Purpose, Values and Vision

Core Purpose

We use the power of information technology to make a difference in healthcare delivery, research and teaching.

Core Values

IT’S The Power	I	for INNOVATION
	T	for TEAM WORK
	S	for SERVICE EXCELLENCE

Vision

We will be known as a national leader in healthcare information technology.

Description Of Our Future

University of Washington Academic Medical Centers is a nationally recognized institution for its clinical care, research and teaching. One of the core elements to its success is a robust information technology environment. Developing and supporting a tapestry of leading edge integrated technologies for the University of Washington Medical Center, Harborview Medical Center, School of Medicine and a host of satellite clinics, the information technology organization (IT Services) figures prominently in the leadership of this prestigious academic enterprise. With a staff of some 200 IT professionals, IT Services has become a prominent figure in the ascension of the UW Medical Center and Harborview to their current status—two of the top 10 healthcare institutions in the country.

The key to their success in implementing information technology is a commitment to the principle that information is an asset that is strategically managed. Strategic planning always has an IT element included. Spending on technology is assessed for alignment with strategic goals to help ensure that investments contribute to the overall mission of the academic medical centers. The results: What the IT Services does with its limited resources is amazing! The accomplishments would not be possible without an extraordinary level of commitment from key staff along with shared vision and goals.

It starts with the infrastructure, where, in a partnership with University of Washington Computing and Communications, clinicians, researchers and teachers have access to a reliable network computing architecture. As a pioneer of Internet 2 and its many high-bandwidth applications, University of Washington provides a network infrastructure that allows leading biotechnology researchers in genomics and proteomics to thrive. This includes Nobel Prize laureate, Dr.Lee Hartwell.

University of Washington Academic Medical Centers are also recognized for their use of information technology in their clinical enterprise. University of Washington Medical Center was recently awarded the Malcolm Baldridge award, building on a core principle of using information to improve the performance and quality of the services offered. In addition, HMC and UWMC together have won the Davies award for their implementation of an electronic medical record that research has shown to directly improve the quality of patient care

A unique part of the varied suite of applications at the UW Academic Medical Center are the use of internet technologies to reach out to the public, patients, student, faculty, staff, referring physicians and other business partners. They have truly put information at the fingertips of this varied set of customers, allowing them to conduct a variety of transactions with the institutions, from making appointments, managing a chronic disease like diabetes, to scheduling classes and reviewing lectures. Virtually any health question can be posed of the vast knowledge resources accumulated by the University of Washington Academic Medical Center, with straight forward responses that are helpful to patients, students and staff. In addition, staff use internet technologies to conduct nearly all routine operations, virtually eliminating paper processes. This vast array of knowledge sources and tools has gained the Academic Medical Center acknowledgement as one the nations “Most Wired Health Care organizations”.

Goals To Help Achieve The Vision

• Select and implement a fully integrated IP/OP EMR, that includes Physician order entry, interdisciplinary documentation, workflow and charge capture. CIS project has responsibility for this
• Identify and execute on interim documentation enhancements to MINDscape
• Complete MINDscape and Epic integration through EpicWeb
• Complete PACS implementation
• Select and implement HR/Time & Attendance system
• Replace General Ledger
• Replace Billing Registration and ADT
• Implement EPIC registration and clinic appointment
• Enhance CDS to include Outpatient charges, payments and pharmacy detail
• Enhance Charge capture through ACE
• Upgrade network to switched 10/100
• Become HIPAA Compliant
• Implement an infrastructure that supports the workflow and information needs at the right place and at the right time.
• Implement personal productivity tools that meet the needs of the workforce
• Implement a training approach that meets one time and ongoing training requirements
• Operations Goal - Produce UW Medicine-mission-focused measurable improvements across all dimensions of information systems operations through continuous improvement and step-function breakthroughs.
• MCIS Research Goal - Provide both solid basic computing services and innovative advances in information use in support of the research missions of the Academic Medical Center.
• Reduce turnover to 8%
• Reduce time to fill an open position to 9 weeks average
• Provide ubiquitous access to clinical data for students, staff and clinicians