IT Strategic Planning in a Pediatric Hospital: Overview of the Process and Outcomes

The role of Information Technology (IT) is increasing in health care, which necessitates applying strategic thinking and analysis when making IT investments. IT strategic planning allows hospitals to analyze their environment and develop an operational plan for IT implementation. This paper presents the framework and methodology used in IT strategic planning at a tertiary care pediatric hospital in Ontario. We describe a five-stage sequential process that captured the Current State of IT, defined the desired Future State, and mapped the work required to achieve the goals. Various tools and approaches were employed including review of existing documentation, internal stakeholders' survey (n=111), 15 internal and external interviews, and 12 workshops. The process was informed by 230 individuals (12% of hospital community). Overall, there was consistency in the themes and concerns raised. Major challenges and lessons learned are highlighted, which would be helpful for hospitals engaging in similar effort in the future.