Inside LCMC: A CMIO’s Playbook for AI That Works for Clinicians and Patients

On October 15, Nabla co-hosted a webinar with the American Medical Group Association (AMGA) to explore a timely question for all CMIOs navigating AI deployment in clinical practice:

‍How does a clinical leader successfully implement a game-changing technology like ambient AI and make it work for clinicians and patients?

At Nabla, we work every day with CMIOs who are at the center of this transformation. They navigate frontline pain points, organizational constraints, governance, trust, and training, all while carrying responsibility for long-term sustainability. Their experience is invaluable, not only because they evaluate and select the tools, but because they shape how technology actually shows up in clinical care.

That’s why we invited Dr. Damon M. Dietrich, Chief Medical Information Officer at LCMC Health and practicing emergency physician in New Orleans. Damon combines real-world frontline experience with system-level accountability. He knows what documentation feels like in the middle of a busy emergency department  shift, and he knows what it takes to bring new tools to hundreds of clinicians in a way that truly improves how they care for patients.

From Pain Points to Priorities: Why Ambient Became Non-Negotiable

Dr. Dietrich has lived every phase of healthcare’s digital transformation: From paper to enterprise EHRs. That history shaped a mission: Create a functional, usable EMR experience for everyone.

For 2025, LCMC named selected well-being a top organizational priority. The team zeroed in on documentation burden and burnout, making ambient AI their centerpiece.

“In our pilot, 100 percent of clinicians told us the same thing: you can’t take this away from me.”

Reliability and usability made Nabla the natural fit. The technology worked every time, freeing doctors to refocus on patients instead of paperwork.

What Partnership Really Means

Dr. Dietrich distinguishes between vendors, partners, and true relationships.

“A true relationship means we’re both invested. You’re not just selling me something — we’re solving problems together.”

That philosophy defines LCMC’s approach. They value partners who listen, adapt, and co-create solutions that fit their clinicians’ world. During LCMC’s pilot, clinicians reported zero downtime, reinforcing confidence in both the technology and the partnership.

Adoption That Respects Clinician Time

At LCMC, adoption isn’t about mandates, it’s about respect for clinicians’ time. Every rollout follows four principles: define the problem clearly, vet deliberately, train efficiently, and provide consistent post-launch support.

“If you skip any one of those, you shortchange the doctor and miss the mark.”

Ambient AI was introduced not as a way to increase throughput, but as a well-being tool, to make documentation lighter and faster and make care more human.

Governance for Responsible AI

With AI solutions multiplying, LCMC established a cross-functional AI governance committee including leaders from IT, security, compliance, and clinical operations.

Their job: ask the hard questions. How does the model learn? What’s its QA process? Is it safe, sustainable, and equitable?

“Start with a real problem, then find the solution. Have people with the right acumen at the table. Be deliberate.”

Training and the Next Generation

Training remains one of the most underestimated aspects of technology adoption. At LCMC, sessions are concise, role-specific, and clinicians are supported long after go-live.

For residents and other learners, Dr. Dietrich sees ambient AI as essential, but timing also matters.

“Residents need it. It’s the standard and will be forever forward. But give interns a few months to learn the fundamentals first.”

He added that ambient documentation is fast becoming an expectation for new clinicians.

“This has become the standard. If you don’t have it, you’re behind, new doctors are asking about it when they interview.”

Advice for Peer CMIOs

Dr. Dietrich closed by encouraging CMIOs everywhere to lean on one another.

“It’s a small community. Don’t ever feel like you’re out there alone, reach out. Everyone’s willing to share what’s worked, what hasn’t, and help you avoid reinventing the wheel.”

He also shared a few principles that have guided his 15-year CMIO career:

• Problem first. Don’t start with the shiny thing, start with a real need.
• Build governance early. Include the right voices from the start.
• Support the humans. Change management isn’t optional.
• Iterate. You won’t always get it perfect, and that’s okay.

A Final Word on Partnership

Reliability came up again and again in Dr. Dietrich’s remarks. To him, technology should fade into the background, working so smoothly that clinicians don’t have to think about it.

“When you have the right partner, one that listens, learns, and doesn’t let you down, you can finally focus on what matters most: taking care of patients.”

Rapid Fire Questions with Dr. Damon Dietrich

• One word for AI in healthcare right now: Exploding
• One piece of tech you couldn’t live without: Ambient documentation
• One innovation inspiring you: Tools that improve quality, reduce cost, and lift provider experience
• One daily habit that keeps you grounded: Humility
• A leadership mindset you return to: Make the best decision you can with the information you have, and involve others when you need to.

Dr. Dietrich’s perspective is one of many from clinical leaders rethinking how AI shows up in care delivery. Watch the full webinar recording here.

If you’d like to explore more lessons from peers implementing AI inside healthcare organizations, browse the other reads on our blog and customer case studies, where we highlight what real-world adoption looks like behind the scenes.