The recent Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society conference – HIMSS25 – had a few big themes. But what were the most important takeaways? What do the experts believe the future of healthcare management systems look like?
If you listen to TechTarget‘s coverage, it seems like the main theme was progress. Which makes sense. Even with regulatory barriers and red tape, healthcare technologies are advancing at incredible speeds. In recent years, wearables have seen widespread adoption – pure science fiction only a decade ago. The industry is also embracing AI with enthusiasm, and already has big wins to show for it.
But what will the near-future look like?
Standout Technology at HIMSS25
Hardly a year passes without a new incredible advancement in healthcare technology. But there’s no question the highlight of HIMSS25 was agentic AI. Unlike the AI technologies most people are familiar with using, agentic AI is designed for a truly special task. It’s supposed to make autonomous decisions. It’s supposed to have agency, thus the name agentic AI.
Properly implemented, these kinds of tools could dramatically change what workflow looks like inside and outside the industry. Though these technologies are still in earlier stages of development, they are fully expected to take on an enormous range of administrative tasks soon.
Essentially, the goal is to ensure clinicians can spend their time assisting patients instead of plugging away at paperwork. A goal that could have a significant impact on both patient outcomes and the financial bottom line.
Limits on the Hype
Naturally, there are limitations. Not everything will need agentic AI. Not all workflows can be improved by it. For example, AI could soon be positioned to sharply reduce cancellation rates through better automation of patient outreach. Countless cancellations occur each year because a patient forgot to avoid eating before anesthesia. In many cases, that problem could’ve been avoided with a simple automated reminder text.
VR for Patient Treatments
Another interesting highlight from HIMSS25 was the creative use of VR in patient treatments. In the last few years, VR technologies have become both highly immersive and relatively affordable. As a result, these technologies have become great tools for simulating a variety of fairly realistic environments and scenarios.
For exposure therapy, that’s proven invaluable. Moreover, patients who use VR are likely to continue their treatment. While these types of technologies are still in a relative stage of infancy and don’t yet have an extensive therapeutic record, there is enormous promise. Particularly for types of therapy where dropout rates are higher, like with PTSD.
Future of Healthcare and Tech
The final major theme of HIMSS25 was caution. Because there’s a difference between modernizing with technology and buying into any trend or new opportunity. Just ask the countless blue-chip brands that spent small fortunes purchasing digital storefronts in the Metaverse.
At the end of the day, the specific roles that AI can play in healthcare is something that the industry is still trying to figure out. But from streamlining EHR to making your form submissions bulletproof, there’s always a better way to do things. It’s usually just a matter of getting your hands on the right tools.
