Transforming Healthcare Through Digital Innovation: New Chief Digital Health Officer at State Government Health Department
The Brief
The eHealth division at a state health department was newly formed to play a pivotal role in the digital future of the health sector.
This division was tasked with overseeing and delivering key functions, including health sector information cybersecurity, ICT investment planning, enterprise technology, digital transformation of health systems, and health data analytics and reporting. The Chief Digital Health Officer (CDHO) role was established to provide leadership on system-wide strategies and governance for critical digital applications across hospitals, mental health, and community health services. The department sought a candidate with thought leadership, strong influence, and the ability to drive efficiency and effectiveness in digital health systems to improve outcomes for all.
Increase in General Management Skills
According to the American Management Association, only 14% of businesses consider themselves “well prepared” to handle a sudden loss in senior management. Add to that the fact that it takes at least four months to fill an executive role, and an Interim Executive experienced in operations makes a lot of sense!
Increase in Customer Experience Skills
These days experience is everything. What truly makes for a good experience? Speed. Convenience. Consistency. Friendliness. And human touch. Our Interim Executives deliver a great experience while improving your customer experience!
Increase in People & Culture Skills
Organisations are constantly changing as they respond to internal and external pressures. Continual process improvement can enable team engagement and lead to growth. Interim Executives bring fresh eyes and effective industry best practice to the execution.
Increase in Data Analytics
Complex challenges require critical thinking and in the age of information-overwhelm it is imperative to have analytical minds at the table. These skills range across finance, data science, systems and more. An Interim Executive can be the right person to optimise your inputs to maximise your output.
The Process
Future Leadership partnered with the department, beginning with a detailed briefing from the Deputy Secretary of eHealth.
A targeted national search was conducted, supported by a digital advertising campaign. Candidates were primarily sought from the health sector, particularly those with a clinician background and executive leadership capability, along with experience in digital, data, and governance. A diverse shortlist of nine candidates, with five additional candidates for discussion, was presented. The candidates brought a mix of experience from consulting, healthcare, and government sectors. Four candidates progressed to the selection panel for interviews.
Emerging Capabilities
Community Health
Expert in managing and improving community health programs, focusing on preventive care and the overall well-being of populations.
Health Promotion
Skilled in developing and implementing health promotion strategies that encourage healthy lifestyles and prevent disease across communities.
Health Economics
Adept at applying economic principles to healthcare, analysing the cost-effectiveness of health interventions and policies to improve resource allocation.
Social Determinants Of Health
Experienced in addressing the social determinants of health, understanding how factors like income, education, and environment impact health outcomes.
Healthcare Information Technology (HIT)
Expert in managing and implementing healthcare information technology systems, including electronic health records (EHR), telemedicine platforms, and digital health tools, to improve patient care and operational efficiency.
The Outcome
The search successfully concluded with the appointment of a highly qualified individual to the Chief Digital Health Officer role.
This candidate brought over 20 years of experience in healthcare, with a strong focus on digital enablement and the use of data and analytics to drive quality care outcomes. The new CDHO is uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between the organisation and frontline services, ensuring the successful delivery of digital transformation initiatives that will enhance healthcare outcomes across the state.
