<description>&lt;p&gt;Children’s Nebraska is innovating. That much was made clear when the organization recently won a Synergy Award from CHIME and KLAS, “for achieving the highest levels of excellence in EHR user experience and digital health innovation.” To learn more about the keys to Children’s success, healthsystemCIO Editor-in-Chief Anthony Guerra caught up with Ryan Cameron, VP [&amp;#8230;]&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Source: &lt;a href="https://healthsystemcio.com/2024/12/02/measurability-a-key-element-for-all-innovation-projects-says-childrens-nebraskas-ryan-cameron/"&gt;Measurability a Key Element for All Innovation Projects, Says Children’s Nebraska’s Ryan Cameron&lt;/a&gt; on &lt;a href="https://healthsystemcio.com"&gt;healthsystemcio.com - healthsystemCIO.com is the sole online-only publication dedicated to exclusively and comprehensively serving the information needs of healthcare CIOs.&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
</description>

Children’s Nebraska is innovating. That much was made clear when the organization recently won a Synergy Award from CHIME and KLAS, “for achieving the highest levels of excellence in EHR user experience and digital health innovation.

Children’s Nebraska is innovating. That much was made clear when the organization recently won a Synergy Award from CHIME and KLAS, “for achieving the highest levels of excellence in EHR user experience and digital health innovation.” To learn more about the keys to Children’s success, healthsystemCIO Editor-in-Chief Anthony Guerra caught up with Ryan Cameron, VP of Technology &amp; Innovation, whose approach provides a blueprint for executives striving to balance cutting-edge technology with empathetic patient care. 
Scroll down to watch or listen to the full interview; or subscribe to healthsystemCIO on your favorite podcasting channel 
The Role of Innovation in Healthcare 
Children’s Nebraska, a growing pediatric-focused institution, exemplifies the challenges and opportunities in health system innovation. Cameron’s role is split between managing the hospital&#8217;s innovation program and traditional IT operations, giving him a unique vantage point to harmonize these functions. 
Cameron explains, “Innovation depends on a strong infrastructure. You can’t have meaningful advancements without the backbone that supports it.” This dual focus ensures that Children’s Nebraska is prepared for immediate needs while laying the groundwork for future advancements. His background—ranging from artificial intelligence startups to higher education technology—brings fresh perspectives to healthcare challenges. 
This duality is crucial for institutions like Children’s Nebraska, which serve patients from all 50 states. In a sector grappling with rising costs and workforce shortages, balancing technological progress with operational excellence is vital. 
Defining and Measuring Innovation 
“Innovation is not just process improvement,” Cameron emphasizes. He distinguishes between incremental gains, such as optimizing workflows, and transformative initiatives that drive meaningful change. “It’s about taking calculated, controlled risks to achieve outcomes that significantly impact patient care.” 
A critical component of this approach is measurement. Cameron advocates for clearly defining innovation projects and setting tangible benchmarks. For instance, Children’s Nebraska’s use of ambient listening tools like Microsoft’s DAX Copilot showcases this philosophy. While these tools reduced “pajama time” for clinicians—time spent charting after hours—their full potential lies in improving patient safety and reducing errors. 
“Too often, organizations dive headfirst into technologies because they sound exciting,” Cameron notes. “We need to pause, evaluate, and ensure these tools deliver real value to both patients and providers.” 
Cameron also warns against what he calls &#8220;heroic innovation,&#8221; where success hinges on a single individual&#8217;s efforts. Sustainability, he argues, must be built into every initiative. “What happens when that person leaves or the funding runs out? True innovation is about creating systems that outlast any one person or grant.” 
Addressing AI in Clinical Decision-Making 
AI and machine learning hold promise for revolutionizing healthcare, but they also come with challenges. “The big wins with AI will be in clinical decision support,” Cameron predicts. However, he acknowledges the trepidation surrounding these tools. “Patient safety is paramount, and we need robust guidelines to regulate their use.” 
Children’s Nebraska is proactive in this area, implementing an AI policy, governance framework, and affinity group. By focusing on transparency and ethical use, they ensure that AI deployments align with their mission. One ongoing project involves using AI to monitor real-time data for critical care decisions, such as managing epinephrine levels in pediatric patients. “We’re not reinventing the wheel,” Cameron says. “We’re leveraging proven medical formulas and automating them to enhance decision-making.” 
Despite the potential,

healthsystemCIO.com

Measurability a Key Element for All Innovation Projects, Says Children’s Nebraska’s Ryan Cameron

Measurability a Key Element for All Innovation Projects, Says Children’s Nebraska’s Ryan Cameron

Description