Keeping IT Brief

 Coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, federal health agencies are now evaluating what their shortcomings were and how they can improve. Key issues that have come to the forefront include future-proofing the workforce, combating misinformation, and maximizing data utilization. In this episode, ICF SVP of Federal Health John Auerbach shares the biggest priorities for federal health agencies in impro...

In an increasingly fast-paced and complex digital world, the ability of different information technology systems and software applications to communicate, exchange data, and use that information is becoming increasingly more vital. Achieving a greater speed and efficiency through an enriched data exchange framework will permit greatly enhanced data sharing across clinicians, labs, hospitals, pharm...

Taking a look at the importance of inclusive teams when looking at tech in the fedhealth tech space with the Director of Product at CivicActions.   Liz Tupper, Director of Product Civic Actions Liz Tupper is a strategic technology leader with over 20 years of experience working in the civic tech, social good, AI (artificial intelligence), IoT (internet of things), web, mobile application, and vide...

Susan Sharer talks to Joe Salgado, a successful capture manager with Red Team Consulting, on T4NG as well as the subsequent on-ramp about the recently released T4G2 Draft RFP to provide his thoughts on the differences in approach and substance of the two procurements and what that might mean for offerors and Veterans Affairs. Link to the 2nd draft:   https://sam.gov/opp/ec26c57e247540e99fe559c21d2...

Today Susan Sharer, the CEO of FedHealthIT, took Keeping IT Brief on the road and met with Brandon Utt, the Vice President of Growth from MKS2 to discuss the T4NG2 contract the morning after the T4NG Happy Hour, where industry came out in huge numbers to discuss this exciting opportunity. Brandon Utt, Vice President of Growth Brandon has been part of the MKS2 team since December 2019 and has been...

Compliance requirements and siloed communication have resulted in major interoperability and scalability challenges for government agencies, and these issues have persisted during IT modernization initiatives. In the wake of the pandemic, abrupt changes were made to digitize necessary resources, but as the federal health landscape looks forward it is imperative that any modernization solution impl...

Where the Health Community Should Start Research from KFF estimates that disparities in healthcare amount to approximately $93 billion in excess medical care costs and $42 billion in lost productivity per year, in addition to economic losses due to premature deaths. Health outcomes are not just centralized to local communities, but rather, have a lasting effect on improving the nation’s overall he...

Today we speak with Brooke Pierce, Vice President, CMS Division Manager, with Leidos on how Servant Leadership can draw the most out of your team in a positive way.  This non-traditional style of leadership entails a set of behaviors and practices that places the primary emphasis on the well-being of the entire team.   Brooke Pierce, Vice President, CMS Division Manager, with Leidos Brooke Pierce...

The VA’s EHR rollout aimed to modernize the systems that give veterans access to essential healthcare services, but it has posed numerous modernization challenges that echoed poor citizen experiences being felt across the public sector. With public health crises like COVID-19, the importance of modernizing IT infrastructure to adapt to healthcare challenges and meet citizens’ needs is paramount fo...

No matter what agency or industry, the CX approach leverages the true nature of HCD, allowing for the development of innovative strategies that make life better for people across the country. A customer-focused approach also delivers effective policies, programs and services to support each citizen’s needs, with a primary approach of citizen discovery, engagement and delivery. Rita Breen  In her c...

Today we revisit the 2022 FedHealthIT 100 Lifetime Achievement Award winner speech from Claude Hines, the Chief Operating Officer at MicroHealth.  Being introduced by the company's Chief Executive Officer, Frank Tucker. Keeping IT Brief with Mary Ann Brown features quick, insightful conversations with government and industry leaders on federal IT, cybersecurity, AI, and emerging technologies...

The VA has embarked on its Mission Daybreak, a $20 million grand challenge to reduce Veteran suicides. A participant in Mission Daybreak, DSS, Inc. submitted a solution that has advanced to phase two of the challenge. It is a multidimensional approach to detect suicidal ideation in real-time using Machine Learning (ML) techniques that improves Veteran distress prediction accuracy. Michele Burst, D...

