Thank you so much for your time! I know that you are a very busy person. Before we dive in, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
I began my career in the intense world of corporate retail, which is a great way to cut your teeth as a working professional. That’s where I learned to be diligent and how to work in unique settings and with peers who have varying personalities.
As I progressed professionally, I developed a strong desire to give back. This led me to make a professional shift and pursue a career in healthcare technology. Today, I have the opportunity to shape and foster one of the most innovative and exciting brands within healthcare, while also developing, commercializing, and implementing innovative technology platforms.
Can you share the most interesting or most exciting story that has happened to you since you began at your company?
- Since joining IntelliGuard, one of the most thrilling moments was seeing our transformative technology implemented at a nationally renowned children’s hospital — Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego.
- As a small company with innovative solutions, getting to stand up the Intelliguard Ecosystem in such a prestigious healthcare setting was incredibly exciting.
- I vividly recall the collaborative efforts of our team, from software development to operations and implementation, as we worked tirelessly to ensure a successful product launch. Being part of this milestone, particularly in a setting dedicated to the care of children, was both exhilarating and humbling. It reinforced our commitment to leveraging digital transformation to enhance patient safety and drive meaningful impact in healthcare.
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Then, can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
- One of the most memorable mistakes I made early in my career was during my first job out of college. I was a finance team member and was tasked with printing the company P&L for the entire executive leadership team. I hit print without considering the formatting, spreading each panel across multiple pages, turning one page into 17! As I awkwardly presented large piles of paper to each executive during the meeting, it was a humorous yet humbling experience. My boss at the time imparted a valuable lesson: you can make any mistake once (within reason), as long as you learn from it.
- From that day on, I’ve never overlooked formatting details again. This taught me the importance of taking the time to learn and adapt, even in seemingly routine tasks, and to embrace the learning curve with discipline and humility. And, of course, I consistently offer the same grace and advice to my team members.
You are a successful leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
- Empathy: Personally and professionally, I try to lead with empathy. Understanding where another individual is coming from can not only help you work with them better, it can also help open the door to greater communication and increased trust.
- Diligence: I’m a big believer in working hard and attention to detail. I set a high bar regarding work quality for myself and my team, which means colleagues and partners consistently know what to expect. Working hard, however, should also mean working smart, ensuring that non-work activities are prioritized just as much in your life as work activities.
- Collaboration: When you lead a marketing team, it’s crucial to remember that marketing is always at the center of an organization. You touch almost every department in some capacity and often are the gatekeeper between a decision being made or not. A successful marketer must be collaborative.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now? How do you think that might help people?
- While I can’t divulge specifics, I can share that we’re on the cusp of unleashing a ground-breaking data intelligence platform at IntelliGuard. This endeavor involves leveraging the wealth of data generated by our RFID solutions to empower hospitals and healthcare systems with enhanced patient safety measures, heightened ROI, and streamlined processes.
We aim to provide facilities with comprehensive insights that drive compliance, regulatory adherence, and clinical efficiencies by harnessing the extensive data streams inherent in medication management and healthcare operations. This initiative represents a pivotal step in enabling healthcare providers to devote more time and attention to patient care by alleviating the burden of manual processes and fostering a more efficient, data-driven environment.
Our project embodies a transformative endeavor in the digital realm, poised to revolutionize how healthcare facilities optimize their operations and ultimately enhance the quality of care they deliver to patients.
Thank you for all that. Let’s now shift to the main focus of our interview about Digital Transformation in Healthcare. I am particularly passionate about this topic because my work focuses on how practices can streamline processes to better serve their patients. For the benefit of our readers, can you help explain what exactly Digital Transformation means? On a practical level, what does it look like for a medical practice to engage in a digital transformation?
- Digital transformation in a medical practice encompasses a spectrum of changes tailored to each facility’s unique needs and technological maturity. For those healthcare facilities at the forefront of technology adoption, digital transformation often involves transitioning from server-based platforms to cloud-based systems and from conventional analytics to more advanced AI-driven solutions.
- These facilities already have digital processes and technologies in place, but seek to elevate them to the next level. They prioritize securing their data in protected cloud environments to mitigate risks like ransomware attacks and strive for seamless interoperability across all systems within the facility. They focus on optimizing existing processes, enhancing efficiency, and strengthening the overall infrastructure.
On the other hand, many facilities are still in the nascent stages of digitalization, relying heavily on manual processes and paper-based systems. For them, digital transformation represents a leap forward, bypassing intermediate steps to embrace cutting-edge cloud solutions directly. This leap allows them to streamline operations, reduce reliance on manual labor, and leverage advanced technologies to improve patient care and administrative efficiency.
Ultimately, the trajectory of digital transformation in a medical practice hinges not only on the facility’s current technological landscape, but also on the availability of innovative solutions from vendors like IntelliGuard. As we continue to expand our digital solution suite, we empower medical practices to navigate their unique transformation journey, ensuring they can harness the full potential of technology to enhance patient care and operational excellence.
