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Microsoft introduced Dragon Copilot, an AI-powered clinical workflow assistant.

Zoom launched public and beta versions of Zoom Workplace for Clinicians and Custom AI Companion for clinical documentation.

AvaSure unveiled a Virtual Care Assistant powered by Oracle Cloud and NVIDIA.

Cisco announced a beta integration of Webex Contact Center with Epic for better customer experience.

Commvault introduced new features to enhance EHR recovery on Microsoft Azure.

NYU Langone Health began rolling out Amazon One contactless check-in at its facilities.

Ergotron presented new tools for fleet management and clinical mobility.

Zebra Technologies showcased an autonomous mobile robot and 5G-enabled healthcare mobile computers.

These innovations highlight the growing role of AI, automation, and cloud-based solutions in healthcare.

Read more at HealthTech Magazine

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Other recent news and insights

Healthtech Connex receives $3.7 million from PacifiCan to enhance brain health measurement (BetaKit)

Indian startup Truemeds set to raise $44 million in Series C funding (Tech In Asia)

Reveleum gains investment from NEC X to enhance medical record management (Nec X/Business Wire)

GEM HEALTH secures $7 million to expand virtual sleep care services (MedCity News)

Global Digital Health Partnership: Advancing Interoperability and Collaboration in Digital Health

The Global Digital Health Partnership (GDHP) is leading an international effort to tackle shared challenges in digital health, ensuring that technology serves as a bridge rather than a barrier. As Herko Coomans (LinkedIn), from the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Sport, emphasized, digital health is inherently global—transcending borders, dismantling silos, and fostering international cooperation.

A Global Effort to Strengthen the Digital Health Workforce

Established in 2018, GDHP provides a structured framework for knowledge sharing, policy alignment, and interoperability standards, reinforcing the global digital health workforce. With 41 member states—representing 40% of the world’s population—and an expanding membership expected to reach 50 nations, the organization thrives on its diversity. Each country contributes unique experiences, regulations, and strategies, enriching collective progress.

Key Focus Areas

GDHP operates through dedicated workstreams, each co-chaired by two countries, focusing on:

Policy

Cybersecurity

Interoperability

Clinical and Human Resources

Evidence and Evaluation

Additionally, specialized interest groups, such as AI for Health and Data Governance, align global efforts, preventing redundant initiatives and ensuring that nations build upon existing knowledge rather than reinventing frameworks.

Interoperability: A Critical Priority

A key takeaway from Herko Coomans’ presentation was the urgent need for interoperability in cross-border healthcare. In the Netherlands, 60% of digital health budgets are allocated to maintaining legacy systems—limiting the adoption of modern, scalable solutions.

A major advancement in this space is the International Patient Summary (IPS), which enables the seamless exchange of health data across borders. A real-world example comes from Saudi Arabia, where IPS supported 1,000 international patients from four countries during the Hajj pilgrimage—demonstrating its potential in large-scale, multinational health initiatives.

A Roadmap for Global Digital Health

Unlike fragmented national strategies, GDHP provides a cohesive roadmap—not just a summary of each country’s initiatives, but a strategic plan for collaboration. Through white papers, best practices, and global partnerships, GDHP ensures that member nations assess their requirements before investing in health IT, leading to cost-effective, interoperable, and future-ready solutions.

The Future of Global Digital Health

As GDHP continues to expand, its mission remains clear: bridging policy and technology gaps, enhancing cybersecurity, and building a truly connected global health ecosystem. With digital health evolving rapidly, organizations like GDHP play a critical role in ensuring that innovations in AI, interoperability, and data governance benefit all nations, regardless of their healthcare system’s maturity.

For more information, visit GDHP’s official website.

Industry Insight: An Interview with Bruce Cowart (Director of Sales - VHA Healthcare at Ergotron, a company that specializes in ergonomics solutions)

Q: What is your primary objective at HIMSS?

Bruce Cowart (LinkedIn): This marks my tenth HIMSS conference. I firmly believe that meaningful business relationships are built on personal connections. My primary objective is to cultivate new professional relationships while strengthening existing ones. A key part of my role involves fostering collaboration and providing strategic support to partners committed to excellence and exceptional customer service. Trust-based relationships are essential to driving meaningful change in healthcare.

Q: How do you engage with nurses to enhance communication and workflow efficiency?

Bruce Cowart: My team leverages advanced communication tools equipped with data-driven analytics to assess clinical workflows. These insights provide empirical evidence on what works and where improvements are needed. We collaborate closely with Chief Nursing Officers (CNOs), frontline nursing staff, and executive leadership to ensure alignment across all levels of care delivery.

The real value lies in the data—quantifiable insights allow healthcare organizations to make informed decisions and justify investments in technologies that enhance nursing efficiency, improve patient outcomes, and drive operational excellence.

