Responsible for serving as the strategic partner to Medicaid line of business for the purpose of business/IT strategy development, solution development, service management, risk management and relationship management. Responsible for technology delivery supporting government healthcare needs including care management, utilization management, appeals and grievances across Medicare and Medicaid lines of business. Serves as lead role in enabling the business to achieve their objectives through the effective use of technology.

Management and oversight of Information Technology, IT Security, Health Information Management, Pharmacy, Radiology, Cardiology, Laboratory, Quality, Patient Satisfaction, Infection Control, and Patient Safety departments for Norwegian American Hospital and affiliated programs. Norwegian American Hospital is a 200-bed, acute care facility, offering a variety of health care programs and services that run the full gamut of inpatient, outpatient, behavioral health, and ambulatory care.

As a Principal Consultant, I brought clients a unique combination of healthcare information technology (IT), business process reengineering (BPR), strategic planning, and project management expertise by providing independent health care information technology (IT) consulting and advisory services. I worked with clients to negotiate agreements between parties with opposing views, defined strategic direction to meet business needs, and helped find innovative technical solutions to manage the shifting sands of policy and legislative changes. In my tenure at HMA, I leveraged my technical expertise and experience in both private healthcare organizations and state and local governments to provide the following services:• Project management including development and tracking of project plans based on information technology best practices, formal governance model and communication planning development and overall program management.• Procurement support including RFI/RFP/ITB/RFQ development, MITA assessments, evaluation methodologies and tools, independent evaluation and analysis, evaluation team facilitation and contract negotiation for private and public healthcare organizations in multiple states.• Independent verification and validation (IV&V) services including review of vendor deliverables, vendor processes, system capacity, availability, performance and functionality conformance with requirements and IEEE standards in multiple states. • HIPAA compliance review and testing of security capabilities and business processes.• Business process re-engineering to enable organizations to reconfigure their workforce and re-train staff to utilize new information systems for maximum efficiency.• Development of a new software application and business model to effectively manage patient care and facilitate additional revenue in provider organizations who treat Medicare patients with chronic medical conditions.

As CIO/CISO, I have responsibility for managing all technical aspects of the state Medicaid agency, including assisting with the implementation of technology aspects of Medicaid Health Reform in Illinois. Under my direction, the Division of Information Services supports the largest health care enrollment and claims processing systems in Illinois, as well as the state’s child support system and the Enterprise Data Warehouse. In total, these systems process over $20 billion in payments each year and service over 3 million citizens of Illinois. • Led the successful Integrated Eligibility System implementation. This system is the largest system modernization undertaken by the state in over 30 years, replacing the 30 year old COBOL legacy system and integrating SNAP, TANF, and Medicaid eligibility determination, as well as accommodating the new ACA MAGI rules. IES was the fastest Medicaid Eligibility System implementation in the country, successfully implementing prior to the October 2013 deadline.• Developed the most innovative Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS) implementation strategy in the country, gaining national acclaim and Federal approval. As lead executive for the state of Illinois, and program sponsor for the project, I architected and managed the first of its kind Intergovernmental Agreement to leverage a cloud-based MMIS system to support two of the top ten Medicaid states in the country: Michigan (#8) and Illinois (#5). Together the states will operate the first cloud-based MMIS system in the country, and the third largest Medicaid infrastructure in the country for a fraction of the cost. • As the chief executive responsible for cyber security, HIPAA, IRS publication 1075, and NIST/FISMA compliance for the agency, I created the bureau of security within the IT division, coupled with a comprehensive compliance and audit team to ensure proactive attention to cyber security and audit compliance initiatives.

