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 LEAD IT Profile - Harold Cramer
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2010 – Vol. II
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E-mail article
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Senior Network Engineer, ProHealth Care, Inc., Waukesha, WI
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Increasingly there's a blurring of the lines that were once drawn in IT departments, and with virtualization the data center teams and end-user teams are all coming together. How, as a leader, are you blurring these lines moving forward?
I like to think our team always felt like we were one team with the departments at ProHealth Care. As we join forces with the Telecom and PACs team, it's a pretty easy transition. My best advice is to take it slow. Get to know both sides and then make decisions. All too often somebody comes in "guns blazing" and both sides take a few steps back, and it takes a long time to build up that trust. As far as virtualization, we've been trying to keep up with the latest trends by reading and attending seminars. We would like to make the "right" choice the first time.
To help bridge the gap between the infrastructure team and the end-user group, are there specific initiatives you're working on which would exemplify this today?
We're in the early stages of this initiative. Currently we're starting to discuss the options, and all the discussions I've been part of have been "one team," not the Server team, SAN team, Workstation team, etc. We need to work together. This will be a big deal. As was switching to virtualized servers a couple years ago.
When you have to explain the importance of technology within healthcare, what examples or human-interest stories do you refer to?
I think ProHealth Care has always put the patient and the needs of the patient first. That's why I love working here. Whether it's Web cams for military fathers to see the birth of their child or the way Oconomowoc Memorial is keeping mom and baby together after a C-section. It's part of what we do at ProHealth Care. From the top to the bottom, everybody has to do their part to make the patient stay the best it can be.
How does your team keep things fresh, find time to innovate, and avoid getting caught up in the day-to-day trench warfare of IT?
That's a tough task. It's very easy to get stuck in a rut, especially as agile as our department needs to be at times. I would say a good sense of humor and a "go get 'em" attitude go a long way. Other than that, our group likes to go out for lunch to vent and catch up with what's going on.
If you had to relay one message to your team regarding today's tough economic times, what's the one thing or theme you'd like them to latch on to in order to stay focused and confident?
The first would be to maintain focus on why we're here: "the patient" and delivering excellent service. We also need to "Do more with less." This makes us think outside the box and come up with new ways to get things done faster. And don't forget with fewer resources. I think that has been the hardest thing for our group. We're being asked to do more and more with the same or less. It gets tough, but everybody is in the same boat right now.
If there were one emerging technology on your wish list (putting budget aside), what would you like to see your organization invest in?
I would say virtual desktops. We've begun the discussions, but we're not there yet. In the clinical setting there are a lot of positives. The most important would be a "consistent desktop" for the users. I feel it would improve workflow tremendously to always have the same desktop no matter where in the organization they are. Another important part of this is the ability to login quickly and have all the applications running just as they did on the second floor even though the person is now on the fifth floor.
What job prior to your current role truly prepared you for your leadership role as it is today?
I would say my first real job in high school. I worked for Cousins Subs. My manager at the time, John, was a great manager and leader. He made you feel good about any job you did (even cleaning the baseboards in the lobby). He always explained why the job you were doing was important to the company. He always had a great attitude.
Twenty years from now (or sooner), as you look back at your career, what will you tell people you had a "career in"?
Healthcare (I hope). I'm a firm believer in Craig Schiefelbein's message of "Get Out of IT While You Can." I've lived it for almost 16-plus years in healthcare. I've never looked at my job as an "IT" position. I love getting to work with different departments and learning how they flow. When a project comes up, I can think like they do and not like an IT guy.
On a professional level, who in your past has inspired you?
As previously mentioned, my boss at Cousins Subs was the first to inspire me. I also have a lot of respect for the IT management team at ProHealth Care. Some of them I've worked with for more than 15 years. They're a big part of what keeps me at ProHealth Care.
How do you continue to self-educate?
Mostly I read trade magazines or articles on the Internet. With the tight budgets, there isn't a lot of money to travel. I also try to attend local seminars and a few Webinars a quarter. I would say another key educational tool is talking with peers. I keep in contact with others in my profession to see what they're seeing or going through.
We all have our own sanctuaries or escapes to help us regroup or decompress. What's yours?
Coaching youth sports is my hideaway. I'm very active in my local community with sports. I've learned a lot of patience over the years dealing with 4 to 18 year-olds. I love getting out there and teaching them about the sport, as well as being good citizens.
What advice would you have for anyone getting into IT?
Be ready to work hard and always have a smile ready. Customer service is the key to having a successful career in IT.
What's your poison when it comes to personal technology?
I would say any type of MP3 player. I think I have about 10 currently. For a family of four, that might be a few too many. I have a feeling there will be an iPad in the house pretty soon, as well. Both of my kids have asked about getting one, and I'm such a "good" dad I may have to buy one – for the kids, of course.
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