What You Should Know:
– In the age of COVID-19, healthcare CIOs cite interoperability,
cybersecurity, and operationalizing SDOH data priorities as top three priority
areas, according to the third annual LexisNexis focus group of CHIME
executives.
– The survey results also highlighted the importance of
a team approach with support across the organization in helping CIOs
achieve the vision of connected healthcare.
The Health Care business of LexisNexis® Risk Solutions announced
the results of its annual
focus group, comprised of over 20 healthcare IT executives that are members
of the College of Healthcare Information
Management Executives (CHIME). The focus group participants accepted more
accountability than in previous years to provide the safe and
reliable technology tools necessary to deliver high-quality, connected,
and cost-effective care. The survey results also highlighted the importance of
a team approach with support across the organization in helping CIOs
achieve the vision of connected healthcare.
In light of the COVID-19
pandemic, data sharing and security to using data analytics to help vulnerable
populations – have become more urgent in light of the pandemic challenges. For
example, recent months have illustrated the need for data access to inform
decisions about population health, wellness and care capacity.
The surveyed healthcare CIOs identified three main priority
areas:
1. Managing interoperability: Members acknowledged
challenges amid the surge of digital touchpoints, such as mobile phones, smart
devices and remote services. Goals include a common patient identifier to combine
and verify disparate patient records for a true health information exchange.
2. Bolstering cybersecurity: Members are confronting
new cybersecurity risks, confusion over who bears the ultimate responsibility
for patient data, and the competing goals of seamless user experience and data
safety. To address that final challenge and strike an appropriate balance,
executives are moving to multifactor authentication strategies for optimal user
workflow and security.
3. Integrating Social Determinants of Health (SDOH):
As the pandemic has highlighted, incorporating SDOH
data is a vital, immediate requirement for improving the delivery of patient
support and value-based care, and ultimately, outcomes. Executives shared SDOH
implementation challenges, including data aggregation and operationalization
within IT and EHR systems, especially when not utilizing third-party data to
support their efforts. While CIOs previously had not perceived specific
accountability for SDOH data, that changed as its value was demonstrated.
“CHIME’s executive health IT members are approaching evolving patient and industry needs with careful consideration, ingenuity and focus,” said Josh Schoeller, chief executive officer of LexisNexis Risk Solutions Health Care. “Our annual focus group presents valuable insights about how healthcare decision-makers are strategically using technology solutions to overcome hurdles regarding cybersecurity, data governance, and interoperability, all of which have become more urgent during the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s a big challenge but with the right data integration and analytics they continue to make great progress even in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
To access the group insights, download the report here.
