Hospital executives share 2026 predictions

January 2026 is coming up quickly, and after instability in 2025, hospital executives are already gearing up for another busy year.

Experts spoke with Healthcare Brew about their predictions and hopes for what they’d like to accomplish in 2026.

These responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity.

John D’Angelo, president and CEO, Northwell Health

Our industry must leverage AI and sophisticated data analytics to revolutionize proactive patient engagement, identifying needs for crucial screenings like lung cancer and colonoscopies and seamlessly integrating connected, 24/7 virtual care with traditional primary care models.

As we move to the not-too-distant future, AI-driven platforms will be able to detect subtle, preclinical indicators of conditions like diabetes, hypertension, or stroke precursors, vastly improving early intervention and outcomes. Furthermore, AI and digitally empowered solutions are vital for future care models, particularly for an aging global population, enabling home-based care teams to monitor patients and become a true partner in maintaining health and wellness.

Ophir Klein, executive director of Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children’s and executive vice dean of Children’s Services, Cedars-Sinai

A key priority for us is strengthening systemness, ensuring patients experience seamless, coordinated care across our affiliates. Through our growing network of affiliates, regional partnerships, telehealth, and community outreach, we’re bringing our pediatric expertise closer to home and reducing barriers to care for families from all backgrounds.

In 2026, we also anticipate a continued focus on innovation, collaboration, and access. At Guerin Children’s, precision medicine and genomics are increasingly shaping routine care across many disciplines, helping clinicians diagnose and treat complex conditions earlier and more accurately.

AI will take on a more practical role in daily clinical care, enhancing imaging, diagnostics, predictive analytics, and population health management. These tools will improve efficiency and decision-making, allowing clinicians to spend more time where it matters most: with children and their families.

Beri Ridgeway, chief of staff, Cleveland Clinic

Building on the AI adoptions we’ve seen in 2025, 2026 is likely to see even deeper integration of AI across healthcare systems. Tools like predictive analytics, AI-driven diagnostics, and virtual assistants will become more sophisticated, enabling providers to enhance both clinical outcomes and operational efficiency.