Background

In support of effective, responsive and efficient information services (IS) for the Health Science Center (HSC), the Senior Vice President for Health Affairs has approved the formation of the HSC Information Advisory Council (ISAC).

HSC ISAC membership includes key decision-makers currently involved in setting HSC strategic directions and the sharing of resources across the academic health enterprise. The collaborative HSC ISAC structure and processes serve to facilitate IS shared decision-making and aids in determining needs, approving and implementing goals, projects and the allocation of resources.
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Scope

HSC ISAC is chartered to address Information Services planning and realization within all locations and in support of all missions and programs of the Health Science Center in an advisory capacity and through the Assistant VPHA for Information Services/CIO.  Represented organizations include:

• The Vice President for Health Affairs Office, and all HSC Units (IRB; HSC Libraries; Student Health Center, etc.);
• The College of Dentistry;
• The College of Medicine;
• The College of Nursing;
• The College of Pharmacy;
• The College of Public Health & Health Professions;
• The College of Veterinary Medicine;
• The UF Health Science Center/Jacksonville campus;
• McKnight Brain Institute;
• UF Genetics Institute;
• UF Shands Cancer Center;
• UF HSC affiliated covered entities, including the Faculty Practice Clinics of UF Jacksonville Physicians and University of Florida Physicians;
• Shands HealthCare

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Purpose

HSC Information Services direction:

• Promote alignment of the Information Services function with the HSC missions, goals and programs.
• Promote coherent use of shared HSC computing, telecommunication and information resources in consideration of the HSC’s heterogeneous and distributed environment and organization.
• Monitor the development of, and annual updates to, HSC Information Services Strategic and Operational Plans.  Includes evaluation of IS needs and drivers, recommending goals and tactical directions.
• Promote the continued effectiveness and efficiency of information services and support within all locations of the HSC.
• Advise and assist the Assistant VPHA for Information Services/CIO in matters concerning information services.
• Offer guidance regarding information services direction, policies, and standards.
• Encourage and nurture collaborative efforts with other UF, HSC and Shands HealthCare Information Technology groups.
• Promote effective communications with and among the HSC community, leadership, key stakeholders and information services organizations.

HSC Information Services requests and projects (project portfolio management):

• In consideration of IS directions and goals, determine which requests/projects should be under the purview of the council.
• Review and recommend disposition of Information Services project requests.
• Recommend priorities and approaches to allocation of resources for Information Services projects and ongoing services.
• Review the status of the queue of projects and recommend actions.
• Identify projects in distress and recommend remedial action.

HSC Information Services sponsorship:

• To advocate for HSC IS users to the leadership and IS community in matters concerning Information Services.

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ISAC Subgroups

ISAC may wish to establish as needed subgroups for the purpose of developing focused recommendations regarding information services in the support of each of the missions and the business processes of the Health Science Center.  This includes providing input to the information services strategic and operational plans.

Additionally, the subgroups will review and recommend disposition of those projects that will affect their respective missions and user communities.
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Relationship to Supporting Councils/Committees

The supporting councils/committees are described in the document “Information Technology Governance Implementation Mechanisms” (See ISAC Meetings).  Each supporting committee/council represents their mission/business as a major source of information technology needs in support of their respective constituency.  Specifically:

• New initiatives needed:
• Resources required;
• Recommended priorities;
• Estimated costs;
• Justification.
• IT support needs.
• Status of initiatives in development, including recommended actions.
• Programs that should be reviewed to determine if they should be continued.
• Recommended IT performance metrics.
• Recommended ISAC support actions.

Each supporting committee/council should communicate with its respective constituency on a regular basis.

The chairperson (or designee) of each supporting committee/council should communicate with ISAC at least quarterly.

ISAC will offer the supporting committees/councils:

• Advocacy for proposed initiatives to HSC leadership and Shands.
• Assistance in resolving issues.
• Assistance in obtaining resources.
• Suggestions for alternative means to achieve objectives.

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Meeting Frequency

HSC ISAC meets bi-monthly, or monthly when needed.

Information Services:

The processes, knowledge, systems, tools, and training used in creating, capturing, processing, storing, transmitting, and securing information.
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Last Revised: 9/13/2007