Evolutionary role of physician leaders in healthcare informatics and health technology

Background: Healthcare Informatics leaders are the bridge between the information systems and clinical departments. The role has grown to where Health Informatics leaders analyze, design, develop, implement, and evaluate information and communication systems that enhance individual and population health outcomes, improve patient care, and strengthen the clinician-patient relationship. Their role spans across administration, information technology into the clinical realm. Objective: The primary objective of this study was to identify the past, current roles, and responsibilities of Health Informatics leaders while the secondary outcome was to identify the future trends in the responsibilities and roles. Methods: A thirteen-question survey was emailed to recipients through listservs. Results: Respondents cited their roles have evolve in respect to EMR to improve patient outcome and efficiency, overseeing compliance with federal and state regulations, design and customization of information technology systems, quality improvement management, healthcare data analytics (machine learning and artificial intelligence), population health management. Conclusion: The role of CMIO and healthcare informatics leaders have begun to be distinctly delineated, and their positions have had a tremendous impact on the integration of health information technology in healthcare. The role of the CMIO will continue to evolve as technology changes.