Many of the brightest minds in the healthcare industry are inspired to lead innovation that will improve the industry's future. Some of the creative ideas will transform into new paradigms while others will fade with time. We have witnessed the pattern with online eCommerce in the last two decades. Despite sporadic obstacles, underlying forces will eventually bring true value to society and human life.
Meaningful Use, Secondary Use, Care Coordination, etc. are main driving forces today that foster a collaborative healthcare ecosystem. The foundation of the collaboration is predicated on a web of healthcare communities willing to exchange information for the good of patients and improved efficiency, care quality and outcome.
HIE and ACO are the cornerstone concepts being used to build the healthcare network. While the sustainability of the HIE business model has become a major concern for many investors and business leaders, its profound value to revolutionize/modernize the healthcare industry deserves the attention of thought leaders to make it a viable model.
HIE desperately needs a sustainable path going forward. Many companies trying to tackle HIE are running out of money because they are spreading themselves too thin without creating a repeatable model. To complicate things even more, funding on state and federal levels are not sufficient enough to provide a needed runway to profitability.
HIE operators need a new way of thinking to preserve valuable financial resources while building out a long lasting service infrastructure. A couple of simple ideas might be helpful. First, think large start small. One should work with a group of four to five hospitals on a single area of functionality. Once value is proven, only then can you start to spider out, and at a steady pace to keep control. Secondly, leverage secure cloud services to avoid costly upfront IT capital expenditure. Instead, direct limited financial resources towards governance, relationship and trust building, which are paramount to the success of HIE business.
Much like Rome's creation of aqueducts and paved roads, it took great planning and a proven repeatable model to create and grow such a wondrous city. Liaison is looking to create that sustainable path to HIE success.
-Bruce
Bruce Chen is Liaison's CTO