CHIME Launches Organization for Chief Security Officers in Health Care

The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) announced the launch of a new organization to serve the education and professional development needs of health care executives in senior information security roles. The Association for Executives in Healthcare Information Security (AEHIS) is the first professional organization representing chief security officers (CSOs) in the health care setting. Formed to address an unmet need in the industry, AEHIS will provide educational resources on important health care security issues, as well as an environment where CSOs can communicate with, inform, and educate one another.

 "As patient data breaches and cyber security threats continue to rise, there has never been a greater need for accomplished and skilled professionals to safeguard our industry's most sensitive information," says CHIME President and CEO Russell P. Branzell, FCHIME, CHCIO. "The CHIME board recognized our industry's void in supporting the professional development and peer-to-peer needs of CSOs, and that educational resources for key members of the CIO's executive team were lacking."  

"We are pleased to be able to assist in the establishment of this important new organization," said CHIME Board Chair Randy McCleese, FCHIME, LCHIME, CHCIO. "With hundreds of data breaches being reported, and a shortage of security professionals with a background in health care, it has become increasing clear that this group could greatly benefit from the kind of opportunities that CHIME provides CIOs."  

AEHIS will operate as a separate membership association under the umbrella of CHIME, a professional organization dedicated to serving health care CIOs and other senior IT leaders. AEHIS members will benefit from CHIME's twenty-two year history in delivering valuable, high-quality executive education and networking opportunities.  

"In light of today's ever-changing digital world, chief security officers in health care are under immense pressure to protect their organization's information assets and architecture, while adhering to HIPAA-related privacy and security mandates," says CHIME Executive Vice President of Membership and Professional Development George McCulloch, MA, MBA, FCHIME, CHCIO. "Our goal is to help provide the education and collaborations necessary for CSOs to progress their knowledge, solve issues, and form meaningful, supportive relationships with their peers."

Interested CSOs that apply and are accepted before December 31, 2014, will be recognized as AEHIS founding members and will receive a one-year complimentary membership. For more information, please visit www.aehis.org.

Source: College of Healthcare Information Management Executives