Homer R. Warner, M.D., Ph.D. Closed Now

Dr. Homer R. Warner was an American cardiologist, computer scientist, and one of the earliest pioneers of biomedical and health informatics. Widely recognized as the “father of medical informatics”, Warner’s groundbreaking work in applying computers to medicine laid the foundation for modern health data systems and electronic medical records.

Trained as both a physician and a Ph.D. scientist, Warner began his career in cardiology at the University of Utah. In the 1960s, when computers were still rare in hospitals, he and his colleagues began exploring how computational models could improve diagnosis and treatment. This research led to the development of clinical decision support systems that could analyze patient data and suggest evidence-based treatments — an innovation decades ahead of its time.

Warner was the visionary behind the HELP system (Health Evaluation through Logical Processing) at LDS Hospital (later Intermountain Healthcare). This system became one of the most influential hospital information systems, integrating patient records with computerized decision-making. The HELP system was one of the first to show that real-time clinical decision support could save lives and improve quality of care.

In 1972, Warner established the first Department of Medical Informatics in the United States at the University of Utah. This department went on to train many of today’s leaders in biomedical informatics, including Reed Gardner and Stan Huff.

Beyond research and education, Warner published extensively, including the landmark textbook Computer Applications in Health Care and Biomedicine. His vision of using computers to enhance healthcare delivery has influenced every major development in electronic health records (EHRs), health data standards, and clinical informatics.

Dr. Warner received numerous awards for his pioneering contributions, including recognition from the American College of Medical Informatics (ACMI) and the American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA). His legacy continues to shape the global health IT landscape.