MSDH
“ Telehealth has been a significant game changer , providing both convenience and cost savings ”
KANE TOMLIN CIO , MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
“ Instead of dictating exactly what we want , we give them the freedom to propose solutions that might be better than what we initially envisioned ,” he says .
This collaborative approach has yielded significant benefits . For instance , when discussing how Docusign ’ s pertransaction billing model was a barrier to expanding usage , the company invited the MSDH to participate in a pilot programme for unlimited usage .
“ This provides financial predictability and allows us to fully leverage their tools ,” Kane notes .
Similar partnerships with cybersecurity vendors like Rapid7 and Palo Alto have proven equally fruitful .
“ We present them with our challenges and ask for their best solutions ,” Kane says . “ This collaborative , problem-solving approach makes the work more enjoyable and productive for everyone involved .”
Navigating challenges in digital transformation Implementing such ambitious changes is not without its challenges .
“ In government , we sometimes underestimate this , which can be to our detriment ,” Kane says . “ A big challenge is understanding both our organisational capacity – how much IT work we can produce – and how much change the agency can absorb . The technology might exist to move everything to the cloud , but the chaos it would create in the organisation could be overwhelming .”
Balancing competing priorities within the agency is another significant challenge .
“ For example , the head of epidemiology and the head of county health services both believe their needs should come first ,” Kane explains . “ So , we have to balance these demands while reducing redundant systems , streamlining data flows and breaking down silos .”
The future : AI and data analytics Looking ahead , Kane sees artificial intelligence as a potential game-changer for the department , particularly when it comes to enhancing data analytics . However , he acknowledges the need for caution when implementing AI in a government healthcare setting .
“ The first big use case that ’ s going to put AI into production with the
16 msdh . ms . gov