Keeping IT Brief: The Power Perspective

On today’s episode of Keeping IT Brief, we speak with Donna Knutson, the Associate Director of Guidehouse on broader public health data modernization that pertains not just to federal sector, but also state and local and commercial.

Donna Knutson, Associate Director at Guidehouse

With more than 30 years of experience, Donna Knutson, PhD, is a public health veteran. Her career spans local, state, and federal public health agencies, as well as non- and for-profit institutions. Throughout the pandemic, Knutson has represented the CDC Office of the Director in the Secretary's Operations Center and the Federal Emergency Management Agency National Response Coordination Center. She previously served as deputy director for the CDC’s National Center for Environmental Health and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Knutson also held leadership positions in the CDC’s Office of the Chief Financial Officer, Office of Terrorism Prevention and Emergency Response, and Center for Injury Prevention and Control.

Guidehouse

Guidehouse is a leading global provider of consulting and outsourcing services to the public sector and commercial markets, with broad capabilities in management, technology, and risk. Recognized as the third-largest healthcare management consulting firm by Modern Healthcare in 2021, the Guidehouse Health team helps hospitals and health systems, government agencies, life sciences and retail companies, and payers solve their most complex issues, overcome unique market challenges, and deliver innovative services to their communities and customers. Visit the Guidehouse Center for Health Insights for their latest health research, trends, and best practices.

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 Kaajal Singh, Director at Guidehouse, joins us for today’s episode of Keeping IT Brief to take a look at how to think about non-clinical health drivers when making enterprise strategy decisions. 

Kaajal Singh, MHA, Director, Guidehouse

With 15 years in health strategy, operations, analytics, and leadership, Kaajal has served clients domestically and internationally across the federal and commercial sectors. Her recent efforts have been focused on value-based care strategies, including clinical and non-clinical determinants of health, helping organizations and communities better define, implement, and measure initiatives that contribute to improved health quality and reduced total cost of care. A team builder and talent developer, she was previously a leader at GE, Advisory Board Company, and Booz Allen Hamilton. Kaajal is also a founding member of Chief, enabling women to cross-pollinate ideas and advance their leadership journeys.

Guidehouse

 Guidehouse is a leading global provider of consulting and outsourcing services to the public sector and commercial markets, with broad capabilities in management, technology, and risk. Recognized as the third-largest healthcare management consulting firm by Modern Healthcare in 2021, the Guidehouse Health team helps hospitals and health systems, government agencies, life sciences and retail companies, and payers solve their most complex issues, overcome unique market challenges, and deliver innovative services to their communities and customers. Visit the Guidehouse Center for Health Insights for their latest health research, trends, and best practices. 

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Trends in low-code/no-code solutions in the cloud – Customers wanting to migrate from on-premise systems to the Cloud has been the norm for several years. The commercial industry typically leads the charge on this movement with the Government making a commitment to ride the wave close behind. Most Federal agencies have already issued Cloud BPAs. GSA is gearing up to issue one as well. Today’s episode of Keeping IT Brief dives into this technology trend.

Raman Bhasker, Technical Director at Index Analytics 

Raman is a seasoned technology leader with more than 16 years of diverse experience in the information technology industry serving the federal government and the commercial sectors. As a Technical Director at Index Analytics, Raman is responsible for leading solution implementations, mentoring teams and driving the technical maturity across Index's project portfolio. He has led technical solution delivery of several data modernization initiatives including data strategy, cloud migration, enterprise application integration, scalable and cost-effective IT systems across several business components within the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Prior to federal government contracting, Raman led IT solution implementations in the commercial healthcare and insurance industries.

Joseph Cardillo, Salesforce Practice Lead 

Joseph is responsible for supporting all Salesforce implementations and resources at Index Analytics. He has more than 10 years of government contracting experience, working with several business components within the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) supporting a wide range of missions that include the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, and Medicare Appeals. His focus and objective is to always build high-performing teams who have great chemistry and support each other for the benefit of all.

Index Analytics 

An 8(a) certified small business specializing in data strategy, data integration, data visualization and Salesforce CRM solutions. Founded in 2012, Index has been delivering award winning IT solutions and improved our clients’ return on investment (ROI) by providing high-quality enterprise solutions to federal government agencies. We are proud to have successfully supported multiple enterprise-wide information technology (IT)-related deployments on domains such as Business Intelligence (BI); Extract, Transform, and Load (ETL) tools and technologies; Big Data; data strategy; Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology; user training, coaching and support.Index Analytics’ services can be accessed through the following government contract vehicles: GSA Schedule 70 (SIN for IT Professional Services and Health IT; GSA Professional Services Schedule (formerly MOBIS) and CIO-SP3 (HUBZone); Please visit http://www.index-analytics.com/ for additional information

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 This podcast is based on an event dated March 29, 2022. If you missed this event, be sure and check out our list of upcoming events on FedHealthIT.

