How can we make the EHR implementation process less manual? Krischan Krayer, VP of implementation and operations for clinical and imaging systems at HCA Healthcare, discusses ways healthcare organizations can evaluate and use automation for EHR implementations. He shares experiences working with stakeholders and teams to educate them on what’s possible with automation. Hear more about EHR adoption trends, insights from his role as physician advocate and IT “translator” and career advice.    

Key topics include:   

• Improving the EHR experience for physicians 
• Why use automation for EHR implementation 
• How to evaluate the value and potential use of automation 
• Evolution of EHRs and the effect of generational changes on adoption 

Automation is a solid strategy for scaling IT services and resources whether focused on an EHR implementation or other more day-to-day IT operations. Tune in to hear leadership perspective from Krischan who stands in the gap and serves as liaison between healthcare providers, operations and technology—with the goal to leverage EHR technology to deliver high-quality, compassionate care to communities. 

Connect with us 

• Read Automation Saves Thousands for MEDITECH Expanse Implementation (Time Is Money) 
• Connect with host Phil Sobol, Chief Commercial Officer of CereCore
• Connect with Krischan Krayer, HCA Healthcare Information Technology Group VP 
• Explore CereCore's resources on data and interoperability, end-to-end EHR implementation and optimization and IT service desk 

Share your healthcare technology story with us—leave a comment, share this episode, and subscribe to our podcast! 

Dr. Patrick Woodard is the Chief Information Officer (CIO) at Monument Health. Monument Health operates the busiest ER in South Dakota, serving a remote area where the nearest comparable trauma center is over 300 miles away. In this episode, hear how Dr. Woodard’s background as practicing internist ignited a passion for healthcare technology and health policy. He discusses how healthcare technology like policy can impact thousands of patients, emphasizing the importance of reliability, invisibility and quality IT support. 

Key topics

• The evolution of healthcare technology and its adoption by physicians
• Balancing clinical practice with IT leadership
• The role of AI in improving documentation and reducing physician burnout
• Strategies for effective healthcare IT support
• The importance of listening to frontline caregivers to drive meaningful tech improvements

Dr. Woodard's personal anecdotes provide a compelling look at the intersection of medicine and technology. Whether you're a healthcare professional, IT specialist, or simply interested in the future of healthcare, this episode offers real world insights on the critical role of clinical IT support. Tune in to hear how Monument Health is leveraging technology to deliver high-quality, compassionate care to its diverse patient population.

Connect with us

• Connect with Dr. Patrick Woodard, Chief Information Officer (CIO) at Monument Health
• Connect with host Phil Sobol, Chief Commercial Officer of CereCore
• Explore CereCore's resources on clinical IT service desk, end-to-end EHR implementation and optimization and healthcare technology managed services

Share your healthcare technology story with us—leave a comment, share this episode, and subscribe to our podcast!

Dr. Aaron Parker Banks, Chief Medical Informatics Officer (CMIO) at UK St. Claire Healthcare treats patients in the clinic four days a week and he's using technology throughout the day to help him provide the best care to his tight-knit community in Kentucky. Listen to this “day in a life” episode to hear how this CMIO led physicians, nurses and staff through technology change during their EHR go-live. Dr. Banks shares personal stories that will leave you inspired by his passion for taking care of his community and encouraged in the ways you serve yours.

Key topics:

• Physician experiences with technology in patient care
• Maximizing use of technology
• Patient-centered decision making
• Rural and community healthcare
• Bridging the generational technology gap

Read more about UK St. Claire and Dr. Aaron Parker Banks

Connect with host Phil Sobol, chief commercial officer of CereCore

Connect with CereCore

Where ever you are in your EHR journey and whatever EHR platform you are using, CereCore can help. Tap into our expertise and explore a few resources like these:

• EHR Optimization: The New EHR Lifecycle
• MEDITECH Expanse 2.1 To 2.2: What Will Nurses Think?
• Implementing Epic? Don't Overlook Fundamentals Like Change Management

Share your healthcare technology story with us—leave a comment.

Like what you heard? Share this episode and subscribe to our podcast!

