Information technology (IT) is a critical contributor to the delivery of optimal care to Duke Heart Center patients. Technological development demands that the organization adapt a focus on leveraging enterprise IT systems, applications, and communications.

The goal of Heart Center IT is to satisfy user requirements for access to information at all levels. Heart Center IT will evaluate, recommend, provide and utilize database, application, and communication architectures that are operationally sound, reliable, responsive, and scaleable. This integrated approach to the implementation of hardware and software solutions will support the Heart Center strategic direction. Heart Center IT will support research, diagnostic, surgical, therapeutic practices and their development and evolution. In addition, the Heart Center IT Strategic Plan will identify the technological pathway and requirements for the Heart Center to accomplish the Business Plan objectives.

October 2002 status update

Plans are underway to organize the management and support of information technology at the Heart Center Clinical Service Unit level. As such, the intent is to align personnel along logical (geographical combined with functional, rather than Hospital versus Medical Center) areas within the Heart Center to provide seamless support. Central to this is the intent to maintain personalized service such that the unique needs of individuals and groups within the Heart Center remain the focus.

In parallel, efforts are underway to identify unifying approaches to the management and deployment of a Heart Center network domain, file and application server operating systems and hardware, and desktop and PDA operating systems, applications, network connectivity, and hardware. At present, there are at least 7 different computer service organizations supporting Heart Center functions and personnel, spanning numerous domains. Specific ideas that are being investigated include the establishment of a common domain for all Heart Center personnel; conversion of all Heart Center personnel to a single mail platform; establishing a common operating system for the desktops that supports roving profiles; and use of configuration management technologies for the identification and maintenance of hardware and software.

Key individuals: Dan Kulpa, Hank Kistler, Steve Desper, Paul Debien, Jimmy Tcheng