McLaren Health Care, the three-state, 14-hospital health care system and health plan, has appointed Derek Morkel its Chief Information Officer effective July 17. The appointment makes permanent Morkel’s interim status in the same role, which he had served in since late 2021.
As McLaren’s CIO, Morkel will oversee the entirety of the health care system’s information technology infrastructure and security, including the development and implementation of IT initiatives, such as enhancing patients’ digital experiencing and increasing their access to care.
“Our customers expect ways of accessing immediate care, but they also expect convenience when attempting to access that care,” said David Mazurkiewicz, McLaren Health Care Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. “The knowledge and expertise Derek has gained throughout several decades of hard work and success will serve McLaren well now and as we move into the future.”
Morkel is responsible for managing McLaren’s consumer-facing digital presence, advancing the system’s internal IT infrastructure platform, connecting each of the system’s hospitals, outpatient facilities and business operations to ensure interoperability, and directly overseeing all revenue cycle business operations.
With more than 25 years of health care leadership experience, Morkel most recently served as chief executive officer of Gaffey Healthcare, a Dallas-based healthcare software solutions company. Prior to that, he held several executive and leadership positions at health care organizations throughout the country. A native of South Africa, Morkel earned his undergraduate degree from Stellenbosch University in Stellenbosch, South Africa, and continued his education with a Master’s degree in health care administration from Seton Hall University in New Jersey.