John Glaser’s Recent Comments on Need for Healthcare IT Interdisciplinary Approach

From CHIME website:

“Improving health care through the use of information technology is inherently a multidisciplinary undertaking. Computer science. Health informatics. Management. Clinical domain knowledge. Finance. Social sciences. Many bases of knowledge, experience and perspective must all come together to effectively leverage electronic health records. Those who lead technology-enabled changes in care practice must appreciate the need to assemble and apply this diversity of know-how and individuals. No one leader can possibly be deeply conversant across this range, but they can develop an appreciation of the interdisciplinary nature of the undertaking. And they can use their leadership skill to bring together the disciplines and harness their collective contributions. Being a leader in health care information technology is difficult and complicated. Perhaps the greatest leadership challenge is leading multidisciplinary teams. But well-led teams also are the most potent contributor to our efforts to improve care. ”

–John Glaser, Ph.D., vice president and CIO at Partners HealthCare System, is serving as chairman of the CIO SmartBrief Advisory Board. His commentary on selected articles will appear each Friday in the CIO SmartBrief