Healthcare systems across the country are bogged down by inefficiencies that waste resources and frustrate both providers and patients. While innovation is everywhere, many organizations remain locked in outdated workflows—prioritizing tradition over transformation.
As Chief Medical Informatics Officer for a Southern California health system, Dr. La Marca represents a new generation of healthcare leadership—one that blends clinical depth with strategic tech adoption. His mission? Dismantle the operational barriers that plague modern care delivery and build a smarter, more connected system for everyone involved.
Building a Better Health System
The ecosystem Dr. La Marca oversees is anything but typical. Centered around a San Fernando Valley community hospital, it includes multispecialty clinics, ambulatory surgery centers, GI labs, and comprehensive behavioral health services. His team also manages a multi-entity FQHC serving underserved communities with high pediatric volumes and maternal-fetal care for high-risk pregnancies.
“We’re building the foundation of an IDN—an Integrated Delivery Network,” Dr. La Marca explains. “Technology is the glue. It makes everything smoother, easier, and frankly, more pleasant—for both providers and patients.”
As a physician-turned-informaticist, he has firsthand insight into the day-to-day pain points providers face. That dual lens allows him to identify workflow friction others often overlook.
The Problem with Progress
Swapping paper charts for EMRs once felt revolutionary. But many providers now feel boxed in by rigid digital workflows that aren’t much better.
“EMRs were an improvement—until they weren’t,” he says. “They’re still clunky. It’s time we evolve past manual entry and disconnected systems.”
The next phase is already here: ambient AI—technology that listens, interprets, and acts in real time. It augments human decision-making by closing communication gaps and speeding up interventions.
“It listens, understands, and routes—automatically. That’s the future.”
Operational Change Is Inevitable—and Necessary
Healthcare has traditionally relied on large, manual back-office teams. But that model is no longer sustainable.
“If you use technology properly, you can reduce your FTE burden dramatically. Human capital is what’s crushing us.”
Billing, claims, and collections are prime for automation—repetitive tasks that machines handle more consistently and accurately.
“A team of 40 can become 10—or even 5—with no loss of quality. Then we can reallocate those people in roles that add more value.”
Cut Through the Hype
Generative AI may dominate headlines, but Dr. La Marca is skeptical of its overblown promises.
“It’s overhyped. The real value depends on how well you query it. It’s not magic—it’s a tool.”
Instead, he’s focused on integrated AI companions—systems that sit on top of the EMR, monitor patient interactions, and queue up interventions intelligently.
“It won’t place the order—but it will tee it up. And that kind of support can save lives.”
Start With the Problem—Not the Pitch
Dr. La Marca has a simple message for tech vendors: Stop selling features. Start solving real problems.
“Technology is a blunt instrument. But in the right hands, it becomes a scalpel. First, find the pain.”
That means talking to frontline workers, not just the C-suite. His approach centers on empathy, curiosity, and ruthless practicality.
“Ask, ‘What’s the worst part of your day?’ That’s where the solution starts. Not in a slick demo.”
Follow Dr. Jason La Marca on LinkedIn to learn how real-world technology is reshaping care delivery—one problem, one solution at a time.
