Health systems are fast-tracking digital transformation, shifting from exploring possibilities to achieving measurable impact. At Becker’s 10th Annual Health IT + Digital Health + RCM Meeting, panelists from Nuvance Health (Danbury, Conn.), Indiana University Health (Indianapolis), Summa Health (Akron, Ohio) and Northwestern Medicine (Chicago) shared how they’re bridging strategic vision with tangible results.
The session, From Vision to Value: How Health Systems Advance Care Innovation — moderated by Holly Urban, MD, MBA, vice president of business development and strategy at Wolters Kluwer — covered how systems are using AI, ambient documentation tools and data-driven redesigns to streamline workflows, improve patient access and reduce administrative burden while maintaining a keen focus on quality care.
Here are five key takeaways from the session.
1. Ambient documentation is giving time back to clinicians.
Northwestern Medicine has seen success with its rollout of ambient documentation tools by focusing on personalized onboarding. Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, the system created a “choose your own adventure” training model, which includes self-paced videos, webinars, one-on-one support and peer-to-peer mentoring.
This tailored approach has boosted adoption and helped clinicians integrate AI tools into specialty workflows.
“It’s been the best way to ensure these tools are used — that our clinicians get the benefit, and we see all the great outcomes that come from alleviating some of that burden,” Kali Arduini Ihde, director of ventures and innovation at Northwestern, said.
2. Prior authorization remains a major operational pain point.
Panelists noted how administrative complexity continues to drain resources, particularly in the prior authorization process. Northwestern has centralized much of this work but still spends millions each year supporting the process across outpatient practices.
To reduce friction, the system is “leaning in” to ambient technology and AI tools that pull required data from the EHR and flag missing documentation. Ms. Ihde noted that these efforts aim to shift prior authorization work upstream, enabling clinicians to gather necessary information during the patient visit.
3. Governance can make or break innovation — and when done right, it empowers.
At Indiana University Health, governance is being reimagined not as a hurdle but as an enabler of innovation. Emily Webber, MD, vice president and chief medical information officer, described how shrinking the distance between users and decision-makers has been key to successful technology adoption.
Dr. Webber offered two questions that guide her team’s risk assessment and technology vetting process: first, whether the tool is better and safer than what is currently being used; and second, whether clinicians or staff will be excited to use it.
“If those two answers are ‘yes,’ then we can pivot our focus to the barriers we need to remove,” Dr. Webber said. “It’s such a good feeling when those things line up.”
She also emphasized the importance of involving front-line clinicians early and using advisory groups to validate value before scaling innovations systemwide.
4. AI tools are showing measurable ROI and clinician satisfaction.
Nuvance Health has deployed AI-powered ambient documentation across primary care and is seeing both time savings and improved satisfaction. According to Albert Villarin, MD, vice president and chief medical information officer, the tools have shaved nearly three minutes off documentation time per patient — a critical win for time-strapped physicians.
“It has given back the joy of medicine,” Dr. Villarin said, noting benefits span not just clinicians but also front desk, registration and operations teams. “We are all taking care of that patient together. If we can bring technology into the fold that hits everyone … we can remove the work of the business of healthcare and focus on the clinical actions of healthcare itself.”
Dr. Villarin added that the initiative also earned recognition from the American Medical Association’s Joy in Medicine program, reflecting its success in enhancing workforce well-being.
5. Data transparency is transforming provider workflows.
At Summa Health, the recent integration into a for-profit network has brought new urgency to standardizing operations. Julie Tsirambidis, DNP, RN, system director for advanced practice providers, shared how the organization is restructuring provider templates using evidence and data, rather than culture or historical preference.
“Everyone had control of their own schedules, which led to a lot of inefficiencies — which caused delays in patient access,” she said, highlighting that they’re aligning with physician structures and optimizing access based on actual data.
Dr. Tsirambidis highlighted three key metrics driving systemwide improvement: readmission rates, cost to collect and patient access time. By focusing on these measures, Summa Health is working to improve care coordination, streamline revenue cycle operations and reduce patient wait times — all while strengthening its position as a top choice for patients.
Bottom line: Innovation is everyone’s job
Panelists agreed that while the tools may be digital, the transformation is deeply human. From governance redesigns to AI implementation, the leaders underscored how sustained change requires aligning incentives, removing silos and continuously listening to clinicians and patients alike.
“Logic does win around these goals, but I think being smart, thinking outside of the box and being innovative — and applying constant pressure moving forward — is really the goal we want to achieve,” Dr. Villarin said.
