The following are fictional characters created as composites of healthcare leaders Polaris has spoken with in recent executive searches. Their stories reflect real challenges and solutions we’ve encountered across the industry.
Dr. Sarah Chen, CMO at Metro General, sits in her office surrounded by coffee cups and quality metrics reports
Reporter: “So Dr. Chen, how are you handling the funding squeeze?”
“Well, remember when we used to complain that documentation was taking over medicine? Turns out that ‘annoying’ habit of recording everything might just be our salvation.” laughs “Last month, I started a campaign I call ‘Every Click Counts.’ We’re documenting social determinants like we’re solving medical mysteries—which, honestly, we kind of are.”
“Mrs. Johnson comes in for diabetes management, but she’s also dealing with food insecurity and unreliable transportation. Before, we’d treat the diabetes and send her home.
Now? We document it all. Suddenly we’re eligible for community health grants, value-based bonuses, and research partnerships I didn’t even know existed. It’s like finding money in your winter coat, except the coat is your EMR.”
“The best part? I partnered with the local medical school. These residents are hungry to learn and actually remember things from their textbooks. They help with research protocols while I get to pretend I still know what I learned in medical school 20 years ago. Win-win.”
Dear Reader: What’s your take on turning documentation into revenue strategy? Have you found hidden funding gems in your patient data?