PODCAST: One-on-One w/Methodist CIO Pam McNutt

Earlier this week, Pamela McNutt, SVP and CIO of Methodist Health System in Dallas, gave a presentation entitled “Meeting Stage 1 Meaningful Use: A View from a Healthcare System,” at the AHA’s Annual Membership Meeting in Washington, D.C.  McNutt — chair of CHIME’s Policy Steering Committee and former chair of the organization’s Advocacy Leadership Team — is leading CHIME members in developing a response to the CMS- and ONC-proposed rules, the last of which is the rule governing a permanent certification program. To learn more about her presentation — and the points made by her co-panelist David Blumenthal, M.D. — healthsystemCIO.com editor Anthony Guerra recently chatted with McNutt.

Chapter 1 — Topics Covered: Objective of the presentation; Blumenthal’s presentation; Problems with the Meaningful Use NPRM; Who owns the final definition of Meaningful Use? [audio: One-on-One-W-Pamela-McNutt-Chapter-1]

Chapter 2 — Topics Covered: Tony Trenkle’s powerful role; CHIME/AHA & lobbying efforts; If Meaningful Use isn’t altered, is it time for drastic action?; What was the intent of HITECH, and does it matter?; HIT-related safety errors  [audio: One-on-One-W-Pamela-McNutt-Chapter-2]

Chapter 3 — Topics Covered: Fast implementation = more errors?; Is the Policy Committee too flexible?; If top hospitals are writing off Stages 2 & 3, what does that say about the bar?; Did CMS intentionally shoot for the moon, happy to land among the stars?; Squeaky wheels & policy [audio: One-on-One-W-Pamela-McNutt-Chapter-3]