The demands placed on CIOs have grown within the past decade, but since the HITECH Act, these demands have exploded, making the role that much more crucial to the success not only of IT, but also the organization as a whole. 

In a recent whitepaper, Pamela Dixon, managing partner at HIT recruitment company SSi-Search, helped outline the top 10 qualities today's CIOs need to have. 

1. The ability to lead and mentor. This may not be anything new, but according to Dixon, a CIO's leadership abilities are key to his or her success. "These CIOs are truly passionate about transforming healthcare, and it inspires those around them," she said. "This is seen in the teams that surround CIOs and in the creative and/or thoughtful manner in which they achieve their goals." Despite having a busy schedule, Dixon continued, an effective CIO makes time to answer questions, inspire peers, and mentor future leaders. "[These qualities] make those around them feel important to the overall mission," she said.

2. The ability to "set the strategy." What's "huge," said Dixon, is a CIO's ability to gain both trust and buy-in during complex EHR deployments. "As healthcare CIOs help to translate the value of technology to the enterprise in specific, tangible ways, it should become a natural transition to engage in the visioning of the system's strategy," she said. "We all like to see healthcare CIOs communicate a keen understanding of the key issues impacting healthcare, the community, and government."

3. The ability to execute on a strategy. The CIO's challenge isn't just to set the strategy, said Dixon—it’s to execute the strategy. "The execution of a strategic initiative is usually more difficult than setting the strategy," she said. "The CIO who can execute on the vision and move through the challenges usually employs [certain skills] and demonstrates this with a track record of superior results." In turn, she concluded, the CIO is frequently acknowledged as a leader among his/her peers.

[See also: CIOs expect boost in IT budgets, staff.]

4. The ability to use technology as a tool. "Technology is really just a great enabler," said Dixon. She added understanding how technology can improve clinical and financial outcomes is more meaningful than an IT initiative. "Positioned appropriately, technology can be perceived as a tremendous strategic advantage, even with workflow modifications," she said. "A great CIO helps translate the value of the health system's strategy."

5. The ability to find new ways to build consensus across an organization. In the past, said Dixon, it's been difficult for CIOs to gain support for EHRs since many think the technology disrupts clinical workflows too much. "That's changed," she said. "Now it's important for the entire leadership team, as it impacts revenue for the health system. The perception that there are 'IT' projects is radically changing." With greater support for EHR deployment, the role of the CMIO is growing as well. "A strong partnership between the CIO and CMIO can speed consensus, as the clinicians gain a voice and a better understanding of the workflow implications offset by the value [of an] EHR." 

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