Claude Pirtle, MD, MBA, MSACI, FACP, FAMIA, will join Heartland Whole Health Institute as Chief Digital and Informatics Officer, effective September 23, 2024.
In his new role, Dr. Pirtle will lead the Institute’s efforts to leverage information technology, data analytics, and clinical knowledge to reduce costs, improve outcomes, and expand access to whole health care in the Heartland.
“Dr. Pirtle brings valuable leadership experience, in both clinical settings and health information technology, to the Institute,” said Walter Harris, President and CEO, Heartland Whole Health Institute. “I look forward to working with him to catalyze new delivery models and transform the health care system through innovative solutions.”
Dr. Pirtle most recently served as Walmart Health’s Chief Medical Informatics Officer and Senior Director. Prior to Walmart Health, he served as Vice President, Chief Medical Information Officer for West Tennessee Healthcare and Assistant Chief Medical Officer of Jackson Madison County General Hospital.
“I am excited to join the innovative team shaping the future of health care at Heartland Whole Health Institute,” said Dr. Pirtle. “Together, we have an opportunity to reimagine how care is delivered, leveraging technology and data to create meaningful, lasting change for patients across the Heartland.”
“Heartland Whole Health Institute is committed to using advanced analytics and tech-enabled delivery solutions to reduce friction, improve patient experience and expand access to high quality care in Arkansas and beyond,” said Dr. John Findley, Chief Medical Officer. “Dr. Pirtle’s expertise will accelerate the solutions we bring forward to overcome disparities in health care deserts across the state.”
Dr. Pirtle Biography:
Claude J. Pirtle, MD, MBA, MSACI, FACP, FAMIA, most recently served as the Chief Medical Informatics Officer for Walmart Health, where he was the physician leader responsible for technology utilization to support the clinical enterprise and Walmart Health’s mission to bring accessible, convenient, and affordable care to the individuals, families, and communities it serves. Having joined Walmart Health in 2022, Dr. Pirtle is a dynamic physician executive who brings a wide range of experiences in designing and developing strategies to enhance technology and innovation that promotes access to high quality and affordable care.
Prior to Walmart Health, Dr. Pirtle served as the Vice President - Chief Medical Information Officer for West Tennessee Healthcare and Assistant Chief Medical Officer of Jackson Madison County General Hospital, a 792-bed tertiary hospital in Tennessee. In both roles, he co-led a complete enterprise ambulatory Epic conversion, implemented a system-wide telehealth and remote monitoring program, and led teams to redefine health care in a proactive and holistic approach. He also served as the Medical Director and Performance Improvement Committee Chair for the Connected Care of West Tennessee Accountable Care Organization (ACO).
Dr. Pirtle earned his Bachelor of Science in biochemistry from Louisiana State University with a minor in both chemistry and psychology. He earned his medical doctorate at Louisiana State University Health and Science Center (LSUHSC) in New Orleans, LA and completed his internal medicine residency also at LSUHSC. Dr. Pirtle completed his clinical informatics fellowship and a Master of Science in Applied Clinical Informatics from Vanderbilt University. He has also completed his Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Administration and Management from the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts – Amherst. Dr. Pirtle is board certified in Internal Medicine and Clinical Informatics. He also serves on the Board of Directors of QSource and Board of Directors for the Essential Hospitals Institute. He is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and a Fellow of the American Medical Informatics Association.
About Heartland Whole Health Institute
Founded in 2019 by philanthropist Alice Walton, Heartland Whole Health Institute puts a whole health approach at the center of the broader health care system to address the current health care crisis. The purpose is to lower costs, improve quality, and broaden access to health care in the Heartland by catalyzing new delivery models, using whole health principles, that can be replicated to disrupt the national health care system. The Institute was driven by its founder’s health care experience, and furthered by research revealing that the United States has one of the highest levels of health care spending worldwide yet relatively low rankings in overall health. In conjunction with Alice L. Walton School of Medicine, the Institute will transform health care beginning in the Heartland and scaling nationally.
