How we did it

This is the 22nd annual Modern Healthcare/Modern Physician Survey of Executive Opinions on Key Information Technology Issues.

The invitation-only survey was conducted from Nov. 16, 2011, through Jan. 20. Some 185 executives from eligible provider organizations participated. Invitations were sent to senior healthcare executives to analyze their opinions on the information systems function and to understand the benefits organizations gain from implementing new IT systems and sharing data.

Respondents included chief information officers (26.5% of the total), CEOs (26%), chief financial officers (10.8%), chief medical officers (10.8%), chief operating officers (8.6%) and chief medical information officers (8.1%). The other 9.2% held various titles.

Leaders of general acute-care hospitals constitute the largest class of organizations in the survey at 33.5% of participants, followed by multihospital systems or integrated health networks (28.1%); medical groups or clinics (20.5%); academic medical centers (6.5%); children's hospitals (2.7%), and nursing homes or long-term acute-care hospitals (2.7%). The remaining 6% of respondents represent other categories.