Money Talks

Today, more hospital organizations than ever are turning to strategic partnerships with vendors to get a rapid head start on clinical IS development. Our cover story, “Relationship ROI,” page 56, takes a look at some of the leading-edge strategies now being leveraged in IS co-development. We show the paradigm shift of co-development as it moves into mid-sized hospitals and some community hospitals. You'll find out why CIOs say co-development always comes down to strategic goals and relationships — and whether the co-development path is right for you.

You just found out your hospital is part of a merger. As CIO, how do you protect your position during this challenging time? In “A New Sheriff in Town,” page 26, HCI talks to CIOs who've been on both sides of a merger to see how they handled important issues like keeping the IT staff on board, loyalties, navigating the waters and, finally, deciding if and when it's time to leave.

Rather than being chained to the server, today's CTOs are stepping out of the cubicle and assuming a key role on the hospital's executive team. In “The CTO's Turn,” page 40, we look at the evolution of the hospital's chief technology officer from a “tech geek” to a bona fide member of the CIO's team. We talk to CIOs who have found that utilizing a CTO is critical to guiding them in key enterprise-wide plans.

This month, HCI looks at the imaging space through an executive roundtable discussion. In, “The Future of Imaging,” page 46 (installment one of a three-part series), experts discuss where the industry is headed. We examine multi-year strategic planning for PACS implementation and replacement, new ways of looking at ROI for imaging management, and evolution in the vendor product market.