Frank DiSanzo, CIO, Saint Peter's University Hospital Health System
Switching out one core clinical inpatient system for another — a “big-to-big conversion” — is not for the faint of heart. That’s because doing so requires the buy-in of the entire C-suite, the Board and, perhaps most importantly, the clinicians. But despite the obstacles, New Jersey-based St. Peter’s University Hospital Health System is saying goodbye to Cerner and hello to McKesson. The organization is going almost “full boat” with the mammoth vendor, picking up everything from CPOE to ADT. At the helm of this transition is CIO Frank DiSanzo, who spent more than seven years as CIO of Staten Island University Hospital before taking the ferry to NJ. To learn more about what it takes to move from one of the “Big 7” to another, healthsystemCIO.com editor Anthony Guerra recently chatted with DiSanzo.
Chapter 1 (11:16) — Topics Covered: Converting from one core clinical vendor to another; Cerner; McKesson; clinical/financial integration[audio:One-on-One-With-Frank-DiSanzo-Chapter-1.mp3]
Chapter 2 (9:58) — Topics Covered: Risk mitigation during software conversion; managing interfaces to ensure data integrity; saying goodbye to a vendor — transition management; project management & prioritization; internal marketing to foster clinician buy-in[audio:One-on-One-With-Frank-DiSanzo-Chapter-2.mp3]
Chapter 3 (7:46) — Topics Covered: Importance of CMIO role; remote hosting and disaster recovery; partnering with vendors; HITECH & the Meaningful Use bar; getting involved with industry organizations
[audio:One-on-One-With-Frank-DiSanzo-Chapter-3.mp3]
aharangozo says
As one of the community physicians who have been involved in implementation of information technology, I would propose that the role of the CMIO goes beyond that of disseminating decisions that have already taken place and becomes the voice of the needs for meaningful implementation of health care information technology. Remember, health care information technology is NOT about the technology but about delivery of information in a meaningful way to maximize quality and efficiency of PATIENT CARE.