Top 10 Health IT Predictions for 2025 | healthsystemCIO

Healthcare Innovation Accelerates: AI, Automation, and at-Home Care Lead the charge

Healthcare organizations nationwide are rapidly embracing digital conversion, driven by the need to improve patient access, reduce costs, and enhance care delivery. From artificial intelligence and robotic process automation to innovative hospital-at-home programs, leaders are leveraging technology to address longstanding challenges and build more resilient, patient-centered systems.

Expanding Access through Hospital-at-Home Programs

Hospital-at-home programs are gaining meaningful traction as a viable alternative to traditional inpatient care. UMass Memorial Health recently celebrated a major milestone, admitting its 3,000th patient to the program since its launch in August 2021. The initiative, spearheaded by Eric Alper, MD, SVP, Chief Quality Officer, and Chief Clinical Informatics Officer, was initially developed to alleviate capacity constraints during the COVID-19 pandemic while ensuring patients received hospital-level care in the comfort of their homes.

Network Reliability and Cybersecurity

Maintaining a robust and secure IT infrastructure is paramount for supporting these advancements. Providence is addressing this need with a proprietary network telemetry platform designed to deliver enterprise-grade reliability across its extensive, geographically dispersed system. Kellie Larkin, VP of Identity, networking & Data Engineering, highlights the importance of a reliable network foundation for supporting advanced healthcare technologies. Simultaneously, Baptist Health is prioritizing cybersecurity, with James Case, VP/CISO, noting the need to balance rigorous risk reduction with the practical demands of clinical workflow.

Leadership and Data Governance in the Digital Age

Effective leadership is crucial for navigating the complexities of digital transformation. Chero Goswami,Chief Details & Digital Officer at Providence,advocates for a leadership approach that grounds technology decisions in front-line realities and patient-centered outcomes. This emphasis on practical submission is echoed by Alda Mizaku, Chief Data and AI Officer at Children’s National hospital, who stresses the importance of foundational data governance for enabling scalable analytics and responsible AI adoption. A well-governed data strategy is essential for unlocking the full potential of AI and ensuring ethical and equitable outcomes.

Automation and Clinical Transformation

NYU Langone Health is demonstrating the power of combining clinical expertise with cutting-edge technology.Jonah Feldman, MD, Medical Director of Clinical Transformation & Informatics, and Ajay Mansukhani, Senior Director of RPA/Smart Automation & Quality Assurance, are leading an enterprise automation strategy that blends clinical leadership, strong governance, and scalable technology to drive measurable improvements in care delivery. This approach underscores the potential of robotic process automation (RPA) to streamline workflows and free up clinicians to focus on patient care.

Addressing Challenges in Rural Healthcare

Innovation isn’t limited to large,urban health systems. Priscilla Frase,MD,CMIO/Hospitalist at Ozarks Healthcare,illustrates how passion,listening,and creativity can drive meaningful health IT progress even in resource-constrained rural environments. Her work highlights the importance of tailoring technology solutions to the specific needs of local communities.

EHR Selection and System Integration

the selection and implementation of an electronic health record (EHR) system is a critical decision for any healthcare institution, particularly those undergoing mergers or acquisitions. Justin Ott, CIO at Billings Clinic-Logan Health, details how the newly merged system evaluated and ultimately chose Oracle Health as its EHR to support integration, interoperability, and future innovation.This decision reflects a broader trend toward interoperable EHR systems that facilitate seamless data exchange and coordinated care.

Innovation Arms and Future-Focused Technology

Organizations are increasingly establishing dedicated innovation arms to explore and implement cutting-edge technologies. Melek Somai, MD, MPH, VP, Chief Technology & Product Officer at Inception Health – the innovation arm of ThedaCare-Froedtert Health – outlines a technology-led approach to addressing healthcare access, cost, and capacity challenges. This proactive approach to innovation positions these organizations to lead the way in shaping the future of healthcare.

These developments collectively signal a period of rapid innovation in healthcare, driven by a commitment to leveraging technology to improve patient outcomes and build more sustainable, equitable systems.