Tyler Whetstine named new chief information officer at USA Health
Most recently, Whetstine was a senior vice president and chief information officer for Adventist Health, a company with 30,000 associates in more than 24 hospitals. He also previously served as vice president for Cerner Corporation, the world’s leading healthcare IT firm.
By Casandra Andrews
candrews@health.southalabama.edu
USA Health has appointed Tyler Whetstine as chief information officer (CIO) of the 5,000-employee system. He oversees all aspects of information technology, including computer systems, databases, network, and telecommunications. He brings more than 20 years of experience in healthcare information technology to the position.
“Tyler’s wealth of experience in information technology, specifically in healthcare settings, will be extremely valuable as our system continues to expand,” said Owen Bailey, M.S.H.A., FACHE, chief executive officer of USA Health. “His keen interest in how information technology can positively impact a patient’s experience will benefit our team and, ultimately, the community.”
Most recently, Whetstine was a senior vice president and chief information officer for Adventist Health, a company with 30,000 associates in more than 24 hospitals. He also previously served as vice president for Cerner Corporation, the world’s leading healthcare IT firm. His roles at Cerner included CIO of Citrus Memorial Health System in Florida.
Whetstine says a key to success will be building genuine relationships with staff and colleagues as he leads a team that continues to support the expanding needs of a growing patient-centered healthcare system.
“For me, a lot of times in IT we want to be the people who are building and developing something flashy, innovative and creative,” Whetstine said. “More importantly, we have to make sure the technology and tools we provide to the heroes in healthcare, who are taking care of people every single day, work and are reliable.”
One way to do that, he said, is by focusing on the clinician experience as it relates to IT and the technologies provided daily.
“When we do the operational things well and provide reliable high-performing solutions, it then affords us the opportunity to be able to think more strategically and innovatively about challenging problems to solve, such as how we can advance and transform the care we provide at USA Health,” Whetstine said. “I love thinking about how new technologies can help us — and help provide better quality care and outcomes for our patients.”
Whetstine earned a bachelor’s degree in health information administration from the University of Kansas and the University of Kansas Medical Center. He is a member of the Healthcare Management Academy (The Academy), the Scottsdale Institute, and CHIME, where he holds the certification of Certified Healthcare Chief Information Officer (CHCIO). He also completed the Healthcare Leadership program from the Henry W. Bloch School of Management at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
