The CIO role is changing from a tactical role, requiring leaders with vast technical knowledge to roll out EHR systems, to a strategic role as health systems aim to gather more data and undergo a digital transformation.
Black Book has been tracking the change in the top IT role in the context of the executive suite, and how IT spend is changing. Here are 15 numbers that illustrate that change from a 2018 survey of more than 1,500 executives, including 247 CIOs, over a six-month period in 2018 and the 2019 Black Book CFO & Financial Leadership Survey, which includes 200 CFOs and 1,334 other healthcare provider finance leaders.
From the CIO survey
1. CIOs reported controlling around 8 percent of the IT purchasing decisions in 2018, down significantly from 71 percent in 2015.
2. In 2018, 45 percent of CIO respondents expected more than 33 percent of IT dollars would originate outside of the IT department over the next year.
3. While 81 percent of CIOs identify as transformational leaders, although underutilized, 88 percent of the other C-level roles report viewing CIOs as technology developers.
4. In 2014, 80 percent of hospital executives said IT facilitated their entry into new markets, but that number dropped to 24 percent in 2018.
5. Ninety-one percent of CIOs expected their roles to shift due to digitization, relying on meeting business objectives, seeking innovation and developing talent.
6. The most valuable skillset for new CIOs in 2018 was innovation, valued among 83 percent of the executives polled, while connectivity to engage as a leader in the flow of organizational information came in No. 2 and communication in a data-driven culture was No. 3.
7. Seventy-five percent of CEOs surveyed in 2018 said they preferred to recruit CIOs from outside of healthcare.
8. Ninety percent of CFOs and 84 percent of CEOs recommended considering outsourcing IT operations if they can maintain service levels or improve service levels at the same or lower costs.
9. In 2018, 94 percent of CIOs said their top challenge for the next year was artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.
From the CFO survey
10. Ninety-two percent of healthcare organizations reported taking an active role in addressing technology and analytics-fueled disruption last year.
11. Ninety-seven percent of CFOs said they influenced technology purchase in the finance area.
12. Forty-four percent of CFOs said they manage the IT investment budget.
13. Eighty-nine percent of senior finance officers at health systems reported they would increase their digital transformation investment by the end of this year, while 58 percent said the investment would be up more than 20 percent by the end of the first quarter.
14. Ninety-four percent of health system and provider organization respondents anticipate a "significant shift" in the IT spend to the CFO's office in the next year.
15. Organizational structure is preventing CIO and CFO collaboration, according to 85 percent of CFO respondents.
More articles on health IT:
10 numbers that show how big Optum is in healthcare
55 things to know about Epic, Cerner, Meditech, Allscripts and Athenahealth
Pennsylvania hospital investigates payroll data breach