The ultimate purpose in healthcare IT isn't just about obtaining data, but about what we can do with it. Good data is essential in connecting care, and harnessing its power is the first step toward a fully unified care experience.
ViVE 26 challenged the HIT industry to address the hard questions relating to data-driven connections: As we introduce powerful AI solutions to the market, how is the industry ensuring meaningful impact, data accessibility, validation, and usability? How is HIT reducing friction for patients and providers?
We also must ask ourselves how we can ensure the equitable deployment of advanced solutions. And, is the industry supporting the greater goals of interoperability, or are we part of the problem?
These universal and very important points made up the central themes at ViVE 26. MEDITECH, alongside its customers, took the opportunity to elevate the discussion.
Leveraging the EHR as an intelligent platform
Perhaps no session forced the industry to look in on itself as self-critically as the aptly titled panel session, “EHR Maturity Moment.” Helen Waters, executive vice president & COO, tackled the heart of the challenge. In this pivotal moment in healthcare, health systems are now shifting their focus to leveraging technologies like AI and predictive analytics to transform EHRs from passive data repositories into dynamic clinical and operational intelligence platforms that actively reduce friction and streamline the business of healthcare.
During the session, Helen shared her belief that a mature EHR must enable innovation, support standards-based interoperability for data sharing across health systems, and provide the scalability and flexibility needed to support diverse organizations. Only when there is rigor in how data is collected and normalized, and a sharp focus on the core infrastructure and data layer, can data move meaningfully and improve care delivery.
With a strong foundation in place, Helen noted that MEDITECH has thoughtfully and deliberately brought transformative artificial intelligence solutions to the industry that maximize clinical, operational, and patient impact.
She explained why we’ve made artificial intelligence native to our EHR, and why it’s critical to keep humans in the loop. As she sees it, Expanse should serve as an intelligent teammate. This way, we can make a real impact, from strengthening nursing handoffs to increasing patient engagement with MyHealth Assistant (a patient portal chatbot).
HCA took to the stage with panelist Whitney Staub-Juergens, DNP-HSL, MSN, RN, NE-BC, COO, transformation operations. She shared how new technology like AI is transforming nursing by strengthening the human aspects of care, building clinician trust, and preparing the next generation for ethical use of AI.
Northfield Hospital + Clinics is also amplifying human intelligence, as they shared during their panel, “How AI Fixed a Hidden Fax Drain on Staff Time.” Using AI integrated with the EHR, they slashed manual review time for clinicians by 85% — freeing up hours every day.
Equipping healthcare entities of every size with innovative technology
Serving some of the largest healthcare organizations in the world to some of the very smallest, MEDITECH believes that every organization deserves advanced solutions. Our AI-infused EHR, cloud-based infrastructure, and MyHealth portal power healthcare entities of every size, and we proudly welcome the 15 new rural sites who chose MEDITECH in just the first two months of this year.
With hundreds of rural hospitals vulnerable to closure, and continued uncertainty regarding how the $50 billion in Rural Health Transformation Program funding will be allocated, MEDITECH is staying focused on connecting patient communities and providing long-lasting solutions for sustainability. There aren’t many other vendors offering a full-featured EHR to these resource-constrained organizations like we do. This industry needs enduring solutions that ensure the sustainability of all healthcare organizations and connect diverse patient populations with essential care.
I shared insights on these challenges during the panel discussion, “When Small Gets Tough: Digital Health in Resource-Thin Environments.” There are numerous ways the industry can work to keep these organizations thriving and connected throughout their healthcare communities.
In my observation, many rural and community organizations are benefiting from the strong digital infrastructure provided by MEDITECH as a Service (MaaS). Our solution delivers the full Expanse intelligent EHR platform (not a “lite” version), while reducing the cost and time of systems management so hospitals can maintain autonomy, maintain the highest level of cybersecurity, improve finances, and focus on patient care.
Furthermore, to fully realize the benefits of fast, secure health data sharing — especially for under-resourced rural healthcare organizations — every part of the system must commit to embracing interoperability and ensuring seamless, secure data sharing.
Moving forward, effective advocacy is crucial for rural leaders. They can influence government policy and funding by mobilizing their communities and constituencies. Support from EHR vendors is also a valuable asset. MEDITECH actively advocates for rural community health organizations with government leaders and maintains an engaged rural collaborative group for our customers. My colleagues and I use various communication channels, including newsletters and thought leader webinars, to share knowledge and strategic insights.
I was able to share these insights on a panel with Eric Gasser, RN, vice president & CIO, Wooster Community Hospital Health System. Wooster is a great example of a rural hospital not just surviving, but thriving, even during these challenging times. As Gasser explained, by using Expanse to reduce charting time, they have freed up nearly 1,600 nursing hours annually, among many other clinical and operational achievements.
Harnessing the power of intelligent interoperability
During the panel session, “The Supply and Demand for Patient Data,” Mike Cordeiro, senior director of interoperability, shared a vision for an industry that embraces true interoperability, and empowers patients to freely access their data — giving them the agency they have always desired while transforming care and improving outcomes.
As Mike observed, true interoperability unlocks the pathway to effective, connected care. Bare minimum compliance is not enough; without interoperability—in a truly robust and well-governed sense—an EHR remains an island and misses the opportunity to make a difference in care delivery.
The MEDITECH community continues to break down barriers, thanks to MEDITECH’s interoperability teams. Our national data exchange network, Traverse Exchange, shares data seamlessly with all organizations participating in exchange networks, regardless of EHR.
Mike shared his belief that whenever we can remove friction and allow data to flow responsibly, the impact is immediate: better care coordination, fewer blind spots, and a level of patient empowerment that isn’t possible in a closed ecosystem. Simply put, access should no longer be a privilege or a negotiation, but a baseline expectation.
Once again this year, ViVE really delivered. Too often healthcare industry events, like those in other industries, are more hype than substance — full of recycled ideas and pay-to-play content. Instead, by asking tough questions, prompting genuine introspection, and presenting opportunities for meaningful engagement, ViVE 26 left me invigorated to return to MEDITECH to prepare for the many changes and opportunities ahead for our industry.
Let’s stay connected: Visit us at HIMSS 26 booth #5031 and at the Interop + Smart Theater
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