Letter from the CIO

Dear Colleagues:
 

As we begin a new year, I want to take a moment to reflect on the achievements and milestones we have reached together. This year has been one of transformation, innovation, and resilience, and none of it would have been possible without your unwavering dedication and hard work. 
 

One of the most significant events this year was the transition into a shared services model between the University of Kentucky (UK) Information Technology Services and UK HealthCare Information Technology. We positioned new and existing leadership into key positions to support strategic efforts, including naming a Chief Digital & Information Officer for UK HealthCare and a Deputy CIO of Enterprise Applications and Outreach. These adjustments have prepared our organization to better streamline our operations and enhance our ability to provide comprehensive IT support across the UK enterprise. Our teams’ adaptability and collaboration have been instrumental in making the beginning of this journey a success. 
 

We have made strides to better protect our data and systems at UK, UK HealthCare, and for the UK community. Teams have worked diligently throughout the year to make sure our solutions are up to date, our hardware is refreshed, and our access management fortifies us against cyber threats. Our awareness efforts to combat social engineering, scams, and phishing continue to protect and educate our community. The highlight of these efforts was hosting the largest CyberCon to date, which brought together experts and enthusiasts from across the region to share knowledge and strategies. Your commitment to protecting our digital environment is truly commendable. 
 

This year also saw network upgrades across our campus and the state, including critical facilities like the Eastern State Hospital and the newly renovated Gray Design Building. These upgrades have not only improved connectivity but also enhanced the overall user experience for students, faculty, staff, patients, visitors, and more. Technical expertise and meticulous planning were key to the success of these projects.  
 

Adding to the foundation of a strong, robust network, we continued to enhance our cloud storage and compute services to enable cutting-edge research, healthcare, academics, and operations. Skilled employees from diverse skill sets collaborated to build, test, and design easy-to-use and efficient applications to further enhance academic operations at UK. With every new year, I look forward to what’s to come in these essential areas of innovation. 
 

As a result of dedicated efforts by many teams, UK HealthCare achieved a Gold Star Level 10 from Epic. This proves our commitment to the Commonwealth of Kentucky to enable the best patient care through enhanced and effective use of the electronic health record. Many of our employees worked together to support advanced care in new initiatives like the EmPATH unit, a new approach to urgent behavioral healthcare that has helped over 1,500 patients since its opening.  
 

Additionally, UK Healthcare upgrades made to the Enterprise Data Warehouse (EDW) will empower advances in patient care like providing data necessary to help reduce unplanned C-sections and hospital-acquired infections using AI and machine learning. The Bio Bank Optimization and Migration consents for research and registration project aims to ensure governance and compliance by verifying and cleansing Bio-Bank documentation to address data quality issues resulting from inefficient workflows during the transition to electronic processes. Whether providing at-the-elbow support to physicians, testing the latest feature updates or analyzing data trends, UK ITS teams helped healthcare providers make informed decisions and provide better care to Kentuckians. 
 

As we celebrate these accomplishments, I want to express my deepest gratitude to each and every one of you. Your proactive approach and problem-solving skills have been invaluable in navigating these changes and are the driving forces behind our success. Together, we have made great achievements, and I am confident that we will continue to reach new heights in the coming year.