This agency consists of administrative offices in Springfield and Chicago, 49 full-time field offices and 59 itinerate (part-time) offices, servicing 102 counties throughout the state. The agency also runs four long-term care facilities which provide acute and domiciliary care for almost 1000 residents. Responsible for all IT operations for the agency including network, hardware, and software. Direct management responsibility over 12 staff in four separate locations, supporting a total agency staff of 1300 in 50+ statewide locations. Accomplishments• Initiated, managed, and completed payroll system modernization and upgrade, from outdated payroll system in one state agency to more functional payroll system in another, all within 6 months.• Procured and acted as project manager and technical lead for implementation of new Time and Attendance system, including time clocks, phone entry, web entry and daily reporting.• Program sponsor and project manager of implementation of clinical care planning system in four long term care facilities, including mobile data entry.• Wrote numerous IT policies relative to data security, email and internet use, backup and data disaster recovery.• Implemented help desk ticketing system and internal process improvement measures.• Consolidated six separate systems into one new centralized system to include all veteran information in a single database. • Implemented scanning processes and content management solution to provide paper-less veterans’ files, in less than one year.

Responsible for three IT divisions at Memorial Medical Center (MMC) in Springfield, and all IT operations at two critical access hospitals in Lincoln and Taylorville, Illinois. Direct oversight of all IT applications staff and management (approximately 60 people), including database administrators, programmers, web designers, interface programmers, system analysts, business analysts, application analysts, and medical systems administrators. Direct responsibility for over 350 applications in all areas of operation. Responsible for annual budget of $8 million, contract negotiation, and procurement of new systems. Accomplishments• Successfully managed the implementation of Clinical Documentation at MMC, with innovative Clinical Picture capabilities, receiving house wide physician and nurse acclaim.• Introduced IT governance model for prioritization of IT resources in a highly project-driven culture.• Successfully directed the implementation of Microsoft SharePoint fabric and MS Project Server to facilitate project management, governance, and IT process improvement measures.• As acting Manager, Medical & Affiliate Systems, negotiated a $2 million, multi-year contract with Siemens to stabilize the Cardiology PACS system; obtained a test system, a hot standby system for DR planning, and managed the implementation of an upgrade to allow remote access for cardiologists and staff.• Provided guidance and direction for major application upgrades in both clinical and financial systems including Lawson, Cerner Millennium, Siemens KinetDx, Cloverleaf, Medic, Sapphire, and GE Centricity Perinatal.• Created and implemented a project intake process tied to a governance model and a new budget process allowing transparency and successful implementation.• Successfully created a centralized system to document and catalog all aspects of application support used for improving customer support, troubleshooting efficiency, and mean time to recover during system events.

Responsible for all aspects of clinical system operations including maintenance of existing systems and implementation of new systems. Managed the implementation of multiple EMR projects simultaneously. Responsible for $5 million annual budget and 24 technical staff.Accomplishments• Successfully managed the implementation of multiple EMR projects including Registration, CVNet, Scheduling, SurgiNet, ProCure, and RadNet.• Identified, procured, and implemented Lexmark software and hardware, saving over $100,000 per year, improving patient safety, staff efficiency, and saving valuable space on clinical nurse units.• Replaced outdated physician pre-printed orders system with new application at zero cost, by leveraging Lexmark hardware and software.• Successfully implemented change control and change management processes in order to achieve 99.9% uptime.• Implemented reporting mechanisms for each application area to track changes and issues effectively, and improve communication between IT and ancillary departments.• Successfully implemented documentation policies and procedures for each application to reduce single points of failure and time to resolve recurring issues.• Eliminated over 80 outstanding high priority issues in less than 6 months by changing the top focus of the department from reactionary problem-solving to proactive maintenance of current applications.• Improved overall employee satisfaction survey scores from 65.7 to 85.5 in one year through process improvement focus.• Promoted to System Director, Applications.

Responsible for management of 28 staff including web development, database analysts, interface programmers, help desk, PC support, telecommunications, and wire technicians. Responsible for annual budget of $2 million dollars. Implemented and maintained policies and procedures to enhance customer service. Accomplishments• Created new consolidated Customer Support Services department consisting of 28 employees, by combining all customer-facing employees within the division.• Successfully created a centralized help desk from a decentralized model, consisting of senior level staff.• Successfully procured and implemented ticketing system to track issues organization-wide.• Implemented service level agreements and help desk best practice standards based on ITIL standards.• Successfully managed the redesign of both internal and external websites improving access and marketing image of the organization.• Successfully managed the conversion of 125 threads from outdated interface engine to Cloverleaf interface engine.• Improved overall employee satisfaction survey scores from 63.5 to 75.0 in one year through implementation of process improvement and ITIL based processes.• Promoted to Manager, Clinical Systems.

