ISOC Completes Baseline Assessment of JHS Information Resources

Jefferson Health System's Information Systems Operating Committee (ISOC) has completed a comprehensive baseline assessment of all JHS information systems resources.

The baseline assessment is a complete inventory of all hardware, software, license agreements, contractor services and other aspects of information systems resources, explains Walter Zerrenner, Interim Chief Information Officer, JHS, and ISOC chair. ISOC is composed of information systems leaders from across JHS.

"We now have a complete understanding of all information systems resources throughout the Jefferson Health System enterprise ­ across the various Main Line sites, Methodist, Jefferson and the University as well," Mr. Zerrenner says.

He describes completing the inventory as an "essential" first step in order to move forward on future information systems planning.

"What we have learned from the inventory will be very helpful to the whole organization, including where we may need to place some special emphasis. We will fold that knowledge into the overall planning effort for the JHS enterprise," Mr. Zerrenner says.

Next steps in ISOC's planning process are to complete the information systems strategic and tactical plans and to prepare both operating and capital budgets for the entire JHS enterprise.

"We will also be working with some of our affiliates and planned merger partners, such as Einstein," adds Mr. Zerrenner. The knowledge gleaned from the baseline assessment can facilitate these interactions, especially in terms of more efficient information gathering and exchange, Mr. Zerrenner stresses.

He also points out the completed assessment will become a "living document." It will be kept in an electronic form so that "as new systems and contracts are added, and other assets retired, the inventory will be kept constantly up to date without ever having to go back into the baseline."

"The completed assessment is really the foundation to build all information systems planning. Basically we're developing a process where strategy defines structure. Once we know what the strategic IS plan is, then we can align the IS resources along the lines of that plan," Mr. Zerrenner concludes.