Clara Maass Medical Center in Belleville, N.J., named Naveen Ballem, MD, its first chief clinical effectiveness officer, overseeing quality initiatives in several areas. Here, he discusses what excites him most about his new role and what he plans to focus on as his tenure begins.
Question: What are your key responsibilities as chief clinical effectiveness officer?
Dr. Naveen Ballem: I am responsible for conducting thorough oversight, planning and execution of initiatives in the areas of quality improvement, performance excellence, regulatory compliance, patient safety and infection control. I am also responsible for overseeing the appropriate utilization of clinical resources and for developing policies, protocols and programs to help advance the medical center's performance.
Q: What excites you most in your new role?
NB: Over the past 20 years I have had the opportunity to take care of many patients, one at a time. In my new role, I am now positioned to impact many lives by creating processes and protocols to enhance two important priorities of the medical center that directly impact our community: patient safety and patient satisfaction.
Q: What are some key initiatives you plan to roll out?
NB: Some of my early key initiatives will involve a focus on standardization of the healthcare process as we continue along our journey to become a high-reliability organization. I also intend to examine the role of surgical appropriateness at our institution to ensure that our outcomes continue to exceed national levels.
Q: What is your advice for healthcare organizations looking to create a more effective clinical strategy?
NB: The current healthcare landscape is rapidly evolving with the consolidation of physician practices and hospital systems. We are also witnessing advancements in science and medicine with the advent of new drugs, such as biologics, and new technologies, such as robotic surgery. With all these changes occurring more rapidly than ever, it is critical that we understand their implications and provide safe, appropriate implementation strategies to ensure excellent patient outcomes, safety and satisfaction.