Chief Information Office RHTT - Information Systems

Chief Information Officer RHTT

To learn more about our benefits, please visit Baxter Health Careers – Benefits.

Job Title:

Chief Information Officer RHTT (2403)

FLSA Status:

Salaried, Exempt

Cost Center:

8300

Job Code:

2403

RHTP Initiative:

Thrive/Tech Fund

Planned effort %

100%

Department:

Information Technology

Approved By:

Human Resources

Operating Unit:

Financial

Approval Date:

09/08/2026

Reports To:

VP, Chief Financial Officer

Revision Date(s):

Funding:

Funded in part or whole by the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), a federal program administered by CMS, through the State of Arkansas.

PURPOSE STATEMENT: To champion access to compassionate high-quality care by remaining independent, strategically comprehensive and community-focused.

SUMMARY: The Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the health system provides strategic and operational leadership for all information technology, data, and digital infrastructure. Partners with clinical, financial, and administrative leaders to ensure that technology strengthens patient care, protects patient information, and supports the system's mission of remaining independent, strategically comprehensive, and community-focused. The CIO will lead a team responsible for enterprise applications, network and infrastructure, cybersecurity, data governance, clinical informatics, and IT support across all Baxter Health locations, including hospitals, ambulatory surgery center, home health, hospice, clinics, and remote rural sites. This is a role for a leader who understands that in rural healthcare, every system decision has a direct line to patient access and safety. The CIO is accountable for the accomplishment of results and the achievement of objectives consistent with the health system’s strategic plan. Ensures compliance with all state, federal, and local laws and regulations.

BAXTER HEALTH COMPLIANCE RESPONSIBILITIES

Understands and adheres to Baxter Health standards and policies.

Required to work with the VP, Chief Financial Officer and Compliance Committee to regularly to carryout, initiate and/or implement best practices for Baxter Health.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Education: Bachelor’s degree in information technology, computer science, healthcare administration, or a related field. Master’s degree in a relevant field (MBA, MHA or MIS) preferred.

Experience: Minimum of 8 to 10 years of progressive IT leadership experience, including at least 5 years in a senior IT leadership role within a hospital or health system. Experience leading IT in a rural or critical access health system preferred or multi-site healthcare organization. Demonstrated experience with EHR platforms, healthcare interoperability standards, artificial intelligence and HIPAA compliance. Experience with telehealth expansion and rural broadband or connectivity initiatives.

Certification: Certified Healthcare Chief Information Officer (“CHCIO”) or equivalent preferred.

Other: Strong track record in cybersecurity strategy and incident response. Proven ability to lead through change and manage complex, multi-site technology environments. Must be extremely detail oriented, organized and conscientious to ensure high quality work. Excellent time-management and follow-up skills to ensure work deadlines are met. Excellent communication, presentation and interpersonal skills. Ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality with regard to HIPAA and organizational operations.

Primary Source Verification:

Original Transcripts

Safety Sensitive Designation:

This position is not deemed safety sensitive.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job with or without an accommodation. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to perform the following: Must have the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, to solve problems and make decisions. Spend eight (8) hours or more in front of computer, monitor or similar screen utilizing keyboard and/or mouse, daily. Ability to regularly stand and walk, occasionally bend, squat and twist, and occasionally lift up to 20 pounds using proper body mechanics. Must have a keen sense of hearing and visual acuity with or without correction. Must be able to handle critical and highly stressful situations with efficiency and composure.

Work Environment

This position operates in a healthcare environment supporting hospitals, surgery centers, clinics, and community outreach programs. Occasional travel between facilities may be required.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work

This is a position in a healthcare setting which is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Work schedule is typically 5 days a week, Monday – Friday, work hours may exceed 40 hours per week. Required to respond after hours, on weekends and during inclement weather due to emergent situations.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategy and Executive Leadership

• Develop and lead a multi-year information technology strategy that supports Baxter Health's strategic plan, clinical priorities, and financial goals.
• Serve as a director level advisor to the CEO, CFO and Board of Directors on technology opportunities, risks, and investments.
• Lead IT governance, including project prioritization, steering committees, and technology policies.
• Collaborate with physicians, nursing, operations, finance, and legal to align technology with patient care and community needs.
• Report regularly to senior leadership and the Board on performance, risk, and progress.

System Integration and Growth

• Lead integrated technology platforms across all Baxter Health entities, standardizing systems, processes, and support with particular attention to the connectivity challenges of rural and frontier communities.
• Own enterprise architecture so new clinics, services, and partners connect quickly and securely.
• Lead technology due diligence and integration for affiliations, acquisitions, joint ventures, and new service lines.
• Support employed and affiliated physician practices with shared EHR access, practice management, and connectivity.
• Provide technology for population health, value-based contracts, and any clinically integrated network or accountable care partnerships.
• Lead a system IT project management office that sets priorities and delivers major initiatives on time and on budget.
• Build technology partnerships with regional providers, academic centers, and public health agencies to strengthen rural access across the service area.

Clinical and Enterprise Systems

• Oversee the electronic health record (EHR), enterprise applications, telehealth platforms, and all clinical, revenue cycle, ERP, HR, and supply chain systems.
• Work closely with the Chief Medical Information Officer and Chief Nursing Information Officer to improve clinician workflows, reduce documentation burden, and ensure technology supports safe, efficient and compassionate care at bedside and beyond.
• Advance interoperability so patient information moves safely between Baxter Health, partner providers, health information exchanges, and payers.
• Support patient-facing tools such as the patient portal, online scheduling, and digital front door services.
• Ensure compliance with federal interoperability, information blocking, and promoting interoperability requirements.

