The role of healthcare CIO has been changing for quite some time now, and that doesn't look like it will stop anytime soon.
Dallas-based Anthelio Health: CIOs are no longer just technology champions. They are revenue-generators, physician satisfaction champions, patient safety monitors and key stakeholders in the success of a hospital and healthcare system. Here are two tips we've seen successful CIOs adopt as part of their day to day responsibilities.
• Make the rounds. CIOs aren't always medical professionals, but they should be making rounds just the same. Check in with your stakeholders on a weekly basis, spend time with the CMIO, the head of your clinical department, health information managers and revenue cycle team. These folks need your support and turn to you when there is a problem. Taking a proactive approach to this relationship allows you to see what is happening "on the floor" and where technology can assist.
• Talk it out. Yes, communication is important, but not just the annual IT plan or three-year forecast of refreshes. Talk to your user community about what you are facing in your IT realm and the plans you are putting in place. We've seen positive engagement results from discussing IT plans before they are set and budgeted and higher levels of adoption when the user community is part of the decision making process.