AI, interoperability, and real-world readiness are converging to define the next era of healthcare IT. 

In this episode, Shaman Akhtar, Mike Costa, and Tom Stafford break down the challenges and opportunities shaping healthcare IT, as well as the growing need for true downtime resilience.

Shaman Akhtar, senior leader at ELLKAY, discusses how interoperability remains a “data plumbing” problem, warning that even with HL7 and FHIR, vendors still “speak different dialects,” creating ongoing challenges in exchanging patient information and even between emerging AI tools and agents.

Next, Mike Costa, Client Relationship Executive at Impact Advisors, reflects on the journey from EHR implementation to true optimization, arguing that many organizations have barely unlocked the value of their systems and that AI and ambient technologies could finally help harvest that potential while addressing persistent adoption and operational challenges. 

Finally, Tom Stafford, Healthcare Strategist at CDW and a recovering CIO, explains how CDW evolved from a logistics company into a turnkey healthcare partner, helping systems with security, cloud, and, especially, downtime resilience so they can safely operate when core systems fail. 

Together, they highlight common themes from the South Florida HIMSS Integrate Conference, ranging from regulatory and political pressures to the promise of AI, demonstrating that leaders across payers, providers, and vendors are grappling with similar issues. 

Tune in and learn how interoperability, optimization, and resilience are reshaping healthcare’s digital future!

Resources

• Connect with Shaman Akhtar on LinkedIn.
• Follow ELLKAY on LinkedIn here and explore their website.
• Connect with and follow Mike Costa on LinkedIn.
• Learn more about Impact Advisors on LinkedIn and visit their website.
• Email Mike directly here.
• Follow and connect with Tom Stafford on LinkedIn.
• Discover more about CDW•G on LinkedIn and their website.
• Email Tom directly here.