Chris Hoekstra

Chris Hoekstra is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). He holds dual roles as Director of Knowledge Management for a Northwest physical therapy company and member of the Scientific Advisory Panel for the Physical Therapy Outcomes Registry. His research focuses on organizational factors influencing healthcare technology adoption, clinical quality improvement, and medical scribe systems. Hoekstra also participates in an AHRQ-funded study on medical scribe safety in electronic health records (EHRs).

Education includes a B.S. (Willamette University, 1998), D.P.T. (Pacific University, 2002), M.B.I. (OHSU, 2016), and Ph.D. (OHSU, 2020). He completed a Clinical Informatics fellowship at OHSU (2018-2020). Professional credentials include Board Certification in Orthopedics and Fellow status in the American Academy of Orthopedic and Manual Physical Therapists (2006).

Research interests emphasize sociotechnical systems in healthcare, particularly how medical scribes impact EHR safety, provider workflows, and clinical quality. Recent work explores scribe training standards, hybrid clinician-manager priorities, and low back pain treatment utilization patterns. His publications bridge qualitative methodologies with practical healthcare informatics challenges.

Key achievements include co-authoring over 15 peer-reviewed articles on medical scribes, clinical informatics, and physical therapy outcomes. Awards include recognition for clinical expertise and informatics contributions. Hoekstra actively collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to address real-world healthcare challenges through evidence-based solutions.

Lab/Team Affiliations: Active contributor to the Physical Therapy Outcomes Registry scientific panel and AHRQ-funded medical scribe safety initiative. Engages with AMIA and APTA for professional development and research dissemination.