Cerner CEO Dr. David Feinberg
in a wide-ranging conversation on Monday it’s alive, Technology conference focused on healthcare transformation, held in Miami Beach, FL, Serna CEO Dr. David Feinberg talks a lot about the potential benefits of EHRs.
This includes how Kansas City, Missouri-based Cerner is able to collect data from disparate sources from a large patient pool to gain insights that can improve care. “I think our job is to bring this data together,” he said. He also discussed how Cerner started collecting information on the social determinants of health as part of a focus on population health that other EHRs are honing. But he is also open to areas for improvement, including the need for more work on social determinants.
So when questions arose about a 2021 report showing the company losing U.S. market share in 2020, Feinberg was quick to mount a broad defense. But it goes far beyond talking about the company’s market position.
KLAS Research’s performance report found, among other things, that 2020 was the second year in a row that Cerner’s net U.S. hospital market share declined. In contrast, Epic is growing the fastest in beds, hospitals and unique organizations, faster than ever. When asked how Cerner could achieve its lofty goals for EHR if it loses market share, Feinberg declined.
He noted that the company has not only maintained its No. 1 position, but has grown in the U.S. in 2021. He touted the company’s broad international reach, noting that the VA selected Cerner for “the largest EHR installation in the world.” But he’s also taking a different tack, as the head of Cerner, which was acquired by Oracle, is prioritizing the EHR’s commitment in building the future.
“We have the largest market share in the world – bBut I don’t care about that,” Feinberg claimed.
He said it was important to improve the EHR to better serve providers while serving patients.
“So that’s what we’re going to focus on is clinically driven, clinically infused, listening to our clients. When we say we’re going to do it, we’re going to do it,” he said.
Feinberg talks about the value of EHR data to patient care and how far all EHR companies still need to go to serve their customers and improve the industry. He then let go of a line, which was greeted with applause from the rest of the audience.
“I’m not here to beat Epic,” Feinberg said. “I’m really here to make healthcare betterr. “
