Beth Deaconess Technology Innovation Center

Beth Israel Deaconess launches technology innovation center Email Share Share Tweet Save Print Order Reprints Dr. John D. Halamka is the chief medical information officer at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Enlarge Dr. John D. Halamka is the chief medical information officer at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. W. MARC BERNSAU IN THIS ARTICLE Health Care Industry Hospitals Topic By Jessica Bartlett – Reporter, Boston Business Journal 2 years ago Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center has long had a focus on technology innovation with the creation of its own electronic medical record. But with the launch of a new Health Technology Exploration Center, the hospital is creating a dedicated space for the hospital to innovate. Spearheaded by BIDMC Chief Information Officer Dr. John Halamka, the center will create a new front door and dedicated space for the hospital to innovate, coordinating collaboration with industry, academia and clinicians around technology. With standard processes and established support, the hospital hopes to more rapidly integrate new technology ideas. Set to be located on a floor of the planned new 10-story inpatient building, the center will initially be staffed by 10 clinicians and other employees working to change how the hospital uses technology. “It provides us with an organizing principal to bring all our innovators together and I believe the results will be greater than the sum of its parts,” Halamka said. Halamka envisions the center finding solutions to the hospital’s hairiest problems. For example, the operating room costs $100 a minute. By using predictive analysis based on the experiences of all the hospital's patients, doctors can schedule an appendectomy for a relatively healthy patient for 25 minutes, instead of the standard two hours for the procedure. BIDMC can also use the experience of the hospital’s millions of patients to better predict how long a patient might stay in an ICU, or find ways to use wireless medical devices in people’s homes to keep them healthier and out of the hospital. “The idea with the center is its protected time for clinicians, space, and resources so we can explore some of these more speculative ideas and see if they work,” Halamka said. With Beth Israel Deaconess planning a merger with Lahey Health, New England Baptist, Mount Auburn Hospital and Anna Jacques Hospital, Halamka said he hopes all the organizations would come together to innovate as a team within the center. TRENDING HEALTH CARE MGH, Beth Israel turn to experimental Gilead COVID-19 drug Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center has tested more than 1,300 people for COVID-19. HEALTH CARE Atrius Health to temporarily close sites, furlough staff amid pandemic Dr. Steven Strongwater, president and CEO Atrius Health COMING EVENT New Date: 2020 Best Places to Work Sept. 30 If the merger receives approval by the state and is finalized, Halamka said he will step down as chief information officer of BIDMC and focus his time as head of the center. The combined entity would likely undertake a national search for a system-wide CIO, Halamka said. “I’m 56, so I would hope, because I’m a vegan, that I would last another 30 years or so,” Halamka said. “Wouldn’t you like your legacy to be something like mentoring young people who will replace you, creating a fundamental different experience for patients? And this will be the legacy I leave.” The List Largest Hospitals in Massachusetts Ranked by Total 2016 net patient service revenue Rank Hospital Total 2016 Net Patient Service Revenue 1 Massachusetts General Hospital $2,570,466,898 2 UMass Memorial Health Care $2,266,426,000 3 Brigham and Women's Hospital $1,958,256,842 View This List