By Andrea Fox , Senior Editor | January 30, 2026 | 10:22 AM
Digital transformation can be difficult and unpredictable, requiring health systems to be agile in both mindset and technology choices. In 2025, the healthcare sector had more opportunities to address healthcare disparities through patient engagement tech and improving physicians and payers access to data, but there is much more to do in 2026.
The focus on health equity at Mount Si…
By Andrea Fox , Senior Editor | January 30, 2026 | 10:22 AM
Digital transformation can be difficult and unpredictable, requiring health systems to be agile in both mindset and technology choices. In 2025, the healthcare sector had more opportunities to address healthcare disparities through patient engagement tech and improving physicians and payers access to data, but there is much more to do in 2026.
The focus on health equity at Mount Sinai Medical Center, Miami Beach, begins at its digital front doors, according to Tom Gillette, chief information officer, and Erich Glasbrenner, vice president and chief nursing informatics officer.
In this episode of HIMSSCast, they discuss the health equity challenges the organization faced, technical accomplishments and how access through the patient portal is only the beginning when it comes to using technology to raise the bar.
They also addressed the deeper, multi-faceted challenges of using artificial intelligence to better serve patients.
"The advent of AI, I think, brings other equity challenges into the equation," Gillette said. "Just how do those models work is a question that we address a lot here."
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Talking points:
- Using digital front doors and campaigns to improve patient journeys
- Improving access with scheduling, increased care channels, after-hours care and more
- Streamlining patient experiences with AI and data exchange
- Closing care gaps and solving image exchange challenges
- Bringing equity challenges into the equation with AI
- Engaging nurses and frontline providers on process changes
- Embarking on AI governance and training tasks for the year ahead
More about this episode:
AI can create a level playing field for patients
Hospital nurses face digital communications challenges
How to get ‘responsible AI’ right
Digital Transformation 101: A handy primer
How responsible AI can improve health equity and access to care
Andrea Fox is senior editor of Healthcare IT News. *Email: *[email protected] Healthcare IT News is a HIMSS Media publication.
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