Electronic health records have long been a cornerstone of healthcare — but for many CIOs, the next era of EHRs must go far beyond their current capabilities.
From ambient documentation to AI integration and hands-free workflows, three health system CIOs told Becker’s what they want next from EHR systems.
For Jordan Tannenbaum, MD, CIO and CMIO of Saint Peter’s Healthcare System in New Brunswick, N.J., ambient AI tools are a top priority. These tools listen to clinician-patient conversations and automatically generate clinical documentation.
“AI-aided ambient transcription … can save the practitioners a considerable amount of time if the output is accurate and does not require much editing,” Dr. Tannenbaum said.
He sees even more potential in tools that go beyond free text generation.
“The next step would be to have some important elements of the conversation automatically converted into discrete data points in the EHR,” he said — something that could streamline workflows and reduce clerical work for clinical teams.
But for these technologies to be truly impactful, they need to operate across systems — something that’s still lacking, Dr. Tannenbaum said.
“One of the largest EHR deficiencies is a lack of meaningful exchange of patient information between EHR vendors,” he said, noting that while frameworks such as TEFCA show promise, “none of these are mature in regard to easily integrating clean, relevant, consumable patient data between EHR platforms.”
Steven Travers, CIO of Broward Health in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., is looking to the future with a focus on user experience and cybersecurity. He said hands-free controls — through voice and gestures — could significantly enhance clinician efficiency, especially in sterile or high-intensity settings.
“Seamless voice recognition and gesture-based controls enable clinicians to transcribe and structure clinical notes hands-free,” Mr. Travers said.
He also stressed the importance of a robust security posture, calling for “a zero-trust cybersecurity model … featuring continuous authentication, end-to-end encryption, and AI-driven anomaly detection.”
Mr. Travers added that integrating wearables and IoT devices into the EHR can provide a continuous stream of actionable health data.
“Real-time insights from blood pressure and glucose levels can improve care,” he said.
At New Hyde Park, N.Y.-based Northwell Health, Chief Digital Officer Kristin Myers is focused on embedding AI into EHR workflows in ways that are truly seamless — something she said vendors have yet to deliver.
“Many current solutions remain fragmented, static, and not well integrated into clinical workflows,” she said.
To truly add value, AI should act as a real-time assistant, not a distraction.
“AI should deliver personalized, real-time recommendations at the point of care — enhancing decision-making without disrupting clinical operations,” Ms. Myers said.
Ultimately, she believes EHRs must evolve beyond digital filing cabinets into intelligent platforms.
“A truly AI-powered EHR can help health systems enhance patient care, improve outcomes, and strengthen clinician engagement,” she said.
While the specifics vary, the message from CIOs is clear: The next wave of EHR innovation must help clinicians work smarter, not harder — and put the focus back on patients.
