Interoperability, AI, and the Future of Trust in Healthcare | A HIMSS 2025 Conversation with Robert Havasy | On Location Coverage with Sean Martin and Marco Ciappelli

Artificial intelligence continues to shape the future of healthcare, and this year’s HIMSS Global Conference 2025 reflected both the momentum and the uncertainties surrounding its adoption. In a conversation with Robert Havasy, Senior Director, Connected Health at HIMSS, the discussion focused on how AI, interoperability, and regulatory policy are influencing healthcare delivery, patient engagement, and the broader industry landscape. AI in Healthcare: From Concept to Implementation Generative AI has moved beyond the hype stage, embedding itself into real-world applications. Oracle’s announcement of an AI-driven electronic health record (EHR) platform signals a shift in how hospitals and healthcare systems are rethinking data management. However, the conversation is no longer just about the technology itself—it’s about how governments, regulatory bodies, and healthcare institutions will set guardrails to ensure AI’s responsible and effective use. The Role of Policy in Shaping AI’s Future While AI adoption surges, regulatory uncertainty remains a key challenge. The Biden administration had proposed executive orders and regulations to guide AI’s role in healthcare, but with political shifts and differing global regulatory approaches, the direction remains unclear. HIMSS has observed that different regions—the U.S., Europe, and Asia—may take separate paths in AI governance, raising questions about whether a unified best-practice framework will emerge or if multiple regulatory approaches will lead to diverging standards. Interoperability and the Shift Back to Customization For years, healthcare institutions moved away from building their own systems in favor of purchasing standardized EHR solutions from dominant industry players. Now, there’s a return to in-house development, driven by the need for flexibility, adaptability, and deeper AI integration. At the same time, interoperability remains a hurdle, as institutions seek to make AI work across disparate systems while maintaining security and compliance. The Patient’s Role in AI-Driven Healthcare AI’s potential to close the information gap between patients and providers is one of the most promising developments. From personal health monitoring through wearables to AI-powered tools that help individuals interpret medical research and their own health data, the patient’s role in healthcare decision-making is evolving. The ability for AI to synthesize complex medical data and provide insights in real-time is reshaping how people engage with their health, making them more active participants in their care. What’s Next? As HIMSS 2025 highlighted, AI in healthcare is not a distant vision—it’s happening now. The question is no longer whether AI will be a part of healthcare, but rather how it will be implemented, regulated, and integrated into existing frameworks to maximize its benefits while mitigating risks. The conversation with Robert Havasy underscores the critical need for collaboration between healthcare providers, policymakers, and technologists to ensure AI delivers on its promise while keeping patients at the center of the equation. Listen to the full episode for deeper insights into how AI, interoperability, and patient-centered care are shaping the future of healthcare. Guest: Robert Havasy, Senior Director, Connected Health at HIMSS | On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhavasy/ Hosts: Sean Martin, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine [@ITSPmagazine] and Host of Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast [@RedefiningCyber] | On ITSPmagazine: https://www.itspmagazine.com/sean-martin Marco Ciappelli, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine [@ITSPmagazine] and Host of Redefining Society Podcast & Audio Signals Podcast | On ITSPmagazine: https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-podcast-radio-hosts/marco-ciappelli ____________________________ This Episode’s Sponsors HITRUST: https://itspm.ag/itsphitweb ____________________________ Resources Learn more and catch more stories from HIMSS 2025 coverage: https://www.itspmagazine.com/himss-2025-health-technology-and-cybersecurity-event-coverage-las-vegas HIMSS 2024 Cybersecurity Report: https://www.himss.org/resources/himss-healthcare-cybersecurity-survey/ ____________________________ Catch all of our event coverage: https://www.itspmagazine.com/technology-and-cybersecurity-conference-coverage To see and hear more Redefining CyberSecurity content on ITSPmagazine, visit: https://www.itspmagazine.com/redefining-cybersecurity-podcast To see and hear more Redefining Society stories on ITSPmagazine, visit: https://www.itspmagazine.com/redefining-society-podcast Want to tell your Brand Story Briefing as part of our event coverage? Learn More 👉 https://itspm.ag/evtcovbrf Want Sean and Marco to be part of your event or conference? Let Us Know 👉 https://www.itspmagazine.com/contact-us