by
Sean Ruck, Contributing Editor | July 17, 2018
From the July 2018 issue of HealthCare Business News magazine
Do we have the skillset to do it? Yes, we do. As long as I’ve been a member of AHRA, one common thread always manifests in some way. Good, reliable, validated data is important. In the past, we never really had the systems to provide that type of data or worse yet, we had to merge data from 2 and 3 locations in order to get it. Tools are already being developed by our vendors to do this. So I don’t think it’s going to require new leaders, it’s more that we’re going to work to get the right tools in those leaders’ hands.
For artificial intelligence, I think it’s too new at the moment to determine how it’s going to impact us. Still, it’s not something to fear, it’s something to embrace. It’s going to help us be more efficient, improve our quality and patient care. We need to start looking at our IT infrastructure because it’s probably going to be here tomorrow and we want to put in an infrastructure that can support that.
HCB News: Do you anticipate any big changes coming in the role AHRA plays in the national discussion of healthcare?
AB: We’ve already made a huge change, in that we’re at the table. We’re bringing multidisciplinary key stakeholders together to discuss problems. These key stakeholders look at the same problems from completely different viewpoints. Some from a billing and compliance standpoint, some from a data and infrastructure standpoint. We, as AHRA, represent the operational imaging leaders. The fact that we’re helping spearhead an open dialogue, where people can talk to each other, is a game-changer. I’m excited, because that’s our future. “We’re all in this together” has been AHRA’s slogan this past year and when national discussions on healthcare are happening, there is not a better motto to have.
HCB News: How is your field doing with keeping up with demand to fill job openings?
AB: As I touched on before, medical imaging managers are acquiring departments outside of imaging. The demand to fill job openings is a demand to expand our skill sets and continually develop the next generation of leaders. AHRA has always been about providing the tools and resources to be an effective leader. That’s what we’re here for. It’s through AHRA programs like the Leadership Institute Basic Management Program that offers the next generation the fundamental skills and principles of good leadership, or the Partners in Learning program, which offers members at any stage of professional development to spend a few days at another healthcare facility, that we can help shape our future leaders and keep our bench full.
