What healthcare leaders will be focused on at ViVE 2026

Healthcare has been undergoing one major digital transformation after another in recent years. Focuses shift as new technologies to improve outcomes become available. A CHIME member insights session of healthcare IT leaders explored how health systems are modernizing infrastructure to deliver better care and found several areas of concern.

Healthcare organizations’ (HCO) leaders are recognizing the urgent need to prepare their organizations for a massive surge of new AI-enabled capabilities. A recent CHIME report cited 85% of executive respondents said infrastructure development was a top priority, up significantly from the previous year. AI, cybersecurity and digital health expansion were also major concerns. 

It’s become clear that modern infrastructure is the new nervous system for healthcare. HCOs are upgrading infrastructure to align security, connectivity, and intelligence to meet the demands of AI-ready care, electronic health records migrations and increased use of the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT).

AI is coming of age in HCO

HCOs are leveraging AI to automate administrative tasks, from medical record-keeping to billing, reducing human error. AI-driven solutions can help reduce healthcare costs by predicting resource needs, preventing overstaffing, and minimizing waste. Governance of AI in healthcare raises challenges surrounding decision-making, safety and strategic adoption.

In response, HCOs are implementing clear policies regarding approved AI usage, releasing approved tool lists, and monitoring users closely to reduce shadow AI. 

Cybersecurity remains a major concern

Healthcare is consistently one of the most targeted sectors for cyberattacks.  Unsurprisingly, cybersecurity Is a key consideration when supporting increased connectivity of additional users, devices and technologies. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) has become standard, and phishing defense is critical as spear-phishing remains the top threat. 

HCOs are focused on protecting infrastructure from an endless and ever-increasing onslaught of cybersecurity threats. The primary consideration when developing an approach to infrastructure is the concept of being secure by design. Rather than treating security as a bonus feature to include in existing systems, this approach weaves protective measures into the fabric of healthcare infrastructure. This security-first mindset demands that every digital tool or system is secure and can adapt to new threats organically, to create a resilient infrastructure. 

​​​Digital health expansion is a priority

Virtual care is anticipated to continue within hospitals and clinics despite financial headwinds. New technologies, like AI adoption, along with mobile and remote technologies are converging into applications, workflows and policies to support digital delivery of care.

Technological advancements are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, with a focus on improving patient outcomes, delivering cost-effective care, and enhancing the overall patient experience. With the increased use of hospital-at-home and of telehealth, IT leaders must expand their view of connectivity beyond the hospital walls. 

State and federal entities have been working to bring better connectivity to rural communities that need more bandwidth to expand digital health options. They are ably assisted by companies with expertise in rural infrastructure developmentand strong partnerships with health systems serving these populations.

Managed network solutions

Increasingly, healthcare IT leaders are finding that managed or co-managed network solutions are preferable to self-managed solutions. Managing solutions in-house typically require more resource allocation to handle the ongoing management complexity that comes with upgrading and integrating disparate equipment.

Although most HCOs have extremely capable and diligent IT personnel, many find it very hard to find, hire, train and retain the people to keep those teams fully staffed, and as a result their IT teams are overwhelmed by the enormity of their tasks. This has caused many HCOs to seek out managed network service partners to assume responsibility for tasks like maintenance and updates, thereby freeing their in-house IT to concentrate on the many pressing concerns they must address. 

Your goals are our priority. Let’s talk. 

We understand and fully support that the enduring goal of healthcare professionals is to improve outcomes and clinical and patient experiences. We work with your team to achieve your goals with a customizable, scalable, network infrastructure. Find out why Spectrum Business provides enterprise technology solutions to 90% of the largest health systems in the U.S.  

We hope to see you at ViVE 2026

We’ll be at booth 1653 in the Los Angeles Convention Center for ViVE 2026. We look forward to many interesting conversations about how your HCO can improve outcomes and achieve efficiencies with a modern, secure infrastructure.