How To Manage IT In A Growing Practice

CIO - that’s a title a lot of medical practices don’t have the resources for. So they rely on piecing together a workable technology system into their practice.

They rely on their own knowledge for selecting useful office systems. They send office managers to training for security and production. They keep up with the latest trends through journals or seminars, and make systems selections based on what they learn.

It works. Or at least it seems to.

The true function of a CIO is to develop and implement IT initiatives. That covers everything from investing in the right software and hardware, to ensuring safety and security of data, to keeping up with HIPAA laws to ensure your practice isn’t in violation.

That’s hard enough for any CIO with credentials; it’s difficult at best for a business owner trying to create and grow a profitable practice.

Bringing on a CIO can help make the business environment as efficient as possible. But when you bring on a CIO too late, it’s all about catchup and cleanup rather than developing systems that work. What’s a medical practice to do?

Stop Thinking Full Time

As the head of a thriving practice, you’ve probably grown your business one step at a time. Hire a person when needed. Implement new programs as you outgrow others.

Now you have several employees on staff running your operations. None are qualified as technical advisors, but in some capacity, you rely on one (or several) for exactly that position. They research. They make decisions. They struggle. And hopefully, it all works.

What happens if your business would double? Triple? What if your patient list suddenly swelled exponentially, and you didn't have time to think about business operations? Would the person you currently have in charge still keep you safe and secure?

Small practices don’t think in terms of consequences until it’s too late. And by the time you realize it, profits are negatively impacted, systems are crashing, violations are in process.

No matter what your current title is, if you’re in charge, you have to be aware of all the details, every step of the way. A CIO can fill this void, and you don’t have to bring one on full time.

That’s where fractional IT professionals come into play.

Why Hire Fractional IT

A good CIO loves technology and how it applies to your business. When you try to fill that void by assigning duties to various team members filling other roles, you lose out on the knowledge that comes with the CIO title.

CIOs are knowledgeable about products and system available in the marketplace that will make your business shine. They enjoy researching industry trends. They’re puzzle solvers and solution providers, always helping to facilitate your growth.

They stay in tune with what’s happening in the industry, and they make suggestions to you based on what’s best for your business. And in healthcare, they know compliance and security are critical, and ensure everything they suggest meets those goals. They recommend solutions with the best capabilities to help maintain a competitive edge.

A good fractional CIO does all of that and more. They manage projects, have connections throughout the industry to assist with whatever advice you need. Their job is to be strong where you otherwise may be weak.

And what’s best is you hire them for the support you need. A few hours a month, or a few hours a week, you decide. You get expert advice at a fraction of the cost it would take to bring a CEO on full time.

That’s a smart business decision, no matter where you are in your business growth strategy.

For IT Strategy, Cloud Conversion, or Help Desk Services reach out to us at Silver Linings Technology 360-450-4759.