In this weeks 'What Do You Do at DHU' feature, we're speaking with Tom Crow, one of our Business Intelligence Developers at DHU Healthcare. In just a short space of time working at DHU Healthcare he has been a part of many projects, which have all made an impact across the organisation.
Tom has been a part of the DHU team since October 2021, and his journey initially began in the 111 department, where he joined the resource planning team as a WFM analyst.
Tom explained: “I spent around a year in this role, assisting with the roll-out of the new NICE Workforce management system and addressing various operational aspects. Eventually, the opportunity arose for me to transition into a developer role with the Business Intelligence team, which fitted with my career aspirations.
“Before DHU, I had a lengthy stint working for an energy provider in Nottingham. My tenure began in 2013, initially as an advisor, and then I gradually moved into the planning team. Although I was handling administrative tasks, my interest was piqued by the tech side of things, especially automation and development. Colleagues like Adam Paginton fuelled my curiosity further, as we collaborated on automation projects and system updates, which familiarised me with the NICE system. Adam contacted me, presenting the opportunity to work for DHU. This aligned with my aspiration of contributing positively to a purpose-driven organisation, rather than working in the private sector.
“As a developer, my days are marked by project-based tasks. I usually have several projects in the pipeline, each requiring different aspects of development work. My routine includes collaborating with stakeholders to define project scopes, designing solutions, and delving into SQL to devise the logic needed for functionalities. I meticulously test and build these solutions, ensuring they align with the desired outcomes. Moreover, part of my role involves addressing tickets that come in, which range from fixing issues to making updates. The collaborative nature of our team means that I also assist other colleagues with technical insights, particularly in areas that they might not be as familiar with.”
Tom’s role plays a big part in streamlining operations and supporting your colleagues. Speaking about his personal and professional growth within DHU, he told us: “I've been incredibly fortunate to have strong leadership throughout my career, and DHU is no exception. Leaders like Adam Paginton and Jon Brindley have been instrumental in fostering an environment conducive to personal development. Their support has allowed me to explore and expand my skill set, contributing to areas beyond my immediate role. I've always been proactive in seeking out opportunities and voicing my interests, and this proactive approach has been met with openness and encouragement. DHU's focus on personal growth and the broader impact we make on patient care aligns perfectly with my values, making my work rewarding.
"Currently, my focus is on facilitating data movement between systems, minimising manual tasks, and allowing computers to excel in accurate, rapid, and repetitive operations. These are areas where we often find tasks tedious. Humans excel in empathy and human-centric aspects. Computers shine in tasks that humans find monotonous and relentless. Clinicians should be able to focus on patients without having to spend ages doing admin tasks. The goal is to offload such tasks to enhance efficiency."
Tom’s journey within DHU Healthcare showcases how a dedication to purpose, coupled with proactive engagement and supportive leadership, can lead to an enriching and impactful career.
His role as a Business Intelligence Developer shows how support functions can create meaningful change, improving efficiencies, and enabling frontline colleagues to focus on what truly matters – patient care.