Theresa Meadows
SVP & CDIO, Cook Children's Health Care System
What does innovation in healthcare mean to you?
I’ve been in healthcare for a long time, starting my career as a nurse. Since I didn’t start out in IT, I believe my viewpoint is somewhat different from others who have worked in the industry. To me, working in health IT is about answering the question, “How do we improve the lives of caregivers who use the technology we provide while ultimately ensuring positive outcomes for patients?” Our goal is for technology to be supportive, not something that feels obligatory.
Technology should make life easier, enhance processes, and lead to improved outcomes. Anything that improves the life of a patient, caregiver, or family is the reason I’m in healthcare IT.
What do you believe are the most pressing challenges currently facing the healthcare IT industry?
One major challenge is burnout. Not just clinician burnout, but also among healthcare workers in general, even IT professionals. We’re adding more complicated systems to an already full workload. Clinical staffing is another significant issue, but if managed correctly, addressing this can help alleviate some of the burden. Another huge challenge is to convince people that making changes or adopting new technology will actually improve processes. Many are burned out, and one of the key contributors has been how we implemented technology, particularly EHR systems. The question now is, “How do we improve what we have and reduce burnout for clinicians?” I think we’re at a point where we can make improvements, but the challenge is that technology is evolving rapidly. It’s an exciting time to be in healthcare IT, or IT in general, but it also comes with risks that we need to consider. Especially with generative AI and other new technologies, we must ensure that we’re not introducing additional issues or creating security vulnerabilities. Cybersecurity, in particular, is a massive challenge in healthcare. While it’s a concern across industries, healthcare faces a unique problem. Cybersecurity practices haven’t always been diligent and oftentimes, funding is lacking. This presents a significant patient safety risk.
When hospitals experience cybersecurity issues and lose access to technology for 30-plus days, running a hospital and caring for patients without data becomes highly problematic. Finding ways to improve cybersecurity posture is crucial.
In healthcare IT, these are the primary challenges, but they also present opportunities, as we need help in all of these areas.
What are ways you create a balance between your work and personal life?
I believe balance is personal. What’s balanced for me might not be balanced for you. You have to think about what’s important to you and how to allocate your time between different priorities. For me, I’ve integrated work and life, so I don’t really think of it as a balance. I get both things accomplished without burning myself out. When my kids were little, one technique I used was setting aside specific time that was just for them. For example, from 4:30 pm until they went to bed, that was their time. People knew that during that period, I wouldn’t be working or checking emails. It’s harder now with texting, as everybody expects an immediate response, but it’s about setting boundaries. Sometimes, I don’t respond to texts for a couple of days because I treat them like I treat email. We often put stress on ourselves to be accessible and reply. If it’s not urgent, there’s no need to respond right away. Understanding your own tolerance is key.
Managing expectations is key. I make it a priority to block off time on my calendar for personal activities— whether it’s exercising, reading, or simply catching up on things. Figuring out what balance looks like for you is essential.
When I’m off, I might glance at emails in the morning, but I avoid checking them for the rest of the day. This allows me to stay on top of things without feeling overwhelmed. It’s all about alleviating stress and finding small ways to manage your time effectively, while also setting clear expectations with others.
What advice would you give women aspiring to reach executive roles in healthcare IT?
One thing that took me a while to learn was the importance of letting people know what you want out of your career and what your ultimate goals are. For much of my career, I assumed that if I did a good job, promotions would follow, or people would know I wanted to be an executive. I realized that they don’t always know. If you don’t tell them about your aspirations, they might be unaware of your goals. I always encourage people to have those conversations with their team, so everyone understands their interests and where they want to go. I think women find it difficult to articulate how wonderful they are and highlight the things that they do well. As an employee, it’s crucial to be vocal about what you need, what you want, and where you see yourself. When I know that about someone on my team, I’m more likely to look for growth opportunities that I might not have considered otherwise.
What books or podcasts do you currently recommend?
A lot of the podcasts I listen to are more personal in nature. I love true crime, so I enjoy the True Crime Podcast. I also listen to other podcasts, like the CHIME podcast and I love watching TED Talks on different topics.
I always try to focus on areas where I’m not as strong, and those are the types of themes I like to read about and learn more about. Finding what interests you and identifying areas where you need development is a great way to find your next read these days. I also listen to a lot of audiobooks because I have a 30-40-minute commute to work.
Lately, I’ve been reading a lot of books on artificial intelligence leadership. I’m currently reading Rewired: The Digital Roadmap for Transformation. I’m also really interested in data and analytics, so I’ve been reading several books on how to incorporate analytics into daily activities. Since I’m not a technologist by trade, I read a lot of technology books to expand my knowledge and give me a new lens.