October 27, 2026

The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) has announced the results of the 2026 Digital Health Most Wired Survey, an internationally recognized benchmarking program that honors excellence in digitally enabled healthcare.  Licking Memorial Health Systems (LMHS) earned Level 8 recognition as a Most Wired recipient for the acute care and ambulatory settings. 
 
Among the more than 44,000 facilities represented, LMHS ranked above peers in key focus areas including interoperability, population health, cybersecurity, and patient engagement.   The survey evaluates the adoption, maturity, outcomes, and value of technology across healthcare organizations at every stage of their digital journey, from early-phase digitization to advanced transformation.
 
“Investing in and adopting innovative technology emphasizes our commitment to advancing care through strategic digital initiatives and providing top-tier services that may not be available in other community hospitals,” said LMHS President & CEO Rob Montagnese.  “Receiving national recognition for our dedication to digital health excellence highlights the LMHS mission to improve the health of the community.”
 
As healthcare organizations navigate 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, and innovations powered by interoperable data, AI, and secure digital infrastructure are reshaping how and where care is delivered.  Utilizing the potential of AI responsibly will require sustained commitment, strong governance, and a clear strategic roadmap.
 
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.
 
LMHS strives to acquire advanced clinical systems and digital applications to continue to improve the level of care for Licking County residents.  The added technology assists in streamlining processes and monitoring patients to improve care and safety.  The Information Systems Department is charged with maintaining the technology systems that assist clinical staff in providing the best possible care to patients.  Using a privacy monitoring application and strong authentication protocols, LMHS protects the privacy of patient information, ensures health records are accurate, and that systems are operating at full capacity to provide clinical staff with the tools needed to treat patients effectively.
 
About CHIME
The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) is an executive organization dedicated to serving chief information officers (CIOs), chief medical information officers (CMIOs), chief nursing information officers (CNIOs), chief innovation officers (CIOs), chief digital officers (CDOs) and other senior healthcare information technology (IT) leaders.  With more than 3,000 individual members in 58 countries and two U.S. territories and 200 CHIME Foundation healthcare IT business and professional service firm members, CHIME and its three associations provide a highly interactive, trusted environment enabling senior professional and industry leaders to collaborate, exchange best practices, address professional development needs, and advocate for the effective use of information management to improve the health and care in the communities they serve.  For more information, please visit chimecentral.org.