Dive Brief:
- A Black Book survey of 1,515 industry stakeholders found technology and data management knowledge was the most important trait for not just CIOs, but all C-level positions (CEOs, CFOs, CCOs, and CMOs).
- Skills were ranked in order of demand for C-level candidates in 2015 searches by executive recruiters. The top 10 traits indicated by hospital boards and human resources directors were (from most desired to less desired): technological data/systems management, advanced analytics, deployment and education, strategy/planning/marketing, finance and reimbursement, leadership, relationships/team building, communications, change management, and integrity. For the first time the survey has been conducted, healthcare industry experience was ranked #11.
- The only C-suite executive that had a preference on less technology and more interpersonal skills was CIO, with the top three skills being relationships/team building, communications, and deployment/execution.
Dive Insight:
"Every C-suite officer currently being recruited by hospital organizations needs to be, in part, a CIO," said Doug Brown, managing partner of Black Book. "Healthcare is a knowledge-based business and it runs at the speed of software in 2015."
More hospitals are relying on senior level management to lead technology, deployments and strategies, which were previously left to external consultants, according to the report. There has been a substantial increase in hospitals with more than 200 beds relying on an internal C-level executive to run the organization's IT vendor selections and implementations. Currently, this is about 80% versus 43% in 2012.
Another interesting report finding was technology and analytics expertise only ranked as the top demanded skill for 20% of CEO searches in 2013.
Brown concluded in a public statement, "It's evident that without added C-suite horsepower at this crossroads of value-based payment reform, population health and accountable care opportunities, that stoking the forces of advanced technologies and data analytics will be very difficult for more hospitals."