William Young, CIO at Berkshire Health Systems
At Berkshire Health Systems, the challenges facing healthcare are not abstract. The rural western Massachusetts health system operates three hospitals, dozens of physician practices, a visiting nurse service and a cancer center partnership with Dana Farber — all while facing the same pressures squeezing hospitals across the country: rising costs, staffing strain and growing demands on clinicians.Measurable outcomesFor William Young, CIO at Berkshire, the answer cannot simply be adding more technology for technology's sake."I believe IT needs to help healthcare stay financially strong, and that health IT must be held accountable to measurable outcomes – not just new features," he said. Young believes artificial intelligence could become one of the most important tools healthcare organizations have to steady themselves financially while improving care delivery at the same time.But he is quick to say that AI only matters if it solves real-world problems. "As expenses go up, something substantial needs to change, and we can't rely on incremental optimization alone," he said.Berkshire is approaching AI carefully, focusing first on targeted pilot programs that can show measurable value. The organization is working with vendors on projects aimed at reducing administrative burdens, improving workflows and helping staff work more efficiently.Careful expansionYoung said the health system is measuring everything from time savings and throughput to error reduction and user satisfaction before expanding any effort more broadly.The work happening behind the scenes may be just as important as the AI itself. Berkshire is investing heavily in data quality, analytics and governance so its information systems can safely support AI tools. Young said leadership also is trying to prepare employees for major changes ahead while keeping expectations realistic."Ultimately, executives should treat AI as both a technology program and a workforce transformation effort, because adoption and change management will determine the results," he said. For Berkshire, the goal is not flashy innovation. It is building systems that reduce friction for caregivers, protect patients, and help a rural health system remain strong in an increasingly difficult healthcare environment.Follow Bill's health IT coverage on LinkedIn: Bill SiwickiEmail him: [email protected]Healthcare IT News is a HIMSS Media publication.WATCH NOW: Operationalizing the social determinants of health
