By: Gwynne Jelbaoui, FHIMSS

As we continue to spotlight members of the HIMSS Physician Committee, we would like to remind you that the HIMSS Call for Volunteers will open in September. If you are interested in contributing to industry-shaping thought leadership, advocating for health IT policies, and collaborating with peers across the HIMSS community—including fellow physicians—stay tuned for upcoming announcements on how to get involved.

This week, we are pleased to highlight Dr. David Scher, a dedicated member of the HIMSS Physician Committee. Dr. Scher serves as CEO, President, Owner, and Chairman of DLS Healthcare Consulting, LLC. He is also a Board Member of the HIMSS Delaware Valley Chapter and has previously served on the Clinical Burden Reduction Task Force. In addition, Dr. Scher has been a content reviewer for the HIMSS Global Health Conference for several years.

Now in his first year on the HIMSS Physician Committee, Dr. Scher continues to contribute meaningfully to discussions and resources that support innovation in health IT. He remains a passionate advocate and educator in digital health, with a particular focus on telehealth and related technologies.

Below are his thoughts on digital health and health tech.

HIMSS: What inspired you to pursue a career at the intersection of healthcare and tech?

Dr. Scher: My private practice recognized the importance of tech and in 1997 we had a home grown EHR which was also mobile on a Palm Pilot. I was the investigator for a Medtronic pilot study in 2000 introducing remote patient monitoring of implantable defibrillators (and later pacemakers) and observed the immense acceptance and appreciation of this type of technology by my patients. Anticipating and addressing awareness education, communication, and new clinical workflows was a rewarding process. Speaking around the world to increase adoption of such technology was and remains a passion of mine.

HIMSS: What motivates you to continue advocating for improvement in health tech?

Dr. Scher: The global clinician shortage is straining healthcare, frustrating clinicians, patients, and caregivers alike. Technology can support clinical decisions, manage population health, and guide patients—provided it always prioritizes patient outcomes.

HIMSS: What excites you most about the future of digital health and its impact on patient care?

Dr. Scher: I am excited about clinician and patient advocates being aware of the potential of remote patient monitoring, the (hopeful) evolution of a clinician and patient-friendly EHR experience, AI for drug discoveries (both for new drugs and repurposing existing drugs for other indications, and personalized care based on genomics. The diffusion of the use of patient portals and wearable consumer devices is the first step of a movement of patients taking more control of their health. I think the impact of tech and AI specifically will continue to grow. Putting guardrails in place will be critical for patient safety.

HIMSS: What are some of the biggest challenges physicians face when it comes to health tech today?

Dr. Scher: I think the biggest present challenge is dealing with medical disinformation. The establishment of AI guardrails for patient safety will help in this regard. Longer-term challenges involve pushing digital tech to areas that will improve the entire healthcare system by increasing patient access, supporting healthcare at home, and eliminating expensive and unnecessary administrative functions and costs.

If you would like to learn more about the HIMSS Physician Committee, click here.