Banco Popular de Puerto Rico

An Architect by personality type and interest, I enjoy the challenge of creating a structured framework around that amorphous area most business folks refer to as "computer stuff." Simply put, Enterprise Architecture helps the business know whether or not the resources they're investing in process and technology improvements are actually delivering to them a competitive advantage in-line with their strategy. If not, it provides a means to achieve that transformation.I find many architects exist in a state of paralysis: either they want hard-and-fast rules for Enterprise Architecture (EA) and exist motionless until they find the one "right" answer; or they are so overwhelmed by the concept that they obfuscate their paralysis by constantly demanding more details from others.I relish complexity and understand that EA is as much an art as it is a science--a practice that requires equal parts experience, perspective, technical expertise, and judgment.

In December 2005, Rich Pollack became the Vice President and Chief Information Officer for VCU Health System in Richmond. For two years prior to that time he had been the Chief Information Officer (ad interim) for Clarian Health Partners, A 2 billion-dollar health system in Indianapolis.At VCUHS, Rich’s responsibilities include setting out the vision for IT, supported by effective strategic and tactical plans that define the best practice use of IT in support of patient care and operational excellenceAccomplishments to date, have included:Ongoing successful installation of the Cerner EMR with 100% CPOE and physician notes in the inpatient setting.Selection and initiation of a new hospital billing system (IDX HPA) and ERP system (Lawson).Contributed to the development of a new all digital 15 story acute care tower utilizing layers of integrated technology (everywhere wireless, VoIP phones, bedside device integration, mobile access,) to facilitate effective communication and high quality care.Teaming up with the CMIO to craft a unique and robust “Office of Clinical Transformation”From 1999 until late 2003, he held IT leadership positions at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center (MDA) in Houston, Texas.  In this capacity, he oversaw a 500-person I.S. organization with projects totaling more than $100 million.  The Division of Information Services at MDA supported all of the clinical, academic, research and administrative functions. As such, Rich maintained close and effective oversight and working relationships with key leaders in these areas.  He joined MDA in June 1999 as Associate Vice President for Enterprise Applications and became CIO 16 months later. Rich has more than 30 years of health care management experience with 20 of those years working with clinical systems implementation and support.  Prior to moving to Houston, Rich served as Director of Information Systems for Nash Health Care Systems in Rocky Mountain, North Carolina.  In 1996 Rich and his Nash team successfully implemented a computer-based patient record system for the 450-bed, multi-hospital organization, which received special commendation as best industry-practice from JCAHO.  Rich holds an M.S. degree in medical biology.   He is a Fellow of HIMSS, member of CHIME, and a Certified Professional in Healthcare Information and Management Systems.

Ramaswami Mohandoss is a technology architect working in the systems integration practice at Infosys Technologies. He has been working in BI for more than 9 years, primarily researching and providing data integration solutions for varied customers in their key information changes. He can be reached at Ramaswami.mohandoss@gmail.com.

Mike Kerrigan is vice president of business applications for Laurus Technologies, an Itasca, IL-based IT services and business consulting firm. Mike can be reached at mkerrigan@laurustech.com.

Theresa Regli is a principal for The Real Story Group.

Adriaan Bloem is an analyst for The Real Story Group.

Theresa Kushner is a managing partners at Business Data Leadership, a company dedicated to consulting, publishing and training on the management of critical business data. She can be reached at info@businessdataleadership.com.

Scott Davis has 20 years experience applying decision science to enterprises in several industries. His insights reflect a career spanning three different perspectives on BI: departmental executive, external advisor and technology entrepreneur.

It is hard to top Joel Vengco's work as a remarkable testimony of outcomes. Boston Medical Center, the primary care provider and safety net for Boston's inner city, also works with 15 community health centers that refer patients to BMC.Vengco's first project at BMC two years ago was to use a federal grant to improve collaboration among physicians and partner facilities with a community order entry and referral system."The problem was that CHC physicians would refer a patient to be seen at BMC but only 30 percent of those orders actually got scheduled," Vengco told us. "That means 70 percent of referrals were left on a fax machine or voicemail." Of those 30 percent, 25 to 30 percent were no-shows, leaving BMC with no way to reschedule or help them another way.Today, referring physicians exchange patient and scheduling data electronically with BMC specialists to coordinate appointments and exchange notes so the specialist knows when and why patients arrive. It has ended redundant testing and treatments. When the specialist is done with a patient, the original provider now knows what was done and what needs follow-up care.

Chris Mankle is chief technology officer for IT Outsourcing in ACS, A Xerox Company. He leads the CTO Office in driving and delivering innovation, developing and executing a strategy, recommending the best solutions, creating a vision, promoting innovative solutions, and identifying and driving new business opportunities.