Susheel Ladwa: Linda, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to talk to us. We really appreciate it. To start with, tell us about yourself, your career journey so far to being the Director of Information Systems at Sun Health Senior Living.

Lessard: Thank you for the opportunity to share information about our Sun Health Senior Living technology platform and strategy.  I’ve been with Sun Health Senior Living, just shy of 5 years with the majority of the time as a Project Manager overseeing the deployment of our enterprise wide software applications.  I’m privileged to have the opportunity to work in technology throughout the whole spectrum of healthcare, from acute care to post-acute, home health and hospice.  My passion is senior living, as this space In April of this year, I earned my Master’s in Healthcare Informatics, and presented a capstone project on the effects of Kotter’s Change Management Theory on application implementation.  I think everyone would agree, technology changes more quickly than any other commodity of our industry.   If we effectively manage change, the more effective we manage the use of technology.  

Information Technology Departments are no longer viewed as a group of programmers who speak in acronyms familiar to only understandable to themselves, but intricate business unit, mandated to contribute to the success of the business model. .  IT is the backbone supporting the entire business model, from clinical to finance, payroll and human resources to document storage and retrieval, data mining and analytics.  Operational departments are no longer siloes, but must work collaboratively to not only grow our business and meet regulations

Ladwa: Tell us about Sun Health Senior Living and the most exciting thing you and your team are working on currently?

Lessard: Over the past 4 years, SHSL implemented a new EMR, a new accounting package, new HR/Payroll package and new data Exchanges.  I think we all will agree, new innovative implementations to stream line operations are incredible goals.  What excites me most about our current initiatives is our holistic approach to evaluating our infrastructure, core applications, low voltage, support, data mining and analytics and training.  Taking a strategic approach of how SHSL deliver IT services to our leadership, operational team and residents.  

Ladwa: Health care industry is in transition, there is a lot of uncertainty due to change in administration. What is your advice to health care executives during these times of change? 

Lessard: In terms of technology, partnership with the Leading Age CAST Commission.  

Ladwa: What according to you are the top challenges facing the industry and how is Sun Health Senior Living addressing them? 

Lessard: One of the top challenges facing our industry is the variety of reimbursement models for skilled care.  We are all seeing a higher level of clinical care being pushed to the post-acute space, while the payment for that care is reduced.  For SHSL, we are changing our approach to long term care.  We are decommissioning licensed LTC beds and repurposing the space into beautiful appointed private pay Assisted Living apartments. 

Ladwa: How is LeadingAge CAST helping you and your organization? 

Lessard: LeadingAge Center for Aging Services Technologies (CAST) has open the door for SHSL to understand we are not alone in trying to navigate the world of non-profit senior living. Majd and his team work with organizations across the country developing evidence based research, case studies and resource tools to enable to evaluate and adopt emerging technologies that not only improve the aging experience but support the mission and vision of Sun Health Senior Living

Ladwa: There are a lot of young executives wanting to attain the success you have had in your career. How about we close with the best piece of advice you can share?

Lessard: A piece of advice I would share with a young executive is to seek out a mentor/mentors.  Remain hungry for knowledge and personal development and challenge the status quo.  Constant and never ending improvement is key to the every changing world of technology.  Should we continue to conduct business in the same historical methods and processes we’ve always done, we see the same results.  Technology is changing the fabric of how we operationalize our business.  Seek advice from a mentor.  Be open for learning opportunities and grow from them.  

Thank you again for taking time to talk to us, have a wonderful rest of the conference. We really appreciate the leadership you bring to the Industry. Thank you!