Member Spotlight: Jimmy Chung, MD, MBA, FACS, FABQAURP, CPE, CMRP; Chief Medical Officer at Advantus Health Partners

One of this month’s physician member spotlight is a new member to the HIMSS Physician Committee, Dr. Jimmy Chung, and I’m looking forward to having his perspective included in the resources we deliver. When we were discussing his application to the HIMSS Committee he said something to the point of medical doctors are more than just that, some of us are businesspeople too and have a lot to contribute related to that area. This perspective piqued my interest and immediately started me thinking of how we could include this way of thinking in our deliverables more frequently. Another great example of his perspective that I would like to highlight is a part from one of his responses below, “partnerships are required to optimize patient outcomes and experience and to create healthier communities.” I know that Dr. Chung will help many of us have a slightly different perspective on physicians and I look forward to working more and learning more from him.

Thank you, Dr. Chung for your time and contributions to the HIMSS Physician Committee and making an impact on the industry.

How have industry connections and relationships helped you achieve your biggest professional milestones?

Dr. Chung: The most important change in mindset was to think of myself not as a physician who is a healthcare leader but as a healthcare executive who happens to have an MD. Physicians have traditionally been trained to be free of commercial bias and that often leads to a baseline of mistrust when it comes to industry relationships. Broadening my perspective across the entire healthcare system means recognizing that partnerships are required to optimize patient outcomes and experience and to create healthier communities.  I have learned so much about the business of healthcare and how to make care delivery more efficient and cost-effective by building trust and partnering with Industry leaders. We all benefit from the same goal: better patient outcomes. And we can achieve this through collaboration and trust-building.                       

What are the benefits of a health information and technology career? Why should someone consider it?                   

Dr. Chung: All careers in healthcare now require a level of proficiency in health IT. Even if your role or title is not formally in IT, you have to recognize that data, analytics, and technology are the differentiators of the future state of healthcare. It will be just as important as learning the names of all our body parts and functions. While not every physician leader will have a formal IT career, we will have to become leaders who can utilize technology to improve care.       

What do you see as the future of health information and technology? Where do you think the industry can/will go?          

Dr. Chung: As I stated above, health information and technology will be the foundation that supports the healthcare system as it transforms into a more digitized and consumer-focused model. Patients will have more access to data and care choices, and physicians will have to adjust to their needs. I hope AI and innovations like quantum computing will help drive better decision-making and application of precision medicine and reduce the tremendous amount of waste we see in healthcare today.