Mr. Ward has served as senior vice president and CIO of Covenant Health since 2003, responsible for managing the health system’s IT infrastructure and cybersecurity strategy. Covenant Health’s IT infrastructure encompasses nine acute-care facilities, dozens of specialty clinics for cancer care, rehabilitation and behavioral health centers, over 80 physician clinics and a local data center. Mr. Ward oversees a team of more than 300 IT employees, who manage IT services in areas like clinical operations, finance, human resources, telecommunications and telehealth. He is also the primary leader for the system’s cybersecurity initiatives. Mr. Ward and his team focus on IT innovation and optimization, including the implementation of novel telehealth services, including virtual urgent care and advanced care at home. In addition, Mr. Ward also participates in vendor management and negotiations. He reviews and edits contracts to ensure each vendor is HIPAA compliant and aligns with Covenant Health’s cybersecurity standards.
