Health system improves technology use

Client Description

MaineGeneral Health, a large integrated healthcare system in Maine

Problem/Issue

MaineGeneral had recently:

• Implemented Eclipsys' Sunrise Clinical Information Systems throughout hospital and inpatient care areas
• Made major changes in health system and IT management

The IT department wanted to stabilize its information systems and services and optimize the use of its current technology. They wanted to:

• Establish a more collaborative culture within the IT department and with other departments throughout the organization so that information systems could better support MaineGeneral's operational goals
• Determine the appropriate staffing levels and best IT structure to support the health system's use of technology.

BerryDunn's Solution/Approach

• Issued questionnaires to both IT department members and technology
• Interviewed IT members and stakeholders using their questionnaire responses as a basis for discussion
• Analyzed responses and our findings from the interviews and our experience
• Developed an assessment report and presented our recommendations
• Facilitated the IT departments restructuring based on the supported recommendations.

Outcomes

BerryDunn's recommendation allowed MaineGeneral to:

1. Improve the organizational structure of their IT department
2. Change their focus from technology expansion and implementation to stabilization and using their existing systems to maximum potential
3. Enable the concept of one patient, one chart
4. Enhance both the IT department's and the health system's ability to achieve their operational and business goals
5. Determine the right number of FTEs for the IT department
6. Achieve higher levels of support for their end users