The Pulse
CHIME says 93.2% of surveyed health organizations use AI
CHIME’s 2026 digital health report found that 93.2% of participating organizations use AI in clinical or operational processes. Among AI users, 16.4% had fully documented processes for monitoring models after deployment.
AI is used in clinical or operational processes at 93.2% of participating healthcare organizations, according to a digital health survey report released Friday. The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) also found that a much smaller share of AI users had fully documented processes for monitoring their models after deployment.
The findings draw on data from more than 48,800 healthcare facilities, representing organizations across 46 U.S. states and five countries. The 2026 Digital Health Most Wired National Trends Report is derived from data from the 2026 CHIME Digital Health Most Wired (DHMW) survey, powered by Digital Health Analytics (DHA).
Adoption and oversight
Full adoption of generative AI rose from 31.0% to 54.8% in a single year, the report found. Among AI users, 16.4% had fully documented processes for monitoring models after deployment.
Russ Branzell, CHIME’s president and CEO, said lasting value depends on the leadership, governance and infrastructure surrounding AI and other digital technologies. He said healthcare’s focus is shifting from technology adoption toward how effectively organizations use it.
The report identifies AI governance, cyber resilience, clinical technology integration, trusted analytics, disaster preparedness and recovery readiness as priority areas for healthcare leaders. It also examines workforce practices and the use of technology in clinical and operational settings.
Workforce and recovery
A comprehensive, role-based data literacy program was in place at 15.7% of organizations, according to the findings. Full adoption of ambient listening was reported at 60.8% for physicians, compared with 9.5% for nurses.
CHIME also found that 39.1% of organizations could restore all critical systems within four hours. Organizations that test failover were about twice as likely to meet that threshold, at 45.7% versus 23.5%.
Investment and automation
The most digitally advanced organizations were more than twice as likely to monitor cost savings from digital engagement, at 80.0% versus 37.1%, the report found. Uncertainty about return on investment was cited as the top innovation barrier by 77.0% of organizations.
The report found that 49.4% had automated prior authorization, with the figure falling to 28.9% among smaller organizations. It places that finding alongside payer API requirements from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services that take effect in January 2027.
Full adoption of heat index data stood at 5.6% of organizations. CHIME described extreme heat as a growing threat to older, chronically ill and very young patients.