By Ritu M. Uberoy

Co-Host, The Big Unlock Podcast

By the third day, a familiar rhythm begins to set in. The early-morning sessions, the steady flow of meetings, spontaneous hallway discussions, and those quick but meaningful connections that often lead to bigger ideas later.
And yet, the energy across HIMSS still feels as strong as Day 1.

The Power of Community at HIMSS

One of the most rewarding aspects of the day was continuing to meet people who recognize and follow The Big Unlock Podcast.

Over the years, the podcast has become a platform for conversations with healthcare leaders about digital transformation, AI adoption, and the realities of implementing innovation inside complex health systems. The goal has always been simple: learn directly from those building the future of healthcare and share those insights with the broader community.

At HIMSS, it’s incredibly gratifying to hear attendees say that the podcast helps them stay connected to what leaders across health systems, payers, and digital health companies are actually doing—not just what they are planning.

Several people also reached out expressing interest in joining us for Season 7, which is always exciting. HIMSS truly is one of the best places to discover new voices and fresh perspectives for the podcast.

AI Conversations Continue to Dominate

If there is one theme that has consistently dominated conversations throughout HIMSS 2026, it is artificial intelligence.

But the tone of the conversation has evolved.

Healthcare leaders are no longer just discussing the potential of AI—they are focusing on how to operationalize it at scale across clinical and operational workflows. Across the conference, discussions have centered on enterprise AI deployments, automation across hospital operations, and governance frameworks to ensure responsible adoption. 

In many ways, the industry appears to be moving beyond the hype cycle. Leaders are asking practical questions:

• How do we integrate AI into clinical workflows without adding friction?
• How do we govern AI responsibly while maintaining innovation speed?
• How do we ensure AI actually reduces administrative burden for clinicians?

Those questions reflect a broader shift happening across healthcare. The focus is no longer simply about what AI can do, but about how it can create measurable impact inside real care environments. 

From AI Insights to AI Execution

Another theme emerging strongly this year is the rise of agentic AI systems—AI tools that can execute tasks across healthcare workflows rather than simply generating insights.

For example, new technologies showcased at HIMSS are exploring how AI agents can coordinate tasks across the revenue cycle, helping automate complex administrative processes. 

This represents a significant shift in how healthcare organizations think about automation. Instead of using AI solely for analytics or decision support, many organizations are exploring how intelligent systems can actively participate in operational processes—from patient engagement to clinical documentation to financial workflows.

It’s a trend that aligns closely with many of the conversations we’ve had on The Big Unlock Podcast with healthcare CIOs, CMIOs, and digital leaders.

Transformation Requires More Than Technology

Another important point that surfaced repeatedly during discussions at HIMSS is that technology alone will not transform healthcare.

Leaders emphasized that successful AI adoption requires workflow redesign, workforce engagement, and organizational change—not just new tools. 

In other words, healthcare transformation is as much about process and people as it is about technology.

That insight resonates deeply with what we hear from digital leaders across the industry. The organizations that succeed with AI are the ones that approach it not as a technology project, but as a strategic transformation initiative.

The Value of Conversations Between Sessions

One thing I’ve learned over the years attending HIMSS is that some of the most valuable insights come outside the official sessions.

Day 3 was full of those moments—quick introductions that turned into longer conversations, reconnecting with past podcast guests, and meeting innovators working on fascinating new ideas in digital health.

These interactions are what make HIMSS special. With tens of thousands of healthcare leaders gathered in one place, the conference becomes a powerful forum for sharing ideas and accelerating collaboration across the industry. 

Looking Ahead

As we move toward the final day of HIMSS 2026, I’m reflecting on how much the conversation around healthcare technology has matured.

AI is no longer just an exciting possibility. It is rapidly becoming a core capability that health systems are actively integrating into care delivery, operations, and patient engagement.

At the same time, the industry is becoming more thoughtful about governance, trust, and responsible implementation—ensuring that innovation ultimately benefits both clinicians and patients.