Today we are speaking to Megan Murray, the Executive Director of Programs & Outreach for G2xchange, Milemarker10 and FedHealthIT about the upcoming Disruptive Tech Summit taking place at AMP Theater at Pike and Rose Center in North Bethesda, MD.  It will be an opportunity to hear from the Federal IT innovators and game changers who are positively transforming how Government fulfills its missions.

Register for the event here.

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 In an increasingly fast-paced and complex digital world, organizations are embracing ITIL 4 as the reference framework to accomplish change. Gartner defines digital disruption as “an effect that changes the fundamental expectations and behaviors in a culture, market, industry or process that is caused by, or expressed through, digital capabilities, channels or assets.” Digital disruption is the new norm as technological progresses give rise to new products, services – ever increasing customer demands and expectations. The Information Technology Infrastructure Library Edition 4 (ITIL 4) framework enables organizations to embrace digital transformation in an incremental and proven manner at speed with concepts like high velocity IT. Check out our latest episode of Keeping IT Brief with two leaders of Leidos to learn more.

 Andy Turner, Lead Service Architect
With 30 years of military and industry experience, Andy has a proven track record of managing teams, designing and delivering service capabilities to meet the customer’s needs. He is a qualified in ITIL V4 Strategic Leader and Managing Professional, experienced with SIAM model/framework delivery and integration, design governance, transition and early life support for a range of government customers. In his various roles, he has able to strategize and define reusable service management operating models which align with both business needs and technical solutions. Andy has served Leidos as Service Architect for corporate, Scottish Government, and UK Defence bids, and also the HOB Delivery Program. Previously, he provided Service Delivery and Architecture support to UK Defence, UK Government Departments, UK Police forces, and commercial organizations. From 2017-2020, Andy was the Chairperson for the ITSMF SIAM Special Interest Group, collaborating across industry to establish SIAM best practice documentation.

Jason Beasley, Senior IT Managed Services Solution Architect/Corporate ITIL 4 Technical Evangelist
Jason has more than 22 years of industry IT experience, including Federal and Commercial markets with a focus on strategic planning, business development, leadership, team building, and value driven design. His eclectic blend of vision, adaptability, self-motivation, ethics, team focus, technical expertise, and passion for excellence have been recognized by many well-known global organizations including Lockheed Martin, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Office of The Surgeon General, and Dell. Jason has supported global organizations in roles including Principal Consultant for Data Center and Cloud Transformation, Customer Solution Executive, Data Protection SME, Enterprise Solutions Architect, and Project Manager. In his current role at Leidos as Senior IT Managed Services Solution Architect within the Digital Modernization Accelerator, he supports/leads corporate strategic initiatives, IRADs, and supports bids/programs. 

Leidos:

Leidos is a Fortune 500® technology, engineering, and science solutions and services leader working to solve the world's toughest challenges in the defense, intelligence, civil, and health markets. The company's 43,000 employees support vital missions for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Reston, Va., Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $13.7 billion for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. For more information, visit http://www.Leidos.com.

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 This podcast is based on an event dated March 15,2022.  If you missed this event be sure and check out our list of upcoming events on FedHealthIT.

Today we are speaking to Susan Sharer the G2Xchange/FedHealthIT about the upcoming Women in Leadership Luncheon taking place during HIMSS in Florida. 

Link to register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/leading-for-impact-women-in-leadership-luncheon-during-himss-2022-tickets-210121979497

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As emerging technologies become an everyday reality embracing a cloud presence can help bolster access to your service offerings.  When considering a cloud migration there are several areas to think about to fully leverage cloud technologies and services.

Dina Guerrero, Deputy Director Health Information Technology Business Unit, Sentar Inc.

 Ms. Dina Guerrero has helped develop cyber solutions across DoD and Military Health System components for 25+ years. Supporting military medical IT, she has engineered technically sound and secure solutions for critical systems supporting Medical Treatment Facilities (MTF) and MRMC Integrated Clinical Systems. Partnering with military, civilian and vendor communities she delivered venues for authorizing medical devices in DoD networks. She led Technical Engineering and Information Exchanges to evaluate MTF network and medical device equipment (MDE) cyber protections used to align with Cyber Security Service Provider capabilities. Currently, as consultant to Federal Agencies and Department of Defense, she provides innovative solutions that address traditional problems taking into consideration a changing cyber threat landscape.

