HIMSS26 made one thing clear: the conversation has shifted.
Interoperability is no longer the headline, it’s expectation. The real question now is what we’re going to do with it.
The CommonWell team compared notes and a few themes rose to the top.
Paul L Wilder, Executive Director
Interoperability is everywhere and now it’s about execution.
The energy this year wasn’t just high, it was focused. Conversations have moved beyond why interoperability matters to how we actually use it in real-world settings.
Across the board, payers, public health, providers…the emphasis is on practical application: supporting care management, keeping people healthy outside the emergency department, and making data exchange actionable.
There’s also a noticeable shift toward partnership. Less posturing, more collaboration. A recognition that interoperability isn’t just good for the ecosystem; it delivers value back to your own organization.
One surprise? Security wasn’t as front-and-center as expected. In a world of increasing threats, that raises an important question: are we solving it, outsourcing it, or simply becoming accustomed to the risk?
Marina Bluvshteyn, Business Operations Manager
If there’s one lesson from the week: the HIMSS app is not a meeting strategy.
Some of the best conversations happen organically. Walking the floor, stopping by booths, and leaning into real-time discussions continues to be far more effective than a packed schedule of app requests.
There’s also a practical side to making the most of the week. Capturing notes after conversations and sharing them across the team makes a measurable difference when it comes to follow-up and understanding intent.
And while it’s impossible to see everything, leaving room for curiosity goes a long way. Stepping into unfamiliar areas and simply asking questions remains one of the best ways to understand where the industry is heading.
Courtney Baker, Director of Marketing & Communications
There are a few things that HIMSS consistently gets right and a few things that always surprise.
The transformation of the show floor never gets old. Walking through during setup feels like stepping into a construction site, only to return the next morning to a completely polished experience.
This year, the balance shifted. Less emphasis on swag, more focus on experiences like more food, more informal gatherings, more opportunities to connect. Arguably, a step in the right direction.
From a marketing perspective, the details matter. Having collateral that speaks to multiple audiences isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s what turns booth traffic into meaningful conversations.
And while sessions are always valuable, sometimes the reality is simple: the booth becomes the main stage. The energy this year made that time well spent.
Jasiah Hasan, Policy & Network Operations Specialist
The best conversations aren’t always the ones you plan.
Taking time to engage with people outside of your immediate space—especially those who may not be familiar with CommonWell—offers a broader perspective on the health IT landscape as a whole.
There’s real value in those unexpected interactions. They create opportunities to learn, to educate, and to better understand how different parts of the ecosystem are thinking about interoperability.
And in a world that’s increasingly digital, some things still hold their value. A simple exchange of business cards can feel more personal, more intentional, and ultimately more memorable (especially when you just got your first set of business cards after graduate school).
The Throughline: Ready for What’s Next
Across every conversation, one theme stood out:
The industry is ready to move.
The infrastructure is there. The frameworks are in place. The belief in interoperability is no longer in question.
Now, it’s about turning that foundation into action—making data not just accessible, but usable. Not just exchanged, but applied in ways that improve outcomes and experiences.
That’s where CommonWell is focused.
From advancing TEFCA participation to delivering production-ready Identity and Access Services (IAS), we’re building for this moment, where interoperability is expected, and execution is what matters.
A Call to Action
HIMSS26 wasn’t about proving interoperability works. It was about what comes next.
So the challenge is simple:
Don’t just connect—use it.
Don’t just exchange data—put it to work.
Don’t just prepare for the future—help shape it.
#InteropDoneRight