Header image: Bruce Cowart (left) and Danielle Siarri (right). Fair use.

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HIMSS25: Day 1 highlights

HIMSS25: Day 2 highlights

HIMSS Press Event: AI Standards in Nursing

How Health Data Standards Bridge the Gap Between Policy and AI Implementation in Nursing.

Q: How have health data standards helped bridge the gap between policy development and real-world AI implementation, particularly for frontline healthcare workers like nurses?

A: “Nurses face trust issues with AI. To be effective, AI must align with their workflows, use a common language, and ensure consistent literacy levels among frontline staff. Nurses also need more AI-driven solutions tailored to their needs.” — Whende Carroll (LinkedIn)

The Role of Health Data Standards in AI-Powered Nursing

Health data standards play a vital role in ensuring AI solutions are interoperable, accurate, and efficient for nursing and clinical settings. Here are some key standards shaping AI adoption in healthcare:

1. Ensuring Data Interoperability

AI models depend on structured data from multiple sources (EHRs, imaging systems, wearables, etc.).

Standards like FHIR, HL7, and CCDA enable seamless data exchange, giving nurses a unified view of patient information.

2. Improving Clinical Decision Support

AI-driven decision tools require standardized clinical terminology.

SNOMED CT and ICD-11 ensure uniform coding of diagnoses, symptoms, and procedures, allowing AI to deliver precise, evidence-based recommendations.

3. Enhancing AI-Driven Automation in Nursing Documentation

LOINC and RxNorm support AI-powered speech-to-text and ambient clinical documentation.

This automation reduces the burden of manual documentation, leading to more efficient workflows and improved patient care.

4. Enabling AI in Medical Imaging and Diagnostics

DICOM standardizes medical imaging data, allowing AI to assist in disease detection (e.g., cancer diagnosis in radiology).

AI-driven diagnostic tools help nurses and other frontline providers make faster, more informed decisions.

5. Supporting Predictive Analytics and Population Health

OMOP facilitates AI-driven predictive modeling, identifying at-risk patients before conditions worsen.

Nurses in preventive care can use AI to track disease trends and recommend early interventions.

6. Facilitating AI-Powered Medical Devices & Remote Monitoring

ISO/IEEE 11073 ensures seamless communication between AI-powered wearables, infusion pumps, and hospital systems.

Nurses can remotely monitor patients, receive AI-driven alerts, and respond faster to critical conditions.

Building Trust in AI for Frontline Nurses

AI relies on high-quality, structured data to be effective in clinical settings.

Without standardization, AI-generated insights could be inaccurate or misleading, impacting patient care.

Implementing health data standards helps build trust in AI-driven tools by improving workflow efficiency, reducing documentation burdens, and enhancing clinical decision-making.

Words Matter: Addressing AI Misrepresentation in Nursing

“Using terms like ‘AI Nurse’ as a marketing tool can be deceptive. If it’s a chatbot, it should be labeled as such—not as a licensed nurse.” — Whende Carroll

Oregon recently addressed this issue with House Bill 2748, which legally reserves the title "nurse" for human practitioners, preventing its use for AI systems.

As AI continues to evolve in healthcare, clear terminology, ethical standards, and accurate representation are crucial to maintaining trust and integrity in nursing.

Stay tuned for Day 4…

Read Also

HIMSS25: Day 1 highlights

HIMSS25: Day 2 highlights

WHO/Europe and HIMSS Strengthen Digital Health Collaboration Amid U.S. WHO Withdrawal

The World Health Organization's European Region (WHO/Europe) and the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) have reinforced their partnership to advance digital health initiatives. In September 2022, the two organizations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance healthcare systems across the 53 member states of the WHO European Region through data and technology-driven strategies.

Key Focus Areas of the Collaboration

Enhancing Digital Competencies: The initiative aims to equip healthcare professionals with essential digital skills, ensuring they can effectively navigate evolving health technologies.

Monitoring Implementation Progress: The collaboration includes tracking and assessing digital health adoption across the region, promoting continuous improvement.

Establishing Strategic Partnerships: WHO/Europe seeks to build a transatlantic coalition for digital health by engaging HIMSS and other key stakeholders to foster international cooperation and knowledge exchange.

These initiatives are designed to drive the digital transformation of healthcare systems, improving delivery and outcomes across the European Region.

U.S. Withdrawal from WHO and Its Implications

As of March 2025, the United States has initiated the process of withdrawing from the World Health Organization (WHO). On January 20, 2025, Executive Order 14155, titled "Withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organization," was issued, officially beginning the formal withdrawal process. According to the United Nations, the withdrawal is set to take effect in January 2026.

Despite this development, U.S. health agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), continue to participate in WHO meetings and activities. For instance, they recently attended a WHO meeting on influenza vaccine composition. Additionally, the U.S. remains a member of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the WHO’s regional office for the Americas.

