The Transformational CIO: Leadership and Innovation Strategies for IT Executives in a Rapidly Changing World

“It's More about the Future”

Kaiser Permanente HealthConnect® is the $4 billion electronic medical records system rolled out in 2008 by Kaiser Permanente, the nation's largest not-for-profit health plan.

The system enables Kaiser Permanente's more than 8.6 million members in nine states to access their medical records, check the results of lab tests, and send secure messages electronically to their caregivers. It enables Kaiser Permanente's network of 80,000 caregivers to keep track of patients, write prescriptions electronically, schedule appointments, and avoid some of the costly—and occasionally dangerous—medical mistakes that invariably result from relying solely on memory or paper records.

From an IT perspective, KP HealthConnect is a technological tour de force that has yet to be replicated anywhere else in the world. But when you're chatting with Philip Fasano, the CIO of Kaiser Permanente, you remember that behind every great transformation is a great team of executives, employees, and customers. This one is no exception.

“You can't do it in a vacuum,” says Philip. “As a CIO, you have to substantially understand the key issues of the business that you are a part of. You also have to understand the industry that your business operates in. And you have to understand the larger national or global issues that can affect your business and your industry. You have to understand all of that and see the big picture before you even attempt to articulate a vision.”

Once you have begun ...