Erik Renz is our next volunteer for the Digital Health Networks 60 Second Profile series. Erik offers his advice to digital leaders and reveals who he would like to play him in a film.
Could you explain what your role entails?
I work with the regional local clinical research network (LCRN) in the South West to see where recruitment to clinical research can be improved and diversified. I work across all teams in the LCRN as well as the local Trusts and GP sites to improve data entry and quality and develop reports and dashboards to help monitor performance at the regional and national level.
What parts of digital health interest you the most?
Interoperability of clinical data is the reason I embarked on the digital health path. More recently, I have become very interested in the liberation of data to patients and how patients and healthcare professionals can collaboratively approach health management. I believe that if the patient is given the tools to engage meaningfully with their health, they will be more willing and compliant with treatment plans.
If you could have any other job, what would it be?
I am still working on getting into medical school. The first step to digital health was a passion for health and medicine.
If you have one piece of advice for other digital health leaders, what would it be?
Do not forget your clinicians. It’s easy to be stuck in the world of data and not remember how it relates to the healthcare professionals entering/working with the data and the patients that the data affects. Digital health should serve two main purposes, in my view: improve the efficiency of healthcare professional work and improve outcomes for patients.
What’s your favourite piece of technology at home and why?
I love my iPad Pro. I’ve always loved to hand write notes and draw out ideas, but love being able to flip into a laptop whenever.
Who would you like to play you in a film?
Channing Tatum. I’ve been told he’s my doppelgänger and he can take on the dance phase of my life as well.