Highlights from CHIME’s 2003 Spring CIO Forum
Strategic Thinking in an Evolving World: Challenges, Opportunities, and Solutions for Healthcare CIOs

CHIME’s first major networking and educational event of the year, the 2003 Spring CIO Forum, was a resounding success! 370 attendees (including 275 CIOs) gathered at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, CA. Thanks to all attendees for making this one of our most successful Forums ever! For those of you unable to attend, a summary of highlights follows:

On Saturday, attendees who registered for recreational activities enjoyed their choice of golf or a sailing excursion. Golfers played the course at the Maderas Golf Club, one of Golf Digest’s “Best New Courses” in the U.S. Sailing participants enjoyed a tour of San Diego Bay aboard 22’ Capri sailboats. A fun, relaxing time was had by all!

Sunday began with keynote speaker Carly Fiorina, CEO of HP, discussing the importance of technology as a key driver for business success. She emphasized this point by illustrating that every strategic business decision triggers an IT event. Ms. Fiorina went on to explain how HP followed these guiding principles in achieving its own success, and stressed to CIOs that the same principles are applicable to the healthcare arena - while cautioning healthcare’s IT leaders to always bear in mind that “business change is seven times harder to achieve than changing IT infrastructure, and that people and culture are the largest barriers to change in any area.”

Symantec CEO John Thompson followed with a presentation on the importance of security in today’s rapidly changing world. Digital threats are increasing in rate and number at an unprecedented pace, and it is more important now than ever to protect your business with sophisticated security measures. Thompson believes integrated layers of security are the only way to achieve ideal protection, with annual security audits, employee education, and careful technology choices that work together. A complete security system, according to Thompson, includes 4 phases in relation to any threat: alert, protect, respond, and manage. He noted that although no IT security plan can make healthcare organizations “bulletproof,” optimal security choices will help move your organization toward HIPAA compliance.

Healthcare Futurist Doug Goldstein’s presentation, “Homeland Security Through Health Information Technology, Infrastructure, and Leadership,” focused on how healthcare IT can help prepare for and manage threats to the American public. Using terrorism scenarios involving smallpox, dirty nukes, nerve agents, and biological weapons as examples, Goldstein noted that the current lack of sharing and collaboration in the public and private sectors is a significant challenge to overcome in our nation’s preparedness efforts. He emphasized the importance of developing local, regional, and national data sharing standards and continuing development of a national health information infrastructure, and shared examples in the public and private sectors where similar data sharing and preparedness efforts are already underway. Mr. Goldstein added that there are a number of actions healthcare CIOs can take today to improve their organization’s preparedness, many requiring little or no funding to get underway, such as working with other CIOs to organize a network of “preparedness leaders” to ensure cooperation in times of disaster.

Following a networking luncheon, the crowd heard from George Labovitz, Ph.D., a Boston University Professor of Management and Founder and CEO of Organizational Dynamics, Inc. Dr. Labovitz stressed the benefits of achieving organizational alignment, insisting that most business are currently operating with outdated models of organizational structure. In healthcare, organizational alignment means an infrastructure that is tightly integrated and working in concert to maximize the quality of care while minimizing its cost. He explained the eight steps for creating a self-aligning organization - focusing on a main goal, creating a set of indicators, making sure everyone understands the organization’s measures of success, linking measures with rewards and recognition, providing training and goals, reviewing progress regularly, and creating a sense of urgency within the organization. Dr. Labovitz reinforced his alignment concepts and showed how theory has been put into practice by sharing several case studies across various industries. The studies provided real-life illustrations of how organizational alignment can be a driver of positive change and increased business success.

The day wrapped up with a presentation by funnyman and former White House speech writer Ben Stein. He spent the first few minutes making light of various current events and followed with highlights from his recent book, “How to Ruin Your Life.” The book, based on observations of his teenaged son Tommy, outlines the best ways to quickly ruin one’s life. Some suggestions included:

• Assume You’re the Center of the Universe
• Always Be a Critic
• Treat People the Opposite of What They Deserve
• Be Bitter
• Don’t Save Any Money – The World Owes YOU a Living

Immediately following the Forum, members enjoyed a networking reception. Ben Stein also attended the reception, and graciously signed copies of his book for the members in attendance.

Our congratulations also to CHIME member Billy Tingle, who won a 42” Gateway plasma TV in the annual Spring Forum raffle! A special thank you to MyDocOnline for sponsoring the raffle prize.

Thanks to all who attended for making this Forum such an outstanding event!

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