Nicklaus Children's Health System

Dr. Saima Aftab

Dr. Saima Aftab, Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at Nicklaus Children's Health System, boasts over seven years of diverse administrative roles within the organization. Trained as a neonatologist, she began her career in traditional academic medicine at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Driven by her interest in healthcare dynamics and change management in healthcare facilities, she transitioned to leadership roles in the Boston area, focusing on medical simulation center initiatives.

Her journey led her to Miami, where she initially consulted for Nicklaus Children's Hospital before permanently joining and ascending to her current strategic position. Dr. Aftab holds an executive MBA from the University of Miami and a fellowship from the American College of Healthcare Executives.

In an interview with Healthcare Tech Outlook, Dr. Saima Aftab shares her insights on the recent trends in the pediatric healthcare industry and the importance of adopting advanced technologies while continually assessing their impact.

What would you say are some of the challenges in delivering pediatric healthcare services?

The foremost challenge in pediatric healthcare, and a shared concern across the healthcare industry, is the escalating economic pressure. This challenge is even more pronounced in pediatrics, where 60 to 70 percent of the children treated are either uninsured or underinsured, mainly relying on the Medicaid program with suboptimal reimbursement.

The paramount need is for pediatric health systems to become more efficient in healthcare spending. This entails not just focusing on episodic care but considering the holistic cost of care, encompassing pharmacy costs, hospital services, imaging expenses, and outpatient services. The shift towards a value-based care and population health strategy, coupled with an increasing emphasis on addressing social determinants of health, forms the foundational blocks of this transformative journey.

“Staying engaged in conversations about novel technologies and understanding their applications in healthcare is crucial for informed decision-making.”

The transformative use of data and technology, along with the potential of AI in patient care underscores another exciting yet challenging chapter ahead. It holds promise in refining patient care and offers substantial benefits in operational facets.

Would like to share with us a project or an initiative undertaken by the hospital for improving pediatric healthcare?

Our telemedicine journey at Nicklaus Children's Health System marked a remarkable shift through telemedicine, especially given its limited use before the COVID era. Post-implementation, telemedicine not just bolstered patient access but elevated their overall experience, reflected in improved satisfaction scores.

What made this initiative truly impactful was its positive economic impact on our community, particularly our Medicaid patients from low-income families. By analyzing the health economics of telemedicine, we identified substantial savings, ranging from travel expenses to lost work hours.

We also recognized a significant digital divide within our community, where some families lacked access to smart devices and reliable internet. To address this gap, we collaborated with federal programs and grants to distribute free wireless devices, aiming to improve access to digital health technology.

Looking ahead, the future of healthcare undoubtedly involves digital solutions and the integration of AI. It is imperative that healthcare leaders actively engage in shaping the ethical use of AI in terms of patient protection and data integrity. This proactive approach ensures AI aligns with our commitment to providing quality care while addressing emerging challenges in healthcare.

What trends should healthcare leaders look out for during the next 12 to 18 months?

I foresee a move from inpatient to outpatient care, with a pronounced transition towards providing advanced care directly in patients’ homes. This evolution envisions a home health journey for pediatrics, resembling a virtual hospital managed through continuous patient monitoring, wearables, AI and telemedicine.

This paradigm shift necessitates proactive structuring to support and optimize home health journeys, minimizing the need for patients to travel for various levels of care. As this evolution unfolds, healthcare systems should strategically prepare to embrace and enhance the feasibility and effectiveness of home-based care, ensuring a seamless transition for patients and maximizing the potential of evolving healthcare technologies.

What is your piece of advice for your peers and aspiring professionals in healthcare?

A fundamental piece of advice for healthcare leaders and strategists is to maintain curiosity and openness to emerging technologies. Just because a solution seems unconventional doesn't negate its potential role in the future of healthcare. Staying engaged in conversations about novel technologies and understanding their applications is crucial for informed decision-making.

It's imperative for healthcare systems and leaders to familiarize themselves with existing technologies, particularly in AI, which can significantly enhance various aspects of healthcare systems, from optimizing workflows to improving patient experiences.

Establishing structured environments for planned experimentation with AI is essential to ensure data safety and patient privacy. Implementing a well-defined strategy for digital transformation and creating secure sandboxes for testing technologies can mitigate risks associated with data breaches and privacy violations.