Dr. Aaron Parker Banks, Chief Medical Informatics Officer (CMIO) at UK St. Claire Healthcare, treats patients multiple days a week in the Kentucky community where he has spent most of his life. From early morning to late evening, he uses technology to help him care for patients. A technology champion and physician liaison, Dr. Banks sat down with The CereCore Podcast host Phil Sobol, Chief Commercial Officer, and talked about encouraging collaboration and technology adoption among physicians, nurses and staff. He shared his recent experience from implementing Expanse and Oncology that resulted in physicians being engaged, feeling heard and ultimately satisfied.
Listen to the full podcast episode for a day-in-the-life glimpse into a CMIO’s world, one filled with moments spent practicing family medicine and others spent bridging the technology and healthcare gap for care providers. Hear practical leadership stories from their EHR go-live to personal stories that will leave you inspired by his passion for taking care of his community and encouraged in the ways you serve yours.
The power of a mentor
Dr. Banks was introduced to healthcare through his mom, who was a nurse at a local hospital in Kentucky and she worked with a family physician who was a tremendous role model for him.
“[Dr. Bellamy] really molded me and set the fire for family practice. Seeing him know what everybody was doing at church, while also still being able to provide good quality care, know everything that was happening with the families, could keep up from birth until death, and seeing his practice evolve and his overall commitment to the community and the health and wellness really struck a fire,” said Dr. Banks.
Compassion for the community
Dr. Banks emphasizes how significant it is to understand the local community, build relationships, and live out your commitment to the health and wellness of friends, family and neighbors. The opportunity to train locally enabled him to return to his community to practice medicine. A native of the area, he is able to bridge the gap in health literacy. He recognizes the needs of his community are unique and understanding the culture is critical for effective communication and care delivery.
“If you're not from here, sometimes it's very difficult to understand what people are talking about whenever they're asking for healthcare advice. So being able to bridge that gap in an area where the health literacy is at some of the lowest in the spectrum really helps re-instill that you're committed to the area,” said Dr. Banks.
Balancing clinical practice and IT leadership
Dr. Banks continues to practice medicine while serving as CMIO so he brings a real-world understanding of healthcare technology that allows him to stay connected with the day-to-day challenges faced by clinicians. He looks for ways to make sure IT solutions are both practical and beneficial. He explains that maintaining close ties with clinical operations is important to better understand and address the needs of end-users.
“As physicians we have intricacies that can be delicate to navigate. We expect things to be a certain way so we're able to take care of patients. Most of the time, what we’re taught, it's been the same format of HPI and physical exam—it’s been ingrained in our head and through residency. Any little change to that map or that workflow causes significant stress,” said Dr. Banks.
The role of technology in reducing physician burnout
When it comes to the impact of technology on physician burnout, Dr. Banks noted that while technology can streamline processes, it can also add to the workload if not implemented thoughtfully. He advocates for the use of technology to reduce administrative burdens, such as minimizing unnecessary clicks and optimizing workflows. Healthcare IT leaders should prioritize user-friendly solutions that enhance efficiency without overwhelming clinicians.
“The other day I was doing my refills and it was 2,200 clicks for just refill requests. The number of times I had to click the mouse just in the first hour and a half that I was at work—2,200 clicks to refill medications. I’m clicked and buttons to death. Now that others can see what all we've been doing forever, they want to utilize it for quality and measures, which is great for patient care, but it also adds unneeded, unwanted burden to physicians and staff,” said Dr. Banks.
The heart of physician satisfaction: effective communication and collaboration
Successful technology implementations require effective communication and collaboration between IT and clinical teams. Dr. Banks highlights the importance of listening to clinicians’ feedback and involving them in the decision-making process. This collaborative approach ensures that technology solutions are aligned with clinical needs and are more likely to be accepted and utilized effectively.
“Sometimes being heard is the biggest and most important thing,” said Dr. Banks.
“One thing that was huge for us was the guidance they [the CereCore team] gave us…They also didn't let us try to build it towards ourselves…We built our processes off the product where you're not trying to reinvent the wheel. It took a lot of those grievances that I had.
“To go live with Expanse and then with the nursing and to not have complaints. We just turned it on rock and roll, they knew everything that was going to be sitting in front of them.
“I know I'll never be able to thank the team for that, but having that acknowledgement of our voice being heard, but also how the product is able to be utilized in the capacity it was made…
Whenever I’m talking to physicians—Hey, I get it. I know you like what you like, but we've got this, and we need to get you working with it. Not against it. Because you can always complain about it. Always can. I've gotten physician engagement that way. The better and the happier they've been because they're able to find their intricacies to the workflow,” said Dr. Banks.
Farm lessons, teamwork and patient-focused decisions
Dr. Banks encourages healthcare providers to maximize the use of available tools and technologies. He compares this to making the most of a tractor on a farm, emphasizing that even if the tools are not perfect, they can still be highly effective if used correctly.
He reminds healthcare leaders that every decision should ultimately benefit the patient. This patient-first approach should guide all technology implementations and organizational strategies, ensuring that the primary goal is to improve patient outcomes and experiences.
Finally, Dr. Banks attributes much of his success to the strong team at St. Claire Healthcare. He emphasizes the importance of trust and collaboration within the team, which is essential for navigating the complexities of healthcare IT.