As HIMSS came to a close, I sensed that the coming year would be a watershed moment in the delivery of care. Transformations in clinical demand, capacity, technology, and policy will drive the industry to focus on efficiency and effectiveness in ways previously unattainable. While AI dominated much of the conversation, the deeper discussions on policy, capability, and need underscored the significance of the change ahead.
Some of my key takeaway insights from HIMSS are:
- AI is augmenting care at every level. From administrative workflows to patient care, its full impact on staff effectiveness and efficiency is still unfolding, but it will be significant.
- Data quality remains paramount. The old adage “garbage in, garbage out” holds true. High quality, complete, and semantically accurate data is essential for success.
- FHIR is now a necessity. The shift from conceptual frameworks to large-scale FHIR implementations has passed a turning point. Organizations are now leveraging FHIR into core operations rather than as a secondary measure.
- Financial and capacity pressures are mounting. Revenue pressures, staff capacity, and patient demand are squeezing health systems and payers. New solutions must offer a strong ROI, leaving little room for speculation.
At Smile Digital Health, we believe:
- Data trust is the foundation of innovation. Beyond data sharing, the focus is shifting toward clinical reasoning and automation, cognitive support, and operational augmentation. Data provenance, governance, and usability are driving broader adoption of trusted, high-fidelity data for precision care and informed decision-making.
-Digital Quality Measures (dQM) and AI-powered insights are transforming healthcare. The integration of Clinical Quality Improvement Standards (CQIS) with AI-driven analytics is elevating patient outcomes and operational efficiencies. We are entering an era where intelligent, standardized data drives measurable improvements.
- The payer-provider divide is dissolving. The shift toward value-based care is accelerating alignment between payers and providers, requiring seamless, real-time data exchange. CMS mandates and prior authorization reform underscore an industry imperative: Collaboration is not optional—it’s essential for sustainable transformation.
Seamless health data exchange is no longer an aspiration—it is an imperative. My week at HIMSS reinforced the industry's collective commitment to dismantling silos, fostering interoperability, and advancing a more connected, intelligent, and patient-centered healthcare ecosystem. As we navigate this evolving landscape, the focus must remain on translating innovation into real-world impact, ensuring data not only flows freely but also serves as a trusted foundation for better care, smarter decisions, and meaningful transformation.
I look forward to continuing these critical conversations and driving significant progress together. What were your key HIMSS takeaways?
