In the quickly evolving landscape of healthcare, the role of information technology teams has become more critical, and more challenging, than ever before. The key set of skills and qualifications for a healthcare IT professional to succeed in their career continues to evolve alongside advancements in healthcare technology.
Laying the Foundation
IT professionals working in healthcare must, at a minimum, possess strong collaboration skills and foundational technical skills specific to their technology domain such as programming, security, data management, infrastructure, project management, and systems integration.
To increase their value to their organizations, IT professionals should build their knowledge and skills to include expertise in electronic health record systems such as Epic, regulations and compliance requirements such as HIPPA, and healthcare data and interoperability standards like the Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resource. The combination of technical skills and industry knowledge are foundational for health IT workers.
Developing and Nurturing Leadership Skills
Developing and nurturing leaders within health IT requires the growth of skills beyond technical expertise. It requires health IT professionals to develop skills in areas including strategic planning, change management, collaboration, security, compliance, and project management:
Strategic Planning: Health IT leaders should align technology strategies and initiatives with the overall organization goals. This should include the development of short-term and long-term technology roadmaps. Roadmaps should not be developed in isolation; instead, they should be developed in collaboration with a range of organizational stakeholders.
Change Management: Change is constant within health IT given the rapid pace of technological advancement. Leaders must be able to embrace change and proficiently guide the organization through it. Defining a comprehensive change management framework and partnering with stakeholders throughout the change process can decrease overall risk.
Collaboration: Health IT professionals understand that a diverse team improves the likelihood of success. Partnering with business and technical resources can close the gaps in understanding and communication. Establishing formal team communication channels and communications cadence, in addition to informal, can improve overall results.
Security: Health IT leaders must incorporate security requirements and design into every initiative. They should place a focus on data governance and management to ensure the accuracy, integrity and security of health information.
Compliance: The legal and regulatory landscape of healthcare is complex, with healthcare data being subject to federal and state regulations. Health IT professionals must develop a deep understanding of legal requirements and ethical considerations. Engaging with legal and compliance teams is required to ensure adherence to regulatory requirements.
Project Management: Leveraging a project management methodology can enable the IT leader to deliver consistent results. Applying project management best practices such as scope definition, stakeholder involvement, resource planning, schedule development, budget management, risk management, quality assurance, change control, communication management, procurement management and approval processes can deliver the best results in an efficient way.
Staying Ahead of Advancements and Regulatory Changes
The evolution of healthcare regulations, standards and supporting technology will continue to challenge health IT professionals to keep pace with the rate of change. Health IT leaders must adopt a variety of approaches to continually build their knowledge, make informed decisions, and guide their teams effectively. Health IT professionals should approach continuing education holistically through growth areas such as:
Continuing Education Courses: Periodic training related to healthcare regulations, technology advancements, and industry standards can help Health IT leaders adjust their strategies. These courses can be done via webinar, providing some schedule flexibility to the participants. Additionally, certifications can be achieved, adding to health IT leaders’ credentials.
Join Professional Organizations: Joining organizations such as HIMSS (Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society) is a great way to build a network of professionals. Through the network, Health IT leaders can engage in discussions to learn from peers. Attending organizational events can also help health IT leaders gain insights into the latest trends and best practices.
Vendor Relationships: Vendors and technology partners are an extension of the health IT professional’s network. Leveraging these relationships to understand their latest solutions and best practices is a great way to stay current. Attending vendor sponsored events can also support ongoing knowledge development.
Research: Health IT leaders should take time to research emerging trends in healthcare IT. Subscribing to industry journals, monitoring government websites, and engaging in online communities can help health IT leaders keep abreast of changes to healthcare policies, regulations and supporting technologies.
For healthcare IT professionals, the ability to embrace change, innovate, and collaborate will be critical as we move toward a future where technology not only supports but transforms the delivery of healthcare services. Now that technology touches nearly every phase of the healthcare system, IT professionals are positioned to drive substantial innovation and improvements in efficiency for an industry that’s constantly and rapidly evolving.
John Johnson
John Johnson is the Chief Information Officer at Savista.
