I was recently on a flight when seemingly out of nowhere, the plane encountered unplanned turbulence causing the aircraft to drop without warning. Few things can be more unsettling than flying 30,000 feet above the ground and, without warning, the aircraft loses altitude, causing people and objects to be scattered throughout the cabin. As a passenger on a plane, I always appreciate it when the pilot makes an overhead announcement letting us know that turbulence is expected ahead. This opportunity to mentally and physically prepare for what may lie ahead makes the turbulence easier to endure rather than being caught off guard.

Healthcare IT has dramatically changed in the past decade and every indication points to this change continuing in the future. Gone are the days of IT purely focusing on connectivity, email, and file shares. IT has moved into a much more strategic role and is involved in providing solutions to business challenges rather than just working behind the scenes to deliver connectivity to systems. 

For any technology department, group, or organization to be successful long-term they must develop and use a technology plan. This plan is often frequently referred to as a technology roadmap. When designed and used correctly, this roadmap can be a helpful tool for aligning resources, setting priorities, and communicating with relevant stakeholders.