Goodbye Phoenix and thank you to CHIME!

This week was a fantastic week spending time with professional colleagues from around the country representing thousands of hospitals. There were many excellent educational sessions and plenty of time to network. Over 750 attendees with most of the attendees being CIOs in healthcare.

As I made the rounds and chatted with many people, it became rather clear. We are all addressing similar issues and the role of the healthcare CIO is rapidly changing... for the better I believe but some are struggling with their leadership's view on the CIO role. At this time in healthcare history, the CIO role, expertise, knowledge and ability to look across an organization rather than a silo is extremely important. If meaningful use is not achieved, it will become the CIOs issue. Why? It's a simple person to blame and the excuses are easy. Go ahead and pick one:

1) The wrong technology was selected and since the CIO deals with technology..Bang!
2) The physicians didn't accept the technology and therefore the fault of the CIO.. Bang!
3) Meaningful use? How can we achieve that without physician acceptance and since the docs are not accepting the technology...Bang!

OK, so what is a CIO to do? I think it's decision time for all CIOs. Are you in the right organization? Use your vision and see where the ship is heading. Right direction? If not, how can we change the course? Very easy... by using the structure of the organizational complexities to our benefit which will be the benefit of the organization in the long run. But, this can only be done if you are able to have the opportunity to have the conversation with key leaders. But wait, what if you do not have that opportunity... if an organization does not value the CIO role and important function as part of the transformational leadership team then you have two choices:

1) Go find another CIO role
2) Go into consulting

Many opportunities with both options but at the end, if you believe in the purpose of the CIO, you will not only probably be happier professionally but also be more meaningful to healthcare and the patients we have the privilege to serve... Become the Meaningful CIO.

The Team - Your role as GM, coach and mentor

I do not think that it should take a CIO in any industry a long time to understand the importance of their team. I guess the first question is " do you consider your employees staff members or team members?". There is a difference I have found over the years. It makes more of a difference for me on a professional level. If I look at the group as "staff" it becomes easier to just let them do their jobs. If I consider the same group "team members", I have a different level of interest in making sure they succeed... simply because I am in the same game and also a member of this team. My role is not a player but rather the GM, Coach, Mentor, Hitting Instructor, Pitching Coach, etc.... the funny thing is... I'm not a great baseball player but then again, we are not playing baseball. We are playing a different game called Healthcare, which is not a game by any definition.

While sitting at a bar enjoying an ice cold beverage this evening, ESPN is showing a recap of the 2004 American League Championship Series Game 6. By full disclosure, I love the Sox!!! Yankees not so much but you do have to hand it to some Yankees. Joe Torre is baseball! Amazing! What made the Sox successful in 2004? I don't think we will ever completely know but as a Boston fan, we will take it. What I did notice in 2004 and also during the recap, there was an environment that could be felt. There was a certain energy that cylinders were firing at the right time. Everyone was doing their part..even Schilling!! However, it was the team that executed and executed well.

To achieve what we need to do in healthcare, our team members must execute well on a daily basis. Healthcare is complex. We must understand it from a technical level as well as operational. There is no longer a role for the CIO to function only as the technical expertise. We are change agents in healthcare. We must take the lead role to facilitate conversations and sometimes those conversations are tough based on the organizational complexities we face at times. It is our role to invest in the front line but also address the front office executives as we move our organizations into the future of healthcare.... ok...who is ready to be the 2004 Sox!! In order to do so, we must take a lead role and be the Meaningful CIO that healthcare needs for this transition and support of Healthcare Reform..... whatever that may be but something is brewing.

Good luck!