Select articles from Visular's knowledge library on various technology and business leadership topics.

Lessons Learned from Implementing a Fully Digital Hospital

/
Lessons Learned from Implementing a Fully Digital Hospital

In healthcare these days, the most challenging information technology efforts are the successful implementation of the Electronic Medical Record (EMR), Computerized Provider Order Entry system (CPOE) and all the needed interfaces that support these two massive (and incredibly important) systems. During my tenure as Chief Executive Officer for a hospital in Colorado, I had the pleasure of overseeing both of these implementations as we completed a journey from paper to fully digital. Focusing on the CPOE implementation and the critical interactions with physicians, below are nine key strategies that leadership will need to employ to ensure a successful CPOE implementation:

  1. Physicians must have a voice in the process

  2. Build credibility with physicians beforehand

  3. Respond effectively and in a timely manner

  4. Explain the value

  5. “At the elbow” support

  6. Local voice

  7. Customization

  8. Presence

  9. Key metrics

Details around each of the 9 strategies follow...

Read More

Some IT Leadership Principles for CEO’s & Business Leaders

/
Some IT Leadership Principles for CEO’s & Business Leaders

I recently was asked to participate on a panel of technology leaders presenting to a group of CEOs. As I only had 10 minutes to give some advice and tips on how to effectively leverage technology, I did my best to pare down my thoughts to a short set of principles:

  • First People – then Process – then Technology

  • Never abdicate your responsibility for your company’s technology

  • Have a solid, documented IT strategy

  • Practice Rhythm of Review

  • Know your total cost of IT

  • Strive for simplicity

  • Proactively manage security and risk

  • Be a very tough, but very fair customer

  • Know ALL your “IT people” – treat them as one team

  • You get what you pay for – invest wisely and as part of a plan

  • Be wary of tech trends

Detailed explanations for each principle follow...

Read More

Every Company Should Have a Master Calendar

/
Every Company Should Have a Master Calendar

Rhythm of Review was one of the most important management concepts I learned while at GE. Every manager (and most employees) knew the dates of the monthly financial closes as well as when the major strategy sessions with corporate were scheduled. These were big events where success or failure was objectively measured and the future of the company was energetically planned.

Regularly scheduled rigorous reviews of results against plan (finance, sales, project status, inventory, etc.) are critical to ensure companies stay focused on their most important metrics. In particular, your IT department needs this rhythm to align their efforts well with the business strategy and flow.

Read More

A Quick Team Assessment Tool

/
A Quick Team Assessment Tool

Attached to this post is a tool I designed to quickly assess the strength of any team I'm managing.  As a leader there is nothing more important to your success than building up a winning team.

Download Visular-Team_Assessment_Tool_v02

This tool is strongly influenced by the GE leadership approach to managing people - focusing on A players and exiting C players.  It is NOT a substitute for a full employee management process (role documents, goal setting, performance reviews, merit-based bonuses, etc.).  Instructions for using the tool are included in the file.

Read More

Back to Basics - Meeting Agendas (And More Importantly - Objectives)

/
Back to Basics - Meeting Agendas (And More Importantly - Objectives)

When you think of the salary (or hourly rate) of every person sitting in a meeting, even the smallest are quite expensive to any organization.  Why is it then that so many meetings happen with no stated objectives or even a simple written agenda?

Attached is my basic meeting agenda format that I try to use for all my meetings.  Many of my colleagues have found this template valuable.  Feel free to customize it as necessary for your needs.

Download Visular-Meeting_Agenda_Template_v03

The most critical elements for an effective meeting are clear, documented objectives, a detailed, timed agenda, and the right attendees in the room.  I also find it helpful to identify the key inputs required in advance so you're not all sitting around saying, "why didn't anyone bring the sales figures?".

Read More