One in four patients are willing to leave their healthcare provider if they can’t get an appointment when they need one. This shift in patient expectations is just one of many challenges healthcare organizations must navigate in today’s evolving landscape.
At the 2025 HIMSS Conference in Las Vegas, thousands of healthcare leaders gathered to discuss the next wave of innovations shaping care delivery. While AI, cybersecurity, and patient access dominated discussions, a common theme emerged: healthcare technology must go beyond “shiny new solutions” and instead focus on deep integration into clinical workflows, strong data governance, and a patient-centered approach.
In a conversation between Karie Ryan, Chief Nursing Officer at Artisight, and Charity Darnell, Chief Clinical Information Officer at Cook Children’s Health Care System, they discussed the importance of focusing on real problems rather than simply adopting technology for its novelty. This exchange illustrates an essential takeaway for all healthcare leaders: innovation needs to be purposeful and solution-oriented to make a real impact.
The message across all sessions was unified and clear: the future of healthcare depends on a mindful approach to new technologies. Here’s what healthcare leaders were discussing at HIMSS 2025.
Artificial intelligence is already embedded in healthcare workflows, but it’s not necessarily eliminating workforce. AI’s true value lies in optimizing efficiency rather than replacing human expertise.
During a panel on AI in nursing, Darnell discussed how her organization is working to reduce the documentation burden on nurses. She noted that nurses want to spend more time with patients, but excessive administrative work keeps them tied to computers. To address this, Cook Children’s has begun using ambient listening technology like Dax Copilot to streamline documentation, improving efficiency and allowing for more bedside care.
Similarly, AI is making a difference in administrative tasks. Over 70% of pre-authorizations currently take more than a month to be approved, creating unnecessary bottlenecks in patient care. AI-powered automation is streamlining these processes, reducing delays, and ensuring that patients receive necessary treatments faster.
This focus on workflow optimization aligns with the industry’s broader shift toward solutions that free clinical staff from repetitive tasks. Advanced medication management systems—like those that automate prescription counting, packaging, and verification—apply this same principle to pharmacy operations, allowing pharmacists to focus on clinical consultation rather than mechanical tasks.
Key Takeaway: AI is not a replacement for providers but a tool to alleviate administrative burdens and improve patient care workflows.
Interoperability remains one of healthcare’s biggest challenges. HIMSS 2025 reinforced that data standardization is critical to streamlining workflows and improving patient outcomes.
During a discussion on data-driven decision-making, Danielle Applegate, Director at CGI, emphasized that data is only useful if it is accessible when and where it’s needed. Without proper integration, siloed systems slow down care delivery.
This urgency is reflected in efforts to bridge EHR systems using FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources), allowing providers to instantly access accurate patient data, reducing duplicate tests and administrative errors. AI-driven pre-authorization tools are also helping prevent costly mistakes—Medicare currently reports that over 8% of claims have improper payments, a number that could be drastically reduced through real-time claim analysis.
The interoperability challenge extends to medication management as well. Integrated systems that connect prescribing, dispensing, and administration create a closed-loop process that minimizes errors and maximizes safety. Central fill pharmacy systems that seamlessly connect with outpatient sites exemplify this approach, ensuring the right medication reaches the right patient at the right time while providing comprehensive data tracking throughout the process.
Key Takeaway: Healthcare systems are focusing on data standardization and interoperability to access the full potential of AI-driven efficiencies.
With the growing adoption of mobile technology in healthcare, cybersecurity risks are escalating. HIMSS 2025 highlighted the urgent need for stronger endpoint security measures.
Joyal Bennison, Senior Director at ManageEngine, warned that healthcare’s weakest security link is often not firewalls but the human factor—lost or stolen devices that contain sensitive data. Indeed, 20% of healthcare breaches are caused by lost or stolen mobile devices, and 100 smartphones are stolen daily in healthcare settings, exposing sensitive patient data.
To combat these risks, organizations are turning to Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) solutions, which enable:
This focus on secure mobility extends to medication management technologies as well. Modern medication carts and dispensing cabinets now incorporate advanced authentication systems, ensuring that only authorized personnel can access controlled substances while maintaining detailed access logs for compliance and security.
Key Takeaway: As mobile devices become essential for care delivery, healthcare organizations are proactively securing endpoints to protect patient data and comply with evolving regulations.
Patients today expect seamless access to care—and they’re willing to switch providers to get it. HIMSS 2025 reinforced that patient access is now a competitive differentiator.
During a keynote discussion on healthcare consumerism, Brandon Burket, Vice President of Value-Based Care at Orlando Health, pointed out that if patients face long wait times, they will look elsewhere for faster care—disruptors in the space are already capitalizing on this demand.
This expectation for immediacy extends to pharmacy services as well. Patients increasingly expect rapid prescription fulfillment without compromising accuracy. Pharmacy automation technologies address this challenge by processing high volumes of prescriptions with speed and precision.
Key Takeaway: If traditional healthcare providers don’t improve patient access, disruptors will. Health systems that invest in better scheduling tools, extended hours, and digital-first engagement strategies will have an edge as these consumer-driven trends expand.
HIMSS 2025 reinforced the need for strategic technology adoption—not just chasing the latest innovations without thoughtful integration.
As Tye Cook, Senior Director at Tegria, noted in the session on patient access, implementing technology without a clear plan can create unintended disruptions across an entire health system. Without careful planning, organizations risk adding fragmented solutions that fail to integrate smoothly into existing workflows.
This challenge is particularly relevant in pharmacy operations, where fragmented systems can lead to inefficiencies and errors. Purpose-built, integrated pharmacy automation systems—designed specifically for high-volume central fill operations rather than adapted from retail settings—demonstrate the value of technology solutions that address specific operational needs with precision and seamless integration.
Key Takeaway: Adopt new technologies strategically and ensure they align with existing workflows, infrastructure, and long-term care delivery goals.
HIMSS 2025 underscored an essential truth: successful healthcare technology adoption isn’t just about having the newest tools—it’s about ensuring they are seamlessly integrated into clinical and operational workflows.
From AI-powered efficiencies to cybersecurity, data interoperability, and patient access, healthcare leaders must take a pragmatic, patient-centered approach to innovation. The organizations that will thrive are those that can successfully bridge the gap between technological potential and practical application in everyday healthcare settings.
Today’s healthcare challenges demand purposeful technological solutions. As staffing shortages persist and patient expectations rise, integrated systems that automate repetitive tasks and streamline medication workflows become increasingly critical. Purpose-built technologies that address specific operational challenges enable healthcare organizations to redirect valuable clinical time back to patient care while enhancing safety and efficiency.
Capsa Healthcare remains committed to engineering solutions that solve real problems, not just introducing technology for technology’s sake. We invite you to continue the conversation about how strategic automation and workflow optimization can support your organization’s clinical and operational goals in today’s evolving healthcare landscape.
