Frank Jackson, CIO, HealthMarkets
Manner in which data is used to head off problems and complications before they happen
I want to highlight two areas. One area is fraud and abuse detection which produces significant savings. Data and the use of advanced analytics are critical for identifying fraud patterns. The sophistication of fraud and abuse has increased significantly so we rely on software solutions to stay abreast. The second area of importance is the detailed data from consumer web site navigation which is very insightful in understanding product preferences, buying patterns, and usability improvements.
Thoughts on how IT strategic planning supports organization-wide efforts to improve quality, cut costs and improve efficiency in the healthcare sector
The CIO role in supporting the organization-wide initiatives has changed. IT strategic planning has changed from “supporting” overall organizational-wide efforts to being a central component and enabler. The business strategy to improve quality, cut costs and improve efficiency must be dovetailed with the technology plan at the point of origination.
Technology trends impacting enterprise business environment
The first trend would be the evolution of cloud technologies. Microsoft Azure and Amazon EC2 are examples of cloud platforms that are radically changing the technology platforms. These platforms facilitate agility. The second is social business. The way consumers are engaging products and each other through social media is changing the way we market products and gain insights.
My roles and responsibilities as a CIO
First, as a CIO, the need to translate the broad brush business ideas into actionable business architecture has also become an important role. Second, the ability to handle the complexity of health reform and the emerging markets is critical. The diverse skills and knowledge required to be successful has increased ranging from data, reform, mobile, cloud, security, to architecture. Lastly, the CIO role has transitioned from an internal focused perspective to external where the ultimate consumer is the focus.
Lessons learned and advice for fellow CIOs
Even though we work in a regulated industry, I would recommend CIO’s to create a culture of innovation. Cultivate this emphasis on innovation with your senior business team, IT team, and vendors. This is a great time to be a CIO in healthcare. Don’t let the complexity of health reform damper innovation.