Responsibilities included system support of Cerner Millennium applications including maintenance and troubleshooting of databases, imaging software, and scanner hardware and software. Consulted with customers to gather information about business needs, objectives, functionality, and features. Acted as a primary liaison for projects as assigned and provided leadership for complex upgrades for user community, technical staff, and vendors. Coordinated tasks and served as a facilitator and consultant to assist in analysis of process flow and implementation of change to improve quality of service. Accomplishments• Provided system support of Cerner Millennium applications including maintenance and troubleshooting of Power Chart, First Net, Batch Charge Entry, Profile, PharmNet, electronic medication administration record (eMAR), and Cerner Provision Document Imaging (CPDI).• Named technical project lead in successful implementation of Cerner Profile, Inbox, and Esig applications bringing Memorial’s Health Information Management department to a fully electronic system post discharge.• Promoted to Manager, Customer Support Services.

Improve corporate security policies and procedures. Develop and maintain corporate security strategies for the computing platforms. Research, document, recommend, and implement new technology to enhance the existing security environment. Perform all activities and tasks necessary to ensure the security of corporate information assets (networks, systems, and data) and to protect these assets from intentional or inadvertent access, modification, unavailability, or destruction. Provide technical assistance on projects and provide project leadership for security initiated projects. Conduct security risk assessments and data security violation investigations and recommend action to be taken.

Improve corporate security policies and procedures. Develop and maintain corporate security strategies for the computing platforms. Research, document, recommend, and implement new technology to enhance the existing security environment. Perform all activities and tasks necessary to ensure the security of corporate information assets (networks, systems, and data) and to protect these assets from intentional or inadvertent access, modification, unavailability, or destruction. Provide technical assistance on projects and provide project leadership for security initiated projects. Conduct security risk assessments and data security violation investigations and recommend action to be taken.

Responsibilities:• Technical project manager over implementation of new applications and systems• Identified business objectives and conducted workflow analyses for departmental clients• Technical requirements gathering and system selection to meet identified business needs • Developed project plans and strategies for implementation• Created security policies and provided guidance regarding HIPAA regulations• Designed and implemented service level agreements

Responsible for on-site hardware and software support in remote clinic locations across the Atlanta metro area. Responsible for performing software and hardware installation, diagnosis, repair and maintenance of computers, network maintenance, and related peripheral equipment. Provide information and technical assistance to users concerning the maintenance and resolution of special issues. Respond to service calls, diagnose and correct equipment failure and malfunctions, and repair or replace malfunctioning equipment.

Responsible for providing technical software, hardware, and network problem resolution to all health system computer users by performing problem diagnosis and guiding users through step-by-step solutions in a call center environment. Responsible for clearly communicating technical solutions in a user-friendly and professional manner. Provide one-on-one end-user training as needed and assist higher level staff resolve issues. Troubleshoot network printer problems, conduct hardware and software inventory, database maintenance and reporting, and perform related work as required.

Prepare site plans using computer aided design (CAD) and geographic information systems (GIS). Prepare cost estimates for land development, coordinating arrangement of existing and proposed land features and structures with graphic designers, engineers, and architects. Confer with clients, engineering personnel, and architects on overall program. Compile and analyze data on conditions, such as location, drainage, and location of structures for environmental reports and architectural plans. Review planning and zoning codes and regulations and ensure design and construction meet specifications. Inspect construction work to ensure compliance with specifications, approve quality of materials and work, and advise client and construction personnel. Manage sub-contractors to meet deliverable timelines and budget.

Responsible for computer lab design and installation and teaching an undergraduate residential landscape design class. Solely responsible for incorporating computer-aided design into the curriculum and teaching the class. Responsible for gathering survey data and doing site analysis in Chicago urban public housing. Support network and computer needs of research group consisting of eight people. Technical support for imaging and scanning needs of research projects.