Key Takeaways:
- AI dominated the conversation in healthcare technology in 2025, with half of the top 10 stories focusing on its adoption and implementation.
- Telehealth, remote patient monitoring (RPM), and the Food is Medicine movement were also major topics of interest among healthcare leaders.
- The industry is still grappling with the challenges of AI governance, scalability, and sustainability.
- Healthcare organizations are looking to integrate AI into clinical care to enhance efficiency and improve patient outcomes.
- The future of telehealth and Hospital at Home programs remains uncertain due to the expiration of pandemic-era waivers.
Introduction to Healthcare Technology Trends
The past year has seen significant developments in healthcare technology, with artificial intelligence (AI) being a major focus area. A review of the top stories in HealthLeaders finds that healthcare executives were interested in a variety of issues, including the ongoing saga of COVID-era CMS waivers for telehealth and the Hospital at Home strategy. The Food is Medicine movement also gained traction, as did remote patient monitoring reimbursement and Epic’s annual user’s meeting. However, AI was the clear winner, with half of the top 10 stories accessed by HealthLeaders readers in 2025 focusing on the industry’s adoption of AI.
Top Healthcare Stories of 2025
The top story of 2025 was Kaiser Permanente’s decision to settle a class action lawsuit over data captured by auto-tracking technology. The story highlighted the importance of data privacy and security in healthcare, and the need for organizations to be transparent about their data collection practices. Other top stories included CMS’s release of its 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, which offered new opportunities for providers to use telehealth inside the hospital setting and in skilled nursing facilities. The story on finding true value in AI for smaller health systems also resonated with readers, as it highlighted the challenges faced by rural networks and smaller hospitals in adopting AI technology.
The Role of AI in Healthcare
AI was a dominant theme in 2025, with stories focusing on its adoption, implementation, and governance. The story on what the C-Suite is getting wrong about AI strategy highlighted the need for healthcare executives to invest in infrastructure to support AI scalability and sustainability. The story on integrating AI into clinical care also emphasized the importance of using AI to enhance clinical care, while also addressing concerns about clinician dependence on AI. The debate over how to determine ROI for AI was also a major topic of discussion, with healthcare executives grappling with the challenges of measuring the value of AI in clinical care.
Emerging Trends in Healthcare
The Food is Medicine movement was another significant trend in 2025, with Kaiser Permanente and Tufts University launching the Food is Medicine National Network of Excellence. The movement aims to include diet and nutrition in care plans, with technology platforms enabling providers to integrate diet directions into the EHR and partner with supermarkets, food banks, and other resources to make sure patients have access to the food they need. Remote patient monitoring (RPM) reimbursement was also a major topic of interest, with CMS expanding opportunities for RPM reimbursement in its 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. However, the industry still needs to gather data to prove the value of RPM and convince payers to reimburse for these services.
Challenges Facing Healthcare Leaders
Healthcare leaders face significant challenges in implementing new technologies and strategies, including the need for AI governance and the uncertainty surrounding the future of telehealth and Hospital at Home programs. The expiration of pandemic-era waivers has left healthcare executives struggling to justify keeping these programs going without a long-term or permanent solution. The story on who’s minding the store on AI governance highlighted the need for healthcare leaders to develop clear strategies for using AI in clinical care and to address concerns about data privacy and security.
The Future of Healthcare Technology
The future of healthcare technology is likely to be shaped by the ongoing adoption of AI, the growth of the Food is Medicine movement, and the expansion of telehealth and RPM services. Epic’s grand AI gamble, which involves the development of hundreds of new AI tools, is also likely to have a significant impact on the industry. However, healthcare leaders must address the challenges of AI governance, scalability, and sustainability, as well as the need for clear strategies for using AI in clinical care. As the industry continues to evolve, it is likely that we will see significant developments in these areas, and healthcare leaders must be prepared to adapt and innovate in response to changing trends and technologies.