#hipaa-compliance

#hipaa-compliance

Shadow AI is the unsanctioned use of artificial intelligence tools outside of an organization's governance framework. In the healthcare field, clinicians and staff are increasingly using unvetted AI tools to improve efficiency, from transcription to summarization. Most of this activity is well-intentioned. But when AI adoption outpaces governance, sensitive data can quietly leave organizational control. Blocking AI outright isn't realistic. The more effective approach is to make safe, governed AI easier to use than unsafe alternatives.

As Theresa Defino recently reported, HHS OCR will prioritize risk assessments and expand its investigations into risk management in 2026. Alisa Chestler and Layna Cook Rush of Baker Donelson have summarized some recent recommendations from HHS OCR's January 2026 Cybersecurity Newsletter that regulated entities may want to pay increased attention to at this point: Patching Is a Required Risk Management Activity Legacy Systems and Unpatchable Vulnerabilities Are Not Excuses Unnecessary Software and Default Accounts Create Hidden Risk

Healthcare is under unprecedented strain, Demand is rising, clinicians are overwhelmed by administrative work, and critical medical knowledge is fragmented across countless sources. At the same time, AI adoption in healthcare is gaining momentum, driven by its potential to help address these challenges. Advances in models have significantly improved AI's ability to support real-world clinical and administrative work, like helping clinicians personalize care using the latest evidence.

Patients today are forming opinions about healthcare providers long before stepping through the door. Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and even TikTok have evolved into hubs where patients search for symptoms, explore provider reviews and form first impressions long before booking an appointment. Market.us highlights this shift, projecting that virtual health services will grow from $8.7 billion in 2023 to over $50.9 billion by 2032.