From the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) to increasing reliance on telehealth to emerging digital technologies like mobile health apps and wearable devices, speculation about the future direction of health care is of increasing interest to health policy professionals.
In the first SWHR Policy Advisory Council meeting of the year, Tom Leary, Senior Vice President and Head of Government Relations at the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), explored how forces in digital health technology are shaping both the challenges and opportunities facing modern health systems.
A Mission Grounded in Global Health Potential
According to Leary, HIMSS operates with a bold mission: “realizing the full health potential of every human.” This vision is supported by four interconnected pillars: ethical AI, digital health transformation, cybersecurity and privacy, and workforce development.
Leary emphasized that these components are not isolated priorities. Rather, they function as a coordinated strategy to empower patients, providers, and caregivers alike, and this work is unfolding against an increasingly complex global backdrop. For example, trust in international health organizations wavering and, in some cases, collaboration between nations is giving way to competition. The result, as Leary described, is a “castle-building” mentality – where siloed systems can ultimately hinder collective progress.
The U.S. Focus: Rural Health and Digital Transformation
While operating in a mission that is “borderless,” as described by Leary, HIMSS’s domestic attention is currently focused in part on the Rural Health Transformation Program. Under H.R. 1 – known colloquially as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) – $50 billion is being distributed to all U.S. states via the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). These funds are being provided to support rural health hospitals and providers on a variety of activities related to chronic disease prevention and management, workforce recruitment and retention, and upgrading technology and infrastructure, among others. HIMSS is particularly interested in digital health integration. A key challenge for rural health lies in bridging the divide between urban and rural health care systems, both in access to providers and in the flow of information, according to Leary.
Despite federal and state-level incentives to bring providers into rural areas, shortages remain a stubborn reality. Leary pointed to South Carolina as a case study, where even coordinated recruitment efforts have struggled to meet demand. This raises the question: how can technology fill the gaps where human resources fall short?
Health Equity and Women’s Health
Health equity is another top priority for HIMSS. Leary cited maternal health as a stark example of where health technology can improve outcomes. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths in the United States are preventable. Digital health solutions can undoubtedly play a role in improving this statistic. Leary underscored that technological innovation, especially in telehealth, can play a transformative role in closing these gaps.
Cybersecurity and AI: Threats and Opportunity
In today’s rapidly evolving health care landscape, organizations must prioritize areas where attention matters most. When asked which of HIMSS’ priority areas feel the most urgent, Leary answered: cybersecurity.
Health care data has become one of the most valuable yet vulnerable assets in the digital economy. Leary cited the fact that health care data is a particularly valuable commodity when compared to other data types, due to both its high utility and the risks associated with its exposure. With increasing threats targeting health systems, protecting sensitive patient information has become a top priority across the industry.
While cybersecurity dominates in urgency, Leary believes that the greatest opportunity lies in AI. According to a 2024 survey led by Medscape and HIMSS, 86% of respondents – consisting of health care and IT professionals – use AI in their medical organizations, and 60% of those respondents “[recognize] its ability to uncover health patterns and diagnoses beyond human detection.”
AI is rapidly transforming what’s possible in health care delivery, particularly in the realm of remote patient care. Emerging technologies can track patient metrics in real time, flagging when numbers fall below established baselines and enabling earlier intervention. There is also growing interest in applying AI to areas like women’s health, where innovation has historically lagged. When implemented thoughtfully, AI has the potential to close gaps in care and expand access in meaningful ways.
However, with this opportunity comes an essential question: where should humans remain in control? The concept of a “human in the loop” is becoming central to conversations about ethical AI, and Leary shared that methodology has been a driving force behind HIMSS’ work since he began working for the organization. Not every decision can or should be automated. According to Leary, determining where human oversight is necessary and where it can be acceptably removed is one of the defining challenges of this technological shift. Striking the right balance between automation and accountability will shape how much trust both providers and patients place in these systems.
Finally, there is a growing recognition that health care cannot be treated differently from other sectors when it comes to regulation. Historically, there has been a tendency to “leave it to the companies,” as Leary put it, but that approach is no longer sustainable. Clear policies and accountability frameworks are needed to ensure innovation does not come at the expense of patient safety.
Bottomline: Digital Technologies Hold Promise
The cost of health care in the United States continues to rise, and access to care is increasingly difficult for many Americans, especially those who are lower income, under- or uninsured, and those residing in rural areas. The current health care system is struggling to meet the needs of the people it serves and yet, if the industry hopes to keep pace with the health care needs of the U.S. population, leaders in the space need to examine how care is delivered. Based on the conversation with Leary, it is clear that embracing digital health is essential. From telemedicine and remote monitoring to AI-driven diagnostics and data integration, leveraging these tools has the potential to expand access and improve patients’ outcomes while reducing redundancies across the health care system.
You can learn more about HIMSS by visiting their website at himss.org.