A recent survey found that the majority of health systems (57 percent) aren’t reaching their goals when it comes to digital transformation. One of the biggest points of frustration is the fact that there isn’t a senior level role focused how emerging digital technologies can transform the patient experience, because most of the focus is on implementing and optimizing EHRs.
It was precisely this point that came up during a discussion Nick Patel had with HIMSS CEO Hal Wolf back in 2017 – a discussion that ended up transforming Patel’s career. Shortly afterwards, he pitched the idea of chief digital officer to his CEO, and was offered the job. Since then, the role has grown, both in numbers and notoriety, and Patel believes it will continue to do so as digital health becomes a bigger priority.
Recently, Patel spoke with Kate Gamble, Managing Editor of healthsystemCIO, about his team’s core objectives, particularly when it comes to remote monitoring; his thoughts on how disrupters and startups are changing the game; his journey from practicing physician to CDO; and the traits he believes are most important in digital leaders.
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Key Takeaways

* When Prisma Health was formed as a result of two organizations coming together, Patel pitched the idea for a chief digital officer, provided a description, and got the job.
* The most critical core objectives are to leverage remote patient monitoring and connected virtual care centers to improve patient engagement.
* As virtual visits and chatbot engagements have increased, Prisma has seen a rise in both compliance and patient satisfaction scores. “We’re realizing that we can do a lot outside of buildings that cost millions of dollars,” Patel said.
* Working with startups can be a viable option, as long as leaders are will to do their due diligence, making sure they’re financially sound and have proven results.

Q&A with Nick Patel, MD, CDO, Prisma Health
Gamble:  I want to talk about some of the priorities you have, and get your thoughts on where everything is going with digital health. First, can you give us a high-level overview of Prisma Health?
Patel:  Absolutely. Prisma Health is the largest healthcare system in South Carolina. We span over 50 percent of state and have about 30,000 team members. We’re an academic institution with two affiliated medical schools. I serve as chief digital officer and vice chair for department of medicine, and I’m a practicing internist.
I’ve been with the organization now 18 years. Prisma was formed about four years ago when Palmetto Health in Columbia merged with Greenville Memorial System.
 
Gamble:  How long have you been in the chief digital officer role?
Patel:  About three years now.
 
Gamble:  So you were really on the cutting edge. Now we’re starting to see so many more of those titles pop up across healthcare.
Patel:  I think three years ago, there was probably seven of us. Now we’re in the high double digits. It’s interesting; in 2017, I had dinner with Hal Wolf, the CEO of HIMSS. We were going around the table and talking about what we’re doing at our institutions. At that  time, I was the CMIO for the medical group. Hal asked me, “What do you want to do with your future?” And we started talking about patient experience, digital transformation, and how we don’t have anyone really concentrating at emerging technologies and innovation, because we’re all focused on EHR and IT. He said, “Nick, you need to come to my keynote.