Northern Light Health, the state’s second-largest health care system, has named a new chief information officer to head data and technology operations across its 10 hospitals and 120-plus care facilities.
April Giard comes to the position after serving in the role on an interim basis for the past six months, according to a news release.
Giard has nearly 30 years of health care experience, both in direct patient care as a nurse practitioner and over the past 20 years in various executive leadership roles for Brewer-based Northern Light.
“Dr. Giard has built her career with Northern Light Health, from providing patient care as a nurse practitioner to directing various programs and later serving as an executive leader,” newly appointed president and CEO, Tim Dentry, said in the release. “This varied experience enables her to blend the needs of our providers and patients with the many opportunities new technology brings us.”
In addition to her clinical and information technology background, Giard has a national reputation as a leader in informatics and health care leadership, Northern Light said.
Giard sees her role as bringing a pragmatic eye to the linking of care delivery with community needs through technology.
“As national health reform continues to take shape and change, ensuring that patients continue to receive the right care, at the right time and in the right place is critical,” Giard said in the release.
Aligning Northern Light’s clinical staff in the development of health IT will be a focus for Giard, as well as enhancing the system’s information security plan, according to the release.
Giard is a nursing graduate of University of Maine and University of Southern Maine and earned her post-master’s certificate in nursing from Husson University. She most recently earned a doctorate in executive leadership in health care from American Sentinel University.