AI2: The Formula for Collaborative Transformation
As we kick off the new year, I’ve taken a step back to reflect on where we’ve been over the past several years as a healthcare system, and on my own journey from private practice, to joining the Houston Methodist Physician Organization, to becoming a hospital executive. I’m fully aware of the pressures you face every day – and, I’m also committed to positioning each of you for success. To do this, the word that comes to mind is “transformation.” While it may sound like just a buzzword, it’s only through collaborative transformation that we’ve been able to – and will continue to – advance healthcare for our patients and our futures.
The pandemic essentially put healthcare into warp speed – we were forced to exhibit the agility required to change course on a dime to ensure continuity of care for our patients under a completely new set of circumstances. One of the biggest lessons we’ve learned is that we can adapt very quickly when required (even though we shouldn’t always do so). For example, telemedicine catapulted to an ubiquitous medium for patient care, transforming both the patient and provider experience. What does this mean for us in 2022 and beyond? I believe that we’re highly dependent upon one another, that the provider/patient experience is a shared ecosystem and that 2022 is going to be a year of collaborative transformation for us at HMSL.
I believe collaborative transformation is achieved by our collective commitment to a simple formula that I refer to as AI2. AI2 is a process that stands for “Assess, Innovate, Adapt, Iterate.” That means we – providers, nurses, administration and staff (and even our patients) – partner to assess a problem, innovate to creatively adjust to changing conditions, adapt as needed and then continue to iterate, or repeat this process, continuously improving in the next iteration. This is how we move the needle forward. Whether it’s about simplifying the way we manage patients, managing call, assessing patient progression or shaping the patient experience, a collaborative approach to AI2 is the formula for true transformation. I’m looking forward to partnering with each of you to find the areas of opportunity that help us transform the way we deliver care in Fort Bend County.