Michael Garron Hospital announces new CMIO

TORONTO – Michael Garron Hospital has named Dr. Michael Warner (pictured) as its chief medical information officer (CMIO). As CMIO, Dr. Warner will support clinicians in the use of data, information technology and emerging AI (artificial intelligence) tools to efficiently deliver safe, high-quality patient care at MGH.

Dr. Warner will work closely with the chief information officer and clinical teams to drive a forward-thinking information management strategy. By implementing the right technologies at the right time, this approach will enhance both patient care and physician productivity, allowing clinicians to focus more on meaningful patient interactions and enjoy the practice of medicine.

“As a longtime physician and leader at the hospital, Dr. Warner has continuously proven to be a champion of exploring new, innovative ways to improve the experiences of both our patients and teams,” says Dr. Carmine Simone, vice president of Medical, Strategic Clinical Partnerships and Innovation at MGH.

“We’re thrilled that he will be serving MGH in this new capacity and are confident his skillset and expertise will help position the organization as a leader in the use of digital technology to enhance patient care.”

“Throughout his 15 years providing care at MGH, and serving as a leader in various capacities, Dr. Warner has developed strong relationships with physicians, nurses and other providers across the organization – making him well positioned to serve as the CMIO, a key liaison between MGH’s Information Management and Technology Team and our clinicians,” says Amelia Hoyt, chief information officer at MGH.

“I look forward to working together with Dr. Warner to ensure technologies continue to be implemented at MGH in a way that improves patient care, safety and outcomes.”

Dr. Warner was the successful candidate following a recruitment process led by MGH. Individuals in the CMIO role must hold an MGH medical staff appointment and be credentialed with the hospital.

Dr. Warner has been a credentialed clinician at MGH since 2009 and currently holds the titles of head of the Division of Critical Care, medical director of Critical Care Services, and physician lead of the Critical Care Response Team.

He received his medical degree (MD) from Queen’s University and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada (FRCPC) in internal medicine and critical care. He also holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management.

Dr. Warner says he was drawn to the CMIO role because of the opportunity to further support his colleagues and improve the quality of patient care. Learn more about Dr. Warner and how he hopes to better bridge the worlds of healthcare and technology at MGH below.

“I have witnessed firsthand the importance of the Information Management and Technology (IMT) Team at MGH helping physicians provide efficiently delivered, high-quality care,” said Dr. Warner. “I was interested in the opportunity to more closely collaborate with the IMT Team in a way that considers the work and challenges of medical staff and improves care experiences for everyone.”

Dr. Warner noted that in recent years, the MGH team has implemented technologies such as Dragon, a speech recognition software that transcribes interactions between physicians and patients in a safe, secure and efficient manner; Hypercare, a healthcare coordination platform that allows more seamless communication among care teams; and computerized provider order entry, which allows healthcare providers to electronically send treatment instructions – such as medication, lab and radiology orders – instead of using paper, fax or telephone.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the IMT Team also played a critical role by making it possible for us to care for patients by using the appropriate technologies and virtual platforms. All of these advancements have allowed clinicians to increase their productivity while still safely caring for patients.

Dr. Warner said: “One of my goals is to support clinicians by making it easier for them to use technology to be more productive. Currently, technology can sometimes slow clinicians down due to cumbersome data entry tasks and prolonged data extraction times. This affects not only clinicians’ workflow, but patients’ experiences, too.”

He continued, “AI has the potential to significantly boost clinician productivity by streamlining the documentation process. By making patient encounter documentation more efficient, clinicians can dedicate more time to listening, assessing and treating their patients at the point of care. This not only improves the quality of care but also allows physicians to focus on the aspects of medicine that drew them to the profession in the first place – direct patient interaction and personalized care.

“My goal is to enhance patient care by maximizing the potential of technology, optimizing how we operationalize electronic medical records, and giving physicians more time through AI-driven productivity improvements. By making clinical workflows more efficient and enjoyable, we can reduce burnout and create positive outcomes for patients, caregivers and families.”