Travers named chief information officer for USA Health
Steven Travers brings 25 years of experience in healthcare information technology to the position.
By Lindsay Lyle
lalyle@health.southalabama.edu
USA Health has appointed Steven Travers, Ph.D., as chief information officer (CIO). Travers oversees all aspects of information technology for USA Health, including computer systems, databases, network and telecommunications. He brings 25 years of experience in healthcare information technology to his position.
“Steve’s breadth of experience in information technology within the healthcare environment will be extremely valuable as we navigate unprecedented changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Owen Bailey, MHA, chief executive officer of USA Health. “Steve has the ability to rapidly assess a situation and develop a meaningful and lasting solution.”
Expanding the health system’s telehealth capabilities has been one of the top priorities for Travers. With the safety and convenience of patients in mind during the COVID-19 pandemic, USA Health responded quickly to provide virtual visits for new and established patients with basic medical needs.
Reporting to the CIO, USA Health’s newly appointed chief medical information officers link technology innovations with staff in our hospitals and clinics. Travers said, “We work closely with department heads and physicians to ensure the organization has effective solutions that fit clinical workflows.”
Other high-priority items, Travers said, include improving the experience with the Cerner electronic health record system and reducing the amount of time users spend on documentation. He also is focused on upgrading the phone system to enhance telecom services.
Travers has extensive healthcare consulting experience from his previous management roles at Ernst & Young, CapGemini, and Accenture. In 2009 he founded Travers Consulting, which provided management consulting services for software development, electronic health records operations, and IT support outsourcing for the healthcare industry.
Travers received a bachelor’s degree in microbiology from the Mississippi University for Women. He went on to earn a master’s degree in biology from the University of South Alabama and a master’s degree in business administration from Millsaps College. In 2018 he earned a Ph.D. in management from USA.
“I was first introduced to USA when I started graduate school in 1993 in the biology department. I conducted molecular biology research with the basic medical sciences’ immunology department where my research focused on the construction of a directional cDNA library from a chemically induced fibrosarcoma cell line,” Travers said. “The dedication and friendship I found there continues today as I start work again at USA Health in the IT department.”
