Public Biography
In my work on healthcare information technology (HIT) I’ve focused on patient safety, the integration of HIT with clinical workflow, usability, implementation, and evaluation. It’s fair to say that my work has altered the profession’s understanding how human-computer design and interactions affect patient safety. I’ve published hundreds of articles on the HIT implementation processes, workflow, vendor-provider relations, legal and ethical issues, and on usability. My articles in JAMA, JAMIA, Annals of Internal Medicine, NEJM, Health Affairs, etc. are considered seminal works because, I suspect, I have one strength here that others usually do not possess, i.e., my original training as a sociologist of work, the professions and technology—along with research methods and statistics. My work thus combines ethnographic research, extensive statistical analysis, surveys, observations, interviews, plus organizational and financial analyses. I’m the only social scientist to be elected as a fellow of the AMIA, and more recently as only one of about 20 distinguished fellows of the college. I’ve also written extensively on evaluation research methods and on cybersecurity. I’ve also served twice as the chair of the evaluation working group of the American Medical Informatics Association. I’m also Chair of the AMIA working group on Ethics, Social and Legal Issues and serve on the nominations and election committee of ACMI
Historic ACMI Biography
It is not possible to overstate Koppel's contribution to our understanding of the safety, workflow integration and usability of HIT and for exposing the relationships between clinicians and vendors. His influence on the field has been profound and impactful. His work on unintended consequences (e.g. AHRQ guide ìbest sellerî) won endorsements from industry, government leaders, and providers. His work on vendor contracts is the foundational document of AMIAís task force and of the recent IOM report on patient safety and HIT. His study of workarounds to barcode medication systems and infusion pumps is one of the most accessed JAMIA articles. As a consummate methodologist, Dr Koppel has lent his talents to serve as the current chair of AMIAs evaluation working group.
Affiliations
The American College of Medical Informatics
Distinguished ACMI Fellow
ACMI is a college of elected Fellows from the U.S. and abroad who have made significant and sustained contributions to the field of medical informatics. It is the central body for a community of scholars and practitioners who are committed to advancing the informatics field.
Year Elected
2012
Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues
Working Group
Chair 2025-2026
Ethical, legal, and social issues must be considered whenever information technology is employed. AMIA’s Ethical, Legal and Social Issues Working Group addresses these topics in the context of health information technology and information systems.
Learn more about this group