Get Out of IT, Get into Healthcare IT

For example, he said, many IT departments are focused on coming up with programs that help reduce costs, which is critical. But to truly be strategic, they must also think about how to apply those cost-reductions in strategic ways.

People can go through their entire careers without ever contributing a strategic idea, he said.

Here's a quick litmus test to see if you and your staff are strategic: Imagine that the CEO has a meeting with key stakeholders and asks someone from the department to step in and explain the organization's objectives and strategies for long-term growth, talk about how it will ensure the best possible patient experience, and describe its core competencies.

Could you? Could your IT staff?

And what do you do for a living? I'd like to hear from you: Join our discussion on LinkedIn to answer the question and let us know if you think the answer makes a difference in your organization.