Artificial Intelligence

• Set Baxter Health's AI strategy and roadmap, focused on clear value for patients, caregivers, and operations.
• In conjunction with Health System risk leaders, establish and maintain an AI governance committee with clinical, legal, compliance, ethics, and operational leaders.
• Create policies for safe, ethical, and transparent AI use, including approval, validation, bias review, and ongoing monitoring of AI tools.
• Evaluate and implement AI solutions such as ambient clinical documentation, clinical decision support, imaging support, revenue cycle automation, patient communication, and workforce scheduling.
• Make sure every AI tool protects patient privacy, meets HIPAA and regulatory requirements, and keeps clinicians in charge of clinical decisions.
• Measure AI results against goals, including time saved, quality and safety outcomes, patient experience, and return on investment.
• Build AI literacy across the organization through education for leaders, providers, and staff.
• Stay current on AI regulation, accreditation guidance, and industry best practice, and adjust policy as needed.

Telecommunications and Connectivity

• Lead all voice, data, and wireless communications across the hospital, clinics, home health, hospice, and remote sites.
• Oversee phone systems, unified communications, contact center platforms, nurse call integration, paging, and secure clinical messaging.
• Ensure reliable wired and wireless networks, including coverage for clinical devices and mobile caregivers.
• Lead telehealth and remote patient monitoring infrastructure so patients across the Ozarks can reach care from home.
• Manage carrier and broadband contracts, circuit redundancy, and failover plans for rural sites with limited connectivity options.
• Partner with emergency management on communications for disasters and severe weather, including radio, backup communication paths, and regional coordination.
• Pursue rural broadband partnerships, grants, and programs such as the FCC Rural Health Care Program to expand access and lower costs.

Cybersecurity and Privacy

• Direct cybersecurity strategy and oversee data governance to protect patient information.
• Protect patient data and critical systems from ransomware and other threats through layered defenses, monitoring, and staff training.
• Lead incident response, disaster recovery, and business continuity planning, with regular testing.
• Ensure compliance with HIPAA, HITECH, and other applicable security and privacy regulations.
• Manage third party and vendor security risk, including AI and cloud vendors.

Infrastructure and Operations

• Oversee data centers, cloud services, servers, storage, end-user devices, and the service desk.
• Maintain high system availability and fast, friendly support for caregivers 24 hours a day.
• Plan technology lifecycle replacement to keep systems current, secure, and cost-effective.

Data and Analytics

• Lead data governance, data quality, and the enterprise data and analytics platform.
• Deliver reporting that supports quality, safety, population health, value-based care, and financial performance.
• Build a strong data foundation that makes trustworthy AI possible.

Financial Stewardship and Vendor Management

• Develop and manage IT operating and capital budgets with discipline and transparency.
• Negotiate and manage major vendor contracts and service agreements.
• Make technology choices that protect rural healthcare sustainability and keep local care strong.

People and Culture

• Lead, develop, and retain a skilled, high performing, IS team, with clear goals and growth paths and that are grounded in service, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Build a service-minded culture that lives the Baxter Health values.
• Plan for succession and workforce needs in a competitive rural labor market.

Other

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Essential Rural Health Transformation Program duties:

• Performs tasks in the approved initiative workplan.
• Support RHTP deliverable, data and reporting as directed.
• Record time worked to the RHTP code; certify on the required payroll interval.
• Record any split effort when performing non-RHTP duties, if applicable. Never charge to RHTP: hospital operations, clinical backfill, or any non-RHTP work. See direct Supervisor for guidance when needed.
• Route any public materials about the projected through Baxter Health RHTP grants office.
• Other duties within the approved RHTP scope.

Job Competencies – Director

Inspiring Others

Motivates individuals toward higher levels of performance that are aligned with the organization's mission, vision and values.

Coaching

Engaging an individual in developing and committing to an action plan that targets specific behaviors, skills, or knowledge needed to ensure performance improvement or prepare for success in new responsibilities.

Guiding Team Success

Using appropriate methods and flexible interpersonal style to build, motivate, and guide a cohesive team to complete team goals.

Creating a Culture of Trust

Fostering a work environment that encourages people to act with integrity and treat each other and their ideas with respect; creating and protecting a high-trust environment by setting an example, advocating for others in the face of challenge, removing barriers to trust, and rewarding others for demonstrating behaviors that cultivate trust.

Adaptability

Maintaining effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work responsibilities or environment (e.g., people, processes, structure, or culture); adjusting effectively to change by exploring the benefits, trying new approaches, and collaborating with others to make the change successful.

Courage

Proactively confronting difficult issues; making valiant choices and taking bold action in the face of opposition or fear.

Positive Approach

Demonstrating a positive attitude in the face of difficult or challenging situations; providing an uplifting (yet realistic) outlook on what the future holds and the opportunities it might present.

Stress Tolerance

Maintaining stable performance under pressure or opposition (e.g., experiencing time pressure, conflict, or job ambiguity); handling stress in a manner that is acceptable to others and to the organization.

Strategic Planning

Obtaining information and identifying key issues and relationships relevant to achieving a long-range goal; committing to a course of action to accomplish a long-range goal after developing alternatives based on logical assumptions, facts, available resources, constraint, and organizational values.

Business Acumen

Uses one's knowledge of economic, financial, market, and industry trends to understand and improve individual, work group, and/or organizational results; using one's understanding of major business functions, industry trends and own organization's position to contribute to effective business strategies and/or tactics.

Seizing Market Opportunities

Using one's understanding of key market drivers to create and seize business and patient service opportunities, expand into new markets, and launch innovative patient services.

Baxter Health offers equal opportunity for employment. In accordance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended in 1991, as well as ADA, ADEA, USERRA, and the Arkansas Civil Rights Act.

Location: Baxter Health · 8300 - Information Systems

Schedule: Full time, Varies