There are well-documented issues in many developed countries’ health care systems: spiraling healthcare costs, shortfalls in quality standards, questions about how to raise productivity, concerns about patient safety and high-level, societal questions about where to allocate finite resources. The development of information technology in the healthcare industry is viewed by many as a step in the right direction, toward a cure for ailing healthcare systems.
The transfer of paper-based information into electronic format and real-time information exchange, i.e. data communication between clinicians, pharmacies, payors and other key stakeholders, has the potential to transform the twenty-first century healthcare system. Adaptation of Electronic Health Records (EHRs), creation of online Personal Health Records (PHRs), and the ability to share health information safely in national health information networks are fundamental to the growth and development of interoperable healthcare information technology.
However, healthcare informatics encompasses a much larger industry than patient data and real-time access to patient information. The industry also encompasses home-health device monitoring, bioinformatics, imaging data management, public health reporting, radiofrequency identification (RFID), veterinary informatics, dental informatics, health management informatics (scheduling, regulatory compliance), etc. Additionally, healthcare informatics companies serve a diverse group of organizations, including providers, patients, payers, payors, regulators, consumers, clinical and laboratory researchers, industry (pharma, biotech, devices, diagnostics), vendors, and standards development organizations.
The diversity of healthcare informatics products and services, as well as among healthcare informatics customers, presents a challenge to the leaders within this rapidly developing industry.
What skills are needed now?
To master the challenges in the healthcare informatics industry, the industry needs executives who can successfully lead companies through developing and transformative times. Integration, change management and innovation will be key competencies. There is also a strong need for visionary managers who create pioneering medium- or long-term strategy and who thrive in highly competitive market environments at a global level.
Functional skills such as cutting-edge engineering expertise, delivering high-quality products and services, identifying and exploiting synergies, while transforming and capturing leading positions in the market, will remain key requisites.
How can Egon Zehnder International support the Healthcare Informatics Industry?
In this business environment, best-practice companies ensure that the essential competencies are both present and being developed in their management teams. Egon Zehnder International's Global Life Sciences Practice supports our clients’ needs through specific industry expertise, as well as knowledge of, and access to top management talent in the market.
We proactively identify leaders and high-potential talent in the global market, with competencies in critical functions: commercial operations, R&D/product development and strategy, as well as general management.
How we operate
Egon Zehnder International partners with organizations to raise their level of talent. We work across the talent management continuum to provide search, assessment and development services. Our consultants were all experienced business leaders before entering our firm and can therefore understand your business problem when developing a talent solution for you.
Our
Leadership Strategy Services Practice offers proven expertise in systematically evaluating and benchmarking companies’ existing management portfolio at both individual and team levels. This strategic approach to creating top-class management teams can only be realized with the backing of a company’s CEO and more particularly its board. Both need experience of leading their companies through turbulent times.
All of our Life Sciences Practice consultants acquired extensive professional experience in the healthcare industry before joining Egon Zehnder International. This expertise is embedded in our global network. Our entire firm operates as a single profit center, which both encourages and rewards collaboration.
