Novant Health, a $10 billion integrated healthcare system in the southeastern United States has grown rapidly, and it now includes 19 hospitals and over 750 physician clinics and urgent care centers. Onyeka Nchege is the company’s Chief Digital and Information Officer, and since joining Novant Health four and a half years ago, Nchege has guided a digital transformation agenda that supports aggressive growth. His responsibilities span IT strategy, cybersecurity, analytics, digital health and scalable enterprise platforms. “My role is about building a future-ready digital infrastructure that empowers our team members, engages our patients and supports Novant Health’s mission,” he said.
That infrastructure must support a rapidly expanding footprint. With the goal of tripling in size over the next few years, scalability is essential. Nchege emphasized cloud migration, flexible digital platforms and enterprise-wide electronic medical records as foundational elements. “We’ve intentionally invested in scalable solutions to make sure we’re ready when our CEO says we’re expanding,” he noted.
Investing in Culture to Fuel Innovation
Growth is not only about infrastructure; it primarily hinges on people. Nchege spoke passionately about maintaining team cohesion and investing in culture. “We win with the people we have,” he unscored. “You have to invest in them.” The IT team participates in mentorship programs, career development and well-being initiatives. Feedback mechanisms such as pulse surveys and team check-ins ensure that leadership remains attuned to team needs.
Nchege draws from his experience as a five-time CIO across several industries, drawing on some of the best practices from across those experiences while recognizing that what works in one context may not in another. “Relationships are everything,” he highlighted. “Understanding how to build and nurture them is how you learn the business and add value.”
Innovation and AI With Guardrails and Predictive Modeling
A key innovation engine at Novant Health is the Institute for Innovation and Artificial Intelligence, launched in 2019. With a governance framework that includes physicians and executives, the institute evaluates AI use cases and drives responsible experimentation. “We talk about experimentation as a service,” Nchege explained. “We want to test and learn before anything goes into production.”
Notable successes include robotic process automation in revenue cycle operations and computer vision tools in radiology that help detect strokes and pulmonary embolisms. “Do no harm isn’t just a clinical mantra,” he said. “It applies to data and AI as well.”
Predictive analytics is another area of rapid progress. Novant Health is using predictive maintenance to reduce equipment downtime, patient outcome forecasting to tailor treatments and demand prediction to optimize staffing and resource allocation. Nchege described the mindset as “cautiously fast,” adopting innovation quickly but with care and structure.
Redefining the Hospital of the Future
Nchege’s team is shaping what he calls the “hospital of the future,” and he offers as examples virtual ICUs and on-demand video visits and digital-first clinics. Novant Health’s telestroke network has significantly reduced patient transfers by allowing rural patients to receive high-quality specialist care remotely. The organization is also piloting virtual nursing programs to reduce administrative load and expand access.
One standout initiative is a new virtual menopause clinic launched in response to direct patient feedback. “We ask, we listen, we act,” Nchege emphasized. The result has been such high demand that Novant is already hiring new clinicians to meet that demand.
Emerging Technologies and the Road Ahead
Looking forward, Nchege is keeping a close eye on genomics and blockchain. “Personalized medicine through genomics is incredibly exciting,” he said excitedly. “And while blockchain isn’t mainstream in healthcare yet, it has real potential for data security and management.”
As Novant Health scales, Nchege’s vision balances innovation with empathy, growth with governance and transformation with trust. His leadership offers a compelling roadmap for how digital health can truly deliver remarkable care for every patient, every time.
Peter High is President of Metis Strategy, a business and IT advisory firm. He has written three bestselling books, including his latest Getting to Nimble. He also moderates the Technovation podcast series and speaks at conferences around the world. Follow him on Twitter @PeterAHigh.
