Episode Details
What you’ll get from this episode:
- Bradd’s journey into healthcare and his experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The transformative role of IT in healthcare: automation, streamlining, and communication.
- Deep dive into the evolution and potential of telehealth.
- Heartfelt moments that reshaped perspectives on virtual healthcare.
- The future of telehealth: from remote patient monitoring to drone deliveries.
- Challenges in funding and backing for telehealth innovations.
- A look ahead to 2024: visions of automation and enhanced user experience.
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Introduction
In a recent episode of the Seamless Connection podcast, Meena Mallipeddi had an insightful conversation with Bradd Busick, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer at MultiCare. This post delves into the highlights of their discussion, focusing on Brad’s experiences, challenges, and the innovative strides he’s making in the healthcare sector.
Meet Bradd Busick: The Man Behind MultiCare’s IT Revolution
Bradd Busick, stationed in the Pacific Northwest, oversees a 12-hospital system with over 22,000 employees at MultiCare. With a commitment to enhancing community care quality, Bradd has been pushing boundaries and innovating for nearly four years.
The Origin Story: Bradd’s Entry into Healthcare
Bradd’s journey into healthcare was serendipitous. A call from a former roommate, now a chief medical officer, led him to MultiCare. With a background in philanthropy, notably at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Bradd was no stranger to impactful roles. His entry into healthcare coincided with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, thrusting him into a whirlwind of challenges and rapid innovations.
Unlocking Potential: IT’s Role in Healthcare
Bradd emphasizes the importance of IT’s presence in healthcare. By actively engaging with staff and understanding their pain points, IT can address issues and streamline processes. From automating transcription services to deploying robots for tasks, Bradd believes in harnessing technology to save time and improve efficiency.
Communication is Key: Spreading the Word on Innovations
To ensure that innovations don’t go unnoticed, Bradd introduced the “Make Me Care” series. These live sessions, which are recorded and transcribed for wider accessibility, cover a range of topics, from Microsoft Teams to autonomous robots. By engaging with the audience, these sessions have garnered significant attention and have been instrumental in highlighting IT’s capabilities.
Telehealth’s Initial Challenges
Bradd shared the initial challenges MultiCare faced with telehealth. At the onset of the pandemic, telehealth was an afterthought for many healthcare systems. It was primarily seen as a simple video connection, rather than a transformative care delivery mechanism.
A Heartfelt Moment that Changed Everything
Busick recounted a poignant moment when a nurse approached him about families unable to say their final goodbyes due to COVID-19 restrictions. This led to the rapid adoption of a HIPAA-compliant solution that allowed families to connect virtually. This experience reshaped Busick’s perspective on the potential of virtual healthcare.
Beyond Traditional Telehealth
According to Busick, the potential of virtual healthcare extends far beyond basic telehealth. From remote patient monitoring to tele-neurology, the applications are vast. The challenge lies in creating a seamless experience for both clinicians and patients.
The Role of Virtual Care in Provider Retention
Virtual care has emerged as a core strategy for provider retention at MultiCare. By offering virtual nursing opportunities, they’ve received positive feedback from both the clinical community and patients.
Innovative Approaches: Drone Deliveries and More
Busick revealed MultiCare’s plans to be the first healthcare system on the West Coast to implement drone deliveries. This innovative approach aims to redefine patient care and experience.
Funding and Backing for Telehealth Innovations
Despite budget constraints, MultiCare has managed to fund its telehealth initiatives by focusing on automation and platform-based solutions. This approach reduces the need for manual interventions and streamlines operations.
Looking Ahead to 2024
Busick’s vision for 2024 revolves around building on existing platforms to achieve greater automation. From automating onboarding processes to enhancing ticket submission systems, the focus is on efficiency and user experience.
Conclusion
Bradd Busick’s journey at MultiCare underscores the transformative power of IT in healthcare. By understanding challenges, leveraging technology, and ensuring effective communication, Brad and his team are setting new standards in healthcare innovation. The future of telehealth, as discussed by Bradd Busick, further emphasizes the importance of innovation and patient-centric approaches in the ever-evolving healthcare landscape.
This episode is presented by AmplifyMD.
“AmplifyMD immediately connects medical facilities to a large network of
physicians in all of the most essential specialties, including Neurology, Cardiology,
Infectious Disease, Pulmonology and Heme/Onc.” Their mission is access, by becoming
the definitive specialty care platform that connects every medical facility to the specialty
care they need to improve patient outcomes. – https://amplifymd.com/
To learn more about Bradd Busick and the Mulitcare System please use the link below:
– Multicare’s Website – Bradd’s LinkedIn –
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