Associate Chief Information Officer (ACIO), Applications

Meritus Health•Hagerstown, MD

6d•$210,000•Onsite

About The Position

At Meritus Health, technology is a strategic engine that powers clinical excellence, operational performance, and an exceptional patient and provider experience. The Associate Chief Information Officer (ACIO), Applications provides executive leadership and strategic direction for the full portfolio of enterprise clinical and business applications, with primary accountability for the Epic electronic health record (EHR) and the organization’s integrated application ecosystem. Serving as a senior deputy to the CIO, the ACIO owns the lifecycle of these systems—selection, implementation, optimization, integration, support, and decommissioning—and ensures they remain stable, secure, compliant, and aligned with Meritus’s clinical, operational, financial, and academic goals. This leader partners closely with stakeholders across hospital and ambulatory services, the accountable care organization, revenue cycle, finance, quality, physician enterprise, supply chain, and the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine to translate institutional strategy into a governed, transparent application roadmap. The ACIO leads a high‑caliber team of internal analysts, managers, and external/hosted partners, maintaining a prioritized backlog and delivering projects in collaboration with IT peers in infrastructure, cybersecurity, data, and the PMO. Success in this role is demonstrated through proactive, insightful strategies that enhance patient and provider experience, strengthen operating performance, and advance Meritus’s position as a Baldrige‑recognized, technology‑enabled health system and academic enterprise.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Health Informatics, Healthcare Administration, Business, Finance, Public Health, or a related field required
Ten (10) or more years of progressive healthcare information technology experience
Five (5) or more years of leadership accountability for enterprise applications, including direct oversight of Epic at an enterprise level
Demonstrated success managing large, cross‑functional teams, third‑party vendors, hosted services, complex implementations, and enterprise governance
Strong command of healthcare operations, clinical and revenue cycle workflows, and Maryland HSCRC reporting
Epic certification(s) in one or more relevant modules required within a defined period after hire (or equivalent demonstrated proficiency)
Deep knowledge of Epic systems, workflows, lifecycle management, and post‑go‑live optimization
Expertise in integrating third‑party clinical and business applications
Strong strategic, analytical, and financial acumen
Exceptional executive communication, stakeholder management, and change‑leadership skills
Skilled in application governance, portfolio rationalization, and vendor management
Proficiency with Microsoft 365 and enterprise collaboration tools
Ability to manage a complex, multi‑priority environment with a strong customer‑service orientation
Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree (MBA, MHA, MPH, or MS in Health Informatics) strongly preferred
Experience in a multi‑hospital, integrated delivery network, or academic medical environment preferred
PMP, CHCIO, ITIL, or Lean Six Sigma certification preferred

Responsibilities

Direct the day‑to‑day operations, configuration, and continuous optimization of the Epic platform and the broader enterprise application portfolio
Own the intake, evaluation, prioritization, and disposition of change and feature requests
Coordinate releases, upgrades, and issue resolution to ensure system stability and support patient care and business operations
Oversee the selection, contracting, integration, and ongoing management of third‑party and best‑of‑breed applications that interface with Epic
Serve as primary liaison to the third‑party hosting vendor and key software partners
Govern service levels, interoperability standards, technical debt, and portfolio rationalization to maximize value and minimize redundancy
Build, structure, and lead the applications organization, including internal analysts, managers, and contracted resources
Provide coaching, mentorship, and professional development to ensure certifications, succession planning, retention, and a culture of accountability and continuous learning
Partner with the PMO and IT leadership to establish and sustain an application governance and project‑execution framework
Maintain a transparent, prioritized backlog and align demand with capacity
Ensure projects are delivered on scope, schedule, and budget with clear communication and measurable outcomes
Collaborate with revenue cycle and patient financial services leaders to improve coding accuracy, charge capture, billing timeliness, receivables collection, payer‑mix management, and HSCRC reporting
Ensure effective configuration and optimization of Epic Resolute and related applications
Partner with Clinical Informatics and clinical business owners to ensure consistent, compliant, and efficient workflows
Reduce clinician burden, improve usability, and drive adoption and satisfaction across the EHR
Champion responsible use of data, automation, and AI capabilities within and around the application portfolio
Advance analytics, reporting, and alignment with enterprise AI and data‑governance frameworks
Ensure applications meet regulatory and accreditation requirements (HIPAA, HITECH, CMS, Joint Commission)
Partner with Cybersecurity, Risk, and Compliance to manage application risk, access governance, audit readiness, and business continuity
Perform other duties as assigned