The Healthcare Info and Administration Methods Society (HIMSS) annual convention all the time brings ahead precious conversations, however this 12 months’s occasion stood out for the depth of govt engagement and the evolving expectations round AI in healthcare. It’s clear that the trade is transferring past know-how alone. Leaders need options that don’t simply verify a field however drive actual affect at scale.
One dialog that stood out was with a pacesetter from a big well being system. He was candid — he had been avoiding conversations with us. Not out of disinterest however as a result of he noticed the complexity in making AI a actuality at his facility.
Once we talked about radiology options, he nodded alongside. However because the dialogue expanded to multidisciplinary groups, the challenges turned much more obvious. This could introduce new layers of complexity that may require vital coordination throughout departments.
That is the place the dialog took a flip. Relatively than solely emphasizing know-how, the main target shifted to transparency, governance and regulatory alignment.
Healthcare organizations are looking for companions who perceive not simply the potential of AI but additionally the challenges in adoption — companions who can interact with regulatory buildings and guarantee AI is carried out in a compliant, clinically significant method. That broader perspective sparked deeper reflection throughout our conversations with leaders, underscoring their want for AI methods and skilled thought companions that align with their operational realities and affected person care priorities.
All through the convention, probably the most partaking conversations weren’t about product options however about how AI transitions from a “vendor product” to an enterprise-wide technique. The expectation is shifting. Distributors that take a consultative strategy, serving to organizations navigate governance, change administration and schooling alongside know-how implementation, are seen as much more precious companions.
One other main takeaway? The basis mannequin dialogue is gaining traction. Some leaders wished to dive deep, whereas others had been exploring the implications. The elemental query remained the identical: “What does this imply for me?” Whereas the strategy remains to be maturing, the curiosity is there, and it’s clear that organizations need extra than simply AI — they need steering on easy methods to implement and scale it successfully.
HIMSS reaffirmed that the trade is in transition. AI isn’t new, however the best way healthcare leaders interact with it’s evolving. The expectation is now not nearly discovering a vendor; it’s about discovering a real companion who might help navigate the complexities of AI adoption. Organizations that acknowledge this shift and construct collaborative relationships with their AI companions would be the ones that cleared the path ahead.