Peyman Zand, the chief strategy officer at CereCore, recently shared insights on the struggles of navigating technology investments in healthcare. In an episode of the Healthy Bottom Line podcast, he noted a common issue: many technology priorities don’t align with the main goals of healthcare organizations.
Zand pointed out that while leaders think their investments are strategic, there’s often a disconnect. “It’s a lack of rigorous processes to truly align them,” he explained. This misalignment can put patient safety and physician satisfaction at risk.
He emphasized the importance of taking time to identify and prioritize plans. According to Zand, these discussions can take months and involve key leaders like the CIO and CFO. Planning shouldn’t just happen a week before budgeting; it should start earlier to create a solid foundation for decision-making.
One major challenge for CIOs is dealing with more demands than available budgets. “You have to make informed decisions about what’s essential,” Zand said. Involving executives in identifying priorities helps streamline demands throughout the organization. This way, everyone understands what projects are likely to get approved.
Health systems can greatly benefit from leveraging technology, especially artificial intelligence (AI). Zand mentioned that hospitals could use AI to enhance administrative and business processes. For instance, improving billing systems could recover missed revenue, showing that tech solutions can play a significant role in finance.
He suggested collaborating with other hospitals for tech purchases or seeking outside funding. This creativity helps stretch budgets and meets pressing technological needs.
It’s clear that aligning technology with healthcare goals isn’t just about having the latest tools; it’s about ensuring those tools serve the larger mission of patient care. Organizations that invest time in thoughtful planning and collaboration will likely see better outcomes and efficiency.
For those interested, Zand’s full conversation can be found on the Healthy Bottom Line podcast, which is available on various platforms.
For more on healthcare technology and investment strategies, you can check out an insightful report from the American Hospital Association here.
