The American Hospital Association (AHA) and the West Health Institute are embarking on a new three-year initiative to help healthcare organizations deploy and scale technology.
The program, called West Health Accelerator by AHA’s Research and Education Trust (HRET), aims to improve patient outcomes and support care teams through technology implementation.
The initiative has three core tenets: electronic health record (EHR) optimization, virtual care, and the use and integration of artificial intelligence.
“Health care is a uniquely human experience that depends not only on technology but also on the compassion, skill and judgment of clinicians and care teams,” Michelle Hood, AHA executive vice president and chief operating officer, said in a statement. “This partnership aims to expand and strengthen healthcare innovation through the consistent use of technology solutions to enhance healthcare delivery, improve quality and safety, and improve outcomes that matter to patients and their families.”
Systems participating in this initiative will have access to the digital hub through the accelerator’s website. This hub provides implementation support, ready-to-deploy solutions, and a peer learning network.
The collaboration is supported by a $12 million investment from West Health, the organizations said. It builds on “successful accelerator models” that have been implemented at various systems, including Mass General Brigham and Northwestern Medicine.
“We are at a stage where many tools exist to meaningfully improve care. By aligning the right technology with the realities of modern patient care, we can redesign the way health care is delivered in this country. This is not about inventing the future, it’s about developing the future,” Shelly Lyford, CEO and chair of the West Health Institute and Gary and Mary West Foundation, said in a statement. “Our collaboration with AHA will integrate the capabilities needed to impact the entire system.”
