Taking a corporate approach to information technology in an academic medical center

Academic health science centers employ faculty and research staff who deman d and merit a high level of information technology (ITT) support. Often the ir needs outstrip the ability of IT to provide adequate service. The author s review the recent history of IT at Baylor College of Medicine, beginning with the critical review of its operations undertaken by outside consultant s in 1996. The analysis led to a strategic planning retreat at which three infrastructure projects and three systems projects were identified. As the IT program executed these projects, it transformed itself into a more moder n organization able to provide higher levels of service to faculty and staf f. Those involved in these changes at Baylor were able to successfully adop t a corporate model of information services support without sacrificing the college's academic focus.