Digital trends in healthcare 2026: The ability to leverage artificial intelligence comprehensively will become a key success factor
The accelerating development of technology and artificial intelligence doesn’t just mean new innovations in healthcare; it forces us to rethink the entire operating logic of the sector, says Ilari Richardt, Head of Digital Services at Terveystalo.
Significant investments in artificial intelligence will continue in the healthcare sector this year as well. Instead of individual tools that utilize AI, we are moving toward an era where AI-assisted solutions will become an integral part of the entire customer journey.
− One of the key success factors in the healthcare sector will be the ability to offer a user-friendly and intelligent service channel that brings all of the customer’s services together in one place, such as behind an AI chat or voice channel. Another success factor is the ability to provide similar efficiency for healthcare professionals in their clinical work. A third success factor lies in the fact that AI is being used in occupational health to support supervisors and HR in entirely new ways, explains Ilari Richardt, Head of Digital Services at Terveystalo.
Technological advancements are also ushering in a new era for diagnostics. As diagnostics evolve, disease prevention and early detection become easier, which improves the effectiveness of treatment.
− As healthcare becomes increasingly technology-dependent, vulnerabilities grow. This means that organizations must ensure their ability to respond quickly to changing situations, Richardt explains.
Digital Trends in Healthcare 2026
1. AI doctors are becoming more common
Health-related concerns and questions have risen to become among the most common topics discussed in relation to artificial intelligence. This indicates that there is a need for support regarding health concerns with a lower threshold than currently exists.
− Many large US-based organizations, such as Amazon and OpenAI, have launched their first AI services focused on healthcare. This is the first step toward using AI as a kind of constantly available personal health assistant that combines both symptom assessment and health advice.
According to Richardt, this kind of AI application is a natural part of the continuum of technological development in healthcare. However, it must be done safely.
− We know, for example, that generative AI carries a risk of hallucination. The quality of AI services intended for healthcare should be closely monitored, and these services must be implemented with a focus on legislation, data security, and medical quality. It is important for healthcare providers to be part of this change so that people can receive support and advice safely and responsibly from the sources they seek. We are currently exploring such options at Terveystalo as well, Richardt commens.
2. AI in clinics is becoming ambient
Richardt explains that this year will see a shift from the use of individual AI tools to a more comprehensive approach, such as clinical intelligence operating in the background of clinics.
− AI will become, as it were, ambient—meaning it will operate continuously in the background, assisting professionals at various stages of the workflow, such as documentation, diagnostics, billing, and guidance on follow-up care. This will free up healthcare professionals’ time for impactful care and patient interaction. The doctor’s role will become more interactive, Richardt describes.
Above all, such developments in artificial intelligence place new demands on patient information systems.
− We are about to enter a new era of patient information systems. Future patient information systems must be able to adapt to accelerating technological and AI developments, as well as the changing needs of professionals and the industry. They must provide intelligent information, support, and efficiency for all stages of the clinic’s workflow as well as for patient care. The first steps have already been taken, such as Terveystalo Ella, which is one of the world’s first AI-native patient information systems.
3. Diagnostics takes a giant leap forward
Diagnostics is entering a new phase in which technological advancements and the use of artificial intelligence enable more accurate and earlier detection of diseases.
− As technology advances, the efficiency of imaging and laboratory services increases, which may lead to greater use of these services. At the same time, we are seeing that artificial intelligence improves the quality of imaging. This opens up the possibility of shifting the focus toward broader preventive screening. Early disease detection and, consequently, the effectiveness of treatment will improve, Richardt explains.
In practice, this could mean, for example, utilizing more comprehensive laboratory tests or imaging studies preventively as part of regular health monitoring. Advances in diagnostics are also being driven by wearable devices, whose technological capabilities have improved significantly.
− Smartwatches, activity trackers, and smart rings are beginning to include diagnostic features, and many devices are currently seeking medical device certification. For example, recording an ECG does not necessarily always require a clinic visit; instead, the necessary data can be collected in everyday life. In the future, data generated by wearable devices can be utilized more extensively to support medical diagnostics, which will transform healthcare practices.
4. Digital resilience is becoming a critical capability for healthcare providers
Just two decades ago, digital patient information systems were a new phenomenon, and temporary system failures did not significantly impact patient care. Today, an ever-increasing portion of information flow and the care process relies on technology.
– Healthcare’s deeper dependence on technology means that the effects of disruptions can be felt widely and rapidly across the entire operation. Key factors influencing technological development, such as the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, growing demand for electricity, geopolitical tensions, and cybersecurity issues, also extend to healthcare. Stakeholders must be prepared, for example, to switch the underlying technology or language model they use on a tight schedule. Such digital resilience also requires strong technological leadership from organizations, says Richardt.
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