Digital Health Platform

Digital Health Platform

Context

Health system wanted to accelerate digital innovation but lacked infrastructure for rapid deployment of new apps and capabilities.

Pattern Applied

Platform as a Service (for Healthcare) - Created a digital platform team that provides APIs, data, authentication, and infrastructure services to both internal teams and external partners.

Implementation

  • Core Platform: Standard EHR APIs, identity management, and audit logging
  • Data Services: Analytics databases and BI tools available to service lines without IT review
  • Developer Experience: Developer portal, SDKs, and sandbox environment
  • Governance: Lightweight approval for extensions to core platform

Results

  • Time to deploy new clinical tool reduced from 12 months to 6 weeks
  • 30+ internal applications built on platform in first year
  • Improved data availability for clinical teams
  • Reduced IT backlog for service line requests

Lessons Learned

  • Platform team needs different skills than traditional IT (product management, developer relations)
  • Security must be built into platform from start, not layered on top
  • Need clear definition of what’s “core platform” vs. “optional services”

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