A highly customized EHR in need of costly updates challenged the new CIO at Oklahoma Heart Hospital (OHH) to evaluate the technology stack he inherited and chart a new course at this award-winning healthcare organization. In this episode, Phil Sobol, Chief Commercial Officer, talks with David Miles, Chief Information Officer of OHH, and Jim Wetzel, the facility’s director of clinical systems. The duo shared valuable insights from their recent Epic implementation that was completed in just 11 months (earlier than the 12-month goal established at the onset of the project).  

Key topics: 

• Guiding principles for evaluating your healthcare technology stack
• Keys to OHH’s Epic implementation timeframe
• What’s next at OHH 

Connect on LinkedIn: 

• Phil Sobol, CereCore CCO (podcast host)
• David Miles, OHH CIO 
• Jim Wetzel, OHH Director of Clinical Systems 

Learn more: 

• Implementing Epic? Don’t Overlook Fundamentals Like Change Management 
• Best Practices for Charting Your Epic Optimization Journey 

Epic comes with a ton of capability. Let's talk about how our healthcare IT experise and resources can help your organization leverage the Epic platform to its fullest potential.

Connect with CereCore.

“Every project you might be involved in is still a business project at the end of the day,” says Nayan Patel, CIO at Upson Regional Medical Center. Nayan explains how simple tools like a top 10 list can foster transparency and trust, highlighting technology’s impact on and value to healthcare projects. During this conversation with host Phil Sobol, chief commercial officer at CereCore, Nayan shares examples from the decades he has spent leading organizations during times of growth and transition. How does a health IT professional earn a seat at the executive table? What makes or breaks IT governance? Stream this episode for leadership advice you can apply in your healthcare organization. 

Key topics  

• How to align with the business 
• Using governance to guide strategy and priorities  
• Why technical debt and application rationalization deserve attention 
• Mentoring others and professional development 

Resources 

Start tackling technical debt in your organization. Download this ebook: Technical Debt and the Patient.  

Connect 

• Nayan Patel, CIO at Upson Regional Medical Center 
• Phil Sobol, chief commercial officer at CereCore 
• Did this topic resonate with you? Share this episode! 
• Tap into other healthcare IT resources. Subscribe to our monthly enewsletter. 
• Looking for help with healthcare IT services? Contact us. 

Ajai Sehgal, Chief Data and Analytics Officer at Mayo Clinic, discussed the building blocks of healthcare data strategy and the value of data analytics from examples of physicians and patients who experienced better care, time savings and reduced cost. “Early detection of disease is a way of both curing patients and delivering better healthcare, but also scaling our physicians,” said Sehgal in this interview with host Phil Sobol, Chief Commercial Officer of CereCore. Hear more about Mayo Clinic’s approach to data governance, stewardship and literacy programs, and physician engagement. If you’re wondering where to begin or how your healthcare organization can take advantage of data analytics, stream this episode for Sehgal’s advice. 

Key topics:  

• Career highlights and transition to healthcare at Mayo Clinic
• Data management and governance principles
• Examples of solving health problems with data and early disease detection
• Strategic direction, data governance and physician engagement
• Quantifiable value of data analytics
• Startup principles apply to data analytics
• Advice for managing technology change 

Connect with Ajai Sehgal, Chief Data & Analytics Officer at Mayo Clinic, and show host Phil Sobol, Chief Commercial Officer of CereCore on LinkedIn. Did this topic resonate with you? Reach out and start a conversation on LinkedIn.  

If your organization doesn’t have the capability internally to advance or optimize your technology, CereCore may be able to help—contact us.  

Learn more about ways we help hundreds of healthcare organizations across the US and UK.  

• Upgrade support experiences with our Clinical Service Desk
• Optimize your EHR and maximize your technology investment
• Shore up your revenue cycle and mitigate technology gaps
• Subscribe to our podcast
• Explore our resources library 

Listen to this masterclass in healthcare IT leadership from Marty Paslick, retired SVP and CIO of HCA Healthcare. He shares experiences from his nearly four decades in HIT and covers topics from workplace culture where “technologists see themselves as healthcare professionals first,” to financial and operational resiliency during adversity. He's not shy about sharing what worked and didn't work when mentoring leaders. Plus, he explains his approach to achieving innovation and quiet operations, authentic communication and three fundamental leadership principles. Enjoy this story-packed conversation with Marty and host Phil Sobol, vice president of business development at CereCore. 

