Dean Health System. Wipfli completes a full IT assessment.

Dean Health System (DHS) is a multi-specialty integrated health care delivery system.  DHS entities provide health services, insurance products, and ancillary services with 23 medical clinics, 15 eye clinics, and 3 day surgery centers.  The technology leadership team, to better understand potential areas for improvement and to continuously elevate the capability and maturity of IT area, chose to obtain an external opinion regarding their performance.

Wipfli reviewed five dimensions of the technology: People, process, technology, financial, and management. The assessment approach included interviews with key leaders/managers/end users, process observation, document inspection, and inspection of physical environments.  Wipfli then provided, quantitative and qualitative analysis of the information, summarized the assessment findings in a report, and also developed prioritized action items for the team.

Wipfli’s experience in health care coupled with their expertise in providing information technology assessments was an asset to the project.  “Their objectivity and knowledge helped us dispel myths and validate correct impressions regarding our overall maturity,” relates Jerry Roberts, DHS Information Technology Vice President.  “Further, this assessment helped us appreciate our accomplishments while illuminating our opportunities for continued improvement.”

The IT assessment enabled the DHS technology leadership team to confirm to its clients with confidence that its information systems and core business processes operate effectively and consistently.  Further, this assessment identified three areas for next generation improvement which allowed DHS’s technology leadership team to not only share the assessment findings but also leverage these materials to implement go-forward plans.