Connected health, disconnected workforce?

We attended a panel discussion this week at Babson College called "Information Technology and Healthcare: Creating a New Industry." With the Boston area being a hotbed for healthcare and IT, it was a packed house. The panel included Liz Boehm of Forrester Research, George McGinnis of the UK NHS and Doug McClure of Partners Healthcare. Though many topics were covered, there was a focus on "connected health". According to the Center for Connected Health, connected health is "engaging patients, providers and the connected health community to deliver quality care outside of traditional medical settings. Telehealth, remote care and disease management initiatives reflect the opportunities for technology-enabled care programs."

This got us thinking that as technology continues to reduce the necessity for healthcare delivery to be local, it changes the talent management equation. It removes "commuting distance" as a qualification for employment. Does it not mean a dramatic increase in your talent pool, but also a dramatic increase in competition for great talent? Does it not necessitate the importance of your hospital brand? Will it not require technology to manage a more virtual and even global workforce? These may not be questions for 2008 or 2009, but something to consider for long term planning of talent in healthcare. When will this become front of mind issue for you?