Jump to content
School of Medicine Virginia Commonwealth University VCU Medical Center

About Us

Mission

The mission of the School of Medicine Technology Services (SOMTS) is to provide the highest quality information technology services, in the most cost-effective manner, to facilitate and enhance the two core missions of the School of Medicine—education and research, and the administrative processes that support these missions.

Vision

SOMTS will be recognized for innovative, effective and efficient use of information technology and resources to:

  • Support the new undergraduate medical education curriculum
  • Design flexible and technology enhanced learning spaces to support traditional, contemporary, and emerging teaching methods
  • Provide a reliable, scalable , and well supported system for delivery of learning tools and resources to students and faculty
  • Empower the faculty and staff with access to the necessary tools and information
  • Reengineer administrative business processes to maximize efficiency
  • Provide data analysis services and tools to facilitate evidence-based decision making
  • Provide friendly and timely access to highest quality technology support services  and training to ensure optimal use of information technology
  • Advance the school’s success by continually renewing and developing IT infrastructure and services in alignment with the school’s needs and directions


Values

  • Integrity – In order to achieve our mission and to best serve our constituents, we must be accountable at all levels for our professional and personal behavior, as well as the work we do.  In doing our work and in relating to all representatives of the school, we will be respectful, honest, caring and trustworthy.
  • Excellence – All of the work we do and the products and services we provide will be geared to ensure that they are of high quality, developed via a high-performing team effort.  Specifically, we strive to be efficient and effective, engaging in team work in order to exceed goals and objectives, constantly working to develop our skills and abilities.
  • Service – Recognizing that we serve the School of Medicine community, all that we do is mission driven; in that regard we strive to be responsive, communicative, committed, proactive and above all, customer-focused.
  • Innovation – In order to continuously improve and innovate, we must always engage in creative problem solving, constantly encouraging collaboration and unique solutions while embracing change and taking calculated risks to stay competitive.
  • Ethics – As members of the VCU Community we will follow the VCU Code of Ethics (http://www.president.vcu.edu/ethics/).

 

Goals and Objectives

To accomplish its mission, SOMTS works collaboratively with VCU Technology Services and VCUHS Hospital Information Systems (HIS) to effectively utilize the core infrastructure services provided by both organizations.  The goal of SOMTS is to offer value-added services that are specifically geared to the needs of School of Medicine, and are not supported by central IT organizations. 

SOMTS offers services in the following four areas:

  1. IT Strategic Planning and Governance
    1. Provide leadership for effective strategic and tactical planning in the use of technology in the School of Medicine
    2. Establish and maintain an IT governance structure that encourages participation of faculty, staff, and students in the selection and implementation of new technologies
    3. Foster a climate of collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement
  1. Infrastructure and Client Services
    1. Offer centralized helpdesk and computer support services to SOM departments
    2. Maintain an up-to-date inventory of workstations and laptops
    3. Ensure that all computers connected to VCU or VCUHS managed network comply with SOM Security Standards
    4. Promote the use of centrally managed servers for storage of confidential business, research, patient, and personnel data
    5. Develop and maintain policies related to the use, purchase and allocation of hardware and software
    6. Provide technology support for student computer labs funded by SOM
    7. Manage applications and user access on SOM servers hosted in the University Computer Center (UCC)
    8. Conduct annual Business Impact Analysis of Dean’s Office units and assist them with the development of business continuity plans
    9. Develop and maintain a viable disaster recovery plan for the Dean’s Office
    10. Ensure that sensitive data is adequately protected from unauthorized access
  1. Educational Technology
    1. Provide effective and timely support and training for technology-enhanced instructional facilities
    2. Develop and implement plans for renewal and replacement of classroom and conference equipment
    3. Design and implement processes for development, management, training, and deployment of instructional technology resources, such as the audience response system, video conferencing, course management system, and mobile learning technologies
    4. Coordinate educational and administrative teleconferences with  McGuire VA and Inova campus
    5. Manage day-to-day technology support and maintenance of Curriculum Innovation Research Center (CIRC) and FCM rooms
    6. Evaluate current and emerging technologies and recommend ways to leverage them in meeting the educational goals of the School of Medicine
  1. Application Development and Data Management
    1. Develop and maintain highly effective, reliable, secure, and innovative information systems to support instructional, administrative and research functions
    2. Provide ad hoc reporting and data extraction support for data maintained in various application systems

Priorities for Fiscal Year 2011

  1. Support Educational Reform
    1. Develop information systems and databases to support the UME curriculum redesign
    2. Assist with the development and implementation of technology competencies for faculty
    3. Research AV systems and educational technology for the new SOM building
    4. Identify and develop interfaces to support the integration of simulation in undergraduate medical education
    5. Assist with proactive planning for the next LCME accreditation site visit
    6. Promote the use of new educational technologies in graduate programs and GME
  1. Provide tools for data driven decision making
  1. Close IT Audit by December 2010
  1. Improve SOMTech Customer Service
  1. Enhance information systems to streamline business functions
  1. Collaborate with VCU and VCUHS technology departments to provide consistent and reliable access to core infrastructure