These days, Ragan spends his time overseeing new technology initiatives, such as moving the medical-transcription process online, or trying to extract further savings from his IT budget. Of course, it's impossible to make that revolution happen all at once, so we pick things that will make us more cost-effective, or let us ratchet up the level of care even higher. The biggest advantage that we have is being able to draw on ideas and creativity throughout the institution. That's been the revolution here. Here are a few tips from the DMC formulary.
Money buys mind share.
Early on, when planning for the Cerner system began, DMC administrators formed a Physician Leadership Team. But they didn't ask doctors to donate time to the project. After all, surgeon David Bouwman notes with a laugh, most physicians are too capitalistic for that. Ask for input. You can't tell them to do anything.