This past week I, along with another Chicago Health Corps member, was fortunate enough to attend an'Innovative Thinking" workshop, that allowed us a structured space in which we were asked to think innovatively. At this workshop, we were asked to pick a question we were curious about and explore how to solve it. Using the tools and exercises provided by Gerald'Solutionman" Haman, each of us were led down a path to further our innovative thinking and creativity to better understand the world of healthcare.
I chose to explore the topic of coordinated care and how, as healthcare providers, we could best create a more patient-centered, streamlined process for delivering high quality care. I had the opportunity to speak with and brainstorm with Dr. Lyle Berkowitz, the Chief Information Officer of Northwestern Medicine, and he opened my eyes to a few changes that must be implemented in the near future.
One idea that may seem simple but in reality might take many years to master is the concept of delegation: each provider must know his or her role in a patient's care pathway in order for the entire process to run smoothly and for the patient to receive the quality of care that he or she deserves. Furthermore, we must streamline our documentation and referral process electronically in order to minimize time between diagnosis and treatment. Lastly, Dr. Berkowitz spoke about simplifying the entire process of care. How this will look, I'm not quite sure yet. However, I look forward to being an integral player in this much needed transition of quantity of care to quality of care for everyone.
