Highlights from 2011 CIO Survey

New data from our recent SRA health system CIO survey show some key trends and turning points.  This year for the first time, we see that more than half of the CIOs have successors in place, have CMIOs in their organizations, and report to the CEO.

Some key facts

• 61 percent have a successor in place
• 60 percent have a CMIO at their organization
• 54 percent report to the CEO
• 42 percent have clinical informatics reporting to them

Hiring still on the increase

Over 60 percent of the CIOs surveyed plan on hiring new IT leadership positions in the coming year.  Key project management and implementation skills are in high demand.  The following positions were the most mentioned.

• 30 percent looking for project management leaders
• 16 percent seeking clinical IT/informatics leaders
• 12 percent will be recruiting for chief medical informatics officers
• 8 percent seeking CIO successor
• 6 percent looking for chief IT security officers

Career advice for future CIOs
The CIO respondents offered a wide array of helpful tips and advice for those individuals seeking to move their careers into healthcare IT and the role of chief information officer.  Here are some of their excellent suggestions.

• Communicate, communicate, communicate
  • Understand the business and clinical needs — it is more than technology
  • Have a good mentor and soak up as much advice as possible
  • Establish positive relationships with the physician community
  • Surround yourself with smart, knowledgeable people and allow them to be challenged and make independent decisions
  • Keep patient safety and care at the center of everything
  • Understand how the government changes impact IT
  • Volunteer at a hospital and/or clinic in non-IT areas to learn hospital operations
  • Arm yourself with tools like project management, time management, presentation skills, future thinking and overall organization
  • Participate in local HIMSS planning and events
  • Look at other industries for solutions and process
  • Be open minded — there are several ways to accomplish the same tasks
  • Reach deep inside yourself and ask why you want this role, then focus and persevere
  • Ensure that you have excellent interpersonal skills — they are more important than technical skills
  • Be prepared to move at a slower pace than for-profit non-healthcare environments
  • Be a problem solver and bring value

Look for more highlights from the recent survey in the next couple of weeks, and let me know if you are looking for some specific information.