21 hours Ago
Derek Streat is the CEO of DexCare . America’s healthcare infrastructure is struggling to keep up. Workforce shortages persist, rural communities face increasing barriers to care, and outdated data systems are holding back progress.
But at ViVE 2025, a leading healthcare event, it was clear that the industry is interested in moving past the buzz and focused on real, measurable solutions. Walking the exhibit floor and listening to top leaders, I saw three themes emerge—not just talking points but indicators of where healthcare is headed. The evolution of AI, the crisis in rural healthcare and the urgent need for better care orchestration all took center stage.
And if the industry can get these right, we may break through the gridlock that has held healthcare back for too long. If the conversations at ViVE are any clue, organizations across the country need to adopt the same mindset shifts I saw on display at the event. To do this, healthcare leaders need to do the following: AI has dominated healthcare discussions for years, but ViVE 2025 shifted from speculation to impact.
One standout example was AI-powered ambient listening, which transcribes doctor-patient interactions and cuts administrative workload. Major announcements during the event revolved around these solutions—Cleveland Clinic, for example, announced it would integrate the technology after recently finishing a trial run of five different AI scribes. The most notable takeaway, however, is that providers already see the technology’s effects.
Michael Pfeffer, CIO at Stanford Health Care , shared during a panel discussion that this tool has become so popular among clinicians that removing it would trigger intense pushback. In this rare case, AI has simplified workflows rather than complicated them. One of healthcare’s most significant obstacles is also its greatest asset—data.
The industry generates an enormous amount of it, yet most of that information is fragmented, making AI’s full potential hard to reach. A CIO at Atlantic Health System once pointed out that healthcare accounts for one-third of the world’s data , doubling every 46 days. But without better connectivity, much of it stays locked in silos, preventing even the most advanced tools from making a real impact.
Sustainable, integrated systems require harmonizing data across electronic health records, workflows and third-party platforms. Only then can AI route patients to care in real-time, alleviate workforce strain and close care gaps. Otherwise, AI will remain a promise rather than a revolution.
Healthcare inequity has profound consequences for millions of Americans in rural areas, affecting their access to essential care. At ViVE, Dave Newman, CMO of Sanford Health, shared stories of North Dakota patients who must drive hundreds of miles to see a doctor. When access is this limited, treatable conditions can become prolonged, more complex and challenging to manage.
The proliferation of telehealth and the advent of remote monitoring and AI diagnostics can bridge gaps in rural healthcare, but only if policy catches up. Today’s reimbursement rules need to evolve, and Congress must make virtual care a lasting part of the system rather than an emergency measure from the Pandemic. At ViVE, Sanford Health demonstrated how thoughtfully leveraging telehealth can make a difference.
Patients who once had to travel long distances to receive care now connect with providers virtually, reducing hospitalizations and improving outcomes. This kind of physical-digital approach needs to happen nationwide. Geography isn’t the only barrier to improving rural access to care.
Better infrastructure is also essential. Of course, technology alone isn’t the answer, but systems must integrate digital tools with frontline care so innovation actually reaches the people who need it most. The workforce crisis remains one of healthcare’s biggest challenges, yet conference discussions often feel stuck in a loop.
The real need? More actionable solutions like care orchestration to dynamically match patient demand with provider capacity. Too many patients funnel into primary care visits they don’t actually need, causing a bottleneck for those with urgent conditions. The traditional “find-a-doc” model that we commonly find online is outdated.
What we need is a “find-care” model, where patients are automatically routed to the most appropriate provider, whether a physician, nurse practitioner, virtual visit or urgent care. Booking a doctor for routine care should be as simple as calling an Uber—instant availability, smart matching and seamless coordination. Speaking at the “Ground Control to Major Efficiency” session, Crystal Broj, chief digital transformation officer at Medical University of South Carolina, stressed prioritizing the entire patient journey within health systems and across community hospitals, ambulatory clinics and at-home care.
She compared rising consumer expectations to the ease of buying gifts on Amazon. And that’s because people want the same kind of convenience when searching for and booking care online. By combining more advanced scheduling, capacity insights and patient data, health systems can begin to streamline operations to increase provider availability and reduce burnout.
Healthcare may be at a turning point. AI has the potential to revolutionize care if we solve data fragmentation. Rural health disparities can be addressed if we rethink reimbursement and infrastructure.
And workforce shortages can be alleviated if we shift from rigid care models to dynamic orchestration. ViVE 2025 made it clear that healthcare isn’t suffering from a lack of ideas. What we need now is action and the industry to continue its step up.
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