60 seconds with Keith Bowler: Senior IT, Informatics, Financial Transactions & Overseas Visitors Manager
What are you responsible for and what do you oversee in PPU?
My main role in PPU is to ensure that our billing system and interfaces to other systems are all functioning properly. Without the billing system PPU would not be able to get paid for all the great work we do. I have done this alone for many years and in many trusts, but did have a period of about three years where I had another member in the team to help support me.
I currently have the finance team and the overseas visitors team reporting in to me since our previous finance manager Rob deserted us π
My role is also about providing statistics around our activity, pricing of our services and the technical issues around our contract management between ourselves and the PMIβs.
What exciting IT and informatics projects are we to expect at PPU?
Compucare 8 is our next venture, with a completely new look and feel and a much enhanced functionality jump that will see us through until way after my retirement. Look out for new ways of working, far better visualisation of what's going on and a greater user experience.
How do you keep your team motivated?
I really only have to keep myself motivated and because there is always something new to deal with there is never a dull moment.
In the time that you have been at PPU, what are the challenges PPU faces nowadays?
When I first joined everything seemed to be a lot smaller, we had a nice little carpeted waiting area with soft lighting for patients attending the Lyndhurst Rooms and on the 12th floor we had a concierge manager who greeted patients and took them to their rooms and settled them in. We donβt have either of those now; this seems to add in the everyday challenges PPU faces. Although we have expanded into the whole of the twelfth floor, there are some ways we can still improve and make it friendlier and more comfortable for our patients!
How do you like to unwind after work?
Unwinding for me is going for a walk through the forest or playing a round of golf with friends and family.
What are you watching right that has you hooked?
Yellowstone on Paramount.
If you could create a software, what would it be and why?
Software that corrects peoples mistakes automatically so that I donβt have to do it all the time, hahaha!