As Advantum Health’s CISO, Jamie navigates the ever changing demands and expectations placed on IT leadership in healthcare.
Join us for Advantum Health’s Revenue Cycle Insiders series, a monthly installment where we uncover the invaluable experiences and perspectives of our company’s revenue cycle leaders and team members. This month, meet Jamie Reid, Chief Information Security Officer at Advantum Health.
Question: When did you start working in the healthcare revenue cycle industry?
Answer: In October 1995, I started my IT career at a multi-hospital acute care health system. My primary role was to create a comprehensive network connecting all the organization’s locations, ensuring rural communities had access to secure data communications to support the delivery of high-quality care.
With the introduction of HIPAA in 1996, my role expanded to encompass both technical responsibilities and data security compliance requirements.
Question: What attracted you to the healthcare industry, and specifically the revenue cycle?
Answer: I have always been drawn to service-oriented organizations that are dedicated to improving their communities, making the healthcare industry a perfect fit for me.
Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of working with exceptional organizations, including Advantum Health, where I find it incredibly rewarding to collaborate with outstanding individuals committed to ensuring our partners’ success. Their hard work and dedication allow our partners to devote more time to providing exceptional healthcare to their patients.
Question: What is happening in the next six months in your area of expertise that excites you?
Answer: The integration of evolving AI within healthcare is transforming the industry. AI technologies are already used to analyze medical images, predict patient outcomes, assist in drug discovery, and improve operational efficiencies, ultimately leading to better patient care and optimized resource allocation.
Question: What are some of the biggest challenges your industry faces in the short term (one year or less)? What about in the long term?
Answer: Our most pressing challenges, both in the long-term and short-term, arise from the rapidly evolving threats posed by cyberattacks.
In healthcare, these challenges are significant and multifaceted, involving the protection of sensitive patient data from breaches, mitigating ransomware risks, and ensuring compliance with regulations like HIPAA.
The growing integration of IoT devices and electronic health records (EHRs) further complicates security efforts, necessitating robust encryption, continuous monitoring, and advanced threat detection to safeguard critical health information and maintain patient trust.
Question: If you could time travel, what advice would you give to yourself ten years ago?
Answer: Seek to surround myself with forward-thinking individuals who have a positive outlook.
Question: What’s the best (or worst) leadership advice you’ve received?
Answer: For years, a quote from Dale Carnegie has resonated deeply with me: “Success is built on the foundation of failure. Discouragement and setbacks are essential steps on the path to achievement.”
