Health systems have spent years investing in digital tools such as patient portals, virtual care, self-service scheduling, and early AI use cases. By 2026, it is clear that tools alone are not enough. Fragmented data, unclear ownership, and siloed operating models continue to limit performance, even as digital adoption expands.
As margin pressure, workforce fatigue, and patient expectations intensify, digital functions less as a transformation effort and more as core operating infrastructure. It now underpins access, cost control, and operational stability. This shift marks what Modea calls the Great Pivot, a move away from disconnected technology projects toward integrated digital systems built to scale.
AI adoption underscores this reality. While most health systems are experimenting with AI, few are realizing impact at scale. The constraint is not the technology itself, but the architecture supporting it. AI delivers value only when data is governed, ownership is clear, and intelligence is embedded directly into clinical and operational workflows.
Interoperability has evolved as well. The challenge is no longer moving data between systems, but ensuring shared meaning across the organization. Without consistent standards and governance, digital complexity increases and the burden shifts to clinicians, staff, and patients.
Together, these forces redefine digital maturity. In 2026, success is determined less by the number of tools deployed and more by how well digital systems are governed, integrated, and aligned across the enterprise.To explore this shift in more detail, read the full white paper: The Great Pivot: Transitioning Health Systems to Digital Maturity in 2026.