With the creation of the Texas Hospital Association’s Center for Technology Innovation in 2016, THA took on the role of champion for Texas hospitals in the technology space. Today, the Center for Technology has become a reliable, unbiased source for experts, information and solutions to serve hospital leaders across Texas.
The Center for Technology Innovation is led by Fernando Martinez, Ph.D., a veteran healthcare executive and award-winning technologist who has worked with some of the largest healthcare systems in the country. He served in a variety of healthcare settings and brings more than 20 years of hands-on experience delivering innovative and transformational technology strategies for organizations of all size to the Center.
Innovation is a term that gets kicked around a lot in today’s tech circles. For us at CTI, it’s specific. Innovation means finding novel uses of existing resources to create value.
Fernando Martinez, chief digital officer
From its inception, the Center for Technology Innovation was created as the answer to a dramatic shift in the healthcare industry. Technology had grown from a secondary priority to a core component in almost every aspect of operating a successful hospital. From the back office to the bedside, technology played a vital role in whether or not a hospital could succeed.
Texas Hospital Association quickly identified a gap for hospitals. While there was certainly no shortage of information and companies vying to be the next perfect technology for hospitals, Texas hospital leaders had no partner to help them find what would really work. That type of partnership seemed a natural role for the Texas Hospital Association.
Featured Initiatives
Compass
Compass (formerly known as the THA Patient Data System) helps hospitals with timely and accurate submission of mandated claims data to the Texas Health Care Information Collection and provides reports to help them benchmark performance.
Smart Ribbon
THA Smart Ribbon powered by IllumiCare gives clinicians real-time, patient-specific cost and risk data at the point of care, allowing them to make the best decisions for their patients when it matters most.
Thermal Scanning
Prior to early 2020, and the onset of the pandemic, the Center for Technology Innovation recognized the value of Artificial Intelligence to identify strengths and improve workflows within Texas hospitals.
Fernando Martinez, Ph.D., is the founder of THA’s Center for Technology Innovation and THA Chief Digital Officer. Martinez is a former hospital CIO/CISO, a certified IT security professional and a professional educator who has worked with some of the largest healthcare systems in the country.
The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives recognized Martinez for his development of the THA Smart Ribbon, in partnership with Illumicare, Inc., with the organization’s Innovator Award during the CHIME17 Fall CIO Forum.
Speaking Engagements
Fernando Martinez presented at the TAHFA & HFMA symposium. Reach out to Fernando to learn more about Cybersecurity Insights at fmartinez@tha.org.
Resources
From HealthITSecurity.com
Helping Struggling Hospitals Recover from Ransomware Attacks
The biggest cybersecurity issue for hospitals is response and recovery from ransomware attacks, observed Fernando Martinez, chief digital officer at the Texas Hospital Association. Read the full article.