New York City-based Hospital for Special Surgery established a new C-suite role when it appointed Ashis Barad, MD, chief digital and technology officer in September.
Becker's caught up with Dr. Barad to learn more about the new role and his plans for leading technology at Hospital for Special Surgery, which treats musculoskeletal conditions from its main campus in Manhattan and locations across New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Florida. The conversation has been edited for clarity and brevity.
Question: We often communicated in the past when you weighed in on digital health stories while at Allegheny Health Network. Then you moved to Hospital for Special Surgery. Can you share why you made that jump and what appealed to you about your new role?
Ashis Barad: Sure. My role is chief digital and technology officer, overseeing technology, digital, data and AI. The CIO, CTO, CISO and other related roles report to me. This is a new position combining previously siloed responsibilities like IT, digital and data into one strategy.
Our new CEO, Dr. Bryan Kelly, is the first physician CEO in the 160-year history of HSS. His leadership and vision played a big role in my decision to join. HSS has been No. 1 for 15 years and is more than just orthopedic surgery — it includes the world's largest rheumatology department and significant sports medicine, rehab and wellness capabilities.
In my role, my mandate is to unify the technology stack and integrate AI into everything we do. AI is like electricity — it will transform healthcare. My focus is on using technology to foster adoption, which has lagged in healthcare. Adoption includes not just doctors and nurses, but also patients and consumers. We aim to design technology to meet needs effectively and track its usage to ensure value.
Q: With HSS specializing in surgery and related fields, is your role much different from a digital perspective? Are you working with specialized vendors or platforms compared to your previous roles?
AB: Good question. My background includes implementing Epic at institutions like Northwestern and Baylor Scott & White. At HSS, our Epic system is deeply integrated, even with private doctors using the same instance. For example, our team helped develop Epic's physical therapy module.
At HSS, we focus on using technology to improve care. For instance, virtual visits can save patients unnecessary trips. My goal is to leverage technology to enhance access and care quality. AI and virtual tools, such as those tracking postsurgery range of motion, can minimize in-person visits while maintaining care quality. While the technology exists, we need to address people, processes, policy and payment to implement these solutions effectively.
Q: Simplifying access to healthcare is an important goal. In orthopedics, which often requires hands-on care, are there as many opportunities for virtual care or AI applications?
AB: Absolutely. For instance, we have a product called RightMove for virtual physical therapy. Our doctors use telehealth extensively, especially for global patients. AI can enhance virtual care by analyzing data, like range of motion, to guide care without in-person visits. This technology is ready, but implementation depends on addressing governance, policy and payment.
Q: You've mentioned Epic a few times. Does HSS use a specialized instance or modules?
AB: We have one instance of Epic, even for our private doctors, which ensures data interoperability. We also codeveloped Epic's rehab module and are early adopters of features like Epic's Voice over IP for communication. Our partnership with Epic is collaborative and allows us to address orthopedic-specific needs.
Q: Looking ahead, what are your priorities in this role? What would you like to accomplish?
AB: My goals are threefold:
— Stay in the game: Maintain our leadership by fully utilizing our platforms like Epic and Workday.
— Win the game: Differentiate HSS as an industry leader by leveraging AI and data to improve outcomes and reduce costs.
— Change the game: Expand HSS' focus to the entire mobility spectrum, from wellness to longevity. Using AI and data, we aim to scale HSS' expertise globally, creating codified care pathways accessible worldwide.
I'm committed to using technology to transform healthcare. HSS has a unique opportunity to lead by example and set the standard for delivering exceptional care globally. Let's aim high and make a difference.