IT Master: The 4DX Journey to Better Patient and Employee Outcomes
In the constantly evolving world of healthcare, information technology (IT) must remain at the forefront of emerging innovations and technological architectures. Midland Health’s IT department recently implemented a new strategic framework, the 4 Disciplines of Execution or 4DX. Jason Ewing, Chief Information Officer, and Vice President at Midland Health utilized the previous execution of 4DX at other organizations under his leadership to guide his team toward delivering quality outcomes. Ewing’s fresh approach is to reinvigorate current processes and systems to troubleshoot patient and employee technology-related issues. This framework invites all IT department members to utilize the expertise acquired through first-hand field testing and implementation.
As the healthcare industry experiences a significant shift with the adoption of digital tools and the influx of data, the 4DX strategy is a comprehensive approach that guides IT professionals toward excellence.
The concept and framework are a derivative of the book The Four Disciplines of Execution by Chris McChesney, Sean Covey, and John Huling. Stephen Covey, Sean Covey’s father, is the author of the famous and best-selling book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. As a continuation of the concept, the 4 Disciplines of Execution broaden the vision, engage all team members, and ensure accountability for performance. Below is a brief overview.
Discipline 1 – FOCUS
Teams developed a breakthrough initiative by focusing on a Wildly Important Goal (WIG).
Discipline 2 – LEVERAGE
Act on Lead Measures – These action items are important and can propel the organization toward achieving its goal. The frontline IT teams have selected these items because they are predictive and within the organization’s control to influence.
Discipline 3 – ENGAGEMENT
Use a Compelling Scoreboard – Tracking data and maintaining a record of scores or points creates an engaging and competitive aspect of participation. Keeping scores motivates team members to participate fully. The 4DX program utilizes real-time scoreboards and dashboards to indicate lead measure achievement and progress.
Discipline 4 – ACCOUNTABILITY
Creating a Cadence of Accountability is essential for any great team to operate. Accountability holds participants responsible for their role but also secures genuine commitment to their team WIG. In 4DX, each team engages in a simple weekly process that highlights successes, analyzes failures, and course-corrects.
This quarter’s challenge? Ewing challenged each team within the department to create a solution that directly influences how quickly tickets are closed within the organization—hundreds of tickets or formal requests for assistance. Creating a solution to help solve these tickets would dramatically increase efficiency and experience on both sides: patient and employee.
During the celebration and competition, the IT team danced in to celebrate their newly formed ideas and solutions. Wigged-out teams presented their 4DX models to guest judges. A key ingredient to the new programs’ approach: members must be excited. The basement conference room was brimming with excitement, competition, and zest.
Under the guidance of Jason Cargile, MSN, RN, Clinical Informatics Analyst III, Kelson O’Neil, IT Shared Services Manager, and the co-leadership of Shanidy Shook, Assistant Chief Information Officer, “our IT crew has witnessed the 4DX method reinforce our commitment to teamwork and spark a blaze of innovation. It has instilled a culture where the frontline foundation and its insights are the sails propelling us forward. “It’s not just a framework; it’s a call to unity, focusing our efforts where they count the most,” says Cargile. Using this approach increases the chances of making noticeable improvements. Shook expounds, “4DX molds our primary objectives to deliver quality outcomes with speed, engaging our leaders and teams while causing the smallest ripples in our operations.”
In an industry where strategic goals must be both measurable and navigable, 4DX is invaluable. The 4DX approach plays a significant role at Midland Health and goes beyond methodology, guiding IT professionals to take control of variables to deliver healthcare with purpose and precision. 4DX requires a mind-set focused on embracing change but also paving the way for a future where patient care and employee performance transcend boundaries. Every technique refined and every strategy employed under the 4DX flag aims to elevate one crucial outcome — the patient experience. By sharpening their skills, IT professionals streamline systems and positively impact the working systems.
The healthcare IT industry is at the forefront of a digital revolution with a future full of possibilities. It propels patient data, communication, and technology forward with momentum and precision, driving the wheels of healthcare. Midland Health’s IT team is ready to breathe a fresh, fun approach to improving outcomes, where they do not just traverse technological tides—they sculpt, form, and ride them toward a horizon where patient care is paramount.