Until next time at HIMSS27, signing off here as Ritu M. Uberoy. And if you have a story about digital transformation, AI implementation, or healthcare innovation, do get in touch with us. At The Big Unlock Podcast we would love to hear it—and maybe feature you on a future episode.

By Ritu M. Uberoy

Co-Host, The Big Unlock Podcast

Our second day at HIMSS 2026 continued the incredible momentum we felt on Day 1. As part of our ongoing HIMSS blog series, it has been energizing to see how many conversations across the conference are centered on the same themes we explore regularly on The Big Unlock Podcast—AI adoption, operational transformation, and the evolving role of technology in healthcare.

Day 2 delivered exactly what makes HIMSS such an important gathering for the industry: meaningful encounters, thoughtful discussions, and a shared sense that healthcare transformation is accelerating.

A Memorable Moment: Meeting Judith Faulkner

One of the most memorable moments of the day was meeting Judith Faulkner during a book signing at the Taylor & Francis Group bookstore.

For anyone working in healthcare IT, Judith Faulkner has had a profound impact on how digital health infrastructure has evolved over the past several decades. Through Epic Systems, she helped shape the electronic health record landscape that today supports clinical operations at many of the world’s leading health systems.

Meeting her was a special moment—one of those instances where you’re reminded that the digital transformation of healthcare has been built through years of vision, persistence, and innovation from leaders who pushed the industry forward.

Conversations That Reflect an Industry Shift

Beyond that highlight, Day 2 was packed with conversations across the exhibit halls and meeting spaces. What stood out most was how consistently the dialogue is evolving.

Just a few years ago, the focus at HIMSS was heavily centered on data infrastructure and interoperability. Today, the conversations are increasingly about how that data is being activated through AI to drive measurable operational and clinical outcomes.

Several themes surfaced repeatedly:

AI is moving beyond experimentation.
Health systems are increasingly looking to operationalize AI solutions across care delivery and administrative workflows.

Workflow integration is critical for scale.
AI tools that live outside core clinical systems rarely gain traction. The industry is now focused on embedding intelligence directly into workflows.

Automation is becoming operational.
From patient engagement and care coordination to revenue cycle and clinical documentation, organizations are exploring how AI can actively execute tasks—not just generate insights.

These themes echo many of the conversations we’ve had with healthcare leaders on The Big Unlock Podcast. Across nearly 200 episodes, one lesson has remained consistent: technology creates value when it improves workflows and enables care teams to focus on patients.

The Big Unlock Conversations at HIMSS

It was also wonderful to meet several podcast listeners and past guests throughout the day.

For those unfamiliar, The Big Unlock Podcast explores how healthcare leaders are driving digital transformation across health systems, payers, digital health companies, and life sciences organizations. Each conversation focuses on real-world experiences—what worked, what didn’t, and what others can learn.

At HIMSS, many attendees shared that they rely on the podcast to stay connected to emerging trends in healthcare AI, digital health, and innovation. Hearing that kind of feedback is incredibly rewarding for our team.

If you’re attending HIMSS this week and have a story about how your organization is implementing AI, advancing digital transformation, or tackling complex operational challenges, we would love to connect and potentially feature you on an upcoming episode.

AI, GenAI, and the Next Phase of Healthcare Transformation

Another clear takeaway from Day 2 is how rapidly the AI conversation is evolving.

Healthcare organizations are no longer just asking whether to adopt AI. The question now is how to scale it responsibly and effectively across clinical and operational environments.

We’re seeing increasing interest in areas such as:

• AI-powered patient engagement and outreach
• Intelligent clinical documentation and workflow automation
• Predictive analytics for operational optimization
• Agentic AI systems that can coordinate tasks across healthcare workflows

This shift—from analytics to AI-powered execution—represents a meaningful turning point in the industry.

Why HIMSS Still Matters

One of the things I appreciate most about HIMSS each year is that the most valuable insights often come from informal conversations rather than formal presentations.

