Her father’s open-heart surgery in 1980 opened Cynthia Davis’ eyes about the need for centralized patient information in health care.

“The staff at the hospital kept asking for the same information over and over again and it was frustrating for my family and for me,” said Davis, RN, BSN, MHSA, ACHE. “I said to myself that there has to be a better way to deliver health care.”

At the time, Davis was a bedside nurse, where she spent the first six years of her career. However, her experience made her look at options for improving the health care delivery system.

Davis decided to pursue her master’s degree in hospital administration at the University of Michigan, adding electives in information technology.

Today, she’s vice president of information technology/ chief information officer of DeKalb Medical Center in Decatur, guiding the institution into the age of technology and information services.

‘Complex industry’
“This has become a very complex industry,” Davis said. “I knew that pursuing my MHSA would help me learn about the health care delivery system organization, finance, regulations and insurance.”

After earning her master’s degree in the early 1980s, Davis worked at a public hospital in Cleveland to build a combined database of OB/ GYN patients in several outpatient clinics so that residents could easily access information when patients came in for delivery.

Over the years, Davis has continued to take courses in information technology, including work at Georgia Institute of Technology.

Davis said that many of the processes used in information technology are the same as the core nursing skills.

“Assessing, developing a plan, implementing the plan and the evaluating its effectiveness are the same tools used in nursing,” she said. “Someone who has a hunger for how the whole health care system works, is a good communicator and can see the big picture, is an ideal candidate to work in information technology.”

Management track
As chief information officer, Davis is part of the senior management team at DeKalb Medical, interfacing with all departments and helping direct the organization’s strategic direction. She has a staff of clinical application analysts who work throughout the hospital to set up information systems and help train staffers in electronic medical record implementation and computerized physician order entry.

Her team also provides support for all departments. “It’s an advantage to be a nurse and work in information technology,” Davis said.

“Understanding the work flow and the processes in health care, being open to assist with change and helping with transitions are all necessary skills for a nurse interested in learning about informatics.”

The typical clinical analyst may earn about $80,000 after one to two years of experience. A hospital CIO will make a six-figure
income.

“Information technology is a strategic asset for an organization,” Davis said. “We need people who understand the business, the process of change management and how it affects the delivery of health care.

“We’re the enablers who help put the systems in place. Implementing information technology helps the quality of care.”