In this interview, Manu Manrao, Vice President of IT at Reliable Medical, discusses the pivotal role technology plays in advancing the organization's mission. Reliable Medical focuses on improving the lives of patients, employees, and clinical partners by leveraging innovative technological solutions. Manu shares insights into the organization's strategic initiatives, challenges, and the future impact of technology in the healthcare sector.
Q1: Can you share a brief overview of your role and how technology shapes your organization's strategy?
Manu Manrao: At Reliable Medical, our mission is “to improve the lives of all whom we touch, from the customers who entrust us with their care, to the team members whom we trust to provide it, and the clinical partners who support excellent outcomes.” As the Vice President of IT, I lead our technology teams with the goal of enabling our Assistive Technology Professionals (ATPs) to spend the majority of their time directly with patients, providing personalized care and support.
Our strategic approach includes initiatives to enhance the user experience, streamline equipment delivery processes, and ensure seamless operations within our various business segments. By leveraging technology effectively, we aim to deliver superior customer experiences, improve clinical outcomes, and maintain a competitive edge in the healthcare industry. Safeguarding patient information is our top priority, and we are committed to facilitating innovative solutions that optimize our teams and workflows, enhancing efficiency and productivity across the organization.
Q2: What is one significant challenge you're currently facing in technology, and how are you addressing it?
Manu Manrao: One significant technological challenge we are currently facing is ensuring robust cybersecurity to protect company data and infrastructure. As technology has advanced, we have also begun to experience drawbacks as well. People with malicious intentions are eager to steal other people's personal information. This is a responsibility I take very seriously, as every aspect of our operations is dependent on secure and protected systems.
To address this challenge effectively, we have adopted a multi-layered approach by providing a secure IT infrastructure along with employee training. It's crucial to remember that cybersecurity is a shared responsibility, and even non-IT team members understand the importance of maintaining a secure environment. As Thomas Reid famously said, "A chain is no stronger than its weakest link." Therefore, our continuous efforts in cybersecurity training and technological enhancements ensure that every link in our cybersecurity chain remains strong and resilient.
Q3: Can you highlight a recent tech initiative or project that you're excited about? What impact do you anticipate it will have?
Manu Manrao: One recent tech initiative I'm excited about is our transition to a cloud-based data analytics platform. This initiative aims to centralize and streamline our data management processes, enabling real-time analytics and data-driven decision-making across the organization. I anticipate this project will have a significant impact on enhancing operational efficiency, improving data accuracy, and fostering innovation through advanced analytics capabilities.
Q4: How do you foster a culture of innovation within your team or organization?
Manu Manrao: Innovation is one of the mainstays of staying relevant in technology. It not only creates cohesive teams but also encourages teams to be ahead of the latest and greatest. I prioritize an environment of innovation in my teams and use several ideas from time to time. Some of them include encouraging open communication for idea sharing, empowering team members with autonomy to explore and take risks, and recognizing and rewarding innovative efforts.
Everyone on the team is also encouraged to participate in continuous learning and development. Experimentation and iteration are always promoted. By fostering this environment, we ensure that our teams are always looking forward to new ways to improve and innovate.
Q5: Looking forward, what technology trend do you think will have the most significant impact on your industry in the next few years?
Manu Manrao: There have been so many new trends in technology and each one of them has made a significant impact on human lives. But if I had to choose one, I believe that Artificial Intelligence (AI) will have the most significant impact on our industry in the next few years. With the vast amount of data that companies like ours accumulate, AI presents immense opportunities to harness this data effectively. AI can help us not only gain valuable insights from our data but also predict trends, enabling us to make more informed decisions and stay ahead of market changes.
Conclusion
Manu Manrao's leadership at Reliable Medical underscores the transformative potential of technology in healthcare. By focusing on cybersecurity, innovative data analytics, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement, Reliable Medical is poised to enhance patient care and operational efficiency significantly. Looking ahead, AI promises to be a game-changer, enabling the organization to leverage its vast data resources for improved decision-making and patient outcomes.
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Manu's career in the tech industry is driven by a deep-seated passion for problem-solving. This led him to the USA in 2004 to earn a Master's degree in Computer Science, where he developed a robust foundation in software engineering. In 2010, he transitioned to the healthcare industry, drawn by the potential to positively impact society. His work in healthcare IT has been gratifying as he observed firsthand the improvements technology can bring to patient care and organizational efficiency. Facing typical challenges encountered by engineers, Manu moved into management to better empower technical teams to succeed in healthcare enterprises. To further his leadership and strategic skills, he completed an MBA from Vanderbilt University. Manu remains committed to leveraging technology's transformative power, focusing on automation and process streamlining to save time and inspire innovation within his teams.