The hallway discussions, quick introductions, and spontaneous meetings often spark the most interesting ideas. Day 2 was filled with exactly those moments—reconnecting with colleagues, meeting new innovators, and hearing firsthand how organizations are tackling some of healthcare’s most complex challenges.

Despite the scale of the conference, there is a real sense of community here. Everyone is working toward the same goal: improving healthcare through better technology, smarter processes, and stronger collaboration.

On to Day 3

As our HIMSS blog series continues, I’m looking forward to another day of learning, connecting, and capturing insights from leaders shaping the future of healthcare.

If you’re here at HIMSS 2026, please stop us if you see Rohit Mahajan or me—we’d love to meet you. And if you have a story worth sharing about AI, digital transformation, or healthcare innovation, let’s talk.

More reflections from the HIMSS floor coming soon as we move into Day 3.

By Ritu M. Uberoy

Co-Host, The Big Unlock Podcast

There’s something special about the first day at HIMSS Global Health Conference & Exhibition 2026. The moment you step onto the floor, you can feel the collective energy of thousands of healthcare leaders, innovators, clinicians, and technologists all focused on one question: How do we transform healthcare through technology?

This year’s conference, taking place March 9–12 in Las Vegas, has brought together the global health IT ecosystem—from providers and payers to startups, investors, and technology companies—creating an unparalleled environment for learning, collaboration, and discovery.

AI Is Moving from Insight to Action

One of the dominant themes today has been the evolution of AI in healthcare—from tools that simply generate insights to technologies that actually execute workflows and drive outcomes.

Across sessions and conversations, leaders are asking practical questions:

• How do we operationalize AI within clinical and administrative workflows?
• How do we move from pilots to enterprise adoption?
• How can AI augment—not replace—healthcare professionals?

This is where we’re seeing a new generation of technologies emerge—AI agents and automation platforms that actively participate in care coordination, patient engagement, and operational processes.

The conversation is shifting from “What can AI analyze?” to “What can AI actually do?”

The Rise of Intelligent Healthcare Operations

Another clear takeaway from Day 1 is that health systems are under enormous pressure to do more with less—address workforce shortages, improve access, and reduce administrative complexity.

Technology leaders are increasingly exploring solutions that:

• Automate patient outreach and engagement
• Improve operational efficiency across clinical workflows
• Enable data-driven decision making
• Support scalable digital transformation initiatives

In many ways, HIMSS has always been about the intersection of healthcare, technology, and operational transformation—but this year the urgency feels stronger than ever.

Healthcare organizations are not just exploring digital transformation anymore.

They are actively building AI-powered operating models.

Why HIMSS Still Matters

One of the reasons HIMSS remains such a powerful gathering is the sheer scale of collaboration it enables.

The conference brings together tens of thousands of health IT professionals, executives, innovators, and solution providers, along with hundreds of educational sessions and technology showcases. 

But beyond the sessions and the expo floor, what makes this event truly valuable are the conversations happening in hallways, networking events, and spontaneous meetings.

These conversations often spark the ideas that shape the next wave of healthcare innovation.

The Big Unlock Conversations at HIMSS

At The Big Unlock podcast, we’ve spent years speaking with healthcare leaders about the technologies shaping the future of the industry—from AI and data platforms to digital health innovation.

Day 1 at HIMSS has already reinforced a few important themes we’ve been seeing across the market:

• Generative AI is becoming enterprise infrastructure
• Agentic AI will power the next generation of healthcare workflows
• Data platforms and interoperability remain foundational
• Innovation increasingly requires collaboration between startups and health systems

Many of the most exciting conversations today have centered on how organizations can bridge the gap between cutting-edge AI innovation and real clinical or operational impact.

That’s where companies like BigRio focus—helping healthcare organizations design, build, and scale AI-driven digital solutions that solve real problems.

Looking Ahead to the Rest of the Week

If Day 1 is any indication, HIMSS26 will be a week filled with meaningful conversations about the future of healthcare technology.

