The FQHC Executive’s IT Health Checklist: 10 Questions to Ask Your Team This Quarter
Strong technology isn’t just about keeping the lights on, it’s about powering care, compliance, and growth. But how do you, as a busy executive, know if your IT is truly supporting your mission?
We love a checklist. Use this 10-question checklist to guide a quarterly conversation with your IT lead or managed services provider (MSP). Each question is designed to uncover risk, spark strategic dialogue, and keep your organization mission-ready.
1. Are we monitoring for cyber threats 24/7?
If a ransomware attack started at 2 AM, how would we know—and how fast could we respond?
2. How often do we back up our data, and have we tested recovery?
Backups are meaningless if they can’t be restored quickly during an emergency. Everyone says they have backups, but when were they last tested?
3. When was our last phishing simulation or staff training?
End users are your largest attack surface. Regular testing and training builds awareness and resilience.
4. What’s our average IT ticket response and resolution time?
Slow IT support drains productivity and staff morale. Know your metrics.
5. Are we still using any unsupported systems or hardware?
Obsolete tech creates both security and compliance risks. Have a plan to phase it out.
6. Do all staff use multi-factor authentication (MFA)?
MFA is one of the easiest and most effective defenses. Gaps in adoption create vulnerability.
7. How reliable is our EHR and network during peak hours?
Downtime delays care. Performance audits can reveal fixable bottlenecks.
8. Do we have clear IT policies for onboarding and offboarding staff?
Inconsistent access management is a security risk and a PHI exposure point.
9. How well do our systems integrate and reduce double entry?
Manual data entry slows operations and increases error risk. Integration matters.
10. What’s our IT roadmap for the next 12 months?
Tech shouldn’t just react to problems, it should align with strategic goals, grant cycles, and expansion plans. Have you talked to IT about the future?
Next Step:
Use this checklist in your next leadership or board meeting. Not sure how your answers stack up? FQHCIT can walk you through an executive-level IT review in under an hour.
Clarity. Resilience. Impact.
