Corporate Partner Profile: Bear Institute for Health Innovation at Children's National Hospital
Children’s National Hospital is recognized for its expertise and innovation in pediatric care and as a strong voice for children through advocacy at the local, regional and national levels. In 2021, construction will be complete on the Children’s National Research & Innovation Campus, the first in the nation dedicated to pediatric research. The discoveries made on the campus will lead to ground-breaking therapies and technology and profoundly impact treatments and outcomes for pediatric patients.
Perhaps one of the most innovative and impactful partnerships that Children’s National has engaged in is the Bear Institute for Health Innovation, which is a strategic and transformational partnership between Children’s National and Cerner. The organization assumes all operational and administrative responsibilities for Children’s IT services, including implementations, system management, and clinical adoption. The Bear Institute for Health Innovation is a first-of-its kind pediatric health information technology (IT) institute with a vision for a future where children grow to their highest level of health and potential.
The Bear Institute has a collaborative and high energy culture. They work directly with clinicians on-site at Children's National to help improve workflows and deliver the best possible patient care. This hands-on relationship helps them stay at the forefront of technology needs around the hospital and allows their associates to see the impact of their work firsthand. The Bear Institute teams are invested in patient outcomes and their approach to work demonstrates that. Their innovative partnership with Children’s National has resulted in a number of achievements and awards, including a District of Columbia Hospital Association (DCHA) Patient Safety Award, a PNC Charitable Trust grant, guest speaking at HIMSS & ACHE on Innovation and Quality Improvements, and a Davies Award.
Hospitals face a number of technological and infrastructure challenges, including an increase in data breaches and security threats, mounting financial and operational pressure, and finding ways to maintain safety for patients throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Patient safety has always been – and will remain – the most important aspect of care delivery at Children’s National. Bear Institute’s leadership recognizes the need for diversity of thought in order to meet the challenges of the unique world in which we are living. College of Computing & Informatics (CCI) graduates bring a fresh perspective and a new range of experience growing up in a generation more grounded in technology use.
Rapid innovation is needed to solve problems for pediatric patients, who are under-served and under-funded, particularly in these unprecedented times. The Bear Institute’s partnership with CCI allows them to foster a culture of innovation in the next generation of leaders entering the work force. For students interested in healthcare IT, the Bear Institute offers hands-on experience with the latest solutions in healthcare technology through their paid, 12-month internships. They also provide full-time career opportunities for graduates interested in system engineering, digital health, informatics, information security, IT service management, project management, learning and adoption services, clinical consulting, technology administration, and web/app development.
To learn more about the Bear Institute for Health Innovation, please visit their website.