2026 Healthcare Tech Outlook.
AI is the tool, Digital Journey is the outcome.
We are currently in a phase of massive AI investment with new AI products entering the market almost daily. At AutoRemind, several of our products have AI and as a company we benefit from AI in our workflows. Its promise is to make your life easier, save time, or even do the work for you, much like computers did when they first came out. No doubt, technology will make another leap forward next year, but as a consumer, I will still get mad if I ask for a representative on a call but not reach a human who can help me.
Changing behavior - both client, and healthcare office staff - takes time. Despite a vast amount of technology (SaaS, AI, etc) already available across human and animal care, openness to change is still limited and much of this helpful technology remains underutilized. If AI gives a practice a needed push to make that change – great! Patients don’t care if AI is used by their doctor. What they care about is convenience and service, expecting the same experience from their healthcare providers that they get from purchasing on Amazon or banking with Chase: instant scheduling, clear communication, mobile-first interactions, and transparency at every step of their journey. The practices that deliver smooth, predictable, and automated care experiences will thrive in 2026, using AI or SaaS tools of their choice.
Digital patient journeys are rapidly shifting from a competitive advantage to being an industry standard covering everything from new patient onboarding and pre-visit preparation to post-visit follow-ups, payment reminders, and recalls. For independent practices, this shift is transformational. It increases efficiency without adding staff, reduces no-shows, stabilizes daily operations, and builds stronger patient loyalty through a more consistent and memorable experience.
The change starts with humans in the healthcare office who decide to make the change. Get started on your automation journey with AI or SaaS tool of your choice. The time is now.