CIOs’ tech wishlist: What IT leaders would buy with a blank check
If hospital and health system CIOs had unlimited resources, where would they place their biggest technology bets?
Becker’s asked several IT leaders: If you had a blank check to invest in one technology tomorrow, what would it be and why?
Editor’s note: Responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity.
Eric Daffron. Vice President of Information Systems and CIO at Southeast Alabama Medical Center (Dothan, Ala.): If I had a blank check to invest in one technology tomorrow, it would be ambient listening for clinical documentation. I frequently hear from physicians that they are tired of spending too much time interacting with a computer and not enough time conversing and collaborating with their patients. Ambient listening with generative AI has the ability to increase the engagement and longevity of our caregivers, as well as create a clinically relevant note that contributes to the ongoing care of the patient.
Luis Taveras. Senior Vice President and CIO at Jefferson Health (Philadelphia): Choosing a favorite technology is akin to picking a favorite child, but if I had to choose, it would undoubtedly be data. Data serves as the cornerstone for enabling all other technologies. Without a robust data foundation — which includes governance, security, architecture and a comprehensive data dictionary — we cannot fully harness the benefits promised by AI and other advanced technologies.
Data is essential for driving innovation, making informed decisions and optimizing processes across various domains. It provides insights to understand our patients’ behavior, improve operational efficiency and develop new products and services. In essence, data is the lifeblood of modern technology, and investing in it ensures that we can leverage the full potential of emerging technologies to drive growth and success.
Mark Albright. CIO at Tri-City Medical Center (Oceanside, Calif.): A top priority for our facility is digital transformation, and as such, AI solutions are considered to be the most transformative technologies to improve efficiencies, reduce waste and increase the quality of care. For those reasons, I would prioritize AI solutions to invest in.
Specifically, I would invest in AI-driven documentation tools like generative AI scribes. These tools have demonstrated an immediate impact on both provider efficiency and satisfaction. Automatically generating structured medical notes from a provider-patient conversation dramatically reduces documentation time — a top complaint of most providers. Giving providers time back will improve throughput without sacrificing documentation quality, reduce documentation fatigue and burnout, and potentially enable providers to see more patients without increasing hours.
AI-fueled decision support platforms would be a close second for me. At the end of the day, these AI tools deliver immediate, measurable results in workflows, outcomes and efficiencies and represent a long-term strategic win.
Muhammad Siddiqui. CIO of Reid Health (Richmond, Ind.): If I had unlimited resources tomorrow, I’d invest in an AI healthcare platform that predicts, prevents and personalizes care before patients even realize they need it.
Here’s why: Healthcare is going through a major shift. We’re moving past AI as a one-off tool. Now, it’s about AI helping manage the entire care journey — from booking an appointment to recovery.
Imagine a platform where AI pulls together everything about a patient: their genetics, lifestyle, environment and family history. In seconds, it flags hidden risks and builds custom prevention plans. Doctors wouldn’t just get data — they’d get clear, actionable insights for each patient.
This isn’t about taking the human out of healthcare. It’s about giving physicians more time to focus on what they love: connecting with patients, making thoughtful decisions and truly caring.
Looking ahead to 2025, healthcare leaders want more than just smarter tech. They’re looking for speed, precision and personalization. A platform like this wouldn’t just check those boxes — it would raise the bar entirely. This wouldn’t be a small step forward. It would be a true leap into the future of care.
Tom Bartiromo. Senior Vice President and CIO of Tower Health (West Reading, Pa.): If I had a blank check to invest in one technology tomorrow, it would be in adaptive, responsible AI infrastructure that spans the full healthcare enterprise — clinical, operational and financial. Not just a chatbot or decision-support bolt-on, but a foundational layer where AI augments care delivery, automates administrative friction and enables precision resource allocation in real time.
The reason: The future of healthcare isn’t more tools — it’s fewer, smarter ones. We are sitting on oceans of underutilized data, constrained by legacy workflows and fragmented systems. A truly integrated AI platform would unlock that data for proactive insight, personalized care and system-level resilience. The ROI wouldn’t just be financial — it would be a return on people, future, community and experience.
If I had the check, I’d make sure we don’t just buy more or faster tech — but a better system… one that creates the conditions for a healthier (and responsible) future.
Zafar Chaudry, MD. Senior Vice President, Chief Digital Officer and Chief AI and Information Officer at Seattle Children’s: If I had a blank check, I’d pour it all into AI-powered cybersecurity platforms. Why? Because the pace of cyber threats is escalating incredibly fast. Traditional defenses are often reactive. AI, however, offers the ability to be truly proactive and predictive — detecting and neutralizing threats in real time, even anticipating new attack vectors. A major breach can be catastrophic, so investing heavily here isn’t just about protection; it’s about business continuity and trust. Security underpins everything we do.