Achieving Unity: Physician Governance as the Cornerstone of Digital Transformation

Healthcare IT success depends not just on electronic healthcare record (her) deployment but also on its ability to adapt to clinical complexity, operational demands and rapid innovation. As healthcare systems evolve toward unified digital platforms, physician governance plays a pivotal role in sustainable transformation. This session presents best practices for physician-led governance that unified 145 ambulatory clinics and four acute hospitals, within a single EHR, by prioritizing specialty-driven governance and configuration over customization. Attendees will learn how this standardized, multidisciplinary approach fostered executive buy-in, bridged acute and ambulatory care, enabled data-driven practices and laid the groundwork for artificial intelligence (AI) integration. Concrete clinical and operational results—including improved sepsis care, pain management and care standardization—will be shared, along with a roadmap for applying these strategies in other organizations. The presenter will also share insights on overcoming change resistance, aligning clinical leadership and leveraging governance as a long-term strategic asset.