This article was written and provided by Michael Kinkaid, CTO, Reason One. Michael is Chief Technology Officer at Reason One Inc., a role that has him wearing many hats from leading the technical direction of the studio (languages, platforms, DevOps etc.), defining and implementing our executive strategy, business development and sales, coaching and evolving our adoption of Agile practices and helping with solution architecture and writing code. 

As consumer expectations increasingly push hospitals and healthcare systems to evolve their online experiences, many organizations struggle to keep up. Market forces and regulatory requirements combined with rapid evolution of technology can feel overwhelming. Health systems can take a proactive approach to these challenges through continuous improvement via strategic technology partnership to create a more frictionless, consumer-focused digital experience for their patients.

Here are the steps you can take to stay ahead of the wave.

1. Start with a scalable CMS. Ideally, this means building your site with a CMS or DXP that is easily extensible over time. This could be a headless platform, a composable platform, or some hybrid, but there are DXP products on the market that allow for this as well. Many DXPs will have their own built-in features (like marketing automation and analytics) but they could be limited in their functionality and they may not be HIPAA compliant. You will want to investigate the solutions’ ability to support other functions via API, whether they will sign a BAA, and other aspects of your unique requirements. Building a scalable foundation will enable you to experiment with new platforms while scaling existing ones, ensuring that your technology stack evolves in line with your strategic goals.
2. Evaluate and select the right technology. Choosing the right technology is crucial for any health system aiming to stay ahead of the curve. It’s critical to evaluate a technology’s roadmap to avoid future pitfalls. Key considerations include the longevity of the technology, its ability to integrate with existing systems, and the vendor’s commitment to innovation. This thorough evaluation process helps mitigate risks associated with vendor changes, such as when a tech vendor outsources development, potentially altering their product’s trajectory.
3. Create true partnerships with your tech providers. Investing in technology isn’t just a purchase; it should be viewed as a strategic relationship where both parties are actively seeking ways to improve the overall patient journey. For example, one might partner with Salesforce for personalization tools that have enabled more tailored patient interactions, while using Epic’s MyChart Open Scheduling for self-service appointment booking. Freshpaint—a HIPAA-compliant analytics platform—provides cutting-edge implementation further streamlining the patient experience.
4. Optimize over time. Don’t set it and forget it. Optimization should be an ongoing strategy for any health system. Push your tech vendors to tailor their roadmaps to client needs, ensuring that the technology evolves in a way that benefits their specific requirements. This proactive approach includes demanding clarity from vendors, prototyping new solutions, and ensuring internal competencies to manage and sustain new technologies.

Lessons learned and best practices

Over many years of building, launching, and maintaining websites, there have been plenty of opportunities to learn and adjust along the way. Here are a few tips:

• Select core, established technologies to reduce complexity and ensure your tech stack remains manageable.
• Get past marketing speak of tech vendors to learn about a particular tool’s long term roadmap
• Check out prototypes that can prove a technology’s effectiveness before making a decision
• Finally, have frank conversations with your tech vendors to push each other strategically, so that everyone wins.

Learn more at HCIC

From tech partnerships to ongoing optimization, come learn from the team who has been there. Richard Baldwin, Manager, Digital Presence and Content at Prisma Health, and Reason One CTO Michael Kinkaid will be presenting a special pre-conference workshop at the Annual Healthcare Internet Conference (HCIC) on November 11 at 8:15 AM CT, entitled “Digital Innovation Through Composable Tech & Partnerships.” Together, they’ll dive into Prisma Health’s key tech stack, provide some perspective, and answer all your questions.