Key IT Issues, Challenges
and Innovations
Presented to: Scottsdale Institute CIO Panel
Date: April 28, 2011
By: Timothy R. Zoph, SVP Administration & CIO
Business Analytics: Measurement, Operational
Improvements and Advancing Research
Background
• 3-year, joint development effort supporting CTSA designation
• 2M patients, 10K reports per month, 15 FTE dedicated team
• Produces near-real time dashboards for ED, ICU and DVT Compliance
• Supports novel research, operations improvements, and outcomes reporting
• Leading role in pursuing meaningful use certification through CCHIT
Challenge: Align AMC partners to support one shared repository for clinical data.
Innovation: Achieved strategic alignment across AMC to maintain a single data repository
through a sustainable model for governance, financing, and operations.
System Interoperability: Dynamic Sharing of Patient
Information Enabling Continuity of Care
Background
• Provides consolidated patient view across diverse IT platforms and secure physician
messaging with consolidated inbox
• Integrates patient information across 3 leading EMRs
• Serves as a platform for future integration, innovation and Health Information Exchange
(HIE)
Challenge: Provide real-time view of Northwestern patients across diverse care settings
and IT environments.
Innovation: Based on dynamic patient information aggregation (API) making marked
advantages in development time, cost, flexibility and security.
Biomedical Systems Integration: Implications of
Connecting Real-Time Medical Devices
Background
• Implemented enterprise systems for imaging, telemetry, fetal monitoring and sleep apnea
• FDA certification remains at the device level
• Emerging systems architectures need to address manageability and single points of
failure
Challenge: Provide reliable performance and alerting across a broad array of patient
monitoring devices, vendors, and technology platforms.
Innovation: Developing multiparty agreements clarifying accountability, support and risk.
Enterprise Project Management: Sponsorship,
Methodology and New Levels of Execution
Background
• Implemented PMO across IT, Construction, and Equipment
• Deployed standardized project management process and tools to 80 project managers
• Rationalized enterprise capital project portfolio from 600+ to 250 active projects
Challenge: Establish standardized project management capability across an enterprise
with varying methodologies and project experience.
Innovation: Engaged organization in collaborative design of standard, scalable, and
relevant methodologies by area for project execution.
Integrating New Organizations: Aligning IT to Achieve
Cost Effective Growth
Background
• Affiliated with Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital in February, 2010
• Established methodology, team leads, and dashboard reporting prior to diligence
• Applying mature IT run model to maintain 3.5% operating expense while growing
capability
• Consolidating system portfolio using IT Architecture standards, started at agreement
signing
Challenge: Fully integrate a new organization in an repeatable manner to manage risk,
cost, and growth.
Innovation: Applying standard, reusable tools and approaches developed in a
collaborative effort led by non-IT executives.