Herbert Cushing and Manuel Lowenhaupt

Transforming health care with a focus on quality of care and patient safety has been a five-year project at Indiana University Hospital, a division of Clarion Health Partners . At Medinfo 2004, Scott Mace spoke with Dr. Herbert E. Cushing, chief medical officer at the hospital. Dr. Manual Lowenhaupt leads the Capgemini consulting practice that worked with the hospital on this IT-driven transformation. In this conversation, both doctors discuss the challenges facing large and small health care institutions, including the controversy surrounding using IT-based "order sets" in patient care, funding and support issues, and the American Medical Informatics Association's open source initiative.

Dr. Herbert E. Cushing is the chief medical officer of Indiana University Hospital, associate dean of student affairs for the Indiana University School of Medicine and the medical director for IU Medical Group. He received his undergraduate degree from M.I.T. and his medical degree from State University of New York-Upstate. Dr. Cushing is based in Indianapolis, IN.

Dr. Manuel Lowenhaupt is a vice president and national practice leader with Capgemini Health Consulting based in Boston, MA. He received his undergraduate degree, Phi Beta Kappa, from M.I.T. and his medical degree from Harvard Medical School. He studied informatics at the Massachusetts General Hospital (where he was a Clinical Fellow) and has held teaching positions at M.I.T., Boston University School of Medicine, and Harvard Medical School.