What are the specific pain points that digital transformation can help address in a medical practice?
Whether transitioning from manual processes to digital systems, or upgrading to more sophisticated solutions, practices can expect significant improvements across various aspects. Firstly, there’s a tangible impact on ROI, as efficiencies gained through digitization lead to cost savings and revenue enhancements. Secondly, reducing total on-hand inventory, such as medications and supplies, minimizes waste, optimizes inventory management, and cuts costs.
Moreover, digital transformation ensures enhanced data security, safeguarding patient and practice information. By centralizing and securing data in safer locations, practices mitigate the risks associated with breaches and unauthorized access. Additionally, the transition can decrease manual processes, allowing staff to focus on core responsibilities aligned with their expertise.
Ultimately, these improvements culminate in enhanced patient safety, the cornerstone of any medical practice. By streamlining operations, ensuring data integrity, and optimizing workflow, practices can deliver better patient outcomes. A digitally transformed practice fosters a happier, more efficient workforce, promotes seamless interoperability among systems, and, most importantly, cultivates a safer patient environment.
What are the obstacles that prevent a medical practice from engaging in a digital transformation?
Firstly, there’s the issue of availability within the industry. Many practices may find it daunting to navigate the vast array of digital solutions and may need to be aware of the possibilities. At IntelliGuard, we’re dedicated to bridging this gap by providing accessible solutions to facilitate seamless digital transformation for facilities.
Secondly, awareness plays a crucial role. Practices might be unaware of the solutions available or unsure about their specific needs. They need guidance to understand what solutions are pertinent to their operations and how to leverage them effectively.
Lastly, time and prioritization are significant hurdles. With busy schedules and competing priorities, medical practices may need support to allocate time and resources to digital transformation initiatives. The industry needs to underscore the long-term benefits and make a compelling case for prioritizing digital transformation efforts.
Addressing these obstacles requires a concerted effort from industry players to enhance availability, raise awareness, and emphasize the importance of digital transformation. We can facilitate a smoother transition towards a digitally-driven healthcare landscape by empowering practices with the right tools, knowledge, and incentives.
Managing a healthcare facility is more challenging than it has ever been. Based on your experience or research, can you please share with our readers a few examples of how digital transformation can help a medical practice to provide better care? If you can, please share a story or example for each.
Here are two examples illustrating how digital transformation can significantly enhance patient care within medical practices:
1. 340B Medication Management: One of our facilities has leveraged our technology to revolutionize the management of their 340B medications. These medications are critical for hospitals serving patient populations with limited incomes, as they enable access to medications at lower price points. By effectively managing their 340B program, hospitals can ensure continued access to vital medications for underserved communities. Our transformative technology has enabled these facilities to streamline and optimize their 340B medication processes, ensuring compliance and maximizing the program’s benefits. This helps hospitals sustain operations and ensures equitable access to essential healthcare services for vulnerable populations.
2. Inventory Optimization with Advanced Analytics: Another facility has implemented our advanced data analytics solution to optimize its medication inventory. This facility can accurately forecast medication needs and minimize excess inventory by leveraging predictive analytics and data-driven insights. This proactive approach ensures that they maintain adequate stock levels without overstocking, thus reducing waste and saving costs. Through real-time monitoring and intelligent recommendations, they can efficiently manage their inventory, improve ROI, and redirect resources toward enhancing patient care initiatives.
Can you share a few examples of how digital interactions or digital intake processes can help create a frictionless patient experience and increase access for patients?
- While digital intake processes may not directly relate to our work at IntelliGuard, ensuring interoperability between healthcare systems is crucial for creating a seamless patient experience and improving access to care.
- Interoperability enables seamless communication between technologies, allowing healthcare providers to access comprehensive patient information across systems. This streamlined data exchange enhances clinical decision-making, improves care coordination, and increases operational efficiency within medical facilities. By prioritizing interoperability, we contribute to a more connected and patient-centered healthcare ecosystem, benefiting patients, providers, and the industry as a whole.
Because of your role, you are a person of significant influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most people, what would that be? You never know what your ideas can trigger.
- If I could inspire a movement, it would focus on ensuring equitable access to comprehensive pre and postnatal care for women. As a new mother and a healthcare professional, I’ve witnessed firsthand the stark disparities in this crucial area of healthcare. It’s essential that we, as a nation, recognize the importance of supporting women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the crucial years following delivery. By mobilizing healthcare professionals and advocates, we can work towards creating systemic change that enables facilities to prioritize and provide accessible, high-quality care for every woman, regardless of their race, socio-economic background, or geographic location. From hospital-based doula programs, to increased postnatal check-ups and mental well-being evaluations, this movement would not only improve the health and well-being of mothers, but also have a ripple effect, positively impacting families and communities as a whole.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
- Stay up to date on news and insight with IntelliGuard’s blog posts and on social media –
- IntelliGuard X
- IntelliGuard LinkedIn
- IntelliGuard Facebook
Thank you so much for sharing these important insights. We wish you continued success and good health!