By Peter High, published on Forbes
05-01-17
Quest Diagnostics Chief Information Officer has never thought of IT as a cost center. She knows that there is gold in the data that the company collects, and synthesizing it better so that the company and its customers can make better decisions ensures better healthcare outcomes ultimately.
She has been a driver of the company’s Quanum suite of technology and data analytics solutions, which provides clients with a better understanding of how the company can provide critical insights in healthcare and help the healthcare community overcome pressing analytic, clinical and financial challenges. As she notes herein, “Ultimately, Quanum strengthens the overall Quest Diagnostics brand promise of Action from Insight with a robust suite of technology and data analytics tools that allow patients, payers and providers to better analyze, connect and engage.” This has led to a nearly nine figure revenue lift of the company, and for that, Fonseca has been awarded a 2017 Forbes CIO Innovation Award.
When asked for comment on Fonseca’s contribution, Quest Diagnostics’ President and Chief Executive Officer Steve Rusckowski noted, “As the leader in diagnostic information services, we are in a unique position to connect patients, providers, payers and ACOs (Accountable Care Organizations) with actionable insights based on lab, clinical, quality, claims and other health data.Our Quanum suite of solutions reflects this new way of thinking about Quest and our broader ability to harness insights and technology to deliver better healthcare. With our national connectivity, big data, technology and clinical expertise, we’re able to provide the kinds of technology solutions that will improve quality, lower costs, engage patients and optimize financial performance.”
Peter High: Please describe the innovative idea that you and your team in IT pursued.
Lidia Fonseca: The innovative concept our team pursued was an end-to-end digital experience for our customers with our comprehensive Quanum suite of technology and data analytics solutions. Launching Quanum in early 2016, our objectives were to make it easy for customers and consumers to select solutions that are beneficial to them. The new Quanum brand provides our clients with a new way of thinking about Quest Diagnostics. It offers a better understanding of how we can provide critical insights in healthcare and help the healthcare community overcome pressing analytic, clinical and financial challenges. Ultimately, Quanum strengthens the overall Quest Diagnostics brand promise of Action from Insight with a robust suite of technology and data analytics tools that allow patients, payers and providers to better analyze, connect and engage.
- Analyze – use lab data to analyze clinical performance and improve financial outcomes
- Connect – easy to use platforms
- Engage – offer solutions for engaging with patients and clinicians to educate and empower for improved health
