IT partnerships health systems will prize most in 2025

Health systems have a variety of technology and digital health platforms to increase operational efficiencies, enhance outcomes and improve the patient experience. More startups are forming daily to tackle challenges big and small in the crowded healthcare space.

With limited time and resources, which partnerships are health systems actively seeking out in the next year?

Hackensack Meridian Health in Edison, N.J., has a variety of IT partners engaging in innovative pilots and AI use cases. Mohammed Quadri, MD, vice president of strategy for academics, research and innovation told Becker's he's excited to accelerate the system's vision for building a robust ecosystem of partnerships to drive scientific breakthroughs.

"This year, we've witnessed the immense value of collaborations with leading academic institutions, government agencies, industry leaders and venture capital firms," he said. "These partnerships have focused on groundbreaking research, attracted top talent and secured crucial funding, and accelerated the development and implementation of novel therapies and technologies, directly impacting patient care."

He said success has compounded with IT projects in 2024 and moving forward the system is actively seeking to expand its network of partners. Hackensack Meridian is looking for other academic institutions, public and private funding agencies, industry leaders and venture capital firms to align with in the future.

"We believe that by fostering a connected ecosystem that engages clinicians, academicians, scientists and investors, we can accelerate the translation of research into clinical practices and address critical unmet clinical needs in real time, ultimately leading to better health outcomes for our communities," said Dr. Quadri. "We believe the future is now, each and every new day."

Johnson City, Tenn.-based Ballad Health has also embarked on beneficial partnerships in the digital space over the last year that will continue over the next 12 months.

"We are working on many improvements in our technology-based services and how our patients and providers send and receive information," said Lisa Carter, southern regional president of Ballad Health. "We've also been fortunate to have the opportunity to expand several services and facilities, so we have worked with some amazing architectural and construction firms. And finally, our organization continues to invest in leader growth and development, so we have partnerships in that space that are extremely valuable to that support."

Greg Rosencrance, president and CEO of WVU Medicine Thomas Hospitals in South Charleston, W.Va., said the most beneficial partnerships for his hospitals in the last year have been those that improved patient care and streamlined integration into the larger system.

"Most notably, Epic electronic health record system has enhanced care coordination and clinical quality," said Mr. Rosencrance. "Looking ahead, we plan to deepen these system relationships and explore new partnerships to expand telehealth services and workforce development."

He is also looking for technology innovations to optimize patient outcomes and operational efficiency.

"As we near the completion of our integration, regional partnerships will also be crucial to broadening our service offerings," said Mr. Rosencrance. "These partnerships will help drive sustainable growth and enhance community health in the years to come for the communities we serve."

Mercy Medical Group in Sacramento, Calif., is undergoing a similar transition. Over the last four years, the medical group has rapidly grown and reorganized while bringing on long term strategic partner Dignity Health Medical Foundation and becoming part of CommonSpirit. The most valuable partnerships have been with consultants to facilitate the governance transformation, building strong dyad leadership teams and centralizing decision-making at the division level with department chairs.

"We depend on our partner organizations for the tools and resources we use to deliver healing every day," said Ryan Nicholas, MD, chief quality officer of Mercy Medical Group. "Without a strategic partnership, we would not be able to take on the value-based care transformation that is rapidly developing in our market."

Looking ahead, Dr. Nicholas sees technology taking a bigger role within the organization.

"Our future partnerships will increasingly include AI-driven, real-time transcription solutions and data analytics services," he said. "In the modern landscape with many competing technology platforms, the temptation can be to implement solutions without fully assessing the risks. We must prioritize data security and integrity while moving rapidly to develop tools to gather actionable quality and value data within our practice."

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