the system users as they slowly began to understand how Health IT would reduce errors and make them more effective in their work. It was a hands-on life lesson in how Health IT could, through innovation, improve the workflow of an organization delivering critical services to patients – and ultimately result in better patient care.

What is the most rewarding part of being in the healthcare industry?

As a healthcare consumer, the most rewarding part of being in this industry is having an active role in helping healthcare organizations embrace and understand health IT’s value. Though it has taken many years, the focus on health IT has allowed the industry to build comprehensive systems and support care processes that improve patient care and save lives.

What do you believe is the biggest challenge facing leaders in the healthcare sector?

There are many challenges that healthcare leaders face. They serve many constituents, including various internal organizations, patients, and communities, each with their own set of needs and demands. Peter Drucker, the widely known management consultant, and theorist, once said, “all organizations require one core competency: innovation.” In the continually changing healthcare environment, it is imperative that leaders support innovation and inspire their teams to do the same. Time and time again, those who are willing to take innovative risks – enhance their organization’s ability to deliver improved quality of care. An example of this is evidenced by those organizations who took bold new approaches to provide health services to their communities through telehealth several years ago. During the onslaught of COVID-19, those same organizations were far more prepared to support the virtual practice of medicine and have led the way for organizations now adopting telehealth practices worldwide. The mission of CHIME (the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives) is to “advance and serve healthcare leaders and the industry improving health and care globally through the utilization of knowledge and technology.” By providing leading-edge educational programs and information to our members on innovation and best practices, we help healthcare leaders face some of their biggest challenges. I am humbled to serve with our many partners in this critical mission of innovation and knowledge sharing to transform health and care.