Advancing healthcare requires more than technology. It takes engaged clinicians, thoughtful leadership, trusted partnerships, and a shared commitment to putting patients first.
Bringing these core tenets into practice, Thursday’s MEDITECH LIVE, sessions offered attendees a valuable opportunity to connect with company leaders and peers to share actionable strategies on key industry priorities, ranging from optimization to the unique challenges facing rural healthcare.
The highlight of the day was a panel session, Cultivating Shared Ownership: Moving the Needle on Optimization. Panelists representing three health systems emphasized the importance of fostering shared ownership to drive optimization and establish a culture of continuous improvement.
- Informaticist and Performance Improvement Specialist Nathan D’Angona, RN, of Berkshire Medical Center recommended breaking down barriers between teams and using shared perspectives to build stronger connections. Optimization meetings should combine achievable, incremental improvements with time for deeper discussion of complex challenges.
- EMR Manager Amanda Reed of Huggins Hospital noted her organization empowers staff to submit optimization suggestions to the governance council, who evaluates them based on potential impact such as provider satisfaction, patient safety, and financial outcomes. Diverse stakeholders are involved in the review process to understand the downstream implications of proposed changes.
- Assistant VP and CIO Nadin Knippschild of Catawba Valley Medical Center stressed the importance of ensuring a unified message reaches staff throughout the organization and explained how communicating the “why” behind decisions helps build understanding and engagement. She highlighted the value of hearing messages from both leaders and peers to reinforce shared accountability and consistent communication for successful change management.
Together, the speakers illustrated that optimization is an ongoing, collaborative process that benefits from diverse perspectives, transparent decision-making, and a shared commitment to better outcomes.
CLPP Lead Physician and Medical Consultant Reginald Reginella, DO, of MEDITECH led an interactive discussion on the multifaceted role of the chief medical information officer. Clinician leaders explored the challenge of advocating for clinicians while collaborating with executive leadership to achieve the best outcomes for the health system. Speakers encouraged meaningful engagement with stakeholders, thoughtful evaluation, and a clear understanding of organizational needs to determine the most effective path forward.
Government and Policy Relations Senior Manager Allison Murphy of Huron shared practical strategies for navigating common Rural Health Transformation Program challenges.
“Protecting healthcare funding requires sustained, coordinated advocacy — it cannot be a once-a-year ask,” said Murphy. “We must engage year-round, lead with local data on community ROI, and present a unified message alongside our board and health association partners.”
Moving Healthcare Forward, Together
MEDITECH LIVE created space for meaningful conversations and practical insights that attendees can take back to their organizations — and put to work in support of better care. Read our recap blog for event highlights.
We’re already looking forward to next year’s event, so be sure to mark your calendars for September 21-23, 2027!