

MEMBER PROFILE:
Dr. Sean Kelly
Chief Medical Officer
Imprivata
Dr. Kelly Shares
Q: What does being a Member of CHIME mean to you?
A: CHIME membership is priceless to me, not only as a healthcare IT executive, but also as a physician and tech-curious entrepreneur. CHIME is a trusted network of like-minded colleagues interested in sharing best practices and lessons learned to effect positive change in healthcare delivery. As a physician, I can certainly have a positive effect on a few patients per shift, and as an industry CMO, I can expand the value proposition to a wider group of healthcare providers and patients. But together with CHIME colleagues, the positive impact is much greater and more widespread, extending across the country and world. CHIME is the ultimate force multiplier. Like digital health itself, the power of technology is undeniable and the power of people passionate about leveraging that technology is even more impactful… and nobody is more dedicated or capable of advancing technology in healthcare than CHIME and its members. It is an honor to work with this forward-thinking and talented group of experts.
Q: Tell us a story that demonstrates how important advancements in digital health are.
A: At the tail end of a recent ER shift, one of our patients said, “You may not remember me, but you saved my husband’s life two years ago when he was in a motorcycle accident.” I actually remembered that night very clearly… quick, secure patient identification, access to his EHR, interoperability to outside records, integrated collaboration tools, and streamlined digital systems had allowed us to work safely and rapidly as a team to determine that he had had a stroke before his motorcycle crash (indeed causing the crash), treat him emergently, and pave the way to his full neurologic recovery. Without good technology, none of that would have been possible. Advancements in digital healthcare delivery absolutely save lives and improve patient outcomes.
Q: How would you define your role in the health and care industry?
A: As a CMO and a practicing emergency physician, my role in healthcare is to help bridge the gap between technology, business, and medicine. Modern medicine is complex, evolving rapidly, and finally ready for digital growth and advancement. Bringing high-quality consumer-grade technology into healthcare is no easy task. The workforce and workflows are complex and the risks to privacy, security and regulatory compliance have never been higher. But the need has never been greater either. Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers are desperate for digital tools to do their jobs better. It is time to reduce burnout and administrative burden and improve efficiency as well as productivity while guaranteeing safety and privacy … in short, our role is to provide technology that doesn’t interfere with providers and patients, but instead enables them to do their jobs and focus on delivering the best patient care possible.