 About Sentar, Inc.

Sentar is one of the fastest-growing cyber intelligence, analytics and operations solutions providers focused on the National Security sector. Its cyber domain solutions blend expertise in cybersecurity, intelligence, analytics, and systems engineering into holistic solutions that combine these disciplines to deliver superior results to mission partners. Key clients include the U.S. Navy, the Defense Health Agency, the U.S. Army, and Missile Defense Agency. Sentar has offices in Huntsville, Alabama; Charleston, South Carolina; Columbia, Maryland; San Antonio, Texas; and San Diego, California. Visit www.sentar.com for more information.

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Did you miss our recent event Agency Spotlight: DHA - Building Your 2022 Opportunity Roadmap, highlighting info from our keynote speakers?

Sara Byrd, Senior Capture Manager, Military and Veterans Health Solutions, Leidos

Jessica Denman, Senior Director, DHA Portfolio, SAIC, former Chief, Acquisition Oversight, PEO DHMS

Francisco Dominicci, Colonel, U.S. Army (Retired),Senior Vice President, B.E.A.T. llc,  former Chief, Solutions Delivery Division, DHA

Walt Engle, President, Chiral Medical Consulting, former, Director Clinical Operations, US Army

Kevin Seeley, Colonel, U.S.Air Force, (Retired), Vice President, Strategic Programs, Military Health, GDIT, former Deputy CIO, DHA

Brian Sheets, Director, Business Development, TIAG

Mark Webb, Colonel, U.S. Army, (Retired), President & CEO, Joint MedOps; former Deputy Assistant Program Manager, Deployment, DHMSM and Chief of Staff, PEO DHMS

Rich Wilson, Colonel, U.S. Army, (Retired), Director, Guidehouse, former Chief, Solution Delivery Division, DHA

Jason Windsor,  Colonel, U.S. Army, (Retired), Vice President, Health IT, GDIT, former Program Manager, EHR-Core Solutions Delivery, J-6, DHA

In this sound Clip Jason Windsor throws the question to Kevin Seeley, Rich Wilson, Sara Bryd and Brian Sheets…

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So what does a successful cloud platform strategy entail and how can industry better partner with government clients to achieve your goals?  Today we speak with Arveen Kohli of Dell Technologies who walks us through the basics. 

Arveen Kohli

Services Sales Leader, Dell Technologies

Over the past five years at Dell Technologies, Arveen has been focused on outcome-based services around IT, Digital, Workplace and Security Transformations. Arveen has recently joined the Dell Civilian business and is invested in growing trusted relationships with partners and customers. Her team is focused on providing consultative professional services effectuating successful business transformations. Prior to joining Dell, Arveen was at Microsoft Corporation where she focused on the Midwest region out of Chicagoland. Her forte is to assist organizations in achieving their full transformation potential through value driven outcomes, in alignment with people, process and technology. 

Dell Technologies

The Dell Technologies federal team is 100% committed to your mission. Whether you’re providing critical citizen services, innovating for the next generation, or securing the nation, we bring the right technology, a secure supply chain, targeted expertise, and far-reaching vision to help guide your journey.

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Andrew Conn is president of Anthem subsidiary National Government Services (and was also named President of Anthem’s Federal Government Solutions group in September). Early on in his leadership, he laid out a clear and bold vision for the future of the organization – specifically, how the company would come to define the Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) of the future, transform its Digital Health component and focus on organizational culture and talent alignment to facilitate real change. Andrew has also extended his vision to include external stakeholder relationships. He prioritized collaborating, problem-solving, and understanding NGS’ federal health clients and business partners. His strategy is paying dividends, illustrated by the recent award of a new 7-year MAC Jurisdiction K contract for CMS. Today, he’s sharing his outlook for trends in the federal health IT space for the coming year.

Andrew Conn

President, National Government Solutions

Andrew Conn serves as President, National Government Solutions (NGS) under Anthem’s Government Business Division.  With revenue of more than $12 billion, NGS plays an integral role in protecting and improving the effectiveness of healthcare for millions of Americans who depend on federal care. NGS includes Federal Health Products and Services, which administers Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s Federal Employee Program in Anthem markets, as well as Wellpoint Military Care. 

National Government Services

For more than 50 years, National Government Services has been a trusted partner and innovative leader in federal health care contracting. Employing approximately 1,500 associates, National Government Services is committed to providing robust health information technology and administrative services. As a Medicare contractor for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), National Government Services processes more than 228 million Medicare claims and administers benefits of approximately $84 billion from the Medicare Trust Fund annually. Additional information about National Government Services is available at http://www.ngsservices.com

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