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Published on: 12/11/2007
Last Visited: 12/11/2007
Those who hold the executive position have come to it much the way Angela Haas, M.D., did.The CMIO at Susquehanna Health System, Williamsport, Pa., Haas first became interested in medical informatics during the mid-1990s while on the faculty at Williamsport Hospital, part of the Susquehanna system.She quickly became the person for IT staff to call when they needed advice.In 1999, her role expanded when she was named medical director of IT.
"Over time, my role became more formalized," says Haas, who was elevated to CMIO two years ago."I became part of the IT team.The CIO and I met almost every day."
Whether the physician-IT leader can continue directly caring for patients varies by specialty.General practitioners are more apt to continue to some extent.Haas still sees patients four days a week in her family practice.That helps get other physicians on board with IT, since she has to use the technology in a clinical setting herself.
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Susquehanna President and CEO Steven Johnson says Haas is part of the "inner circle," sitting on an IT steering committee that maps out long-term goals.
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"As we look at developing regional health information organizations and linking our local patient data with other health care providers across the region,and doing that with the premise of improving patient care and the efficiency of that,[Haas] is an important person," Johnson says.
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Velasco, Haas and many of their colleagues do not possess advanced degrees in informatics.