As CHA's Chief Medical Information Officer, Dr. Worthen provides
key physician leadership in the Information Technology department.
This allows the organization to create better patient care
systems and to improve the information environment for patients,
clinicians, and staff.
Before devoting himself to Information Technology full time
in 2000, Dr. Worthen held a variety of clinical positions.
He joined the organization as a medical intern in 1974, and
over the next 25 years helped establish a new Primary Care
Unit, co-founded the successful Cambridge Family Health practice,
served as Medical Director for Adult and Family Ambulatory
Care, and was Medical Director of Inpatient Medical and Surgical
Services at the Cambridge Hospital.
Over the past decade, he has focused on helping the organization
harness data to inform decisions and create a more optimal
patient care environment. This includes clinical leadership
to create, maintain, and support top-level Electronic Health
Records - which enhance care for all patients - and award-winning
electronic registries - which specifically improve the care
of patients with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, asthma,
and depression. He also collaborates with departments to provide
Information Technology support for clinical care, research,
process improvement, quality improvement, patient and staff
safety, and community health.
Dr. Worthen's rich history with CHA is a tremendous asset,
as it gives him a unique perspective on the organization and
how it can use data and emerging technologies to best serve
patients.
"When you get right down to it," says
Dr. Worthen, "most of what patients, staff, providers,
managers, and leaders are doing in healthcare is creating,
exchanging, organizing, and harnessing information. So it's
not surprising that providing powerful IT tools can help
them achieve their goals."
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Meet
Dr. Hilary Worthen - a doctor and IT professional who
is helping Cambridge Health Alliance succeed in the world
of 21st century medicine.