The Move to Digital Quality Measurement
Digital quality measurement promises better measures with less burden. But how do we get to that better future? Rebecca Jacobson, a physician-informaticist and CEO of Astrata, thinks about that a lot. She shares what she has learned about incentives, the real vs. expected pace of change, plus the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats she sees in many firms’ digital strategies.
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About The Guest
Dr. Rebecca Jacobson is the co-founder and President of Astrata, a software and analytics company that is changing the way that healthcare quality is measured. She has more than 25 years of experience in clinical natural language processing and health informatics in academics, healthcare, and industry. Prior to her position at Astrata, Dr. Jacobson was Vice President of Analytics at UPMC Enterprises and Professor of Biomedical Informatics at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. She is an elected fellow of the American College of Medical Informatics.
Episode Description
In this episode of Quality Matters, host Andy Reynolds sits down with Rebecca Jacobson, CEO of Astrata, to explore the challenges and opportunities in transitioning to digital quality measurement in health care.
Rebecca offers an in-depth look at the sociotechnical shifts required for this evolution, sharing practical strategies to help organizations navigate this complex process. Discover how to overcome common obstacles, and learn about the real financial benefits that can convince even the most skeptical CFOs to invest in this transition.
Rebecca also provides a candid assessment of the industry’s current state of readiness, emphasizing the importance of starting early for long-term success. She discusses why progress has been slower than expected and shares her updated timeline for widespread adoption.
But we’ve seen plans make substantial progress who are clearly going to do very well. It can be done. Every quality team has it in them.
To guide this transformation and derive benefit, just start now and have the confidence that you’re able to do it. There are a lot of resources to help you. I mean, NCQA has a lot of resources, for example. And get started now because it’s easier once you get moving.
Timestamps
(00:00) Introduction to Digital Quality Measurement
(01:03) Understanding the Industry’s Readiness for Digital Transformation
(02:17) Challenges and Benefits of Digital Transition
(09:53) The Role of AI and Machine Learning
(14:55) Current Progress and Future Directions