The Journal of AHIMA asked healthcare industry leaders nationwide what they think will be among the major issues facing health information (HI) professionals throughout 2026. Here are their responses:
Aaron Patzer, CEO and co-founder of Vital, an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered patient experience platform
“By next year, the digital health landscape will shift from app obsession to engagement obsession. The ‘download our app’ era will end and digital health companies will pivot toward true patient engagement — daily, weekly, even monthly touchpoints — made possible by secure, password-less and friction-free access that becomes the new standard, driving utilization rates far beyond today’s stagnant 10-15 percent.”
Ben Sharfe, EVP for AI at Altera Digital Health, a global health IT company
"In 2026, robust data governance will become the critical factor that separates successful, enterprise-wide AI deployments from the hype of failed pilots. Many AI initiatives will stumble not because the algorithm is flawed, but because they lack the foundational data integrity, provenance and bias mitigation strategies to be trustworthy in real-world scenarios. As AI takes on more high-stakes clinical and operational roles, the ability to prove where data came from and ensure its reliability will become a non-negotiable for mitigating legal liability and earning clinician trust. Organizations that treat governance as a core strategic priority, rather than a compliance afterthought, will be the ones to achieve a sustainable return on their AI investments."
Greg Miller, VP of Business Development and Marketing at Carta Healthcare, a provider of AI-powered clinical data abstraction solutions
"Health information management [HIM] is evolving quickly as organizations push for greater accuracy and stronger safeguards around patient data. New approaches to data exchange and abstraction are helping HIM teams deliver timelier information, while advances in privacy and security are keeping pace with regulatory demands. The trend is toward practical innovations that make the work more reliable without adding extra complexity for professionals on the front lines."
Heather Bassett, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Xsolis, an AI-driven health technology company that fosters collaboration between healthcare providers and payers
“By the end of 2026, healthcare’s relationship with AI will grow up — shifting from cursory exploration to stabilized models for execution. Inside clinical environments, progress will come with continued challenges as organizations work to balance innovation with safety and trust. But, patients will continue to be the true accelerators of adoption, shaping how technology is used through their comfort levels and expectations. We’ll see a stronger focus on using AI for compliance and regulatory clarity, helping hospitals and health systems manage complexity with greater confidence. With CMS [Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services] policy changes encouraging the use of AI during prior authorization, and collaborative efforts like CHAI [Coalition for Health AI] helping to define standards and guide best practices among health systems, 2026 will mark a pivotal year — one where transparency, shared governance, and responsible design move AI from promise to practice.”
Bob Watson, CEO of Health Gorilla, a designated qualified health information network (QHIN) under he Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA) TEFCA
"In the coming year, healthcare leaders will grow to see full interoperability as a critical foundation for truly patient-centered care. Providers will realize the value of real-time access to each patient’s complete medical history, including labs, prescriptions, procedures, and specialist notes. This will enable faster, more accurate diagnoses and evidence-based treatment decisions while reducing redundant tests and minimizing medical errors. Interoperability will also play a central role in advancing value-based care, where success is measured by outcomes rather than volume."
Jonathan Shoemaker, CEO of ABOUT, a provider of SaaS-based hospital operations solutions for admissio
n management and post-acute placement
“Data is taking on a new role in 2026. It’s not just showing what happened but also helping predict what comes next. Hospital and health system leaders are using real-time insights to anticipate patient demand, plan discharges earlier, and move patients more efficiently across care settings. It’s a shift from data management to data momentum."
Heather Randall, PhD, Chief Compliance Officer at TrustCommerce, a Sphere company
“Technology has always evolved quickly, but with the rapid evolution and adoption of AI and AI-enabled technology, providers are being asked to respond quickly to new products and services that have serious implications for patient safety, security, and privacy. While this technology can be transformative, it must be integrated and delivered with an eye towards maintaining patient trust and safety. It is imperative that providers do not sacrifice their governance frameworks to technological speed of play.”
Todd Doze, CEO of Janus Health, a health tech company delivering AI-powered solutions for the revenue cycle
“As data volumes grow, healthcare information leaders are turning to AI to modernize revenue cycle processes and reduce manual burden. We expect that the infusion of AI-enabled automation and operational intelligence will become the next wave of innovation to help health information management teams surface discrepancies earlier and reduce administrative delays before they affect the revenue cycle. This innovation will become a critical tool for strengthening the accuracy and integrity of health information.”
Mary McGrady, VP of CDI at Accuity, a physician-led clinical documentation review company
"As AI expands in the revenue cycle, HIM leaders must ensure that accuracy, compliance, and data integrity take precedence over speed. Clinically governed AI, with clear clinical oversight, will determine how CDI work can be augmented—elevating clinical reasoning, sharpening query precision, and proactively mitigating denials before they occur. Organizations that pair AI with disciplined clinical governance will not only reduce administrative burden but also preserve the integrity of the story of the patient. In this next phase, trustworthy data beats sheer data volume."
Patricia Hayes, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Imagine Pediatrics, a medical group that provides virtual and in-home care for children with special health needs
"Tech-enabled, integrated care models purpose-built for children with special health care needs are reshaping how data supports clinical decision-making. By connecting information from payers, providers, community organizations and families, we can deliver more personalized care and build trust with patients and caregivers. Tech-enabled care models turn complex pediatric data into actionable insights, leading to stronger alignment with existing care teams, better outcomes, and a care experience that reflects the unique needs of the child and family."
Gary Hamilton, CEO of InteliChart, a provider of patient engagement technologies
"In 2026, data integrity will be just as important as data access. Health information professionals will lead the charge in ensuring that AI-driven workflows remain accurate, ethical, and secure as automation scales across the industry. The true test will be building systems that support innovation without sacrificing trust and where every insight is as reliable as the data behind it."
Damon Adams is content production editor for AHIMA.