December 1, 2009 Tim Tolan
article
It's a very big day, dreaded by some and met with pure enthusiasm by others. You've made the decision to resign, leave the island and move on to greener pastures.
September 28, 2009 Tim Tolan
article
Once an employee has mentally “checked out,” the influence on your team can be very negative, and if left unchecked, could prove to be catastrophic.
What is the best way to deal with these types of employees? Why are they so miserable and why do they do what they do? Let's look at a few reasons.
August 31, 2009 Tim Tolan
article
Many candidates that have contacted me over the past few months seem to have a lot in common.
July 21, 2009 Tim Tolan
article
You have an open requisition to hire technical talent for your IT organization. Now what?
June 26, 2009 Tim Tolan
article
I fondly remember my first job back in 1998. After I accepted the offer, I took a 10-day vacation with my family. Relaxed and ready to begin my new venture, I showed up for my first day at work not really knowing what to expect. What would the culture be like? How would I interact with the team of very bright healthcare technology people already on board? Would I fit in and make new friends? What would a typical day be like? How long would it take me to “get plugged in?” I had lots of questions and a little fear and trepidation as I pulled into the parking lot on day one - a day I will always remember.
May 29, 2009 Tim Tolan
article
Over the past six to 12 months, most of us have grown tired reading about the negative economic environment, layoffs and hiring freezes. Although HIT is a segment that has added talent and been somewhat less affected, many organizations have throttled back on hiring until the financial markets are more stable. Many CIOs are delivering projects, implementing new systems and IT infrastructure, and maintaining legacy systems with fewer technology resources than ever before.
April 26, 2009 Tim Tolan
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As CIO, you can't be all things to all people. Where is your sweet spot? What is it that you're (really) good at that will add the most value to your organization in these challenging economic times? Stay committed to the things that matter so you can have the greatest impact on the organization. Spend time on that project until it is completed. Avoid the temptation of jumping into multiple projects at the expense of the one or two things that can really make a difference.
March 30, 2009 Tim Tolan
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We all know that the word innovate means to introduce new ideas; to implement a significant change in a process that leads to a better result. If you are an innovative CIO, you're constantly looking for ways to drive solutions and services that rise above the status quo. You should always be asking yourself, “How am I delivering meaningful value to my organization, my community, my employees and all of my clinical and financial stakeholders?”
February 25, 2009 Tim Tolan
article
When CIOs were evaluating capital budgets last fall, major decisions were made by weighing the relationship between investments and how those dollars would drive the organization towards its goals. Some of those investment decisions were likely part of a long-term strategic plan, and in many case, a compelling return on investment (ROI). ROI was probably required in order to gain committee or board approval. It's all about the ROI. This is how we make critical capital spending decisions, right?
February 1, 2009 Tim Tolan
article
Everyone that's read a newspaper, watched the evening news or has an Internet connection already knows that the layoffs across the United States are very real. Now, they have found their way into the healthcare segment and trickled down to the CIO's shop. Ouch! Most of the hospital closings have been smaller facilities with low occupancy rates, while others face huge deficits due to insufficient financial aid at the state level to cover the expenses in treating the uninsured. While the trend appears to be isolated to certain geographic markets, it is a reality we must deal with. Reductions have never been a normal trend in healthcare IT by any means; but then again, there is nothing normal about this economic environment.
