As the pace of change in healthcare continues to accelerate, CIOs face increasing pressure to optimize IT investments, enable operational efficiencies and improve patient outcomes, all while adapting to rapid advances in technology.
AI and automation can help. In fact, more than 80% of healthcare IT leaders see AI-driven automation as a top priority, but only about half are actively using AI-based tools.
In 2026, it is imperative to adopt AI or risk being left behind. Here are four ways to advance automation and ensure your healthcare organization remains competitive for years to come.
- Opt for a flexible platform to replace multiple, disjointed point solutions
The number and scale of things that can and should be automated have changed dramatically in recent years, as AI and LLMs have become incredibly effective at tackling tasks that previously required direct human involvement. As a result, the relationship between point solution and platform has also changed dramatically, toward flexible platforms that allow organizations to quickly automate common use cases (e.g., automating fax referrals) while retaining the flexibility to address unique situations that might only fit your current specific needs. CIOs who have relied on multiple point solutions in the past should look for a platform that can provide this to help them continue to win with AI in 2026.
- 10x your operational efficiency by implementing an AI-powered platform with scalable integration and user-friendly automation tools
Healthcare IT is well-positioned to bring even more value to health systems that embrace AI automation, both by streamlining internal IT use cases and addressing broader business needs. To realize this potential, an IT platform needs robust processes to quickly integrate enterprise-wide data sources with its chosen automation solutions, iterate on implementations directly linked to quantifiable results, and enable domain experts outside of IT to use the tools correctly and effectively. This can automate 10 times more tasks, significantly increasing the success of AI within the organization.
- Don’t rely solely on engineers to create and update automations
Successfully automating even a relatively simple task requires in-depth knowledge of the broader industry domain and a clear understanding of your healthcare system’s unique processes. While it is technically possible to automate almost any task using Python and LLM APIs, the real challenge lies in extracting the specific logic embedded in each department’s explicit and implicit processes and procedures.
Relying solely on engineers to create and update automations can be extremely expensive and slow, making most initiatives unsustainable or unrealistic. Instead, leveraging an automation platform that enables permissionless innovation and allows subject matter experts and operators to partner with IT to jointly solve problems helps automate work quickly and cost-effectively. This low-code approach opens the door to true scalability.
- Find an AI partner with a deep understanding of healthcare automation and rigorous security to scale responsibly.
While AI automation is extremely powerful and promising, it also introduces new potential risks, especially as these tools expand across the healthcare system. Since a healthcare system’s data security and patient safety needs are typically much more stringent than those of other industries, it is important to work with partners who have a deep understanding and expertise in implementing automation in healthcare.
At the highest level, healthcare leaders should look for vendors that follow HIPAA regulations, use strong encryption methods for data in transit and at rest, impose strict access controls and secure coding standards, and conduct rigorous testing to avoid bias and hallucinations.
Consolidating automation needs across fewer vendors or onto an integrated platform also helps reduce security risks by simplifying monitoring and minimizing integration vulnerabilities.
- Be open-minded: today’s AI is as bad as it will ever be
It is already capable of performing an incredible amount of automation, and yet it continues to improve at a rapid pace. Keep an open mind about what can and should be automated, get your hands on as many AI tools and workflows as possible to learn where they are good and where they struggle, and revisit them regularly as these models keep getting better.
Preparing for the AI-driven future
By embracing platform-based automation, prioritizing healthcare-specific security, and remaining agile in the face of evolving capabilities, CIOs are positioned to lead transformational change within their organizations in 2026.
AI is an asset that will help you stay competitive, reduce your overhead, and ultimately provide better care with fewer resources.