This year's HIMSS conference gave us plenty to talk about, highlighting exciting progress, ongoing challenges, and fresh opportunities in healthcare. AI was everywhere, cybersecurity finally got the spotlight it deserves, and interoperability kept coming up—showing both the progress we've made and the work still ahead. Here are five themes that stood out most to our team.
1. AI: Moving Beyond the Hype
At this year’s conference, AI took center stage once again, with discussions shifting from hype and fear to practical applications in physician documentation, patient engagement, care coordination, revenue cycle improvements, and physician burnout. Experts highlighted AI’s potential to enhance care, improve safety, and reduce costs, but only with thoughtful implementation.
Physicians, however, remain cautious about AI-generated data liability and the overwhelming volume of information they must process. Concerns also surfaced around “Agentic AI”—autonomous tools making clinical decisions without oversight.
The key takeaway? AI should empower, not replace, human expertise. Its success depends on strategic, responsible adoption that enhances patient care without compromising safety.
2. Cybersecurity: Zero Trust Architecture and Privacy Compliance
Cybersecurity was a major topic at HIMSS this year, particularly in the context of AI-related risks and the growing need for stronger digital protections in healthcare. Experts emphasized Zero Trust Architecture, a model that assumes no user or device can be trusted until verified, as a cornerstone of modern cybersecurity strategies. Compliance with privacy regulations was also a key discussion point, highlighting the challenge of protecting sensitive patient data while driving digital innovation.
While these conversations were definitely helpful, there was still room to talk more about the basics of cybersecurity—since overlooking fundamentals is often how major breaches happen. Also, having the Cybersecurity Command Center at Caesars instead of on the main exhibit floor at the Venetian might have meant fewer attendees saw it. Cybersecurity can't be an afterthought; it has to be baked into every step of digital transformation. As healthcare keeps moving forward, making security a priority—in discussions and daily practice—will be key to protecting patient data and building a stronger, safer system for everyone.
3. Interoperability: The Key to Seamless Care Delivery
Interoperability remains essential for care coordination and better patient outcomes, yet data silos continue to hinder progress. At HIMSS, discussions emphasized breaking down barriers between patient records, payer data, lab results, and non-clinical documentation to enable seamless information exchange.
A major focus was eliminating outdated, fax-based workflows in referrals and care transitions to boost efficiency. While strides are being made, interoperability challenges still limit precision medicine, access to care, and action on SDOH. No longer just a technical hurdle, interoperability is critical to delivering patient-centered, cost-effective care. Prioritizing seamless data exchange will unlock digital health’s full potential.
4. Virtual Nursing: A Creative Response to the Nursing Shortage
Virtual nursing is gaining traction as a way to ease the burden on on-site nurses while improving patient care. By handling admissions, discharges, and administrative tasks remotely, virtual nurses allow floor staff to focus on direct patient care.
The benefits are clear—patients feel heard, nurses report less stress, and experienced staff can stay in the workforce without demanding 12-hour shifts. Success hinges on involving nurses in program design to ensure safety, staff buy-in, and organizational alignment. As demand grows, virtual nursing offers a scalable way to support frontline teams and enhance care delivery.
5. Women’s Leadership in Health Tech
Women’s leadership took the spotlight in several exhibit floor presentations and four dedicated sessions, signaling a positive step toward greater representation. However, while this focus is encouraging, more tangible support is needed to truly empower women in health tech leadership. Workshops that provide actionable tools for navigating the complex landscape of the industry would offer greater value than networking sessions alone, equipping women with the skills and confidence needed to take on leadership roles and drive meaningful change.
Final Thoughts
HIMSS25 showed us that healthcare keeps changing fast—there’s plenty of exciting progress, but some areas clearly still need work. AI and digital transformation are still leading the way, but we really need to break down those stubborn silos and step up our cybersecurity game—especially through approaches like Zero Trust. Rural healthcare, often overlooked, deserves more attention too. Digital front doors could make a big difference here, helping patients connect more easily with providers, particularly in underserved areas. They can also smooth out messy processes like prior authorization, bridging gaps between payers and providers. Overall, HIMSS25 reminded us that innovation matters—but only if we keep it human-focused, collaborative, and closely aligned with patient safety and care improvements.
