Empowering people through actionable intelligence: Highlights from MEDITECH LIVE 26

Healthcare organizations face more challenges than ever, and finding the right path forward requires collaboration, innovation, and a clear vision. This was the driving force behind MEDITECH LIVE 26, held from September 29 to October 1 in Foxborough, MA.  Over three days of discussion and problem solving from healthcare leaders, attendees from around the world explored how to successfully leverage data into meaningful, actionable intelligence — while empowering the human element in an increasingly AI-driven healthcare landscape.

Leading with Compassion and Resilience

The event began with a powerful keynote address by Justin Wren, Founder and Executive Director of Fight For The Forgotten. Wren shared his personal journey of overcoming addiction and clinical depression, dedicating his life to humanitarian work. He illustrated how compassion and resilience can transform adversity into meaningful leadership. His efforts in the face of global health challenges due to lack of clean water was a meaningful reminder to everyone in attendance that each of us can make a difference.

Justin Wren, Founder and Executive Director, Fight For The Forgotten, during his keynote address.

Leading with Innovation

MEDITECH Associate Vice President Rachel Wilkes and Senior Director Mike Cordeiro gave a series of updates highlighting MEDITECH’s acceleration of innovative clinical, operational, and financial solutions — all functioning together under the broader umbrella of the complete orchestration of care. The sessions showcased how Expanse integrates AI-driven workflow tools like intelligent chat assistants, AI generated discharge summaries and hand-off notes, ambient listening technology, and much more. They also emphasized Traverse Exchange’s seamless interoperability, connecting to TEFCA and CMS Aligned Networks, giving clinicians instant access to actionable data from inside and outside the EHR and putting patients in control by providing simplified access to their health information and dynamic support.

MEDITECH Associate Vice President Rachel Wilkes and Senior Director Mike Cordeiro during a Leading with Innovation session.

Building for the Future: Reimagining Implementation

Leaders from HCA Healthcare took the stage to explore how standardizing processes, leveraging automation, and integrating AI are doing more than transforming EHR implementations on a large scale — they are directly driving better quality outcomes. The session detailed how a standards-based approach drives necessary consistency, efficiency, and scalability throughout the entire implementation lifecycle, which translates to safer, more effective patient care. HCA has already implemented MEDITECH Expanse at 72 sites across the U.S. and U.K., with many more sites on the way. 

MEDITECH President and CEO Michelle O'Connor during her opening remarks at MEDITECH LIVE 26.

Expert Panel Discussions

Throughout the summit, industry leaders addressed some of healthcare's most pressing challenges and opportunities. As artificial intelligence reshapes healthcare, the AI Governance panel explored how organizations can confidently adopt AI while also prioritizing safety, accountability, and governance. Darin Brannan, MD, MPH, FAAP, and Chief of Clinical Innovation at Bethany Children’s Health Center, and John DiMaggio from BlueOrange Compliance talked with MEDITECH’s Alex Brinkert about actionable strategies for developing frameworks that address privacy, security, compliance, and patient trust.

A panel on the Impact of Traverse Exchange tackled the future of interoperability, as Schneck Medical Center’s Vice President and CIO Craig Rice and Ozarks Healthcare’s Chief of Staff and CMIO Priscilla Frase, MD talked with MEDITECH’s Allison Pallatroni about how the Consolidated Patient Summary optimizes workflows, enhances care coordination, and bridges critical care gaps for rural communities. The network provides access to health information for more than 43 million patients nationwide, dramatically reducing duplicate testing and supporting faster, more informed clinical decisions. Dr. Frase shared a particularly moving story about how data from Traverse Exchange helped save the life of a cardiac patient at Ozarks.

The transition toward intelligent healthcare systems was a major focal point during a fireside chat featuring John Halamka, MD, MS, President of Mayo Clinic Platform, and MEDITECH Executive Vice President and COO Helen Waters. Their conversation highlighted how embracing AI-driven capabilities can fundamentally shift the EHR from a static documentation tool into a dynamic, intelligent ecosystem that actively supports clinical decision-making and long-term operational success.

John Halamka, MD, MS, President, Mayo Clinic Platform, and Helen Waters, Executive Vice President & COO, MEDITECH, during their Fireside Chat: From EHR to AI-Enabled Platform.

The Cultivating Shared Ownership session explored why some EHR optimization efforts succeed while others struggle. Peer panelists from Berkshire Medical Center and Huggins Hospital discussed how strong governance, clear communication, and end-user engagement transform optimization initiatives. They shared proven approaches for building collaborative frameworks through Clinical Liaisons and Nursing Councils to empower frontline advocates.

Key CMS Initiatives in the Health Technology Ecosystem

Anthony Polizzi, Chief Patient Experience and Innovation Officer for the Office of Health Technology and Products (OHTP), delivered an update on key CMS initiatives, including “Kill the Clipboard.” His session provided attendees with crucial insights into the evolving federal landscape, shaping how organizations will align their technology strategies with upcoming national standards. Building on these regulatory themes, Liz Lewis, Vice President of Network Management at b.well Connected Health, co-led sessions focused on the CMS Interoperability Framework and the future of health data exchange. She explored how nationwide initiatives like CMS Aligned Networks and TEFCA are driving greater connectivity, translating federal principles into practical solutions that empower patients and move the industry to reduce administrative burdens

Immersive Track Sessions

Our Immersive Track Sessions provided targeted blueprints to streamline operations, increase efficiency, and enhance experiences for both clinicians and patients.  Early adopters from Frederick Health and Berkshire Health Systems shared insights on piloting Expanse Ambient, MEDITECH's native AI-powered ambient listening solution. Additionally, Boone Health demonstrated how they used MEDITECH's AI-driven predictive modeling to successfully slash no-show rates from 7% to 3% by increasing patient outreach. 

The global impact of digital transformation was highlighted by Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool, England, whose leaders shared how innovations like ambient voice technology and the national Paediatric Early Warning Score (nPEWS) have been seamlessly integrated into workflows to support safer, connected care for children and young people.

Preparing for the unexpected was also a major focus during the "Restoring the Pulse" session, a candid look at cyber resilience. In this track, the CIOs from Signature Healthcare and Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center shared their firsthand experiences of responding to ransomware strikes, offering actionable strategies to restore EHRs, prioritize critical systems, and maintain patient care during a total network collapse.

Interoperability & Innovation Hub Sessions

Seamless data sharing remains the foundation of connected care, and the Interoperability & Innovation Hub served as the epicenter for these discussions. Sessions examined how CMS Aligned Networks and TEFCA are driving greater connectivity across the healthcare ecosystem. Attendees also learned how Southern Ohio Medical Center is leveraging Ask Expanse, MEDITECH's generative AI chatbot, to simplify access to patient information directly within their workflows.

The Huddle: Fostering Connections and Peer Networking

The MEDITECH Huddle, held at Gillette Stadium, gave attendees a chance to unwind and connect. MEDITECH customers, leadership, and vendor partners came together to relax, have some fun, and build relationships, proving that some of the most impactful healthcare conversations happen outside the conference room.

As Justin Wren reminded us at the start of the summit, true transformation requires a people-centered philosophy rooted in empathy, growth, and service. Whether deploying ambient AI to reduce clinician burnout or optimizing interoperability to ensure data drives meaningful outcomes, our shared mission is to deliver compassionate care to communities worldwide. By balancing strategic innovation with accountability and resilience, healthcare organizations are turning today's industry challenges into meaningful opportunities for leadership, charting a brighter, more connected future for everyone.

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