In this episode of Visionary Voices, we sat down with Andy Crowder, Senior Vice President and Chief Digital Officer at Advocate Health, one of the nation’s largest non-profit health systems. Andy shares a behind-the-scenes look at the complex IT integration following the historic merger of Advocate Health and Atrium Health. From aligning EMRs and ERPs to balancing governance, infrastructure, and data migration, he walks us through the strategic decisions that enabled a smooth transition at scale.

Mergers and acquisitions are reshaping the healthcare landscape, and Andy offers actionable insights for IT leaders navigating this journey. He discusses the importance of clear standards, disciplined execution, and de-prioritizing non-essential projects to stay focused. You’ll learn how Advocate Health approached integration with a thoughtful governance model and how change management was built into the culture from the beginning.

We also explore Advocate Health’s impressive response to Hurricane Helene. Andy shares how mobile technologies and a resilient IT foundation enabled the system to maintain operations and deliver care when communities needed it most. It’s a powerful reminder of how disaster preparedness and digital transformation go hand-in-hand.

Whether you're planning a merger or preparing your organization for the unexpected, this episode is packed with real-world lessons on IT leadership, agility, and impact.