With EMRs, ICD-10, HIEs and countless additional technical responsibilities being heaped on the head of healthcare CIOs, one would think that they were paid well for their trouble. And in most cases, they are. But a new survey suggests that healthcare CIO pay isn’t keeping up as their responsibilities grow, according to Healthcare IT News.
The survey, by retained executive search firm SSI Search, points out that healthcare reform and the HITECH Act of 2009 have but previously unheard-of pressures on CIOs and IT teams to handle major technology changes and new requirements, “arguably some of the greatest changes to impact modern healthcare in America,” SSI said.
According to SSI Search’, which surveyed 178 respondents,, the typical healthcare CIO these days is a well-educated male who has served in the CIO role for 10 years. Specifically, 82 percent of respondents were male, 97 percent have a college degree and 61 percent have a master’s degree, Healthcare IT News reports.
Total compensation for these CIOs ranged widely, from less than $125,000 to more than $724,000 per year, Healthcare IT News notes. But that compensation didn’t track closely with the level of responsibility these CIOs are taking on, the study found. Thirty-eight percent of CIOs reported having an increase in compensation of 10 percent or less over the past four years, SSI concluded.
It’s not that we should feel sorry for these CIOs who, after all, make far more than most average Americans. But it’s worth noting that their already overloaded plate is having even more piled on it these days. Whether it’s reflected directly in their compensation or not, CIOs deserve acknowledgement that their very tough job is getting tougher.
For what it’s worth, CIOs seem more or less content with their pay, with more than half reporting that their current compensation is “good – in line with expectations.”
