HIMSS Physician Committee 2024 Year in Review

Leadership and Vision: My Year as Chair

Leading the HIMSS Physician Committee this past year has been a truly rewarding experience. Looking back, I am delighted by the progress we have made, successfully achieving most of our goals and setting the foundation for the completion of the remaining initiatives.

Throughout the year, we effectively welcomed and integrated new members including our first ever overseas members, strengthened collaborations with the HIMSS Nursing Informatics Committee, and deepened our ties with the HIMSS EHR Association. Additionally, we worked closely with the HIMSS Public Policy and Advocacy teams, participating in policy responses to address key issues in healthcare IT. These collaborative efforts have enriched our initiatives and outcomes, as highlighted in the end-of-year presentations.

Key Accomplishments in 2024

1. Delivering on Key Initiatives: The HIMSS Clinician Burden Reduction Task Force Toolkit | HIMSS. The key components of the tool kit include a general business plan, A burden identifier survey for physicians and nurses, and numerous other educational and change management resources on this topic

2 . Addressing Physician Burnout and Workflow Optimization: We prioritized reducing documentation burdens and improving EHR usability. Through webinars and collaborative discussions, we advanced solutions aimed at streamlining workflows and alleviating physician burnout. The resulting deliverables have been well-received by stakeholders across the healthcare IT spectrum.

4. Bridging Clinical Informatics and Policy: We made significant strides in connecting informatics expertise with policy advocacy by having HIMSS public policy experts join the monthly meetings and educate the members on initiatives like HIT rules and TEFCA. our balanced approach to advancing innovation while safeguarding patient safety and ethical standards.

5. Webinars and Thought Leadership: Our 2024 webinar series addressed key topics impacting healthcare IT, including AI integration into workflows, cybersecurity education for Clinicians, EHR usability, and many more. These sessions reached a global audience and fostered actionable dialogue among physicians and informatics leaders. See below for all the webinar links.

6. Strengthened Collaboration with Nursing Informatics: We fostered and grew collaborative efforts with the HIMSS Nursing Informatics Committee. This included developing resources to promote interdisciplinary workflows, joint input to policy recommendations and routinely attending Nursing Informatics Committee meetings.

7. Amplifying the Physician Voice: Our presence at the HIMSS Global Health Conference & Exhibition was a significant highlight and well received with great audience participation and positive feedback.

I want to deeply acknowledge and express my heartfelt gratitude to each physician member of the committee. Your time, expertise, and energy—given voluntarily—reflect your profound commitment to advancing our shared mission. The successes we celebrate today are not just milestones; they are the result of your unwavering dedication, hard work, and passion. It’s your collective efforts that have driven us forward and made a meaningful impact, and for that, I am truly grateful.

I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to the incredible collaborators who have been instrumental in the committee's success. In particular, I want to recognize Gwyne Jelbaoui, our Senior Program Manager, whose unwavering dedication, insight, and tireless efforts have been a cornerstone of our achievements. Gwynne's commitment and support have not only helped steer the committee’s work but have also inspired us all to aim higher and achieve more

As my time as committee chair ends, I’m filled with gratitude and pride for the dynamic work of the HIMSS Physician Committee. Together, we’ve played an important role in advancing healthcare IT and shaping its impact on physicians and their work. Looking ahead, I’m confident that the committee will continue to grow, innovate, and contribute meaningfully to the evolution of healthcare IT. It’s been an incredible journey, and I’m excited to see how the committee will carry this momentum forward into a bright and promising future.

2024 webinar links

• Revolutionizing Patient Care: Exploring Hospital at Home Successes, Challenges, and Future Opportunities
• Showcasing AI in Action: Unveiling Success Stories of Custom AI Chatbots in Healthcare
• Physicians’ burden: Is AI the only path forward?
• Moving Beyond the Hype to Objective Measurement of Generative AI Clinical Documentation
• Implementation of Innovations to Address Clinician Burnout
• Healthcare’s Race with AI: Global Strategies for Reducing Clinical Burden