Building Advocacy in Transformative Change by Putting the Human in the Loop

Healthcare organizations face accelerating digital transformation, yet sustainable change depends on empowering the people at the centre of care. This article presents a human-centred change management approach that positions clinical leaders as effective advocates for innovation. Drawing on experience within a large integrated health system, we explore how inclusion and agency mitigate resistance and foster adoption. Two digital use cases-a nurse handoff tool and a scheduling and staffing platform-illustrate how co-authorship in design and implementation builds a sense of ownership and advocacy. By embedding representation and control into change processes, organizations not only improve adoption but cultivate a culture in which clinicians champion transformation. This approach reframes change management as a strategic lever for advocacy, aligning digital innovation with patient-centred values and frontline realities.