Why Digital Transformation Is Essential
Digital transformation in healthcare has evolved from a strategic advantage to an absolute necessity. Healthcare leaders face the complex challenge of navigating an expansive technology ecosystem that encompasses artificial intelligence, digital twins, blockchain, miniature sensors, and various infrastructure components including wireless networks, cybersecurity systems, back-end resources, and peripheral technologies—all while maintaining strict regulatory compliance.
The question isn’t whether to transform, but how to strategically prioritize this journey amidst competing priorities and limited resources.
Following Proven Digital Advancement Frameworks
“You don’t have to reinvent the wheel,” explains Dr. Raed AlHazme, executive director of the IT department at the Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs in Saudi Arabia. “You could just follow the wheel that has been invented a long time ago and has been refined over and over by expertise from the de facto digital health organisation in the world.”
Dr. AlHazme references the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) maturity models, which provide structured frameworks that many healthcare organizations worldwide use to implement digital capabilities successfully.
Six Key HIMSS Maturity Models
HIMSS has developed six comprehensive maturity models, each addressing specific aspects of healthcare digitalization while providing clear benchmarks for organizations to assess their current position and plan their advancement:
- Electronic Medical Record Adoption Model (EMRAM): Evaluates the adoption and utilization of EMRs to support both patients and clinical staff.
- Adoption Model for Analytics Maturity (AMAM): Measures analytics capabilities and data governance, enabling real-time insights and artificial intelligence implementation.
- Infrastructure Adoption Model (INFRAM): Helps organizations improve their technology infrastructure to meet international standards.
- Community Care Outcomes Maturity Model (C-COMM): Evaluates digital maturity across community-based, non-acute treatment settings.
- Digital Imaging Adoption Model (DIAM): Supports the optimization of digital imaging processes and workflows.
- Community of Care Maturity Model (CCMM): Assesses the coordination of patient care across multiple locations and settings.
Real-World Success Story
King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, exemplifies successful implementation of these models. Under Dr. AlHazme’s leadership, the medical center has achieved remarkable digital maturity, with multiple facilities reaching HIMSS’ highest maturity levels for EMRAM, AMAM, INFRAM, DIAM, and C-COMM—becoming the first globally to achieve Stage 6 level in 39 of their clinics.
Choosing The Right Starting Point
The optimal starting model depends on your organization’s specific services and focus. For hospitals with limited resources primarily focused on inpatient services and emergency care, Dr. AlHazme recommends beginning with EMRAM. However, for organizations mainly providing outpatient services, such as hemodialysis centers or nursing homes, starting with C-COMM may be more appropriate.
For specialized facilities, Dr. AlHazme suggests tailoring the approach further: “If they are heavily dependent on imaging, let’s say a cardiac centre, it would be more appealing for them to go with DIAM than AMAM, because cardiac relies heavily on cath labs, cardiac CT and cardiac MRI.”
Maintaining Implementation Momentum
The key to successful digital transformation, according to Dr. AlHazme, lies in maintaining organizational momentum and securing proper implementation mandates. “In healthcare organisations, it’s difficult to change things, and it’s understandable – everyone is busy with patients,” he notes.
The structured nature of HIMSS maturity models helps create and sustain this crucial momentum, as stakeholders become increasingly invested in progressing through each achievement level.
The Authority To Drive Change
Dr. AlHazme particularly values how these frameworks provide implementation authority: “It really gives you the power to get everyone’s cooperation,” he explains. “Compared to coming out of the blue without any structure or external mandate, these models provide a clear framework for change.”
Continuous Improvement Through Benchmarking
The primary benefit of HIMSS maturity models is their ability to enable healthcare institutions to benchmark and measure their current digital state and recalibrate after completing each level on the 1-7 scale.
“Every time you finish a model, you get a holistic overview of the state of digital transformation and can clearly see the areas where you still have gaps or you’re lagging in digital maturity,” Dr. AlHazme concludes.
Healthcare leaders interested in learning more about HIMSS maturity models can attend HIMSS Europe 2025 in Paris, taking place June 10-12, which will feature a dedicated Digital Maturity Roadmaps track. Participants will have access to detailed information and sample digital maturity model assessment questionnaires.
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