The Elephant in the Room: Navigating Healthcare’s Biggest Unknowns
Editor’s Note
The federal health agencies we rely on for guidance—HHS, CDC, FDA—have gone quiet. With new policies restricting communication, we’re left with more questions than answers.?
We have to address the elephant in the room: How do we discuss these major industry shifts without being overtly political? How do we ensure that conversations remain productive and focused on the impact rather than the polarization? The healthcare industry has always adapted to shifting policies, but the stakes feel higher now. Decisions made behind closed doors will shape everything from patient care to funding priorities, and industry leaders are left to read between the lines.
The challenge isn’t just navigating these changes, it’s ensuring that we don’t lose sight of what truly matters: delivering better care, improving access, and fostering innovation. While policy shifts may create uncertainty, the healthcare industry has always been defined by resourcefulness and action.
We’ll continue tracking these shifts and their impact on healthcare’s digital future. Let’s engage, challenge assumptions, and push for the transparency our industry needs.
INSIGHTS
Co-Innovation: Bridging the Gap Between Vision and Execution
At ViVE 2025, we saw both immense opportunities for synergy and frustrating disconnects where partnerships failed to materialize—like two ships passing in the night. Healthcare’s willingness to co-innovate with external industries is increasing, yet too often, efforts remain fragmented. As Jeff Walpole discusses in his latest article, The Co-Innovation Cure: Transforming Health Systems from the Inside, health systems must overcome internal barriers—risk aversion, regulatory concerns, and ingrained operational silos—to achieve meaningful transformation.
Similarly, in From "We Can’t" to "What If?" in Healthcare Marketing: Balancing Innovation and Compliance, Chris Johnson explores how outdated mindsets can stifle progress and why healthcare leaders must redefine the relationship between compliance and creativity.
True co-innovation requires shifting from a vendor mindset to a collaborative approach, where trust in external expertise and iterative problem-solving pave the way for scalable change. If health systems want to move from isolated innovation to industry-wide progress, they must commit to breaking these barriers and rethinking traditional engagement models.
TRENDS
AI in Healthcare: More Than Just a Buzzword
AI in healthcare has evolved from a promising concept to real-world implementation, reshaping the digital patient experience in profound ways. In fact, use of AI in healthcare practices reached 66% in 2024, nearly doubled to the year prior?
Virtual health assistants, such as AI-powered chatbots, are transforming how patients interact with healthcare providers by offering immediate medical information, appointment scheduling, and remote consultations.?
AI is also driving enhanced patient engagement by analyzing unstructured conversational data. Large language models (LLMs) are now capable of extracting insights from patient discussions, helping to develop personalized chatbots that facilitate guided, goal-oriented conversations. This deeper level of interaction improves patient satisfaction and ensures that users receive relevant, timely responses tailored to their unique health needs.
Predictive analytics are further streamlining patient management by optimizing scheduling and electronic health records. AI-driven appointment systems can anticipate patient no-shows or late arrivals, allowing providers to take proactive measures such as automatically waitlisting patients. These advancements demonstrate how AI is not just an auxiliary tool but a fundamental driver of efficiency, personalization, and improved healthcare outcomes.
Despite concerns about AI’s role in healthcare, the reality is clear: when implemented with thoughtful governance and human collaboration, AI enhances—not replaces—patient communication and administrative processes.
ESSENTIALS
Read: Giving Thanks Can Make You Happier – You don’t have to wait until Thanksgiving to practice gratitude. Some studies suggest it’s a habit worth incorporating year-round for a happier mindset.
Watch: The Pitt – Prepare to be stressed, inspired, nostalgic, and hopeful all at once with this new gripping show on HBO.
Listen: The History of Light? – As AI leaves Moore’s Law in the dust, this episode considers technology advancement through a simple lens—how much labor is required to produce an hour of light?
Hands-On, Experienced IT Leader | Security-Driven Innovation | Seeking New Challenges
1 天前Not being political in the face of an autogolpe is a pretty sad position to take. Side with the oligarchs against the 99% or side with justice. It's crystal clear.