Five Minutes With Pamela Pure, Executive Vice President of McKesson Corp. and President of McKesson Technology Solutions

January 10, 2008

Pamela Pure
Executive Vice President of McKesson Corp.
President of McKesson Technology Solutions

Atlanta Woman magazine had the opportunity to talk with local resident Pamela Pure, executive vice president of McKesson Corp. and president of McKesson Technology Solutions. She shared valuable advice on how to build a career in healthcare IT, how the Atlanta woman is affected by this leadingFortune 500 healthcare services and information technology company, and much more.

AW: Why should the Atlanta businesswoman concern herself with and monitor the healthcare IT and high-tech industry?
Pamela Pure: IT is becoming more and more important in the day-to-day delivery of healthcare. We all want to go to a safe organization that has the information physicians and other caregivers need so that they can provide us with the best possible care. Everyone needs to understand the importance and major effect technology can have on the care delivery process.

AW: As the single largest healthcare company in the world, how does McKesson reach out to affect the Atlanta woman in a personal way?
Pamela Pure: Our systems and software are installed at many healthcare facilities across the metro Atlanta area. When you schedule an appointment online, receive care in a hospital, or have an X-ray image taken that comes back to the physician's office electronically, your information is probably stored in a McKesson system.

AW: If someone wanted to build a career in IT, name one thing you'd suggest she’d have to learn.
Pamela Pure: One of the most important things you have to learn and understand is the impact information technology solutions have on the end user. I look at technology as an enabler to make things happen, make things simpler and make information more readily available to care providers and consumers.

AW: Where do you see McKesson and healthcare IT in 20 years?
Pamela Pure: Information technology is moving to the patient. Today, we have GPS systems in our cars to help us figure out where we’re going when we drive. In the future, I think we will use information technology to guide us to stay healthy. And in situations where we’re fighting a chronic disease or dealing with healthcare issues, we’ll have the information we need to get better care and to stay on track with the care that we need.

AW: What piece of career advice did someone give you that you use to this day?
Pamela Pure: Learn something new every day, and understand what your customers need to succeed.

AW: What do you like most about your job?
Pamela Pure: I like having the opportunity to make an impact, both on the employees that I work with and on the healthcare industry itself. This is the decade where we’re going to see healthcare move from a paper-based industry to an electronic industry. McKesson is a key player in leading that evolution to healthcare that’s safer, more efficient and better connected.

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Pamela Pure is executive vice president of McKesson Corporation and president of McKesson Technology Solutions. Pure is responsible for the strategic direction of the company’s information, connectivity and automation solutions for hospitals, physician offices, homecare, payors and retail pharmacies.

Pure joined McKesson in 2001 as Group President, Product Development and Support. Pure has nearly 25 years of operating and executive experience in the healthcare information technology industry.