Becker’s Healthcare Podcast

Guest: Emily Jacobsen, VP Clinical Systems & Chief of Clinical Informatics, University of Maryland Medical System
Host: Gracelyn Keller
Date: November 23, 2025
Recorded at: 10th Annual Health IT, Digital Health and RCM Meeting

Episode Overview

This episode features an engaging conversation with Emily Jacobsen, an experienced healthcare leader who specializes in bridging clinical practice with innovative technologies at the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS). The discussion focuses on the adoption of AI in healthcare, balancing technology with patient and clinician needs, navigating legislative changes affecting health IT, and strategies for leading digital transformation in clinical settings.

Emily Jacobsen’s Career Path and Philosophy (00:51–03:14)

• Emily’s background blends hands-on patient care and leadership in healthcare IT.
• Started as a Certified Nursing Assistant; studied International Studies at UW.
• Shifted career into healthcare tech via Epic Systems, then held various informatics and leadership roles before her current position.
• “My whole career has been about blending clinical care with technology, basically making sure our systems actually help the people that are using them.” (Emily, 00:54)

Key Quote:

“I climbed the ladder in IS&T, starting out as an Implementation supervisor...eventually to my position today as VP of Clinical Systems and Chief of Clinical Informatics. Along the way, I went back to school...focused on Healthcare law. And now at UMMS, I lead work on optimizing Epic, push for innovation and clinical informatics, and try to make digital tools match up with what’s actually happening in patient care.”
(Emily, 02:07)

The Impact of AI in Healthcare (03:14–05:40)

• AI is a regular subject in both IT and operational leadership discussions at UMMS.
• Real-world applications already making impact:
  • Clinical documentation automation and ambient “DAX” documentation, relieving clinician notetaking.
  • Predictive analytics for operational decision-making.
  • Epic’s AI tools for coding, summarizing patient notes, in-basket responses.
  • Piloting Evidently for rapid data aggregation (both structured & unstructured data)—focus on hospitalists, ER physicians, and CDI team.
• AI agents help staff search training documentation and navigate Epic workflows.
• Exploring AI for IT ticket routing and database search optimization.

Notable Moment:

“What’s cool is that these tools aren’t just ideas anymore and they’re actually becoming part of our daily workflows and they’re making a real impact on how we deliver and support care.”
(Emily, 05:21)

Approaching Digital Transformation: People First (05:40–08:23)

• Centering people—both patients and clinicians—is vital for tech success.
• Trust and usability are paramount; tech must fit into existing workflows.
• Inclusive innovation: early and regular collaboration across clinicians, operations, and tech teams.
• Cautious approach to “shiny objects”—prioritize alignment with strategic goals over trends.
• UMMS’s connected technology training blends tools with policy and clinical context, fostering understanding and buy-in.
• Promotes incremental, manageable changes, and swift adjustments if things don’t work.

Key Insights:

• “If your products make people change the way that they normally do the work, you’re going to have a hard time getting them on board.” (Emily, 06:24)
• “We want to be bold with the technology...but practical. We want it to align with our strategic goals and we need to do this while keeping patient safety and satisfaction front and center.” (Emily, 07:43)

Adapting to Healthcare Legislation (08:23–10:17)

• Laws around data sharing, privacy, telehealth reimbursement, and licensure are rapidly evolving.
• Information Blocking compliance forces more transparency with patient data while maintaining privacy.
• Legislative unpredictability demands flexible platforms and rapid organizational responsiveness.
• Breaking down silos between compliance, legal, IT, and operations is crucial for staying compliant and secure.

Memorable Quote:

“You really have to stay on your toes...breaking down those old service silos between compliance, legal, IT, operations is going to be really key to keep both our teams in compliance and to be able to keep our patients and their data safe.” (Emily, 09:45)

Advice for Healthcare Leaders on Tech and Change (10:17–11:35)

• Invest equally in people and technology (“can’t just put all your eggs in the technology basket”).
• Ongoing staff education, collaboration, and open feedback channels are essential for successful implementation.
• Rapidly course-correct if technology isn’t meeting needs (“fail fast” philosophy).
• Effective governance, clear communication, and transparent decision processes drive better outcomes.
• Stay open to new developments, always focused on improving care delivery.

Advice Highlight:

“Technology is going to continue to advance and it’s only going to be effective when we’re able to deliver that in a reliable way to our clinicians and our patients. This really needs to be done in a way that’s actively seeking feedback, collaborating in the design, and making those ongoing incremental improvements.”
(Emily, 10:36)

Timestamps of Key Segments

• Emily’s Background & Role: 00:51–03:14
• AI Use Cases in UMMS: 03:14–05:40
• Navigating Digital Transformation (People First): 05:40–08:23
• Legislation’s Impact on Health IT: 08:23–10:17
• Advice for Leaders (Tech & People): 10:17–11:35

Summary

Emily Jacobsen's episode is a practical guide for healthcare leaders at the intersection of clinical care and digital transformation. She delivers actionable insights on adopting AI, engaging all stakeholders, responding flexibly to regulation, and the critical importance of staff engagement and governance for successful outcomes. The discussion emphasizes modest, strategic technological changes rooted in real-world care, continuous improvement, and patient/clinician experience.