January 2026

A letter from the guest editor introduces this year’s Health Information Technology issue, which explores 4 key themes driving health care’s digital transformation from basic automation to human-centered integration.

A Michigan-based deliberative study found strong public support for patient-informed artificial intelligence (AI) labeling in health care, emphasizing transparency, privacy, equity, and safety to build trust.

Nearly two-thirds of hospitals using Epic have adopted ambient artificial intelligence (AI), with higher uptake among larger, not-for-profit hospitals and those with higher workload and stronger financial performance.

Skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) with a high volume of referred patients with Alzheimer disease and related dementias may work harder to manage care transitions with less availability of resources that enable high-quality handoffs.

Operators demonstrated specialty-specific differences in electronic health record efficiency, timeliness, and after-hours use, highlighting how workflow and training shape documentation behaviors across medical disciplines.

Chronic gastrointestinal disorders are common and costly for employers. Use of a digital digestive care program was associated with reduced health care spending.

Digital health platforms improve pediatric care by offering customized, interactive tools for children and parents. They enhance education, support, and engagement while tackling challenges related to access, usability, and privacy.

This analysis of more than 250,000 adults at least 50 years old with chronic conditions showed lower portal use among older, non–English-speaking, and Black patients, underscoring digital health equity gaps.

Although the vast majority of physicians using an artificial intelligence (AI) scribe perceived a reduction in documentation time, those with the most actual time savings had higher relative baseline levels of documentation time.

Patient interaction and enhanced support with clinical pharmacists significantly improved pass rates for a measure of controlling blood pressure compared with usual care.

Food insecurity is associated with a lower rate of annual visits but a higher share of telehealth visits for primary and preventive care.

Telemedicine use in rural areas was associated with a higher likelihood of utilizing preventive services.