What Does A Chief Medical Information Officer Do, Exactly?

Ever read a job title and wonder, “What does a _______ do all day, exactly?  The University of Illinois – Chicago (UIC) has put together a comprehensive list of Healthcare IT industry job descriptions, and has graciously offered to share them with our Healthcare IT Today readers – thanks UIC!

CHIEF MEDICAL INFORMATION OFFICER (CMIO)

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of Health Data Support Services, participates in clinical advisory groups providing input and engaging patient care providers including physicians, nursing practitioners, nursing staff, ancillary department personnel, and medical records professionals to facilitate the development and use of the clinical information system.

Responsibilities

  • Responsible for supporting the development of clinical information systems to improve the delivery of patient care
  • Recommends modifications of these systems to gain maximum efficiency, leverage the clinicians’ time, and maximizes communication with affiliates and referring physicians
  • Member of the development team supporting patient care research to design clinical system features
  • Represents the medical community and serves as an advocate of management in promoting the use of information technology in the clinical setting
  • Works in concert with the health care system to design and implement systems and builds relationships with physicians to gain their support of IT initiatives

Qualifications

  • Licensed physician with recent medical practice required. Board certified in specialty, preferred.
  • An advanced degree in management, such as MBA, MPH or MHA preferred
  • Experience with medical informatics is highly desirable
  • Experienced leader with high ethical standards and an appropriate professional image with sound technical skills, analytical ability, good judgment and strong operational focus
  • Possesses good grasp clinical work flow in both inpatient and outpatient settings, interest in clinical information systems and outcomes measurement
  • Ability to build relationships, including support for aligned planning and IT governance processes, such as support of a clinical IT Steering Committee and physician working groups
  • Possesses excellent interpersonal skills and can work effectively with a diversity of personalities. Must be approachable, show respect for others and be able to present data with effective communication and presentation skills.
  • A creative thinker with high energy and enthusiasm, and ability to promote concepts of people working together versus individual performance
  • Ability to listen and respond effectively to sensitive inquiries or complaints
  • Ability to inspire and negotiate ways through clinician adoption and change management issues
  • Must have the ability to develop flexible, transferable models for pathways of care
  • Strong leadership skills with a mature sense of priorities and solid practical experience that can design and implement systems within the framework of technical boundaries
  • Politically savvy, has a high tolerance for ambiguity and can work successfully in a matrix management model
  • Systems thinker with strong organizational skills who can pull all the pieces together and deliver on time and within budget. Understands major trends in health care and managed care, and is familiar with point of care products and medical informatics trends and tools.

About the author

Gwen Darling

Gwen Darling is a Search Executive specializing in Healthcare IT, the Founder of Healthcare IT Central (the leading online Career Center for Healthcare IT job seekers and employers), and the Former Editor/Founder of Healthcare IT Today. Gwen also is a featured blogger for Healthcare Informatics magazine.

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