The withdrawal has raised concerns regarding its potential impact on global health initiatives. WHO officials warn that reduced U.S. funding could delay efforts such as polio eradication, potentially increasing cases and raising costs.

Insights from CEO Hal Wolf

At HIMSS 2025, I had the opportunity to speak with HIMSS CEO Hal Wolf about the implications of the U.S. withdrawal and its impact on the conference.

Have U.S. government officials withdrawn from HIMSS 2025 due to the communications blackout?

Wolf confirmed that 200 attendees from the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) withdrew their participation. Despite this, overall attendance has grown, reaching 28,000 attendees compared to 26,000 last year. HIMSS has focused on attracting decision-makers and high-level professionals to the event.

How will the U.S. withdrawal from WHO impact HIMSS' collaborative efforts with WHO/Europe?

According to Wolf, "We are doubling our efforts as an NGO with the WHO in our collaboration efforts." He cited a recent MoU with Romania as an example of continued partnerships, emphasizing that HIMSS remains committed to global digital health initiatives.

Future of Healthcare Economics and Revenue Cycles

Wolf also shared insights into the financial outlook for U.S. healthcare institutions:

"Fifty percent of U.S. hospital revenue comes from the federal government," he noted.

The forecast for 2026 suggests reduced funding for healthcare facilities, prompting organizations to prepare accordingly.

Innovations at the HIMSS French Pavilion

The HIMSS French Pavilion featured several groundbreaking companies, particularly in AI and robotics:

Incepto (Incepto Medical): An AI-driven medical imaging company expanding into the U.S. market. Its solutions, developed by radiologists, generate clinical reports, including ICD and CPT codes.

Mirokaï (Enchanted Tools): An interactive robot designed to support pediatric oncology patients in long-term care facilities. Mirokaï engages users in multiple languages and is programmed to bring comfort and joy to patients.

Türkiye’s Digital Health Advancements

Türkiye continues to make significant strides in digital health, improving hospital systems through collaboration with HIMSS and the Ministry of Health.

The country has successfully implemented tracking for in-dwelling medical devices in patients.

Türkiye’s Health Ministry emphasizes a "One Health" approach, monitoring diseases across human and animal populations for better global disease control.

Stay tuned for Day 3…

Header image: Mirokaï humanoid robot. Credit: Danielle Siarri.

Read Also

HIMSS25: Day 1 highlights

HIMSS25: Day 3 highlights

Preconference Nursing Informatics Opening Speaker

Paul Coyne, VP and Chief Nurse Executive, Hospital for Special Surgery

A Transformative Journey: Innovation

Is innovation an evolution or a transformation? Paul Coyne’s opening keynote challenged this fundamental question. Drawing from his own unconventional path—from finance to nursing—he shared a powerful story of resilience, reinvention, and purpose. Coyne emphasized that we are more than our degrees or job titles; true innovation stems from the desire to create meaningful change. His message urged healthcare professionals to resist apathy and embrace transformation, shaping a future where impact matters more than convention.

Interview with Monica Schagen

Representative for the Netherlands Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport to the U.S. and Canada LinkedIn

How does the Dutch healthcare system influence international collaborations in health technology, and how does your work at the embassy contribute?

For a small country like the Netherlands, international collaboration is essential. With a growing population and increasing demands on nurses, cross-border partnerships help address workforce shortages, advance technology, and shape healthcare policies. By working together, nations can find innovative solutions to shared challenges and build a more resilient global healthcare system.

How do Dutch policies on data privacy and interoperability impact health technology adoption? What challenges and opportunities arise?

The Netherlands has implemented legislation requiring all health data systems to be interoperable. This ensures seamless data transfer between healthcare providers, allowing patients’ medical information to move with them—provided they give consent.

When data is recorded accurately and systems communicate efficiently, healthcare professionals can track trends, improve patient care, and drive evidence-based decision-making. The next challenge is expanding interoperability beyond national borders. A globally connected nursing community can leverage these advancements to enhance patient outcomes worldwide.

AI Debate Session: Overcoming Barriers to Adoption

Many organizations remain hesitant to embrace AI due to concerns about misinformation and "hallucinations." This reluctance has led to unofficial, shadow AI use by employees. However, recent advancements have significantly improved AI’s reliability.

DeepSeek, for example, has introduced a compact yet powerful open reasoning model designed to enhance generative AI by providing transparent decision-making steps. As AI continues to evolve, organizations are increasingly turning to these reasoning models to drive better business outcomes—ensuring AI-generated insights are both explainable and trustworthy.

Stay tuned for Day 2…

Header image: Monica Schagen (right) and Danielle Siarri (left) at the 2025 HIMSS Global Health Conference & Exhibition. Fair Use.

Read Also

HIMSS25: Day 2 highlights

HIMSS25: Day 3 highlights