Linda Stotsky: Patient advocate, percussionist, adventurer
Having started playing the drums at age 13, Linda Stotsky's next challenge is learning the congas – she loves music and even took lessons from Marshall Tucker Band drummer Paul Riddle. Seems appropriate, since Linda doesn't miss a beat when it comes to what's going on in the healthcare community.
"I'm a very voiceful advocate for patient-centered care." In addition to being quite active on Twitter (@EMRAnswers), she also contributes to the uproarious Hacking n' Healthcare comic.
That began nearly 15 years ago when she cared for an aging parent and, more recently, acted as a patient advocate for her daughter dealing with cancer and gallbladder surgery.
"I hate to say this, but within this 14-year period, not much has changed in terms of care coordination,” Stotsky says, “even with our technology and the systems we use today."
Stotsky finds solace as an enthusiastic educator, frequent contributor to various blogs and an active participant in the #HITsm and #HITChicks communities – including her upcoming role as a HIMSS15 Social Media Ambassador, the elite and eclectic cadre of influencers who get credentialed by HIMSS to attend and cover the event.
"We're all working together as a community to change — or make more transparent — the way we deliver care today." She swims in the mantra: "We all came for the chat, but stayed for the community."
Another passion of Stotsky’s?
“I was looking for an emerging technology company focused on innovation,” she says, and found what she was after in LogicNets, a maker of collaborative communication tools for clinical decision-making protocols; Stotsky started working there this week, in fact.
Along the way, Stotsky spent some time in the telecommunications space where she was told no 23 times before winning a $3 million deal and, ultimately earning a Sales and Marketing Excellence Award in North Carolina and South Carolina.
“Credit for my chutzpah goes to my parents,” she says, “who taught me to do whatever it takes, then do more.”
Except for that time she was in a Miss Teenage Beauty Pageant but backed on account of cold feet, she jokes. Since then, Stotsky raised two generations of children over the course of three decades and rescued “just about every animal imaginable,” within reason of course.
With eyes on HIMSS15, she's jazzed to introduce her eldest son (also in health IT) to Chicago, the 'big city' she grew up near for 13 years. Aside from the architecture and museums, she says she adores "the pier, the skyline, pizza ... I love everything about Chicago."
Beyond Chicago and the conference, Stotsky enjoys being out in nature, walking (everyday if possible) along the greenway in her Nashville neighborhood, bike rides and exploring.
"I think I've reached a point in my life where I'm all about adventure. I want to go everywhere now." Israel tops her list.
Meet the other HIMSS15 Social Media Ambassadors:
Mandi Bishop: fitness freak, data junkie — and former wedding singer
