online focus groupsFocus Groups

Focus groups are a great opportunity to receive valuable feedback from the CHIME Members. These sessions are intended to be educational and interactive, not “sales pitches” of the member’s products and services. Focus groups (60 min) can be scheduled throughout the year. 8-12 CHIME members is the average attendance.

The Focus Group results, including raw data, quotes and insights collected from the focus group, may only be used by Foundation firm for its internal business purposes and may not be published or otherwise made public, without CHIME’s prior written consent, which may be withheld in CHIME’s sole discretion. Without limiting the foregoing, under no circumstances may Foundation firm use the name, tradename or logo of CHIME or any of its affiliates in connection with the survey results, including for purposes of a direct or indirect endorsement of its products or services. Please use the phrasing, “a focus group of CHIME members was held” OR “a focus group of healthcare executives, all CHIME members was held”. Wording implying partnership on the focus group or collaboration on the focus group is not allowed, i.e., “CHIME hosted a focus group” or “_____ partnered with CHIME to hold a focus group”. Thank you for complying!

  • GUIDELINES

    – These sessions are intended to be educational and interactive. They are not intended to be “sales pitches” of the members products and services; the Foundation is prohibited by nature of its 501(c)6 tax status from any activities which directly benefit the proprietary and interests of Foundation members. Members are requested to select a relevant topic for the session.

    • TIP: Instead, share a few sentences on company history, how long you’ve been in business and some brief information about the market sector you would like to reach.

    – Remember the audience: The attendees will be high ranking IT executive in a healthcare provider, payer or organization. Your presentation, questions and discussions should be at a level appropriate for this audience.

    • TIP: Consider the nature of your focus group; do your homework and provide a starting point. Understand the objectives of your audience.

    – Have an “internal agenda:” What areas does your firm want input on, and what do you hope to gain from your audience (reaction, feedback, discussion, information, etc)? Consider having a data sheet, if it will help the attendees understand the product/services better.

    – Please do lots of listening: Attendees want to give their input. If you have any further questions please contact the CHIME Foundation staff at foundationstaff@chimecentral.org.

  • TIPS

    RELEVANT INSIGHT ARTICLES


    Perspectives From Both Sides of A Focus Group
    We reached out to some long-time CHIME members with a unique perspective. These CHIME/CHIME Foundation members have experience in healthcare IT both as CIOs or the equivalent and as Industry partners.
    View Here    		 Planning For Focus Group Success – 9 Best Practices
    Tips from the CHIME Foundation team that will set you up for an engaging, robust discussion and a productive session overall.
    View Here


    RELEVANT WEBINARS

    Holding a Focus Group- Your Questions Answered
    Presented by CHIME Foundation staff
    View Here
    31 minutes

  • Timeline

    AT LEAST Three Weeks Before Session

    • Request your focus group session time using the form at the bottom of the page below.
      * 4-6 weeks notice works best for scheduling and sending out invites. In order to schedule the date and get invitations out to the CHIME Members we need a minimum of 3 weeks.
    • To schedule your focus group you will need a topic, brief abstract and presenter information (name, title, and organization).
    • CHIME will invite the entire CHIME membership to your session. Approaching the entire CHIME membership has proven successful in attracting CHIME members and ensures a full online classroom (8-12 participants). CHIME Members who attend the online session receive a $100 honorarium (as paid by the CHIME Foundation) for their participation.

    Two Days Before Your Session

    • Please send final presentation to Foundation staff no later than 24 hours before your session. Following a few simple design tips will help you create slides that work effectively for your focus group presentation. Keeping the presentation between 15-20 slides is preferred. Reduce the number/size of any high-quality pictures you include on your slides. Most PowerPoint animations work fine, but sometimes they do not convert well. Please keep this in mind when preparing your slides.

    The Day of Your Session

    • We ask that presenters please login to the Zoom Interface 30 min prior to their session for a brief review of the Zoom system and to go over any questions the presenter(s) may have before the session begins.

  • TESTIMONIALS

    “I have been an active participant in CHIME Foundation member focus groups for more than 10 years. I find these focus group sessions to be among the most valuable continuing education opportunities CHIME offers. These sessions often provide CHIME CIO members insight into a firm’s thinking about market trends, emerging technologies, and their own strategic direction. In addition to the forward-looking perspective offered by CHIME Foundation member firms, the input and feedback provided by peer CHIME CIO member participants in a well-managed focus group is usually even more valuable. Spending an hour or so discussing current industry topics with 8-12 of my peers, who are largely facing the same or similar challenges, and learning about their various approaches and solutions, yields far more value than any single hour spent with the best consultant. CHIME Foundation member focus groups are an activity I always try to make time for in my busy schedule.”

    Wayne Sass, PhD, CHCIO | Monarch HealthCare
    Part of Optum
    VP of IT and CIO

    “As the CIO/CISO of a rural community hospital in northern Vermont, it difficult to stay abreast of Healthcare IT trends across the country. CHIME’s focus groups are extremely valuable to me, as they provide an excellent way to connect with peers and foundation partners. It’s enormously beneficial to understand the initiatives, challenges, accomplishments and strategies of this group of outstanding leaders, and hear about the solutions that are being developed by foundations partners. I look forward to these events and am honored to be able to attend.”

    Kate Pierce, MSMIIT, CHCIO, CHISL
    CIO/CISO
    North Country Hospital

    “I so appreciate the opportunity to participate in the CHIME focus groups.  These are great forums to learn more about our CHIME Foundation partners, get exposure to the solutions and services that they offer, and get insight into what they are planning for the future.  Because the focus groups are smaller virtual forums there is great interaction and active dialogue between the CIOs and the CHIME Foundation partner participants as ideas are considered and debated.  It is always good to be together with peer CIOs and be reminded that the challenges you face are likely shared by many.  It is so helpful to lean on this CHIME community for input on ideas, strategies, and solutions.”

    Audrius Polikaitis
    CIO
    University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System

Submit Your Online Focus Group

If you have any additional questions regarding the preparation of survey content, please email foundationstaff@chimecentral.org or call 1.734.665.0000 and a Foundation staff member will be happy to assist you.