Client:  IDS is one of Wisconsin ’s largest and most successful physician group practices.  IDS is part of the   Health System, which includes the second largest HMO in Wisconsin and other ancillary healthcare ventures.  IDS Medical Center , is located in Madison Wisconsin, which is frequently ranked as the most desirable places to live in the United States and IDS Medical Center   prides itself on being one of the best places to work.

Project: As part of the Information Services Department for IDS Medical Center , the Technology Director would be responsible for the management and coordination of programming and analysis areas.  These areas would encompass support, development and maintenance of software, corporate services and information reporting.  The Director would also act as the primary liaison for information system and technical issues for IDS.  The Information Services Division was responsible for supporting technologies ranging from a mainframe utilizing COBOL and CIS to client/server applications in Powerbuilder, to Java applications accessing a Sybase database, to the new SAS Data Warehouse.

Candidate Requirements:  The successful candidate must have a successful demonstrated track record in managing multiple projects and deadlines.  In addition this individual needed to have the ability to work in a dynamic and continually changing environment.  A minimum of seven years of information systems experience with at least three years of project management and supervisory experience was necessary.  All of this experience should have been gained in a physician group practice or integrated healthcare system supporting physicians.  In addition the candidate needed to possess a strong customer service orientation, leadership and mentoring skills and a collaborative team oriented style.

Strategy:   We quickly began targeting Directors and Managers of IS departments by infiltrating physician practices supporting a minimum of fifty plus physicians across multiple sites.  In addition we identified and extracted these same individuals in integrated delivery systems with a focus on the physician component.  We also used our extensive network with consultants and vendors supporting the physician practice market. This search was concentrated in the Midwest .

PostScript: In less than one year the selected candidate has been promoted to the interim Chief Information Officer.  Additionally, the president has requested our services with a joint venture of which Dean Medical System is a major contributor.  They will be looking for our expertise as they make strategic hires at the most senior positions.