Shaping the Next Generation of Healthcare

Matt Sullivan currently serves as the chief medical information officer at Atrium Health, the regional care delivery brand for Advocate Health in the Southeast U.S. He brings a wealth of experience as an emergency physician and a certified clinical informaticist. In his role, he bridges the gap between clinical applications and electronic systems, ensuring optimal support for healthcare teams.

Please tell our readers about your journey in the industry and current roles and responsibilities in your organization.

My journey in the industry has led me to my current role as the Chief Medical Information Officer (CMIO) at Advocate Health in the Southeast. As an emergency physician and clinical informatician, I have the privilege of overseeing a range of responsibilities within the organization. In my capacity as CMIO, I am deeply committed to fostering a seamless connection between our clinical applications and electronic systems, ensuring they effectively support the vital work of our physicians, nurses, and clinical teams in delivering patient care.

A typical day for me is quite diverse, involving interactions with a wide array of individuals from various facets of our organization. This exposure provides me with insights into the intricate workings of our healthcare delivery, including specialized medical practices that I typically don’t directly engage with in practice as a physician. This dynamic environment is intellectually stimulating and allows me to apply my expertise in informatics, workflows, and efficiency to address challenges faced by different service lines and specialties.

I find immense fulfillment in contributing to the collective effort of our team, which strives to provide optimal patient care and uphold the highest quality of healthcare. My aspiration is to continue making meaningful contributions that align with the Advocate Health mission of delivering exceptional healthcare.

What are the challenges that have kept you up at night when it comes to the major predicaments in the industry?

As the Chief Medical Information Officer, my role spans the entire healthcare spectrum, encompassing various challenges that impact the industry. 

Many of these challenges are intertwined with electronic systems, tools, and decision-making processes. From clinical decision support to delivering patient feedback, ensuring physicians have the necessary patient information, and streamlining nurses' workflows for job satisfaction—these are all areas of concern that we collectively address.

As part of the executive team, I am focused on shaping the next generation of healthcare by training professionals to leverage tools effectively. We aim to expedite the integration of medical advancements into frontline patient care. Traditionally, it has taken several years for new medical breakthroughs to reach the frontline, but as CMIO, I work to accelerate this process, improving patient care and outcomes.

Furthermore, a key focus for us at Advocate Health is ensuring health equity and access to care, while also striving for quality outcomes. We are committed to addressing health inequities and empowering patients through our efforts.

What will be your piece of advice for your peers and aspiring professionals in the industry?

I believe that fostering effective communication and building strong connections is the key to achieving collective success. Listening and learning from our peers across the industry can be incredibly valuable. It's evident that the more we collaborate and work together, the more we can positively impact healthcare for both patients and physicians. By engaging in meaningful conversations and building on a collective progress, we have the potential to elevate the state of healthcare on a national scale.