While many health system CIOs are taking less vacation time due to heavier HITECH-related workloads, almost all are approving staff PTO requests that come across their desks.
In what can be interpreted as an example of sound leadership theory in practice, 86 percent of CIOs said their staffs were able to take the vacation time they wanted/deserved, while 43 percent were unable to make the same statement about themselves. That same number, 43 percent, said they are taking less time off over this holiday season than in years past.
Though 38 percent of CIOs said their staffs were rolling over vacation time to next year, few expressed concern this bank of PTO would cause headaches in the coming months. In what might give CFOs cause for losing some sleep, 57 percent of CIOs said they will ask for additional funds in 2011 to meet Meaningful Use-related goals. Most expressed confidence those funds would be forthcoming.
(SnapSurveys are answered by the healthsystemCIO.com CIO Advisory Panel. To see a full-size version of all charts, click here. To go directly to a full-size version of any individual chart, click on that chart)
- Less – We are planning for our EMR “go-live” in February.
- Same – Holidays are a good time to clean off my desk and get ready for the new year. It is not a good time to accomplish tasks that require feedback from others – most of our leadership is on vacation!
- Same – I usually take off the week between Christmas & New Year.
- Less – Due to the combination of the “weekend” holidays and work load.
- Less – I seldom use all of the time I am eligible for. I always work extra before vacation and extra after vacation in order to catch up. I always have my smartphone with me so emails continue to come, although I have gotten better at ignoring the non critical messages until I return to work. And yes, I take my laptop with me on vacation.
- Less – We seem to have many more major projects with tight deadlines than in the past.
- Less – We have too many time-sensitive commitments.
- Same – Which means very little time off. Between MU, ICD-10, PACS, etc., the holidays are meaningless … it’s just a bit harder to get needed things done.
- Same – I get a lot of work done with others are taking off.
- No – Due to the EMR project.
- No – Work and other priorities.
- Yes – 2011 is going to be a busy year. Important to take time off when and how you can. An exhausted leader doesn’t add much value.
- Yes – About average, could always use more time off.
- Yes – I get plenty of vacation time, but it’s not truly time off – there’s always some component of work eating into it.
- No – Same as #1.
- No – Same reason. The good news is that IT is involved in every major organizational initiative. But it’s also the bad news from a life/work balance perspective.
- No – Only a few Fridays – no vacation at all. Every day we slip a little further behind – every time I take time off I slip even further behind. It’s like a treadmill – only falling off the back could be fatal.
- No – I take a few days here and a few days there. Most of this is due to self-defense, not wanting to dig out when I get back. Yeah, I know it’s nuts.
- No – Busy year for health IT
- Yes – Next year will be another story as we have a full schedule to meet MU Stage 1.
- Yes – We haven’t turned anyone down for requested vacation time this year.
- Yes – We were able to grant most requests.
- Yes – I never say no. My staff is really good about planning time off around our projects and coordinating their time off with each other so that I’m not the only one in the office.
- Yes – I approved requests, but then many staff were unable to use all vacation time.
- Yes – Family first then job. Maybe I will figure that out someday but, until then, I can at least honor these priorities for staff.
- No – I was able to approve all requests, but know many individuals curtailed their time off.
- No – See comment above – I only captain the ship – it would veer way off course or sink without the team. The staff is doing well…because they are committed, but if we weren’t in healthcare where our mission is so important – I think a mutiny could happen.
- Yes – I’m not concerned at this point. Some of this is due to length of service with the organization.
- No – Not allowed. In fact, everyone had to reduce their bank by an additional 40 hours before the end of the year.
- Yes – Yes they roll it over – and no it doesn’t concern us.
- Yes – No concern. We try to put family first, and because of that most of us have no issues working “extra” when necessary to make the necessary deadlines.
- No – No more time rolling over than normal over past few years.
- No – Our policy is “use it or lose it,” so we attempt to take it even if it means participating in conference calls and webinars during vacation. Something is better than nothing.
- No – It’s really a yes and no answer since some key people will rollover and others won’t.
- Yes – It is concerning in that I don’t see a reduction in demand for IT services anytime soon. However we will need to achieve better balance so folks don’t burn out.
- N/A – All PTO – but there is a limit to how much one can have – I know people are losing PTO.
- Yes – We have PTO and can roll over up to a maximum number of hours. Most folks do.
- Yes – Staff is rolling time forward, but I am not concerned. Staff need time off especially when they request it.
- No – We roll over vacation time without concern
- Yes – IT is growing in it importance and in its accountability to the organization. This is taking more resources. Specifically with Meaningful Use, we are considering the resources necessary as part of the cost/benefit for achieving MU. Furthermore, MU is viewed as an organizational responsibility (expense), not just an IT responsibility
- Yes – Approving thousands in order to earn millions is an easy sell. Anything less might require some good persuasion skills.
- Yes – Yes to the second question.
- No – Staff work hard and need time off. Buidling that into all we do is the only long term behavior that leaders should take. As you noted, we may have meetings and other constraints but maintaining some work life balance is still needed, appropriate and possible.
- Yes – We will need help testing, and this is already in the works.
- Yes – I need additional staff but we don’t have the budget for it. I’ll ask, but it will be denied.
- Yes – With millions of dollars on the line it would shortsighted to not get these dollars as soon as you can. If that requires more resources, so be it.
- Yes – Several requests have already been approved.
- No – We’ve already added two Clinical FTE’s to help with the project, but no resistance from the rest of the senior team.
- Yes – And it will be approved. It is not just I.S. feeling all the stress and pressure.
- Yes – Funds have already been identified and approved. Staffing resources are another thing.
- No – I think we are in good shape and can achieve MU with existing staff. However, if I need additional funds, I believe they would get approved.
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