The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives has launched the first certification program designed specifically for healthcare CIOs.
 
CHIME, with more than 1,300 CIO members, developed the Certified Healthcare CIO (CHCIO) Program in partnership with Castle Worldwide, one of the nation's leading certification testing companies. The credential will allow certified healthcare CIOs to identify themselves as leaders in the industry.
 
"Becoming a certified healthcare CIO is not going to be easy," said Tim Stettheimer, senior vice president and regional CIO at St. Vincent's Health System in Birmingham, Ala., who is a member of CHIME's board of trustees, and chairman of the certification committee. "But it's important that we keep the bar high so this credential represents the best of the best. We've developed a tough but fair program, and I look forward to seeing CHIME members rise to the challenge."
 
The CHCIO Program started development last year. CHIME member volunteers worked with certification professionals at Castle Worldwide to first list the major responsibilities for which healthcare CIOs are responsible. From that, the 13 core tasks were defined and questions were developed, reviewed and evaluated.

The first testing date will be Oct. 27 in Indian Wells, Calif., held in conjunction with the CHIME09 Fall CIO Forum.
 
In addition to passing a written exam, CHCIOs must have at least three years experience as a healthcare CIO, participate in educational activities to earn continuing education units, remain CHIME members and attest to uphold CHIME professional standards of conduct.