1. From technology to strategy. Historically, the CIO position has been regarded as technology-centric, while this remains a core focus of the role, it is now shifting towards a more business and strategy focused drive. “We are all bound to technology, even at the bedside, but CIOs are becoming more strategic and beneficial for healthcare organizations. We need IT governance,” said Jaime B. Parent, MS, MT, (SCP), VP of IT operations and associate CIO, Rush University Medical Center.
“A CIO can be looked at as the chief innovation, information or infrastructure officer, but if we don’t keep up it will stand for ‘career is over,'” said Dave Garrett, senior VP and CIO of Novant Health.
2. Defining ROI in health IT. Health IT expenditure has skyrocketed in recent years. “Capital expenditure for IT went up more than 60 percent in two years, while overall healthcare spending only grew 2 percent,” said Paul Merrild, vice president, enterprise with athenahealth. “We know in our client base, they get paid 30 percent faster and 6 percent more. Identifying those sentinel metrics that actually matter is essential.”
“If you are a CIO you want [health IT] to be an investment, not an area of cost containment, otherwise you are just another number on the ledger for cutting costs,” said Mr. Parent.
3. Recruiting and retaining talent. Health IT is a demanding area in healthcare and CIOs need the support of a solid staff. “Some staff are feeling pretty burnt out,” said Gretchen Tegethoff, CHCIO, FHIMSS, CPHIMS, CIO and Principal, TechExec Group, board of trustees member, CHIME. “We can hone in on the millennials. The key is to be creative in retention and all-star recruiting efforts.”
More articles on health IT:
Epic to offer cloud hosting in 2015
How much time do EHRs waste?
6 considerations for a hospital’s playbook to combat data breaches
Becker’s 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit is the top tier event that the people leading the future of pharmacy convene. This 3-day event is built specifically for Chief Pharmacy Officers and senior pharmacy leaders. The sessions examine the workforce, financial and clinical priorities shaping pharmacy today. Becker’s is where candid discussions flourish and new ideas thrive. Becker's 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit
