HITshow Daily: January 8, 2026 (Thursday)
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Today on HITshow:
Consumer AI is moving closer to health data, and the rulebook around health tech is shifting at the same time. OpenAI introduces ChatGPT Health where users can upload medical records and connect wellness apps, while regulators signal a lighter touch for certain wearables and digital health tools. Plus: Utah launches an AI prescription renewal pilot, Mayo develops an EHR-integrated AI education agent, and healthcare leaders expect more M&A activity in 2026.
HOST: RHONDA BROOKS
OpenAI introduced ChatGPT Health, a dedicated health and wellness experience where users can upload medical records, connect wellness apps, interpret test results, prep for doctor visits, and track diet and fitness. For health systems, this means patients will arrive with AI-generated summaries and conclusions, requiring consistent clinical and operational approaches on validation and response.
📍 Healthcare Policy & Advocacy — Anika Shah
Regulators issued updated guidance pulling back oversight for certain wearables and digital health software, especially products positioned as general wellness tools. If devices stay out of diagnosis and treatment claims, they may avoid the same level of FDA review, with clarifications on clinical decision support software as well.
📍 Commentary — Rhonda Brooks
When consumer AI makes it easier for people to pull in records and app data, hospitals become the reality check on the back end. For hospital leaders, this creates a near-term operating issue: What patient-generated data do you trust? What do you treat as context? And what do you refuse to operationalize?
📍 Digital Health — Nate Collier
Utah launched a pilot program allowing an AI chatbot built by Doctronic to renew prescriptions for roughly 200 commonly used medications (renewals only, excluding controlled substances). The pilot puts a flag in the ground that states may create carve-outs for AI in routine care-adjacent workflows, creating pressure on health systems to modernize renewal workflows and triage.
📍 AI & Machine Learning — Jade Romero
Mayo researchers developed and evaluated MedEduChat, an EHR-integrated AI agent for personalized prostate cancer education. In a small study, patients reported stronger confidence and high usability, pointing to AI tools that support care delivery without adding to clinician workload.
📍 Finance & Capital — Logan Stokes
A new outlook survey suggests a majority of healthcare leaders expect more merger activity in 2026, with life sciences leaders even more bullish. The signal is more strategic combinations, partnership activity, and portfolio moves tied to scale, access, and technology modernization.
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