Bridging digital health and nursing informatics: Why workforce, AI, and interoperability are the next frontiers
AI and digital health must empower—not replace—clinicians. Leaders at HIMSS25 are addressing workforce readiness, interoperability, and the ethical use of AI to shape the future of digital health.
At HIMSS 2025, digital health transformation was front and center during a compelling briefing with Whende M. Carroll, Clinical Informatics Advisor and HIMSS Fellow. Moderated by Morgan Searles, Senior Manager of Strategic Communications at HIMSS, the discussion dissected the intersection of nursing informatics, artificial intelligence (AI), digital health equity, and the ongoing push for true interoperability.
Carroll, a recognized leader in nursing knowledge, big data science policy, and AI in healthcare, made one point crystal clear: Digital transformation is about more than just technology—it’s about people, workflows, and the ethical use of AI in clinical settings.
The three pillars of digital health transformation
When asked about the most significant areas of focus for clinical informatics professionals today, Carroll identified three key pillars:
1. Long-Term Vision for Digital Health – The industry must resist fragmentation and short-term fixes in favor of a holistic approach to digital transformation, one that spans data interoperability, AI integration, and patient-centered care.
2. Keeping Patients and Providers at the Center – Digital health should enhance care, not just add technology. Carroll emphasized that AI and digital tools must focus on improving clinical workflows, not replacing human interaction.
3. Ethical, Intelligent Automation – While AI is gaining momentum, governance, workflows, and ethics must be aligned. "AI should augment what we do, not dictate it," Carroll explained, urging organizations to prioritize thoughtful, strategic AI deployment.
Breaking down silos: Clinicians, technologists, and policy experts must work together
One of the core challenges in digital transformation, Carroll noted, is the persistent gap between clinical expertise and technology development. Many digital health initiatives are designed without direct input from frontline providers, leading to inefficiencies and poor adoption rates.
“Nursing informatics isn’t just about working with EHRs,” she stated. “We are technically savvy professionals who bridge clinical practice, technology, and policy. It’s time for non-clinicians to understand the full scope of what informaticists do.”
She urged a more collaborative approach between policymakers, data scientists, engineers, and frontline clinicians, ensuring that healthcare technology serves real-world clinical needs.
AI in healthcare: The next three to five years
Carroll acknowledged that while AI is advancing at breakneck speed, true transformation will depend more on human adoption and understanding than just technological progress.
“AI is already revolutionizing healthcare, but the real challenge isn’t the technology—it’s how quickly people grasp what digital health actually means,” she said.
Carroll predicted that in the next five years, AI will play a critical role in:
Interoperability: The industry’s most pressing challenge
During the Q&A portion of the briefing, Carroll addressed the ongoing struggle for interoperability, a persistent barrier to digital health’s full potential.
“Interoperability remains the biggest frustration for everyone—clinicians, patients, administrators, and policymakers alike,” she said. “Without breaking down data silos, we cannot fully realize the benefits of AI and digital health.”
Carroll emphasized that mass innovation and disruptive thinking are necessary to fix interoperability challenges. While government regulations and EHR vendors play a role, she noted that market-driven solutions may ultimately drive the most meaningful changes.
AI vs. human workforce: Friend or foe?
One of the more controversial topics discussed was AI’s impact on the workforce—a concern that has fueled anxiety among nurses, physicians, and other healthcare professionals.
Carroll acknowledged that many frontline workers fear job displacement but clarified that AI should be viewed as an assistant, not a replacement.
“We need more nurse-led, clinician-driven AI solutions,” she stated. “AI should empower nurses and providers at the bedside, not create additional layers of administrative burden.”
She highlighted the need for more nurse-developed AI solutions, ensuring that these tools support rather than replace the clinical workforce.
AI as “nurse”? The ethical debate over AI terminology
The discussion turned to the growing controversy surrounding AI-driven healthcare chatbots being marketed as ‘nurses’.
Carroll didn’t hold back. “We should never deceive the consumer,” she asserted. “Calling an AI-powered tool a ‘nurse’ misleads patients. Nursing is a licensed profession requiring education, exams, and certification—AI is not a substitute for human expertise.”
This was in response to an audience member who referenced recent New York legislation aimed at restricting misleading AI healthcare claims, signaling that policymakers are beginning to address ethical concerns around AI branding in healthcare.
Looking ahead: The road to true digital health transformation
Carroll closed the discussion by looking toward the next wave of digital health transformation. She stressed that governance, education, and standardization will be key.
“We need a common digital health language, better workforce preparedness, and stronger interoperability standards,” she said. “AI isn’t just about efficiency—it’s about keeping the human touch in healthcare while leveraging technology to enhance care quality.”
Her final takeaway? The future of digital health is not just about technology—it’s about people, workflows, and the ethical application of AI.
As healthcare continues to evolve, industry leaders, policymakers, and clinicians must align their efforts to ensure that AI and digital health transformation benefit patients, providers, and the healthcare system as a whole.
Kenneth R. Deans, Jr., DHA, MBA, FACHDM is the President and CEO of Health Sciences South Carolina