Artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) are transforming healthcare at a pace that few could have predicted. What once were experimental use cases, predictive diagnostics, real-time patient monitoring, and AI-assisted surgeries are now entering everyday clinical practice. Yet there is one foundational element without which none of this progress can endure: the network infrastructure that connects it all.
In this new era, where every heartbeat, every pixel of a
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Health IT & Digital Health-Opinion | Op-Eds | Guest Columns | Analysis, Insights - HIT Consultant
Mastering the EHR Learning Curve: 2026 Strategies for IT Competency
Professionals across public, acute, and behavioral health rely on electronic health record (EHR) software to support patient care and documentation every day. Entering diagnoses, care plans, and administrative information supports the care continuum, and in-house technology teams help to make this as seamless as possible.
Each new system and wave of advancements requires a learning curve. Examine how IT can navigate a new EHR, and use that knowledge to support clinical end users.
Make IT
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From Genes to Hackers: The Hidden Cybersecurity Risks in Life Sciences
Getting a new credit card number is relatively easy, but you can't get a new genome.
In October 2023, 23andMe experienced a data breach resulting from a credential stuffing attack. In this cyberattack, hackers exploit reused usernames and passwords obtained from previous data leaks to gain unauthorized access to user accounts. Initially, approximately 14,000 accounts were compromised. It exposed the sensitive personal and genetic data of about 5.5 million users and an additional 1.4
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From Reactive to Proactive: Mastering 2026 Medical Device Fleet Management
In today’s healthcare environment, hospitals typically have 10 to 15 connected medical devices per bed, meaning clinical engineering teams are often responsible for managing thousands of medical assets at each site., This number is only expected to rise. In a high-stakes environment of healthcare, every piece of equipment plays a critical role in patient outcomes.
As hospitals continue to adopt more advanced technology and software, clinical engineers face growing
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Closing the Referral Management Gap in 2026: Why Every Referral Deserves Swift Follow-Through
In healthcare today, one of the quietest yet most damaging leak points lies between the referral and the actual appointment. It’s easy to think of referral processing as a back-office task. But in organizations where demand is high, patient expectations are rising, and competition is fierce, a slow or clumsy referral process becomes a strategic liability.
I’ve seen firsthand how systems built for payments and patient engagement reveal one truth: every delay is a missed connection — patients
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What Benefits Leaders Need to Know About Agentic AI in 2026
The healthcare industry is a leader in AI agent adoption at 68%, according to KPMG research, with early implementations reducing administrative workload by 55%. Yet for all this progress, Agentic AI remains widely misunderstood - often conflated with chatbots or treated as the “final answer” to benefits complexity.
In reality, Agentic AI represents a genuine evolutionary step: systems that understand context across multiple platforms, take action in real-time, and guide members through
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Healthcare CIOs in 2026: 4 Strategies to Scale AI and Unlock 10x Efficiency
As the pace of change in healthcare continues to accelerate, CIOs face increasing pressure to optimize IT investments, enable operational efficiency, and improve patient outcomes, all while navigating rapid advancements in technology.
AI and automation can help. In fact, over 80% of healthcare IT leaders see AI-powered automation as a top priority, but only about half are actively using AI-powered tools.
In 2026, it’s imperative to embrace AI, or risk being left
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7 Ways AI Will Actually Transform Behavioral Health in 2026
The integration of AI into behavioral health has moved from experiment to expectation. The industry is rapidly finding its footing, moving past initial hype and learning from cautionary tales to focus on real-world impact. While the debate around patient-facing AI continues, the true transformation is happening in the trenches. Let's be clear: AI isn't what many think it is. Here are the seven key trends that will define mental healthcare's AI transformation in 2026.
1. AI Isn't Just Chatbots
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The Unbundling of Primary Care: How 2026 Will Decentralize Medicine
As 2026 begins, I’m seeing a clear shift in how care is delivered and how patients expect to participate in it. After years of incremental progress, the industry is finally moving in ways that truly empower patients, lower barriers for innovators, and relieve clinicians from administrative overload. The forces driving this change are unmistakable: AI agents, consumer-first care models, new entrepreneurial pathways, and the decentralization of traditional medical systems. Taken together,
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Beyond Reactivity: Integrating AI-Driven Home Safety for Aging in Place
Aging in America isn’t a niche issue—it’s a seismic shift. Within five years, one in five Americans will be 65 or older. By 2034, older adults will outnumber children for the first time in U.S. history.1 This demographic flip is already reshaping households, businesses, and public policy.
One of the most urgent—and solvable—challenges is housing safety, particularly falls. Nearly 90% of older adults want to remain in their homes as they age.2 Yet, fewer than 10% of U.S. homes are
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