UAMS Earns ‘Most Wired’ Designation from CHIME for Technology and Innovation
| LITTLE ROCK — The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) recently received recognition as a 2026 Digital Health Most Wired organization from the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME). UAMS was the only Arkansas healthcare organization on the list.
CHIME’s Digital Health Most Wired program conducts annual surveys that serve as a comprehensive “digital health check-up,” evaluating the adoption, integration and impact of technology in healthcare organizations. Participating organizations received certification based on their overall performance, with Level 10 being the highest.
CHIME awarded UAMS Level 8 rankings in both acute and ambulatory care, placing it among the highest tiers from more than 45,000 facilities represented. Rankings are based on key focus areas including clinical quality and safety, analytics and data management, cybersecurity, population health, infrastructure, patient engagement, and innovation.
“It’s an honor to be recognized as the only ‘Most Wired’ healthcare organization in the state,” said Cheryl Lane, vice chancellor for information technology and chief information officer at UAMS. “We are strongly committed to improving patient care, research, and education through technology, for the benefit of all Arkansans. CHIME’s rankings reinforce how effective that strategy has been for us.”
As healthcare organizations navigate modern challenges, including persistent cybersecurity threats, evolving care models, workforce shortages, and tightening budgets, the pressure to accelerate digital transformation continues to grow. Artificial intelligence (AI) is moving quickly from pilot to practice, reshaping how and where care is delivered. Realizing that potential responsibly will require sustained commitment, strong governance and a clear strategic roadmap.
“Healthcare is experiencing extraordinary technological acceleration, driven in large part by the rapid adoption of AI and increasingly sophisticated digital capabilities,” said Russ Branzell, president and CEO of CHIME. “As that pace intensifies, the Digital Health Most Wired Survey continues to provide a rigorous benchmark for evaluating whether technology is translating into meaningful progress. It gives leaders a data-driven view of performance, critical gaps, and opportunities for high-impact investment while setting an industry standard of excellence for responsible technology adoption.”
The Digital Health Most Wired Survey serves as a comprehensive evaluation and digital maturity report card for healthcare organizations around the world. As digital transformation increasingly shapes the quality and accessibility of care, this recognition reflects the progress of leading healthcare providers as they reshape the future of healthcare. The achievement extends beyond information technology to every area of the enterprise, reflecting a collective commitment to advancing health and care through strategic digital initiatives.
CHIME is an executive organization dedicated to serving chief information officers, chief medical information officers, chief nursing information officers, chief innovation officers, chief digital officers, and other senior healthcare IT leaders. It has more than 15,000 members in 58 countries and two U.S. territories, and more than 200 healthcare IT business and professional service members.
UAMS is the state’s only health sciences university, with colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Professions and Public Health; a graduate school; hospitals in Little Rock and Bryant; an orthopaedic hospital; a main campus in Little Rock; a Northwest Arkansas regional campus in Fayetteville; a statewide network of regional campuses; and seven institutes: the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute, Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute, Psychiatric Research Institute, Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging, Translational Research Institute, and the Institute for Community Health Innovation. UAMS includes UAMS Health, a statewide health system that encompasses all of UAMS’ clinical enterprise, including partnering hospitals in Pine Bluff, Helena-West Helena, Mena, and Warren. UAMS is the only adult Level 1 trauma center in the state. UAMS has 3,813 students and 1,030 medical residents and fellows, and two dental residents. It is the state’s largest public employer with about 12,000 employees, including 1,200 physicians who provide care to patients at UAMS, its regional campuses, Arkansas Children’s, the VA Medical Center and Baptist Health. Visit www.uams.edu or uamshealth.com. Find us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube or Instagram.###