The Office of Advanced Technology: providing focus on the piloting and implementation of new technology

Rarely does an organization have the luxury of employing full-time staff whose sole purpose is to seek out, select, pilot, and recommend new technology. If such an effort is not a dedicated activity, an organization will have a hard time keeping abreast of technological development with an eye towards successful deployment to the benefit of the business. This paper summarizes the role and activities of the Office of Advanced Technology (OAT) at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, AZ. The OAT has been in existence since 2001 and is staffed on a part-time basis by three individuals: a member of the physician consulting staff, a nurse informaticist, and a member of the allied health Information Technology staff. The office has successfully conducted pilot projects in several new technology areas, advocating the adoption of some technologies and deferring on others. Moreover, they have been instrumental serving as a spokesperson and single point of contact for all new technology initiatives of this multi-specialty practice.