MSDH
“ Telehealth has been a significant game changer, providing both convenience and cost savings”
KANE TOMLIN CIO, MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
“ Instead of dictating exactly what we want, we give them the freedom to propose solutions that might be better than what we initially envisioned,” he says.
This collaborative approach has yielded significant benefits. For instance, when discussing how Docusign’ s pertransaction billing model was a barrier to expanding usage, the company invited the MSDH to participate in a pilot programme for unlimited usage.
“ This provides financial predictability and allows us to fully leverage their tools,” Kane notes.
Similar partnerships with cybersecurity vendors like Rapid7 and Palo Alto have proven equally fruitful.
“ We present them with our challenges and ask for their best solutions,” Kane says.“ This collaborative, problem-solving approach makes the work more enjoyable and productive for everyone involved.”
Navigating challenges in digital transformation Implementing such ambitious changes is not without its challenges.
“ In government, we sometimes underestimate this, which can be to our detriment,” Kane says.“ A big challenge is understanding both our organisational capacity – how much IT work we can produce – and how much change the agency can absorb. The technology might exist to move everything to the cloud, but the chaos it would create in the organisation could be overwhelming.”
Balancing competing priorities within the agency is another significant challenge.
“ For example, the head of epidemiology and the head of county health services both believe their needs should come first,” Kane explains.“ So, we have to balance these demands while reducing redundant systems, streamlining data flows and breaking down silos.”
The future: AI and data analytics Looking ahead, Kane sees artificial intelligence as a potential game-changer for the department, particularly when it comes to enhancing data analytics. However, he acknowledges the need for caution when implementing AI in a government healthcare setting.
“ The first big use case that’ s going to put AI into production with the
124 April 2025