Dykehouse Recognized For Policy Work

Rodney Dykehouse has been named the recipient of CHIME’s Federal Public Policy Award for CIO Leadership.

Dykehouse, who serves as CIO at Penn State Hershey Medical Center and College Medicine, is a member of CHIME’s Policy Steering Committee and has been a thought leader on issues as cybersecurity and Meaningful Use. He has been instrumental in educating policymakers on the value of health IT, as well as the opportunities and challenges to advancing adoption.

“Having worked at different types of organizations across the country, Rod brings a unique perspective to policy discussions,” said Randy McCleese, chair of CHIME Policy Steering Committee and VP of IS and CIO at St. Claire Regional Medical Center. “His background has added significantly to the Policy Steering Committee and CHIME’s efforts in Washington, D.C.”

Prior to joining Penn State Hershey Medical Center in 2012, Dykehouse was CIO at UCLA Medical Sciences, where he oversaw IT operations for the organization’s medical centers, family practice groups and schools of medicine. He has also served as CIO of Froedtert Health System, an academic partner of the Medical College of Wisconsin, at St. John Health System in Detroit and at ProHealth Care.

The award recognizes policy leadership by a CHIME member for a range of activities, including educating policymakers on the value of health IT, testifying before federal workgroups or congressional committees, visiting representatives, and providing feedback on federal initiatives.

“I am extremely honored to receive this recognition,” said Dykehouse, who has been a CHIME member since 1994. “CHIME members have a deep understanding and appreciation for how federal policy on such things as cybersecurity and Meaningful Use impact the industry and, ultimately, patient care. For example, the increasing frequency and sophistication of cyber attacks pose a threat to nearly all medical devices that are now connected within our healthcare and research organizations. We must work together to push for medical device vendor standards to better address these threats.”

Dykehouse will be honored this week as part of National Health IT Week in Washington, D.C., and at CHIME’s Fall CIO Forum next week in Orlando.