In this special Speaker Series, Becker's Healthcare caught up with Daniel Barchi, CIO and senior vice president at New York City-based NewYork-Presbyterian.
Mr. Barchi will present a keynote address during the Becker's Hospital Review 4th Annual Health IT + Revenue Cycle Conference at 8:15 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 20. Learn more about the event and register to attend in Chicago.
Question: In the past 12 months, how have you adapted to new patient experience expectations in the age of consumerism?
Daniel Barchi: At NewYork-Presbyterian, we are investing in virtual medicine to deliver care to patients exactly when they need it and wherever is most convenient for them. We have made telemedicine work in our emergency departments, on patients' phones and in kiosks at Walgreens stores. We created a fleet of three mobile stroke ambulances with MRIs and telemedicine to deliver stroke treatment directly to patients before they make the trip to our hospitals. We employ artificial intelligence to guide treatment, which will shorten the time patients need to spend in our hospitals. In every care setting, we have employed technology that is focused on the best experience and outcome for our patients.
Q: What's the best thing you've read lately?
DB: I recently read Ron Chernow's biography of Ulysses S. Grant, Grant. I found the book [to include] interesting history and great insight into the mind of Mr. Grant as a military and political leader. What impressed me most was Mr. Grant's humble and pragmatic approach to everything. He avoided what was not important — [such as] fancy uniforms, personal recognition and a visit to the theater with President Abraham Lincoln — and for it, he was endeared by his teams, who found him to be a quiet, fair-minded leader.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about health IT?
DB: Healthcare IT is not about technology. It is about identifying needs and creating solutions to deliver outstanding care. Howard Schultz of Starbucks said, "We don't serve people in the coffee business, we serve coffee in the people business." Healthcare IT delivers technology, but only that technology needed to make the workflows of our physicians and nurses and the experience of our patients the best they can be.