Modern Warrior LIVE is a uniquely immersive narrative and music experience that chronicles the transition from combat to civilian life. The production was originally created as a live performance, and we have delivered over 125 shows reaching more than 10,000 veterans and 20,000 civilians, and connected more than 4,000 veterans to local veterans and mental health service organizations since its in...

With public health crises like COVID-19, the importance of modernizing IT infrastructure to adapt to healthcare challenges is paramount for federal agencies. As agencies like CMS are working towards modernization, they are faced with many logistical issues that make rapid implementation infrastructure difficult.  GitLab Public Sector teamed up with RVCM to support CMS’ batCAVE initiative enabling...

The amount of available healthcare data is increasing exponentially. When managed correctly, this data is not only valuable for individual patient care, but can be utilized to address large scale health trends or care deficits. Today we speak with Karen Chan from National Government Solutions on how bridging gaps in care is possible with the right technology, data, and strategic approach. Healthca...

When military patients live far from their health clinic or hospital, or they find traveling for in-person treatment difficult, obtaining quality care when and how they need it can be challenging. Military Health System (MHS) Video Connect (MHS VC) is a secure, live, web-based solution providing accessible care to active-duty service members, Veterans, and their family members.  In 2021, the Leido...

Today we have a team from Accenture Federal Services discussing the use of AI on health care – the opportunities for improved outcomes, the need for responsible approaches in data collection and AI application, and how we can improve the adoption and experience among medical professionals and patients. Dr. Ron Moody, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Moody is the Chief Medical Officer at Accenture Federal...

Today we are focusing on a woman making an impact in the FedHealth IT space with a conversation with Arveen Kohli the founder, president and CEO of 11th Dimension Services.     Arveen Kohli, Founder, President and CEO Founder and CEO, Arveen Kohli, is a zealous small business entrepreneur who comes from humble minority roots. Her fervor to serve the U.S. Federal, State, City, County Governments is...

Federal IT modernization is the ideal way for organizations to accelerate mission outcomes. Though successful modernization can be easier said than done, a few key steps such as retaining agile talent and prioritizing CX and UX needs can ensure that organizations effectively bolster their modernization efforts. Today we speak with Jane Hite-Syed, Vice President, COO, National Government Services o...

Taking a look at how federal healthcare can benefit from digital workflows with Mobeen Vaid, Advisory Solutions Consultant from ServiceNow. Mobeen Vaid, Advisory Solutions Consultant, ServiceNow Mobeen Vaid is an Advisory Solutions Consultant at ServiceNow as part of the company’s Federal Healthcare team.  He has over 15 years in federal healthcare, nearly ten of which focused on federal cyber ini...

  On today’s Keeping IT Brief, Jurgen Kanagalingam the Senior Solutions Consultant at ServiceNow discusses how technology can help agencies provide improved patient outcomes in healthcare operations. Jurgen Kanagalingam, Senior Solutions Consultant, ServiceNow   Jurgen Kanagalingam is a Senior Solutions Consultant at ServiceNow supports modernization efforts at Veterans Affairs.  He has over 15 ye...

Review of the real-world challenges encountered in clinical research as it becomes both more digital/virtual and involves more diverse teams - particularly problems and opportunities related to collaboration, security, and data interoperability. Today we speak to Edward O’Connor of ManTech on his insights. Edward F. O’Connor Subject Matter Expert – ManTech Health Edward has over 20 years’ experien...

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advanced Molecular Detection (AMD) program is modernizing the nation’s public health system’s disease-investigation capabilities by integrating traditional epidemiology with next-generation genomic sequencing (NGS) and bioinformatics to look at pathogens in new ways. Innovations developed through AMD yield insights into disease-causing microbes and...

This podcast is based on an event dated August 16, 2022.  If you miss this event, be sure and check out our list of upcoming events on FedHealthIT . Today we are speaking to Susan Sharer, the CEO of FedHealthIT about the upcoming Women in Leadership Luncheon taking place during DHITS in Florida. Link to register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/attending-dhits-leading-for-impact-women-in-leadership-l...

Eight in ten physicians believe the United States cannot improve health outcomes or reduce health care costs without addressing social factors that affect patient health. Social Determinants of Health/Social Drivers of Health (SDOH) include socioeconomic status, education, neighborhood/social and physical environment, nutrition and food security, health care access and more.  Today Kamala Green of...