By: Gwynne Jelbaoui, FHIMSS

This month, I am proud to spotlight one of the international Physician Committee members, Dr. Maria Carolina Aguirre Navas. Dr. Navas is the CMIO at Fundación Cardiovascular of Colombia. Dr. Navas was awarded the 2024 HIMSS Changemaker Award for the most influential women in Health IT, and she led her organization to achieve the HIMSS Stage 7 EMRAM Certification, the highest level in this model. There are only 9 hospitals in Latin America that have earned this certification! I'm grateful to have the opportunity to work with and learn from Dr. Navas while she serves on the HIMSS Physician Committee.

Dr. Navas's passion for enhancing the decision-making process for clinicians and improving the patient's outcomes are two of the driving factors for Dr. Navas to give her time to the HIMSS Physician Committee. Continue reading to learn more about her perspectives on digital health and health tech.

Learn more about the HIMSS Physician Committee here.

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

Dr. Navas: Ithink that my colleagues today often encounter challenges related to the usability and interoperability of health technologies, specifically related with EHRs,because they can be cumbersome and time-consuming, sometimes disrupting clinical workflows rather than enhancing them. Additionally, the fragmentation of systems and lack of seamless data exchange between platforms hinders comprehensive patient care. Privacy and security concerns also demand constant vigilance, and the administrative tasks that are related with clinical issues are perceived as a burden that adds more complexity to the clinical workflow.

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

Dr. Navas: What excites me most is the potential of advanced digital tools like artificial intelligence, remote monitoring, and personalized medicine to transform patient care. These technologies can improve clinical outcomes, earlier interventions, and improved chronic disease management. The maturity of telehealth also increases patient access and convenience, especially for underserved populations, paving the way for more equitable healthcare delivery. Also, one of the things that excites me most about the use of digital technologies in healthcare is the impact it has on patient empowerment, on connecting the relationship between the healthcare team and the patient and their family in a common goal of continuity of care with the best possible quality and health experience.

HIMSS: How can physician leaders help drive better adoption and usability of health technologies?

Dr. Navas: I think that clinical leaders can bridge the gap between technology developers and frontline clinicians by actively participating in the design and implementation of health IT solutions. Advocating for user-centered design and providing practical feedback helps ensure systems support, rather than hinder, clinical work. Furthermore, leaders can promote ongoing training and create a culture that embraces innovation, fostering collaboration to align technology with clinical needs and patient experience

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

Dr. Navas: I am motivated by the belief that better health technology can significantly enhance patient outcomes and clinician satisfaction. Seeing the tangible benefits of technology in streamlining care, reducing errors, improving patient safety, clinical outcomes related to PREMs (Patient Reported Experience Measures) and PROMs (Patient Reported Outcomes Measures), and enabling personalized treatment inspires me to push for continuous improvement and research to understand which technologies can to a better work in different clinical environments. Ultimately, a healthcare system where technology empowers both providers and patients, leading to safer, more efficient, and compassionate care, is the purpose of my professional life.