Continuous IT Optimization at a Safety-Net Hospital: Lessons from Humboldt Park Health

Hector Rodriguez's path to healthcare IT leadership wasn't traditional, but it has given him a unique perspective on how technology can transform care. After building experience across managed services, city government, nonprofit organizations, and other IT environments, he found his calling in healthcare, where every technology decision has a direct impact on patients, caregivers, and communities. Today, as Vice President of IT at Humboldt Park Health, a safety-net hospital serving nearly 500,000 residents on Chicago's West Side, he leads technology initiatives that support the organization's mission of delivering equitable, community-focused care.

On a recent episode of The CereCore Podcast, Hector joined us to discuss the leadership principles that guide his team, the role technology plays in advancing patient care, and how Humboldt Park Health is approaching everything from healthcare equity and operational optimization to AI innovation with a clear focus on outcomes. 

Read on for highlights from the conversation, and stream the full episode for more »

  • 25 min

How Humboldt Park Health's VP of IT Leads a Mission-Driven Safety-Net Hospital

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A mission that found him

“I actually didn’t even start in healthcare,” he said. “I’ve worked in many industries, managed services, even city government at a point, some nonprofit organizations, and then other IT environments.”

That breadth of experience exposed him to a wide range of technologies, business challenges, and leadership styles. But it was the opportunity to make a direct impact on people's lives that ultimately drew him to healthcare.

“I treat everyone here as if my mother or father were here,” he said. “Healthcare IT is pretty tough, from my perspective. It’s just not about keeping the wifi on. Every decision that we make affects a patient.”

That sense of purpose is what led him to Humboldt Park Health in 2022.

“What drew me to this hospital was ultimately its mission and commitment to serving the community,” he said. “I’ve seen everyone care for everyone who walks in through these doors, regardless of their situation or circumstances.”

IT as an enabler, not a barrier

Asked how IT supports Humboldt Park Health’s broader mission, Hector said:

“IT is just an enabler of the mission itself. Every patient interaction today touches tech in some way, in registration, clinical documentation, imaging, lab testing, medication, even billing.”

That perspective drives how his team approaches technology decisions.

“Our role is to make sure all the technology removes those barriers that sometimes we hear of in the healthcare industry, rather than creating them,” he said. “I’d love to see our nursing staff, our front-end users, spending more time caring for our patients and less time fighting about systems.”

For Hector, successful healthcare IT isn't measured by the technology itself, but by how effectively it enables clinicians and staff to deliver care.

Earning a historic health equity certification

In 2024, Humboldt Park Health became the 13th hospital in the country, and the first in the Midwest, to earn Healthcare Equity Certification from The Joint Commission, recognizing the organization's commitment to identifying and addressing disparities in the community it serves. 

Hector describes the achievement as the result of deep collaboration across the organization, with IT helping provide the data foundation needed to support health equity initiatives.

“Focusing on integrity, accessibility, and the reporting of patient demographic and SDOH data was key,” he said. “Our team worked closely with clinical folks, quality folks, and ops teams to ensure that the data being collected can be used to identify those disparities and support informed decision-making.”

He emphasized that the certification reflects a shared organizational effort.

“It’s all about bringing all our people together, leadership, front-end users, and the tech, around that shared goal.”

A practical approach to AI

While many organizations are racing to adopt AI, Hector brings a disciplined, outcomes-focused perspective. One centered on solving real operational and patient care challenges rather than chasing trends.

“Everyone says AI. What does it actually really mean?” he asked.

Humboldt Park Health currently has an application in trial within its emergency department aimed at improving patient experience. The organization is also evaluating ambient clinical documentation, patient engagement tools, and operational automation opportunities, including revenue cycle optimization.

The common thread is intent.

“The key here is not adopting AI for the sake of AI or just saying AI,” he said. “We wanted to really solve a real problem here at HPH, and ultimately improve access to care, and help our teams make better decisions.”

Optimization without an end date

On the revenue cycle side, Hector’s team has focused on optimizing workflows, improving charge capture, enhancing reporting, and reducing manual processes; work that depends on close collaboration between IT, finance, and revenue cycle operations.

“When we improve that data and workflow efficiency, we create a stronger financial foundation, and it’s always tied back to supporting patient care,” he said.

That same philosophy extends to Humboldt Park Health’s broader optimization efforts within MEDITECH Expanse, spanning clinical workflows, lab operations, revenue cycle reporting, interoperability, and physician documentation.

“Optimization, it’s never a one-time project. It’s ongoing, forever,” Hector said. “It’s an ongoing partnership between IT and ops teams.”

For Hector, successful optimization starts with listening. Rather than treating technology projects as purely technical exercises, he emphasizes close collaboration with frontline users to ensure systems support the way clinicians and staff actually work.

“The biggest difference has come from listening to frontline users and making the tech work the way that they actually need.”

Building partnerships that support the mission

Hector is thoughtful about the partnerships he builds and the standards he expects technology partners to meet.

“We definitely vet a lot of partners today through cost-saving exercises, but ultimately the partners that we tend to work with are those who understand our mission when it comes to serving our community,” he said. “They communicate transparently and they’re ultimately invested in our outcome rather than just simply checking the box.”

That commitment to shared outcomes is one reason his team has found success working with CereCore.

“What made the relationship with CereCore very successful is their willingness to function as an extension of our team,” he said. “They definitely have the expertise. CereCore folks are very flexible, and they understand the operations within the community and our hospital environment. They’re good at building trust and accountability, and they share that commitment with us when it comes to patient care.”

Leading with limited resources

For healthcare IT leaders working in resource-constrained environments, Hector’s advice is grounded in years of experience.

“Don’t steer away from your mission, and prioritize relentlessly,” he said. “You’ll never have enough time, no matter what. There’s not enough money, budgets, or resources to do everything.”

He points to relationships, not just technology, as the foundation for success.

“We build on those strong relationships with our operational leaders. We listen to our front line staff. Tech is definitely a tool, not the goal,” he said. “We never underestimate the value of our team or the committed team holistically. Great people together, I guess we all accomplish great things, even on limited resources.”

It's a philosophy that has guided Hector throughout his career and continues to shape how he leads technology at one of the nation's most mission-driven safety-net hospitals.

More resources:

• Follow and subscribe to The CereCore Podcast.
• Need an outsider’s perspective on big technology decisions? Start with a healthcare IT assessment.