Peopleware: Crossover skills for Digital Health

HCIT is Different: Developing Crossover Skills between Healthcare and Technology is the key to successful Digital Health Implementations

Introduction

Digital Health represents a unique intersection of healthcare and information technology, each with its distinct characteristics and challenges. The successful integration of these two fields requires a deep understanding of their differences and a strategic approach to overcome the inherent barriers. This white paper explores the key concepts and challenges associated with Digital Health implementation, emphasizing the importance of developing crossover skills between Healthcare and Technology in the same brain i.e. Healthcare and Technology knowledge needs to exist in the same brain and need to be processed together by the same processor.

The Disparity Between Healthcare and IT

• Subjective vs. Objective: Healthcare professionals often rely on subjective judgments based on visual cues, physical exams, and patient histories, while IT professionals primarily utilize objective data and quantitative analysis.
• Ubiquitous Nature of Healthcare: Healthcare operations are characterized by a high degree of dynamism and unpredictability, with orders issued and fulfilled simultaneously. This contrasts with the more structured processes found in many other industries.
• Specialized Knowledge: Both healthcare and IT professionals possess specialized knowledge that may be difficult to translate across disciplines.

Challenges of Healthcare IT Integration

• Communication Barriers: The differences in language, perspectives, and work styles between healthcare and IT professionals can create significant communication barriers.
• Misaligned Expectations: Healthcare professionals and IT experts may have different expectations and priorities, leading to misunderstandings and inefficiencies.
• Resistance to Change: Healthcare organizations may be resistant to adopting new technologies due to concerns about cost, disruption, and patient safety.

The Importance of Crossover Skills

• Enhanced Understanding: Individuals with crossover skills possess a deep understanding of both healthcare and technology, enabling them to effectively communicate and collaborate with professionals from both domains.
• Improved Problem-Solving: Crossover skills empower individuals to approach challenges from multiple perspectives, leading to more innovative and effective solutions.
• Tailored Solutions: Individuals with crossover skills can develop healthcare IT solutions that are better aligned with the specific needs of healthcare professionals and patients.
• Increased Efficiency: By understanding both the technical and clinical aspects of healthcare IT, individuals with crossover skills can streamline processes and improve efficiency.
• Improved Patient Outcomes: Ultimately, the goal of healthcare IT is to improve patient outcomes. Individuals with crossover skills can play a critical role in developing and implementing solutions that achieve this goal.

Strategies for Developing Crossover Skills

• Dual Degree Programs: Encourage individuals to pursue dual degree programs that combine healthcare and technology education.
• Continuing Education: Provide opportunities for healthcare professionals and IT experts to acquire skills in the other field through continuing education courses and workshops.
• Mentorship Programs: Establish mentorship programs to pair healthcare professionals with IT experts to facilitate knowledge sharing and skill development.
• Immersive Experiences: Create opportunities for healthcare professionals and IT experts to gain hands-on experience in each other's fields, such as internships or shadowing programs.
• Collaborative Project Management: Use collaborative project management tools and methodologies to foster teamwork and communication between healthcare professionals and IT experts.

Conclusion

The successful implementation of healthcare IT requires a strategic approach that addresses the unique challenges and opportunities presented by the convergence of healthcare and technology. By fostering the development of crossover skills among healthcare professionals and IT experts, we can overcome communication barriers, improve problem-solving, and create tailored solutions that ultimately enhance patient care and improve the overall efficiency of the healthcare system.

References:

1. HCIT is Different - Lecture slide-deck
2. HCIT is Different - Panel Discussion recording
3. Peopleware concept in Digital Health - Paper Published in ISTM Book