Mark Sparta, Chief Operating Officer, HMH

In an interview with Invest:, Mark Sparta, chief operating officer of Hackensack Meridian Health, discussed innovations in healthcare as well as groundbreaking technology. “We are also making it easier for people to connect with us without leaving their homes, and we are partnering with great companies to make this happen,” Sparta said.

Hackensack Meridian Health continues to innovate care delivery. What are the key ways the network is achieving this?

There’s no question that we need to meet people where they are when it comes to accessing healthcare. Patients are discerning consumers, rightly demanding greater choice, convenience, and transparency. This is driving a lot of innovation in care delivery. That’s why we are investing $450 million throughout New Jersey and have opened or plan to open about two dozen new facilities. Let me provide a few examples. We opened a 150,000- square- foot facility on From Road in Paramus that provides real concierge service for all our patients. We are mindful of creating a great experience for people so they can access all types of care – primary care, lab, physical therapy, diagnostics – under one roof. And we have valet parking, which also enhances the experience.

We are also making it easier for people to connect with us without leaving their homes, and we are partnering with great companies to make this happen. A great example is K-Health, with whom we have created HMH 24/7. Using an AI-driven platform, people connect with a physician for quick appointments. The platform integrates HMH’s electronic medical records system to ensure continuity of care. We’re hearing great feedback on how quickly people can “see’’ a doctor and get a prescription if needed.

Can you provide a few examples of cutting-edge technology that is available to patients now, whether it’s for a surgical procedure or other treatment? 

Hackenack Meridian Health leads the way nationally in technology, especially when it comes to robotic surgery. The health system was one of the first in the country to implement both the da Vinci single-port system and the newer da Vinci 5 system. This allows patients to have shorter hospitalizations and recovery times, which improves the overall experience.

The network’s flagship, Hackensack University Medical Center, was also the first hospital in New Jersey to use the Ion robotic-assisted technology for lung procedures. The medical center has performed more than 35,000 robotic procedures. In August, the network became the first hospital in New Jersey to acquire and use the Symani Surgical System from MMI, which is used to perform delicate microsurgical reconstructions after cancer treatment and trauma.

There’s not an industry that isn’t being transformed through AI. What are the most promising innovations you are seeing as COO?

Our journey has been incredibly successful in the last three-plus years that we have been fully engaged with AI adoption. We have been highly strategic because there are so many options when it comes to harnessing this amazing technology. We came up with six areas of focus: disease detection; creating personalized and equitable experiences; capacity management and burnout alleviation; streamlining administrative and clinical efficiencies; precision treatment; and research and innovation.

Here are a few examples. Our clinicians are using AI to identify potential abnormalities in mammograms, to detect delirium in geriatric patients, to guide preventive interventions, and to automate scheduling to improve access and reduce manual workloads. We are also using a post-discharge chatbot to check in on patients after they are sent home, which helps with needed follow-up care. 

Given the challenges in the industry with attracting and retaining top talent, how is the network responding to the need to innovate the team member experience?

There’s no question we need to focus on our caregivers so they can continue to deliver the high-quality, compassionate care that is the trademark of this network. We mentioned AI, and there are a few pilots that are showing real promise. Nuance Dax Co-Pilot transcribes clinical-patient conversations to auto-generate clinical notes. This helps address what doctors call “pajama time,’’ the hours they spend in the evening transcribing notes. This allows them more time to recharge their batteries and spend time with family. A virtual nursing platform also allows our nurses to spend more time doing what they love, delivering care to our patients. A virtual nurse handles some of the administrative tasks, like discharge instructions, etc. 

We also invest in helping our team members build thriving careers through mentorship programs, generous benefits that include tuition reimbursement, loan forgiveness, and more. This is how we have built a strong and resilient culture that is recognized by Fortune’s 100 Greatest Companies to Work For.