I’m particularly excited about:

• Emerging discussions around AI agents in healthcare
• Innovations in digital health platforms and data interoperability
• Conversations with leaders who are actually implementing AI at scale

And of course, connecting with colleagues, partners, and innovators who are all working toward the same goal: building a smarter, more accessible healthcare system.

If you’re attending HIMSS this week, I’d love to connect. These events are where ideas turn into collaborations—and collaborations turn into innovation.

More reflections from HIMSS26 coming soon.

By Ritu M. Uberoy

Co-Host, The Big Unlock Podcast

By Ritu M. Uberoy

Co-Host, The Big Unlock Podcast

Day 3 at ViVE 2026 in Los Angeles was a powerful close to four days of learning, sharing, and connection. What stood out most wasn’t just the innovations on display or the sessions we attended, but the quality of conversations and the real-world perspectives shared by peers, leaders, and innovators across healthcare. 

One of the highlights of today for me was the opportunity to showcase insights from The Big Unlock Podcast — a space where we’ve been exploring how healthcare leaders are actually operationalizing digital transformation, AI, and workflow change to deliver measurable impact. It was energizing to see how many people at ViVE are thinking deeply about what works, not just what’s new. 

Wrapping Up with Purpose

Day 3 wasn’t just the final day — it was a moment to reflect on how ideas shared earlier in the week are being translated into action:

The Big Unlock stories on stage and off
Today’s interactions reminded me why we started the podcast: to amplify honest conversations about how leaders are tackling complexity with clarity — whether that’s embedding AI into clinical workflows, improving patient experience, or enabling teams with practical tools and strategies. Hearing people at ViVE talk about these insights or referencing real-world examples was deeply rewarding. 

Meaningful hallway and roundtable discussions
ViVE’s unique mix of structured sessions and open dialogue continues to be its greatest strength. Day 3 was a testament to the power of connection — from impromptu discussions about workflow integration to deeper exchanges on governance, trust, and the human dimensions of technology adoption. 

What’s emerging — beyond the buzz
Across the final conversations of the event, a few themes stood out:

• AI with purpose — not just innovation for its own sake, but AI that helps clinicians, supports judgment, and reduces friction. 
• Workforce-centered design — solutions that meet teams where they work and help amplify their impact rather than replace it. 
• Collaboration over competition — genuine partnerships between health systems, startups, payers, and technology partners that seek shared, measurable outcomes. 

Closing Thoughts

As ViVE 2026 comes to a close, what stays with me most isn’t a single demo or a single session — it’s the collective sense of urgency and purpose in the community. Leaders here aren’t just talking about transformation — they’re making it happen, even when the path is complex and the stakes are high. 

If you were here too, thank you for the conversations, the curiosity, and the commitment to what’s next in healthcare. And for those who couldn’t make it — let’s keep the dialogue going. There’s momentum to carry forward, and real work to be done.

Here’s to turning insight into impact — now, and throughout the year ahead. For continued conversations, connect with me on LinkedIn.

By Ritu M. Uberoy

Co-Host, The Big Unlock Podcast

Day 2 at ViVE 2026 in Los Angeles was packed with energy, ideas, and accelerated conversations about the real work of healthcare transformation. After an inspiring opening day, today was all about digging deeper — exploring concrete approaches to emerging challenges, connecting with fresh perspectives, and prioritizing how we move from concept to measurable action.

The exhibit halls, session rooms, and networking spaces were buzzing with dialogue — not just about “what’s next,” but about how leaders are getting done what matters most in care delivery, workforce enablement, and intelligent technology adoption. 

Conversations That Matter: Workforce, Nurses, and Tech

One of the themes that stood out for me today was the focus on the healthcare workforce as an essential partner in innovation, particularly how technology can support clinicians rather than sideline them. From sessions exploring nursing’s evolving role in a tech-enabled future to practitioner stories about adoption barriers, the message was clear: technology must be designed with people at the center. 

