About HCIS
Health Care Information Systems (HCIS): Provides and supports information and communication systems and technology that facilitate quality patient care, progressive medical education, and innovative research.
HCIS services University of Iowa Health Care by:
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Providing comprehensive, high level support for patient care delivery, internal and external communication, technology innovation, medical education, and research.
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Creating and Maintaining a positive, productive, and rewarding environment for information technology and communication staff
Providing comprehensive, high level support for patient care delivery, internal and external communication, technology innovation, medical education, and research.
Creating and Maintaining a positive, productive, and rewarding environment for information technology and communication staff
Lee Carmen, the director of HCIS, has nearly 20 years of service to UI Health Care in various IT roles and with various titles. He now serves as the Associate Vice President for Information Systems for UI Health Care and Chief Information Officer, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. In this capacity he provides leadership, direction, and strategic planning for information and communication systems and technology that facilitate quality patient care, progressive medical education, and innovative research.
Our Department is organized into these areas:
Faces of HCIS Profiles
Administrative Applications Division
Administrative Lead: Joseph Wagner
The Administrative Applications Division consists of 40+ FTEs who work to develop, maintain, implement and provide on-going support for all administrative applications, for the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (UIHC) and the Carver College of Medicine (CCOM). The division works closely with its customers to identify technology solutions to address business needs and improve operational efficiencies. Systems are a mix of internally-developed applications and vendor-supported products. Vendor systems supported by the division include the GE Healthcare Centricity Business Solutions patient registration, scheduling and billing system supporting both hospital and professional billing needs. The division also supports Human Resources, Supply Chain, Health Information Management, Decision Support, Ambulatory operations, Finance and Account Services, CCOM Administration, and is responsible for the design and maintenance of the UI Health Care Internet and Intranet infrastructure. Interfaces are managed utilizing a Quovadx Cloverleaf Interface Engine
Administrative Support
Administrative Lead: Robert Stewart
Administrative Support provides services to the department's leadership and divisions in the areas of accounting, purchasing, human resources, facilities planning, statistical benchmarking, and other functions necessary to support the department. The group interacts with vendors, internal customers, University departments, and other entities on behalf of the department.
Clinical Applications Division
Administrative Lead: Kristy Walker
The Clinical Applications Division consists of 62+ FTEs who work to develop, maintain, implement and provide on-going support for all clinical applications, as well as assist in the data mining of the resulting information. Health Care Information Systems (HCIS) has a history of internal development for information systems. The legacy clinical information system is an IBM mainframe-based system containing 2.1 terabytes of clinical information representing over 2 million patient records. The INFORMM Patient Record (IPR) is a client server GUI version of the legacy clinical information system based in Powerbuilder. The IPR system serves as the Institution's Electronic Patient Record, supporting documentation and data retrieval for all clinicians. Over 5,500 UIHC staff members use some component of IPR for their patient care responsibilities. Vendor systems supported by the division include the Cerner Classic PharmNet and PathNet, Picis Critical Care Manager and Bridge Medical MedPoint. Interfaces are managed utilizing a Quovadx Cloverleaf Interface Engine. In January 2007, the UIHC kicked-off implementation of Epic's full clinical suite. The UIHC is transitioning their clinical information systems from the legacy systems to Epic over a 2 year window.
Technical Operations Division
Administrative Lead: Patrick Duffy
The Technical Operations Division is responsible for the installation, maintenance and support of the underlying foundational systems required by UI Health Care Information Systems to provide services and applications to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and the Carver College of Medicine. The division's 90 staff members support IBM mainframe computers, data storage, database administration, system interfaces to other vendor-provided systems such as patient ADT and lab orders and results, midrange systems, Aix/Unix/Linux support, Intel-based application, file, print and web server systems, email services, desktop and wireless computer, printer and other device support, user account management and security, technical training and Help Desk services.
Communication Technology Services
Administrative Lead: Lisa Searls
HCIS Communication Technology Services (CTS) provides and supports all voice, data and infrastructure systems and applications at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, including telephone systems (wired, wireless, VoIP, backup), paging system (beepers), voice mail system, ACD (Automatic Call Distributor) system, Operator services, Amcom system (directory, UIHC On Call, UIHC Page Me, UIIHC Find Me, speech recognition), emergency notification system, nurse call and infra red (IR) locate systems, overhead paging systems, cable TV and televisions, patient entertainment systems (DVD, DVD/VCR, gaming systems), on demand patient education video distribution system, video services / telemedicine support, network backbone (electronics), network management, wireless data, DNS and DHCP services, WAN sites, UPS management, network security (firewalls, VPN) and load balancing, data center network switches, installation of copper and fiber infrastructure, project management and design for capital projects.