Honoring Excellence: CHIME Recognizes Outstanding Achievements of Digital Health Leaders and Professional Services Firms with the 2023 CHIME Awards
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Honoring Excellence: CHIME Recognizes Outstanding Achievements of Digital Health Leaders and Professional Services Firms with the 2023 CHIME Awards
Ann Arbor, Michigan – November 27, 2023 – On Saturday, November 11, 2023, the second day of The College of Health Information Management Executives (CHIME)’s Annual Fall Forum, CHIME proudly recognized several of the nation’s top digital health leaders and professional solutions and services firm with its prestigious 2023 CHIME Awards. Each year, CHIME presents these awards to outstanding individuals and organizations whose leadership has significantly advanced CHIME’s mission of enhancing health and care through technology.
Honoring digital health leaders who have demonstrated the highest standards of excellence, the awards issued for 2023 include :
- Innovator of the Year Award
- Transformational Leadership Award
- Public Policy Award
- CIO of the Year
In recognition of their remarkable achievements, CHIME’s President and CEO, Russ Branzell stated, “CHIME proudly celebrate these outstanding individuals and organizations for their unwavering leadership. The 2023 CHIME Awardees have demonstrated a strong commitment to CHIME’s mission and had a tremendous impact on both our industry and in the lives of the patient communities they serve. Their accomplishments have been pivotal in driving advancements in patient care and operational efficiency, leaving an indelible mark on our field.”
Recognizing Remarkable Leadership in a Time of Unprecedented Challenges: Digital Health Leader Award Winners
In an era defined by transformative technology, escalating cybersecurity threats, and critical workforce shortages, the 2023 CHIME Awards commend digital health leaders who have excelled during one of the most demanding chapters in healthcare history. Daniel Nigrin, MD, CHCIO, CHIME Board Chair, and Chief Information Officer at MaineHealth, shared his perspective on this year’s awardees, stating, “In these challenging times, we have witnessed digital health leaders display remarkable innovation and resilience. The 2023 CHIME Awards spotlight the tenacity, sheer determination, and unrelenting dedication that these exceptional leaders demonstrated in not just facing–but conquering today’s formidable challenges.”
Innovator of the Year Award
The Innovator of the Year Award honors a current CHIME Member who has demonstrated exceptional value to their organization through innovative technology applications and key strategic business objectives. This year, the Innovator of the Year Award was presented to Terri Couts, Senior Vice President and Chief Digital Officer of The Guthrie Clinic, alongside Artisight, a pioneering healthcare technology company that is transforming the industry through artificial intelligence software solutions.
Confronting challenges posed by a growing local population, increased healthcare complexity, and mounting burnout and clinician shortages, Guthrie’s leadership recognized the need for a new care model. As early adopters of the Artisight Smart Hospital Platform, Guthrie successfully launched a Virtual Command Center, integrating remote sitting, centralized transfer services, remote telemetry monitoring, remote nursing, and an EICU component. The outcomes were impactful, with collective reductions in nurse turnover rates, the use of nurse travelers, and streamlined time spent in the system for providers. “Innovation is the heartbeat of progress, and the visionary leadership demonstrated by Terri and the partnership between Guthrie Clinic and Artisight show the transformative impact that technology empowered by collaboration can have in shaping the future of healthcare delivery,” said Branzell.
Transformational Leadership Award
Jointly awarded to a CHIME member and their organization’s CEO, this award, offered in collaboration with the American Hospital Association, recognizes technology-driven transformation. It celebrates organizations that have excelled in strategically deploying IT to enhance care delivery and streamline administrative services. Lakeside Regional Health’s Vice President, CIO/Chief Applications Officer, Medical Center Chief Operating Officer, Ana Kalman, and President and CEO, Danielle Drummond, received the Transformational Leadership Award for their excellence in leveraging information technology to enhance care delivery and administrative services. Initiatives such as ED LaunchPoint, led by Kalman and Drummond, have optimized clinician workflows, helping their organization achieve Level 8 Acute and Level 8 Ambulatory recognition from the CHIME Digital Health Most Wired Survey program, highlighting their dedication to seamless integration of operational aspects in alignment with a strategic healthcare IT vision.
Public Policy Award
The Public Policy Award recognizes individuals who volunteer their time and expertise to champion sound policies and federal support digital health. Established to honor those advocating for CHIME’s priorities, this year’s recipient, Brian Sterud, Vice President of IT/CIO/CISO at Faith Regional Services, has been instrumental in representing the needs of rural and underserved communities. His pivotal role in CHIME’s public policy committees, including initiatives like reviewing letters to the White House on healthcare cybersecurity, reflects his dedication to being a voice of change for patients and providers. Mari Savickis, CHIME’s Vice President of Public Policy commended Brian saying, “His proactive involvement in CHIME’s crucial initiatives, such as the PATCH Act, showcases his commitment to making a tangible difference for healthcare providers and the patients they serve.”
CIO of the Year Award
The CIO of the Year Award celebrates a digital leader who has achieved a lifetime of accomplishments in the industry. The recipient is carefully selected by the CIO of the Year Awards Committee, comprised of past awardees, and their designation is officially approved by CHIME’s Board of Directors. Shafiq Rab, EVP, Chief Digital Officer and System Chief Information Officer at Tufts Medicine was honored with the prestigious 2024 CIO of the Year Award for the remarkable achievements he has attained over his 20+ year career leading at the forefront of healthcare delivery and digital transformation. Under his visionary leadership, Tufts Medicine has significantly improved its care delivery as a result of initiatives he has overseen such as the “Hospital at Home” program and a multi-lingual digital Omni Channel door. “Known as a driver of change, Shafiq has continually sought opportunities to innovate, champion techquity, and create culturally competent care, all while fostering growth and community involvement,” said Russ Branzell. He continued, “His career is proof that being a CIO is not just about technology; it’s about making a meaningful difference in people’s lives.”
About CHIME
The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) is an executive organization dedicated to serving chief information officers (CIOs), chief medical information officers (CMIOs), chief nursing information officers (CNIOs), chief innovation officers (CIOs), chief digital officers (CDOs) and other senior healthcare IT leaders. With more than 5,000 members in 56 countries plus two U.S. territories and over 150 healthcare IT business partners and professional services firms, CHIME and its three associations provide a highly interactive, trusted environment enabling senior professional and industry leaders to collaborate, exchange best practices, address professional development needs and advocate the effective use of information management to improve the health and care in the communities they serve. For more information, please visit chimecentral.org.
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Contact
Calli Dretke
Executive Vice President & Chief Digital and Marketing Officer
CHIME
734.412.6255
[email protected]