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📍 Today in Health IT, we're discussing a study that reveals the urgent need for healthcare reform to address access disparities. My name is Kate Gamble, and I’m managing editor at This Week Health, where we host a set of channels and events dedicated to transforming healthcare, one connection at a time. I've spent the last 12 years interviewing CIOs, and I’m excited to bring that knowledge into this community of leaders. Our partner in philanthropy is Alex's Lemonade Stand. We've raised nearly $180,000 thanks to the generosity of our partners and community. Join us by visiting our website, and in the top right-hand column, you'll see the logo for our Lemonade Stand. Click on that and give today. We hope you'll share this podcast with a friend or colleague. Use it as a foundation for daily or weekly discussions on the topics that are relevant to you and the industry. They can subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Today, we're discussing a study that reveals the urgent need for healthcare reform to address access disparities. And I'm joined by Sarah Richardson, President of This Week Health 229 Executive Development Community. Sarah, happy Friday! Happy Friday, Kate. I always love Fridays because it gives us a chance to look back on the week, reflect on the amazing things we’ve accomplished, and it’s never too soon to be talking about Halloween costumes. I love that you’re thinking about what your dog is going to be for Halloween. I am! My dog, Ted, is a cockapoo, 17 pounds of attitude, and we’ve decided he’s going to be a pirate. I’m very excited about that, but I think that means I also need to be something in the pirate family. I’m sure you’ll find a fantastic costume! I’m curious though, does Ted get to wear an eyepatch? How do you keep an eyepatch on a dog without him chewing it to pieces? Maybe he just wears the pirate costume, but I love the family theme for Halloween. We already have our skeletons out in the front yard. We have a witch and a pirate this year, so maybe I’ll need to be a pirate too.

This doesn’t come as a shock to me, unfortunately, but it raises a lot of issues for healthcare leaders when we see this data showing how poorly the U.S. health system is performing. It’s mind-boggling. Let’s talk about your reaction as someone who has been in the CIO seat. My initial reaction is to consider how much healthcare costs. Healthcare spending grew over 4% last year, reaching $4.5 trillion, or an average of almost $13,500 per person, which is over 17% of our GDP. The spending keeps going up, but we’re not seeing overperformance in accessibility or outcomes. The U.S. lags behind, and healthcare being local is a big part of that. The ability to access care, afford care, and have outcomes aligned with expectations is different everywhere in the U.S., even in major cities. Navigating the system is tough, and I have friends dealing with elder care who call me asking about oncology and cardiology. I’m not an expert in clinical dynamics, but I know how to tell them to get what they need from physicians and health systems.

Our responsibility as technology leaders and consumers of healthcare is to stay focused on impacting what happens locally. That means getting involved in local government to help shape regulations that affect healthcare delivery and access in our communities. I like that. It reminds me of the saying, “Think globally, act locally,” from my high school environmental group. The message still applies. One of the ways leaders can address this is by being aware of regulatory benchmarks and using them to guide their policies. What are your thoughts on that?

There are a couple of ways. When we had our most recent city tour dinner in Atlanta, we had Stephen McWilliams from the Georgia Hospital Association join us. He talked about board retreats for cyber and policy days for organizations. I was part of the advocacy group for HIMSS in Southern California, and we would go to the Capitol and tell lawmakers what was happening in our cities and communities. That kind of involvement offers huge insights into how you can make a difference. Another example is when I recently participated in an advisory board meeting with people who use healthcare products internationally, from the Middle East and the UK. Understanding the global healthcare landscape helps shape your technology alignment and how you use data-driven insights. There are regulatory components like GDPR that impact us too. But most importantly, collaboration with other healthcare sectors to promote holistic, patient-centric solutions can lead to innovation.

Yes, absolutely. And while I don’t want to incorporate AI and digital into everything, it is part of so much of what we do now. We’ve heard about how it can enhance accessibility, which is such a huge issue. I think of a time when we used data to identify patients from a specific zip code repeatedly coming in with respiratory issues. It turned out that there were significant mold issues in a building, and the landlord had to remediate it by law. Once the health system took action, the health of the community improved. These were underserved people who had the least ability to pay or access care. Using data, partnerships, and local resources made a huge impact. It addressed health issues for generations of families living in that building.

That’s such a specific case, but it shows the power of using data, information, and partnerships to care for local communities. I really enjoy hearing stories like that. It’s great to see forward-thinking leaders working with partners outside of healthcare to improve access and outcomes. Absolutely. The study suggests systemic change is needed for long-term sustainability, and we need to make it a priority for hospital administrations, partners, and local lawmakers. There’s a lot that can be done. Advocacy for those accessing healthcare is key because we’re all patients. We may have a way to get care faster because of our industry, but not everyone does. We’re in healthcare because we care about society, outcomes, and the longevity of people, including our own families.

Just last week, there was a meeting at the UN in New York with healthcare leaders talking about their systems and what needs to be done. Those voices are powerful, and I give kudos to the CIOs and leaders who attended. I agree. I’m glad we’re talking about access often because we know technology can help us fix those challenges. It’s about continuing to drive for better outcomes, quality, and experiences. Healthcare should not be something that causes panic because people don’t know how to navigate the system.

Yes, absolutely. That was a good way to wrap up the week. Thank you, as always, Sarah, for joining me. I love our partnership, and after knowing each other for over a decade, it’s a joy to work together. Thank you for your partnership every day. 📍 Thank you. Don’t forget to share this podcast with a friend or colleague. Thank you for listening, and have a great weekend.