The rapid changes that are transforming the healthcare industry have posed many challenges to medical groups of all sizes. This month's cover story by Editor-in-Chief Mark Hagland, which begins on page 10, is a “virtual roundtable,” providing an inside look at how the senior executives of five leading medical groups are working to strategize around issues including accountable care, the patient-centered medical home model, bundled payments, and infrastructure. Their experiences and strategies provide guidance for a common goal: meeting both the demands of their stakeholder groups and the needs of their practicing physicians.

On page 16, Managing Editor John DeGaspari takes a deep dive into an issue that is always topmost on the minds of CIOs: how well-prepared are hospitals to deal with potential disasters. Hospital leaders weigh in by providing the lessons they have learned from their own experiences, which have influenced their views on technology trends, traditional infrastructure issues, and the right formula for disaster preparation.

Beginning on page 22, Senior Contributing Editor David Raths explores how clinical performance measures that are now being designed into EHRs as a data source may lead to systemic improvements in patient safety. His article takes a look at the experiences of four provider organizations whose IT infrastructures already underpin performance improvement strategies.

In this month's Clinical IT Perspective on page 32, Mark Hagland charts the growth in the stature of CMIOs in their organizations, as healthcare trends have intensified the demand for patient care organizations to use clinical and other data to analyze and improve overall effectiveness.

In this issue's Expert's Corner on page 42, Pete Rivera, a consultant manager at Hayes Management Consulting (and a member of HCI's blogging team), explains why it's now time for the healthcare industry to provide EMR support to small physician groups. He presents his case for seamless, cost-effective solutions that could provide a framework of support to get small physician groups on board the EMR train.

Finally, how should CIOs and other hiring managers respond to this question from job candidates: “Why should I want to work for you?” In this month's Career Paths column on page 48, Tim Tolan explains why candor and honesty in explaining your management style to potential employees will eliminate unpleasant surprises down the road.

Healthcare Informatics 2011 October;28(10):06