Key topics 

00:02:12 - Becoming a CIO 

00:06:10 - Quiet Operations and Continual Improvement 

00:10:10 - Evolution of Healthcare IT and CIO Role 

00:11:38 - Building Authentic Relationships 

00:14:03 - Communication Strategies 

00:17:09 - Leadership Style and Flexibility 

00:18:05 - Storytelling in Leadership 

00:20:44 - Final Words of Wisdom 

Connect on LinkedIn 

Marty Paslick, Retired Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer, HCA Healthcare 

Phil Sobol, Vice President of Business Development, CereCore 

Learn more 

Interested in what other CIOs have to say about current healthcare challenges? Check out the feedback shared in an online survey of CHIME (College of Healthcare Information Management Executives) members about IT priorities and pressures facing their health system.      

Results part 1- Top IT Priorities and Pressures

Results part 2 - Hiring Contractors and Investing in Automation

Is your organization going through a change in executive IT leadership? CereCore offers advisory services and fractional leadership for CIOs, CTOs and CISOs roles. Find more details. 

Contact CereCore

https://cerecore.net/contact

Strategic plans and EHR technology fueled with data are key for rural healthcare operations today. And what else? Step into the shoes of Alma Alexander, CFO from Cuero Regional Hospital. In this conversation with host Phil Sobol, Vice President of Business Development at CereCore, Alma shares what she’s learned as a healthcare finance leader in both large health systems and rural healthcare settings and how each are different and unique.  

How does a chief financial officer (CFO) tackle top challenges in rural healthcare today? What’s the secret to financially preparing for and managing large IT investments like EHR systems? Alma gives practical advice on using strategic plans as communication tool to align C-suite leaders and the board of directors. Hear first-hand CFO advice as Cuero embarked on a multi-year process to prepare, plan and implement a modern EHR.  

Key Topics  

00:05:04 - Financial operations across different healthcare settings Alma compares financial operations in reference labs, metropolitan, and rural hospitals. 

00:08:16 - Top challenges for rural healthcare leaders   Alma talks about specific challenges faced in managing finances in a rural healthcare setting. 

00:10:35 - Technology's impact on healthcare Discussion on how IT advancements like AI and telemedicine are influencing rural healthcare. 

00:14:43 - EHR implementation and strategic planning Alma discusses the strategic planning and implementation process for a new EHR system. 

00:18:37 - Decision making in EHR modernization  Hear about key decisions and pivotal moments in the EHR modernization process and what success looks like from a CFO perspective. 

00:22:40 - Maintaining leadership alignment  Learn how this leadership team maintains alignment and communication regarding strategic plans. 

00:25:59 - Closing thoughts and advice Alma offers final thoughts and advice about the people side of healthcare.  

Connect on LinkedIn 

• Alma Alexander, Chief Financial Officer, Cuero Regional Hospital https://www.linkedin.com/in/alma-alexander-cpa-3b048a10/ 

• Phil Sobol, Vice President, Business Development at CereCore https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-sobol-8696991/ 

Related Episodes 

• Rural Healthcare: A CEO's Take on Advocacy, Tech and More https://podcast.cerecore.net/rural-healthcare-a-ceos-take-on-advocacy-tech-and-more 

• Rolling Out EHRs in the Rural Setting: An Expert Guidehttps://podcast.cerecore.net/rolling-out-ehrs-in-the-rural-setting-an-expert-guide 

• Why EHR Optimization is Worth the Effort and Budgethttps://podcast.cerecore.net/why-ehr-optimization-is-worth-the-effort-and-budget 

Learn More 

Wherever you are in your healthcare technology journey, CereCore can help you navigate big decisions and plan for the future. Let’s talk about expertise and resources you might need to make progress with your EHR, application management, IT support and more. Check out these resources to get started.    

