Pankaj Jain is Vice President at Highmark Health. Pankaj leads the enterprise Product Realization Office with the mandate for value effectuation of all medical insurance and technology products. Pankaj is at the forefront of promoting digital health and value-based care through various global research endeavors, conferences, virtual events, and by leading enterprise transformations at Highmark that improve healthcare delivery for providers, payers, and consumers. Prior to foraying into healthcare, he led global businesses for Siemens, Rockwell, and GE.

In this episode, Pankaj talks about innovation and change management. In the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare IT, innovation and change management play pivotal roles in shaping the future of patient care. The opportunities that arise from embracing cutting-edge technologies are immense, promising enhanced efficiency, streamlined processes, and ultimately, improved health outcomes. From artificial intelligence optimizing clinical and administrative processes to the seamless integration of electronic health records, the potential for positive change is boundless.

However, with great potential comes great responsibility. Navigating the delicate balance of innovation in health IT presents a unique set of challenges. In a realm where patient lives hang in the balance, precision and reliability are paramount. Ensuring the seamless adoption of new technologies while maintaining the highest standards of safety and privacy demands a strategic approach.

We discuss strategic approaches to innovation and mental models for devising clear goals and outcomes among diverse stakeholders.

Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at matt.schlossberg@availity.com

This episode of “Availity On-Air” was produced by Availity LLC. Research by SVM Public Relations & Marketing Communications. Our editor is Kevin McDonald. The show’s production team also includes Travis Froehlich, Derrick Nevado, and Alexis Valladares.

Innovation and transformation are top priorities for growth-oriented healthcare organizations. But meaningful and sustainable transformation presents and extraordinary challenge. Departmental silos, complex bureaucracies, and organizational inertia often prevent good ideas from every showing up on a solutions roadmap.

My guests Jesson Zafar and Dennis Kramer of Sentara Health Plans have spent the past couple of years thinking of little else than the lifecycle of solution development—from ideation to go-to-market and everything in between. Together, Jesson and Dennis have created a system for nurturing ideas from across the enterprise.

We hope this enlightening conversation will give you some ideas on how to scale and implement your own Transformation Center. Jesson and Dennis discuss how they created Sentara’s Transformation Center, how it works in practice, and how they have engineered their process to ensure that good ideas, regardless of where they come from within the organization, are given a chance to reach their full potential.

Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at matt.schlossberg@availity.com

This episode of “Availity On-Air” was produced by Availity LLC. Research by SVM Public Relations & Marketing Communications. Our editor is Kevin McDonald. The show’s production team also includes Travis Froehlich, Derrick Nevado, and Alexis Valladares