This shift, from technology for technology’s sake to technology that solves real problems, is not just rhetoric. It was reflected in the questions attendees asked, the solutions showcased on the floor, and the collaborations forming in the hallways.

Practical Insights from Sessions and Demos

Day 2 brought a slew of engaging discussions and demos that underscored the practical side of healthcare innovation:

🔹 Operationalizing AI with Purpose
AI was everywhere; not just as a buzzword, but as a tool leaders are actively deploying to improve workflows, enhance patient experience, and support clinical decision-making. Conversations went beyond theory into use cases that reduce administrative burden and elevate care delivery.

🔹 Security, Trust, and Responsible Innovation
In a landscape where data powers everything from predictive insights to real-time clinical support, several thought leaders reiterated how security and trust aren’t optional — they’re foundational to sustainable transformation. 

🔹 Human-Centered Design in Action
The best sessions weren’t simply about “what tech can do,” they were about how organizations bring nurses, physicians, and patients into design conversations. That alignment is critical to creating solutions that people will actually use and benefit from. 

Meaningful Meetings That Extend the Day

Beyond the formal agenda, Day 2 was rich with curated and serendipitous conversations with health system leaders, innovators, and fellow practitioners. Whether we explored AI adoption strategies or debated how to reimagine patient-facing digital experiences, these exchanges reinforced a simple truth: transformation thrives at the intersection of diverse perspectives, deep expertise, and practical curiosity.

Looking Ahead with Momentum

As we wrap Day 2 and look toward the final day of ViVE 2026, the urgency to translate insight into impact is stronger than ever. We’re seeing more healthcare organizations that aren’t waiting for the perfect moment, they’re building it. They’re operationalizing solutions, elevating clinicians through technology, and centering real user needs in every conversation. 

If you’re at ViVE as well, I’d love to connect. We’re exploring AI in action, talking workforce empowerment, or simply capturing the momentum this community is creating. There’s so much opportunity for meaningful progress ahead. If you want to connect after the event because your calendar is full, feel free to drop me a note on LinkedIn.

By Ritu M. Uberoy

Co-Host, The Big Unlock Podcast

Day 1 of ViVE 2026 in Los Angeles did not disappoint. I couldn’t be more excited about what’s unfolding at this incredible intersection of healthcare leadership, innovation, and digital transformation.

We kicked off the day with a bright, sunny California morning that matched the energy and optimism in the halls of ViVE. From the moment I stepped onto the event floor, with sessions underway, conversations buzzing, and new ideas in motion, it was clear that this year’s ViVE is a convergence of purpose and possibility.

Seeing Healthcare Innovation in Action

ViVE brings together health system and payer leaders, technology innovators, investors, and solution partners, all focused on transforming healthcare, not in theory, but in practice. This is where strategy meets execution, where real-world challenges get real-world solutions.

One of the highlights for me today was seeing how AI and digital technologies are being mobilized across the care continuum. From patient experience to clinical workflows, the narrative has shifted from “what might be possible” to “what’s already happening.” In the AI and digital health conversations I’ve engaged in, the focus is deeply anchored in augmenting people, improving outcomes, and removing friction from care delivery.

Connecting Through The Big Unlock Podcast

I’m also delighted to share that The Big Unlock Podcast continues to be featured in the ViVE Healthcare Podcast lists at the Media Village — a welcome acknowledgment of the meaningful dialogues we’ve been fostering with health system and industry leaders. Roaming the exhibit floor and seeing peers engage with the podcast’s themes — from workflow-first AI adoption to clinician-centric innovation — reminds me why we started this journey in the first place.

These aren’t abstract discussions. These are conversations about how AI and digital technologies can tangibly improve access, efficiency, and outcomes in care, grounded in the realities health leaders face every day.

What’s Been Top of Mind on Day 1

Here’s what’s stood out today:

By Ritu M. Uberoy

Co-Host, The Big Unlock Podcast

Connect with Rohit on LinkedIn

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