The Current State of the Evolving CIO-CMIO Relationship

In summary, these surveys demonstrate that the CIO-CMIO relationship is perceived as critical to the deployment of the electronic health record (EHR) and the meaningful and successful use of data after the EHR. Tension appears around the lack of clarity for the still-evolving CMIO role.  The value of the role is validated by the responses at each question, but there is still work to do in figuring out how these two powerful players can make room for each other and complement each other. Understanding that the role is here to stay facilitates the process of establishing structure around the role, including reporting structure, budget/reports, and a more defined career path.  

Pamela Dixon is Managing Partner of SSi-SEARCH, Atlanta.