Anthony Montagnolo
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, ECRI Institute
Anthony J. Montagnolo, M.S., is executive vice president and chief operating officer of ECRI Institute in Plymouth Meeting, Pa.
Articles
Care Delivery Transformation, Health Information Technology (HIT)
Understanding the True Cost of Clinical Technology
For the past few years, “prices” in health care have generated some eye-popping headlines in the press — most notably drug prices. It is not news to anyone in health care that the prices providers pay for drugs and for health care technology seem to rise every year. Further, providers face the daunting task of needing to buy ever-increasing amounts of technology just to keep pace with clinical innovation.
Leveraging Technology, Leveraging Technology
Blurring boundaries
In the 1990s, Jack Welch popularized a phrase to describe what he wanted GE to be: a “boundaryless organization.” That is, he wanted to break down traditional organizational silos and innovate across those boundaries. In today's health care, “boundaryless” has become a good way to describe the implications of an amazing tidal wave of medical technology now available in new places.
Leveraging Technology, Health Information Technology (HIT), Leveraging Technology
Cybersecurity: Its clinical, too
Imagine this text message shows up on your smartphone: “Dear John, we have complete control of your pacemaker software. Please remit $10,000 to our offshore bank immediately or we will drain your battery.”
Leveraging Technology, Leveraging Technology
New tech for trustees to watch
In the early '90s, who could have imagined that today I would be walking around with a mini–super computer and video camera in my pocket. In health care, we have seen similar amazing technological advances over time, and, of course, we know many more advances are sure to come.
Leveraging Technology, Governance Effectiveness, Leveraging Technology
Tech for techs sake?
Trustee talking points
- As health care becomes more complex and shifts its emphasis from volume to value, decisions on buying technology also need to become more sophisticated.
- When considering new clinical technology, hospitals need to pay attention to its interoperabillity — not only with other technology but also with clinical processes — and the actual amount it improves outcomes.
- Hospital and health system trustees can follow a simple test to guide their technology purchases.
- Technology decisions de
Leveraging Technology, Governance Effectiveness, Quality & Patient Safety, Leveraging Technology
Hospital leaders face a numbers game
Trustee talking points
- An ever-increasing amount of data is available for health care leaders to use in making decisions about drugs, devices and procedures.
- The flood of data can lead to poor results if it's not interpreted correctly.
- Board members need to be alert to randomness, significance and bias when reviewing data.
- When used correctly, evidence-based medicine can drive clinical and strategic decisions that improve quality of care, patient outcomes and safety.
Data, big and small, is everywhere.
Governance Effectiveness, Leadership, Strategic Planning, Leveraging Technology
Safer, smaller, smarter health tech
Iron lungs out. Surgical robots in. The heart-wrenching sight of rows of children trapped in iron lungs has given way to the ability to transplant lungs.
As stewards of the strategic direction of their organizations, trustees must understand how new technology can shape and advance strategy. In fact, in our judgment, a strategic plan should include a strategic clinical technology plan to ensure that it involves an understanding of technology’s risks, requirements and dependencies.