Hitting the Ground Running: A New CIO Positions
His Team for Success
The Challenge
Community
Medical Centers (CMC) of Fresno, California consists of three
acute care hospitals and eleven out-patient and long-term care facilities.
CMC provides advanced cancer services, a range of home care services
and state-of-the-art imaging services. CMC's leadership combines an
entrepreneurial business vision with stewardship of a community not-for-profit
organization, placing a high priority on developing specialized kernels
of excellence in trauma, burn care, cardiology, cancer and neurology.
Plans for growth include the first dedicated Heart Hospital in California
owned by the community, a joint venture with minority physician ownership.
In contrast with this business direction, CMC's information management
was having serious difficulties and was in need of experienced leadership.
All of the major systems were at the end of their lifecycles and about
to go off standard maintenance. It was questionable whether CMC would
meet HIPAA requirements. There were also a number of key issues surrounding
the information management of a new Heart Hospital that had been overlooked.
Information management needed critical care. When Craig Castro became
the new CIO, he knew he had to act quickly and effectively.
"I accepted this challenge December 4
and called IT Optimizers December 7…I've
used IT Optimizers 3-4 times at major crossroads in my career. Their
input is always extremely valuable. Could I do this without them?
No! Their experience and thought leadership have really been a guiding
force…I've worked with Superior, First, CTG and others, but I
know IT Optimizers will jump through hoops and
consistently deliver high quality results. At the end of the day,
it comes down to people, people with high standards (of Information
Technology Optimizers). All of the people I've dealt with are top
notch. I know I will get optimal results with IT Optimizers involved."
—Craig S. Castro, CIO, Community
Medical Centers, Fresno
Information Technology Optimizer Solutions and Benefits
The key projects and benefits of IT Optimizer-CMC projects from
the perspective of Craig Castro, CIO, are summarized below.
Information
Technology Optimizer Solutions and Benefits
|
| IT
Optimizer Solution |
Benefits
cited by CIO |
| Systems Strategy, Rapid Response
60-90 days, created an interim information systems plan to address
critical short and long-term systems needs:
-
Create new IS strategy
-
Review key projects
-
Establish clinical systems direction
-
Map portfolio of application systems
-
Action plan for execution of interim
strategy
-
Position information management
for long-term support of specialized kernels of excellence
in trauma, burn care, cardiac care, cancer and neurosurgery
|
"They worked side-by-side with me,
asking the hard questions, 'Have you thought about this?' Now
we have a framework, everyone's on the same page. There is so
much demand (from systems users), we may not like the fact that
we can't do it all right away, but as one of our Board members
said to me, 'Finally there is some rationale to what we are
doing.'" |
| Heart Hospital Assessment
(Using FULCRUM Series Methodologies® - Service Pricing Model)
-
Pricing: costs, fair market value;
consideration of operating and capital costs
-
Expansion and network requirements
-
Accounting information to avoid physician
inurement, not-for-profit regulatory issues
-
Structuring service level agreements,
service definitions, expectations, benchmarks and performance
measures
|
"They brought new ways of thinking
about service delivery. For example, everyone was just thinking
about capital; no one was focused on operating costs, alternatives
or unique needs. They think out of the box, helped us consider
other alternatives within an appropriate accounting framework.
Now we recognize many of the details that were heretofore not
considered." |
|
Retrofit or Replace Major System
(Using FULCRUM Feasibility and Cost-Benefit Analysis)
-
Rational economic process and requirements
analysis to decide to retrofit existing IDX LastWord system
or replace
-
Market validation of IDX system
-
Contract negotiations with IDX
|
"They have an objective, detailed,
quantifiable approach. I know I will get a better outcome. They
helped us determine the course to take with our system, researching
requirements, cost, potential vulnerabilities and alternatives
to consider. They helped get us through this complex issue." |
|
Consulting Services Vendor Selection
(Using FULCRUM Vendor Selection)
|
"They help me find the right providers
for the particular job; I know they're objective. There's a
big difference between them and the big daddy (consulting firms).
They will never say, you should consider a particular vendor
because of our relationship. They call it like it is, have a
structured approach and ask the hard questions."
"Our environment can be emotional-people
say, 'I want this vendor.' Their (Information Technology Optimizer's)
process takes the emotions out to define the requirements and
get the best outcome." |
|
Establish Project Management Office
(Using FULCRUM Project Management Office)
Provide professional systems lifecycle project management for
all projects and organizational transformation:
-
IS Department Review; Restructuring
-
Oversee project lifecycle for system
upgrades, involving all major hospital systems:
-
Control costs/ interdependencies of
all projects
-
Finalize contract negotiations
-
Initiate vendor selections for picture
archiving
-
Instill project management methods deep
in organization, with standards for projects, skill development
of systems personnel
-
Train and develop staff by
example and coaching
-
Teach how to scope projects, operationalize
ideas, communicate across organization
-
Deliver consistent methods and systems
life-cycle process, budgeting experience
|
"Having a seasoned professional with
experience on large-scale projects is essential right now; it
helps with everything, including developing my organization
and ensuring the success of the projects.
"I've known David (the consultant) independent
of them (IT Optimizers), but I like having their depth, stability
and methodologies to back up what we're doing.
"During recent project budget discussions,
information provided by IT Optimizers helped with management
buy-in; everyone was nodding and saying, 'That makes sense,'
versus arguing about the numbers.
"The Information Systems function had
a black eye. Many projects were 'half-baked' and not completely
thought out. With IT Optimizers, I know that we are putting
in the right people, stabilizing systems and processes to ensure
success. We would have failed without them." |
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