• How to Transition from MEDITECH Legacy EHR to Expanse https://resources.cerecore.net/how-to-transition-from-meditech-legacy-ehr-to-expanse 

• EHR Hosting and Backup: Budgeting and Planning Tips that Avoid Surprise Costshttps://resources.cerecore.net/ehr-hosting-and-backup-budgeting-and-planning-tips-that-avoid-surprise-costs 

• Unlocking the Full Potential of Your EHR: Why Optimization Pays Offhttps://resources.cerecore.net/unlocking-the-full-potential-of-your-ehr-why-optimization-pays-off 

Next Steps 

Understand what you have and what you need. Get an EHR assessment. https://cerecore.net/meditech-current-state-assessment? 

Contact CereCore 

https://cerecore.net/contact 

Cyber criminals only have to be right once to wreak havoc. In healthcare, we have to be right 100% of the time to manage the risk of cyberattack. In this episode, Phil Sobol, Vice President of Business Development talks to Darcy Corcoran, Principal for Cybersecurity Advisory Services. Hear how she uses her extensive background in the Department of Defense and work with NATO and the Pentagon to inform organization-specific tactics and industry best practices for cybersecurity in healthcare. In their conversation they cover the must haves and explore an often-overlooked aspect of considering AI use cases. 

Key topics:   

• Thoughts on cybersecurity in healthcare through lens of extensive cybersecurity background in defense  
• Misconceptions about malicious actors 
• Factors to include in cybersecurity strategy  
• The AI considerations leaders may overlook 
• Leadership responsibilities for cybersecurity in healthcare organizations

Connect on LinkedIn with show host Phil Sobol, Vice President of Business Development, and Darcy Corcoran, Principal Cybersecurity Advisory Services.  

Did this topic resonate with you? Reach out and start a conversation to learn more.  

For more on Cybersecurity Advisory Services, check out these resources.  

• Six Cybersecurity Points Healthcare CIOs Should Explain to Their Boards 
• Partnership is Key for Maximum Intelligence Against Growing Security Risks 
• 2024 Healthcare Technology Industry Trends: Top Challenges for CIOs 

Many healthcare organizations are facing single digit or negative EBITDA and are searching for strategies to improve profitability, patient care and sustained growth. Examining revenue cycle is often a great place to start because of its far-reaching impact, explains Kim Waters, Principal Consultant for Revenue Cycle at CereCore. In this episode with host Phil Sobol, Vice President of Business Development at CereCore, Kim shares her unique perspective having worked with healthcare leaders in managed services, revenue cycle, payer disciplines and now CereCore clients. Kim explains how her conversational approach uncovers quick wins, identifies root causes, and helps teams navigate complex changes. She brings business acumen and healthcare experience working with a variety of C-suite roles, health system boards of directors, and clinical teams. What common problems warrant an outside perspective? How can you achieve a productive partnership with a consultant? Kim answers these questions and explains why evaluating change readiness is important to innovation. She wraps up the conversation with a client story that highlights the impact care navigation can have on positive financial results for a health system, a patient and their family. 

Key topics 

• How to derive the most value from a consulting engagement 

• Top areas C-suite leaders are looking to improve today 

• Data, storytelling and the why behind decisions 

• Revenue cycle optimization can be ripe with opportunity 

• Care navigation client story: strategy yields savings for health system and patients 

Connect

• Connect with Phil Sobol, Vice President of Business Development at CereCore, on LinkedIn.   

• Connect with Kim Waters, Principal Consultant for Revenue Cycle at CereCore, on LinkedIn. 

• Would your organization benefit from an outside perspective with deep healthcare expertise? Reach out and start a conversation about how we could help.   

More resources to explore: 

• Advisory Services

• Six Cybersecurity Points Healthcare CIOs Should Explain to Their Boards 

• CIOs Rank Top Healthcare IT Priorities and Pressures for 2024 (Part 1) 

• How Commitment to ROI can Improve a Health System’s Bottom Line 

• 2024 Healthcare Technology Industry Trends: Top Challenges for CIOs