Chris DeRienzo, MD, MPP, is system chief medical officer and SVP of quality at WakeMed Health and Hospitals in North Carolina. Dr. DeRienzo is a neonatologist by training, and is responsible for clinical transformation, population health, value-based care, continuous improvement, quality & patient safety, and medical staff services.
In this episode, Dr. DeRienzo discusses his new orientation to the “why” behind care transformation. Like most quality improvement leaders, Dr. DeRienzo’s focus has long been on the triple aim of improved care quality, reduced cost, and improved experience. But the work he’s focusing on now is creating energy and opportunity for a greater focus on health equity, necessary variability, and humanity. Care transformation, then, becomes less about productivity and standardization as a primary aim, and more about allowing clinicians to practice at the top of their humanity and their license in a way that is fulfilling and meaningful – which is also very likely to boost productivity and practice resilience over the long run.
Links related to Dr. DeRienzo’s podcast:
- Book, Tiny Medicine: One Doctor’s Biggest Lessons from His Smallest Patients
- Caring Greatly™ Podcast Episode 34, Hard Conversations and COVID-19
