Health care is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the U.S. economy. Rapidly evolving technology and data that permeates every aspect of the health care industry are driving part of that growth. Health care chief information officers (CIOs) are key to putting that technology and data to work for hospitals, insurance companies and other health care organizations.
The average chief information officer salary reflects the responsibilities of the role, from ensuring consumer satisfaction with helpful apps to maintaining vast amounts of patient and research data. The online Executive Master of Health Administration (EMHA) degree program at USC can help aspiring health care CIOs build the knowledge and leadership skills they need to find success in this complex and growing field.
What Is a Health Care Chief Information Officer?
A health care chief information officer is an executive-level position that oversees the entirety of a health care company’s information technology (IT) department. Individuals in this position bridge the gap between the server room and the boardroom by monitoring and regulating every piece of information that passes through a company’s network.
In the age of information, hospitals and other organizations rely on their CIOs to maintain their networks, systems and data in a way that facilitates regulatory compliance, customer satisfaction, revenue generation and medical and technological innovation.
Health Care Chief Information Officer Job Description
The chief information officer job description has become increasingly complex with the growth and expansion of modern medical technology. Aside from managing data and networks, the modern health care CIO focuses on patient safety, consumer satisfaction and facility revenue. The responsibilities associated with the position can vary from one organization to the next, but they often include the following:
- Overseeing and managing a health care facility’s IT department, including procedures, policies, budgeting and staffing
- Researching, developing and implementing new IT solutions and technologies
Training existing staff to use new applications or programs - Managing and using vast amounts of data to accomplish a health care facility’s goals, including patient satisfaction and revenue generation
- Creating, maintaining and managing vendor relationships
- Meeting with other C-level executives to ensure the efficiency of the IT department, discuss budgeting needs and resolve various tech-related issues
How to Become a Health Care Chief Information Officer
To earn the role and salary of a health care chief information officer, prospective professionals should obtain the right education and skills. This may involve gaining relevant work experience in IT and leadership and acquiring credentials that demonstrate applicable knowledge and skills.
Obtain a Bachelor’s Degree
A bachelor’s degree in a field such as IT or health care informatics is an excellent first step toward becoming a health care CIO. These four-year degrees can provide the foundational knowledge required to manage a facility’s network and data.
Gain Work Experience
After earning a bachelor’s degree, many successful CIOs go on to work in entry-level IT departments in health care-related settings like clinics, hospitals and even insurance companies. According to TechRepublic, most companies look for CIOs who have at least eight years of experience in IT, and they prefer individuals who have three years of leadership experience.
Earn a Master’s Degree
As health care grows more complex and technology continues to evolve, health care organizations increasingly prefer to hire candidates with relevant graduate degrees. USC’s online EMHA offers future CIOs expertise in the profound changes occurring in health care and prepares its students to address them.
Acquire Credentials
While certifications aren’t required to work as a health care CIO, they provide tangible evidence that a candidate has demonstrated executive-level skills and may provide some additional leverage in the job market. Popular certifications include the following:
- College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) Certified Healthcare CIO program. The CHCIO certification is the first of its kind for CIOs and other executive-level IT positions in the health care industry. It requires at least three years of experience as a CIO (or its equivalent).
- Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives program. The FACHE certification is ideal for candidates who want to demonstrate their commitment to change and improvement in addition to their health administration competency.
- Certified Healthcare Administrative Professional program. The cHAP certification from the Association for Healthcare Administrative Professionals demonstrates knowledge, experience and administrative capabilities.
Health Care Chief Information Officer Salary and Job Outlook
According to June 2023 data from career and compensation resource Payscale, the median chief information officer salary in all industries is about $173,600. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), executives working specifically in the health care industry — including CIOs, CEOs and other C-suite positions — earned a median salary of about $169,440 as of May 2022.
Experience level, geographical location and type of employer are some of the factors that influence CIO salaries. Smaller rural hospitals pay their CIOs significantly less than those working for national insurance companies or health care networks, for example. According to Payscale, CIOs can earn bonuses, commissions and profit sharing income in addition to their base salaries.
Chief Information Officer Job Outlook
The BLS projects that the employment of computer and information systems managers, which includes CIOs, could grow by 15% between 2022 and 2032. Increased demand for health care services and the increasingly complex regulations regarding how patient data can be collected, stored and used will drive growth. As existing health care facilities expand or as new ones open their doors, more CIOs will be required to manage IT at the executive level.
Improve Health Care With IT Knowledge
The role of the health care chief information officer, although relatively new, reflects the growing importance of data and technology in the U.S. health industry. Collecting, managing and using data to improve the delivery of care in accordance with federal regulations is complex, and the CIO role has been specifically designed to navigate the complexities associated with this industry.
The online EMHA degree program at USC offers advanced education for aspiring CIOs. Discover how you can play a role in transforming the future of health care by earning a flexible online degree taught by supportive staff from one of the highest-ranked universities in the United States.
Recommended Readings
7 Reasons to Pursue an EMHA Degree
6 In-Demand Health Administration Careers
5 Ways an EMHA Can Advance Your Health Care Career
Sources:
American College of Healthcare Executives, “FACHE”
Association for Healthcare Administrative Professionals, “cHAP Certification”
CIO, “State of the CIO, 2022: Focus Turns to IT Fundamentals”
College of Healthcare Information Management Executives, “CHCIO Certification & CEUS”
EY, “How Transformative CIOs Are Shifting IT’s Influence and Impact”
EY, “The Elevated Role of the Health Care CIO as Business Leader”
Indeed, “Chief Information Officer (CIO) Job Description: Top Duties and Qualifications”
Investopedia, “Chief Information Officer (CIO) Definition, Meaning, and Salary”
Payscale, “Average Chief Information Officer (CIO) Salary”
TechRepublic, “How to Become a CIO: A Cheat Sheet”
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Chief Executives”
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Top Executives”
ZipRecruiter, “What Is a Healthcare CIO and How to Become One”