Workforce
Attendees discuss how they're forming bonds and renewing friendships on the HIMSS26 exhibit floor, as well as learning from speakers and enjoying networking events when the day is done.
A central challenge today, says Dr. Patsy McNeil, is how to implement artificial intelligence in ways that measurably strengthen clinical workflows and workforce sustainability while upholding rigorous bioethical standards and protecting patients.
Involvement with the HIMSS Foundation has helped Zebra Technologies CNIO Kassaundra McKnight-Young improve her efforts to develop technologies that give clinicians more time for direct patient care, she says.
During HIMSS26, Guido Giunti, chief data officer at St. James's Hospital Dublin, said hospitals' AI investments will succeed if paired with workforce-focused initiatives.
The Department of Disease Control and the National Science and Technology Development Agency will jointly promote R&D translation and government-wide collaboration to modernise public health monitoring.
Nursing and IT
The 24-state health system's integrated care model has achieved a 43% reduction in first-year RN voluntary turnover, a 21% decrease in emergency department hold hours and many other wins. Its virtual nursing transformation chief offers details.
Ini Ekiko Thomas, VP of IT and innovation at Memorial Hermann Health System, said HIMSS chapter and national activity has helped her connect with colleagues and vendors that helped solve complex challenges.
At HIMSS26, leaders from Emory Healthcare and Mass General Brigham discussed how initiatives like the Healthcare AI Challenge aim to help health systems make safer deployment decisions.
To build resiliency across their diverse populations, Colorado and Louisiana are harnessing advanced technical and financial innovations to improve collaboration in healthcare delivery as they balance policy decisions and priorities.
At HIMSS26, panelists discussed whether healthcare technology is improving care or adding challenges to the healthcare journey for clinicians and patients.