CHIME Renames AEHIA to Reflect Expanded Focus on Health Data Analytics

The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) has renamed The Association for Executives in Healthcare Information Applications (AEHIA) to reflect an increased focus on health data analytics.

CHIME founded AEHIIA in 2014 as the first professional organization serving senior IT application leaders in healthcare. The organization’s new name, The Association for Executives in Healthcare Applications, Data & Analytics (AEHADA), reflects the increasing significance of data-driven insights in healthcare.

“This name change signifies a new era for AEHADA and the industry as a whole,” Russ Branzell, CHIME president and CEO, said in a press release. “We believe that the recent explosion of data volume, consolidation within the industry, and continuously evolving government requirements have created a ‘perfect storm’ for analytics in the healthcare industry AEHADA’s expanded focus will enable us to continue leading the industry in this direction.”

“By expanding the organization’s scope with the integration of data and analytics and pairing those with applications, AEHADA offers a wider breadth of critical expertise to help healthcare organizations navigate the complex landscape of digital health and drive meaningful change in the years ahead,” Branzell added.

When AEHADA first entered the market almost ten years ago, the industry’s focus was on Meaningful Use and EHR implementation. As healthcare provider organizations increasingly turn to data analytics to derive actionable insights from application data, AEHADA aims to stay ahead of the curve.

“AEHADA’s new focus on uniting applications, data, and analytics is crucial in this era of data-driven healthcare,” said David Finn, vice president of AEHADA and the Association for Executives in Healthcare Information Technology (AEHIT).

“Unlocking valuable insights from data can drive informed decision-making and improve healthcare delivery,” said Finn, who also serves as VP of the Association for Executives in Healthcare Information Security (AEHIS).

By bringing healthcare application and data and analytics leaders under one organization, AEHADA aims to provide a more comprehensive health data analytics perspective.

“Data is at the forefront of healthcare transformation, and it is our belief that transformation relies on the integration of applications and data, driven from healthcare systems,” said Stacey Johnston, MD, AEHADA board chair and chief applications officer at Baptist Health.

“As a hospitalist, I have seen firsthand how data-driven decisions can improve the quality of care and create a better patient and caregiver experience through frictionless care models and integrated systems,” said Johnston, who also serves as Baptist Health’s Epic program executive. “Our focus should be on harnessing data to make it meaningful, which is what this name change represents.”