About this episode
Healthcare today runs on data, but few people understand how deeply information systems shape patient outcomes, clinician workflows, and long-term public health. In this episode of Research Renaissance, host Deborah Westphal sits down with Dr. Caterina (Cat) Lasome, a nationally recognized leader in health informatics and digital health transformation.Drawing from 23 years as an Army nurse and decades working across the Department of Defense, VA, NIH, and federal health systems, Cat explains how informatics sits at the intersection of clinical care, technology, and human behavior. Together, they explore what happens when data flows well, where systems still fracture, and why learning healthcare systems may be the key to safer, more adaptive medicine.Key Topics & TakeawaysWhat health informatics actually is and why it affects every patient encounterHow military healthcare prepares clinicians for complexity at scaleWhy continuity of care between DoD and VA systems matters for veteransThe hidden role of data standards, interoperability, and governanceClinical practice guidelines and how they improve consistency without replacing judgmentBurnout, documentation burden, and the promise of ambient clinical listeningWhy healthcare struggles to learn from errors, and what aviation gets rightWhat a true “learning healthcare system” would require to functionAbout the GuestDr. Caterina (Cat) Lasome is a nationally recognized expert in health informatics, clinical systems, and digital health transformation. A retired Army nurse with 23 years of service, she has worked across the Department of Defense, Veterans Affairs, NIH, and HHS, and is the President & CEO at iON Informatics, LLC. To contact Dr. Lasome cat@ioninformatics.com. Resources MentionedDepartment of Defense Health SystemVeterans Health Administration (VA)Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)Joint Trauma Registry (JTR)Electronic Health Records (EHRs)Ambient clinical documentation technologyIf you found this episode valuable:Subscribe to Research Renaissance on your favorite podcast platformShare this episode with colleagues working in healthcare, research, or policyLeave a review to help more listeners discover the showTo learn more about the breakthroughs discussed in this episode and to support ongoing research, visit our website at tofflertrust.org. Technical Podcast Support by Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co.
