HCA Healthcare Chief Medical Officer Elected to National Academy of Medicine

HCA Healthcare’s Dr. Jonathan B. Perlin, president, clinical services and chief medical officer, has been elected to membership in the National Academy of Medicine (NAM), formerly the Institute of Medicine (IOM), at the organization’s 45th annual meeting today.

Election to the NAM is considered one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine and recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service. New members are elected by current active members through a selective process that recognizes individuals who have made major contributions to the advancement of the medical sciences, health care, and public health.

“Dr. Perlin is a leader in advancing patient safety and driving clinical excellence, not just at HCA Healthcare but throughout healthcare,” said HCA Healthcare chairman and CEO Milton Johnson. “His election to this esteemed organization is a significant honor for HCA Healthcare and recognition of Dr. Perlin’s contributions to improving patient outcomes.”

Dr. Perlin provides leadership for clinical services at 168 HCA Healthcare-affiliated hospitals. Current activities include advancing electronic health records for learning healthcare, continuous improvement, and identifying opportunities through data science and advanced analytics that lead to better patient outcomes. Under Dr. Perlin’s leadership, HCA Healthcare has participated in landmark research, including the REDUCE MRSA study, which was published in the New England Journal of Medicine and identified clinical practices that reduced bloodstream infections including MRSA by 44 percent. Another study conducted at HCA Healthcare-affiliated hospitals found that babies born electively at 39 weeks are healthier than babies born electively at 37 and 38 weeks and led to renewed focus on preventing early elective deliveries.

Dr. Perlin is the 2015 chairman of the American Hospital Association. He also serves as chair of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs Special Medical Advisory Group and on the board of Meharry Medical College. He has served previously on numerous boards and commissions, including the National Quality Forum, The Joint Commission, and the National Patient Safety Foundation. Dr. Perlin was the inaugural chair of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health IT Standards Committee.