Episode 134 of The Digital Patient - Stories from the frontline of Digital Patient Engagement - featuring Dr. Eric Alper, Chief Quality Officer and Chief Clinical Informatics Officer at UMass Memorial Health Care. Show notes 👇
[00:00:07] Introduction to Dr. Eric Alper, Chief Quality Officer and Chief Clinical Informatics Officer at UMass Memorial Health Care;
[00:00:45] Dr. Alper discusses his motivation for entering medicine and the early influence of his mother, a nurse, on his career choice;
[00:01:29] His educational journey in computer science and the development of Histological, an educational platform during his medical studies;
[00:02:34] Transition from focusing on patient safety to leveraging IT for quality improvement in healthcare;
[00:03:55] The overlapping roles of informatics and quality in healthcare, and how they complement each other in enhancing patient care;
[00:07:07] Discussion on the evolving role of health systems as technology companies essential for delivering effective care;
[00:07:48] Insights into the Hospital at Home program at UMass, highlighting its initiation and the operational challenges faced;
[00:11:05] The benefits of Hospital at Home in patient care, emphasizing better outcomes and patient experience outside the traditional hospital setting;
[00:13:26] Strategies for scaling the Hospital at Home program, including increasing awareness and expanding patient eligibility;
[00:16:21] Exploring new service areas for Hospital at Home, like home dialysis and blood transfusions, to enhance patient care;
[00:19:06] Discussion on workplace safety improvements for healthcare staff in the Hospital at Home setting compared to traditional hospital environments;
[00:20:08] The role of AI in radiology at UMass, enhancing diagnostic accuracy and efficiency through advanced image recognition technologies;
[00:22:15] How AI facilitates efficient triage and specialist referrals in primary care settings, improving patient care management;
[00:27:10] The potential of ambient documentation technology to reduce clinicians' administrative burdens and improve job satisfaction;
[00:28:50] The potential of AI to manage vast patient data and automate follow-ups on actionable findings from diagnostic tests, such as chest X-rays, improving patient safety;
[00:29:15] How Dr. Alper's team is currently manually following up on actionable findings and how AI could enhance this process;
[00:30:17] Reflecting on the challenges of aligning healthcare incentives with quality goals, emphasizing the importance of doing the right thing for patient care;
[00:31:17] The critical decision-making process involved in technology adoption, and why focusing on strategic alignment and selecting the right vendor partners from the start is critical to success;
[00:33:14] The importance of not overwhelming healthcare staff with new technologies, ensuring ease of adoption and genuine improvement in patient care;
[00:34:06] Dr. Alper's passion for photography, and how his photos are used on the Epic splash screens at UMass, offering a moment of zen for clinicians amidst the chaos of healthcare;
Fast 5 Lightning Round:
1. Favorite Book: "Good to Great" and "Crucial Conversations" for business insights, and "Project Hail Mary" for personal reading.
2. Person to Meet: Barack Obama.
3. Preferred Superpower: Super speed.
4. Belief in Healthcare: Concern over the antiquated use of pagers and the inefficiencies in the healthcare payment system.
5. Time Travel Wish: Witness the moon landing, reflecting his interest in astronomy and historical milestones.