Key Takeaways
- Cherodeep Goswami, Chief Information & Digital Officer at Providence, emphasizes the importance of leveraging technology to improve healthcare outcomes and workflows.
- New technologies and services must have at least one of five capabilities: driving better quality patient care and outcomes, driving better fiscal stewardship, improving productivity, addressing caregiver well-being, or protecting assets (cybersecurity).
- Innovation in healthcare must be purposeful and consider the unique needs of different environments and use cases.
- The value of new tools and processes in healthcare extends beyond financial value to include the well-being of clinicians and patients.
- Effective implementation of new technologies requires change management, training, and upskilling to ensure that clinicians are prepared to make necessary changes.
Introduction to Cherodeep Goswami
Cherodeep Goswami is the Chief Information & Digital Officer for Providence, a health system based in Washington that encompasses seven states, 52 hospitals, and over 800 sites of care. His role involves understanding the difference between new technologies and services that can actually improve care and workflows, and those that are simply new and shiny. Goswami believes that technology is a differentiator and an enabler, but it must be the right technology to make a meaningful impact. He emphasizes the importance of innovation, but notes that innovation without a purpose is just a hobby.
Meeting Specific Goals
Goswami sees today’s tech trends, from AI to virtual care to digital health, as having the potential to bring humanity back to healthcare. However, these new tools must work for both patients and providers, bringing them face-to-face rather than shunting them onto different pathways. To that end, Goswami says that any new technology has to have at least one of five capabilities: driving better quality patient care and outcomes, driving better fiscal stewardship, improving productivity, addressing caregiver well-being, or protecting assets (cybersecurity). He also emphasizes the importance of understanding the unique needs of different environments and use cases, and being able to adapt new technologies to meet those needs.
Moving Beyond Financial Value
Goswami is acutely aware of how innovation and technology affect clinicians and other healthcare staff. He believes that the value of a certain new tool or process isn’t solely financial, but also includes the well-being of clinicians and patients. For example, he suggests that giving clinicians more time to spend with their families or reducing the burden of administrative tasks can have a significant impact on their overall well-being. Goswami also emphasizes the importance of investing in change management, training, and upskilling to ensure that clinicians are prepared to make the necessary changes to achieve these goals.
The Importance of Human Touch
Goswami worries that the increasing reliance on technology in healthcare may lead to a loss of human touch and empathy. He notes that new doctors and nurses may rely too much on technology and forget how to practice medicine, and that this can have serious consequences for patients. Goswami believes that it’s essential to train clinicians to incorporate technology in a way that complements their skills and judgment, rather than replacing them. He also emphasizes the importance of understanding when technology is not working and being brave enough to pull the plug when necessary.
The Role of Technology in Healthcare
Goswami sees himself as a steward of the health system’s resources, identifying when and where technology can be used to improve care and understanding when it gets in the way. He believes that without clear outcomes for new technology, it’s an expense, and that when outcomes aren’t aligned, it’s a waste of time and effort. Goswami emphasizes the importance of measuring both outputs and outcomes, and understanding why a new technology works or doesn’t work. He notes that the amount of time it takes to complete a knee replacement surgery is an output, but the amount of time it takes for a person to go back to their lifestyle is an outcome, and that healthcare systems should be focused on measuring and improving both.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Cherodeep Goswami’s approach to innovation in healthcare emphasizes the importance of leveraging technology to improve healthcare outcomes and workflows, while also considering the unique needs of different environments and use cases. He believes that the value of new tools and processes in healthcare extends beyond financial value to include the well-being of clinicians and patients, and that effective implementation of new technologies requires change management, training, and upskilling. By focusing on the human touch and the importance of measuring both outputs and outcomes, Goswami aims to bring humanity back to healthcare and improve the quality and dignity of care for patients.