Deloitte urges health systems to accelerate digital and AI strategy

Health systems must speed up digital and AI initiatives while redesigning workflows, according to Deloitte’s July 2026 mid‑year outlook, a move aimed at preserving patient care continuity amid labor shortages and supply‑chain strain【2】.

Digital experience vs. operational readiness

Deloitte finds that consumers now expect seamless digital interactions, with roughly 33 % of adults already turning to AI for health advice【2】. Yet hospitals score only 2.7 out of 5 on their ability to scale such transformations, indicating a gap between demand and operational capacity. The report warns against simply layering new tools onto inefficient processes, urging health systems to first overhaul workflows, data management, and accountability structures before expanding digital capabilities.

AI scaling discipline and M&A focus

Among 64 surveyed CFOs, one‑third of AI initiatives have moved beyond pilots to broader deployment, another third remain in pilot phases, and the remaining third have been paused or abandoned【2】. Deloitte recommends setting clear timelines and performance metrics to weed out projects that cannot demonstrate measurable value or meet regulatory standards. The outlook also highlights a shift toward more deliberate ownership, partnership, and merger‑acquisition decisions, with health systems increasingly aligning capital investments to strategic priorities.

What to watch

• Workflow redesign progress – monitor internal reports for improvements in the 2.7 / 5 scaling score.
• AI project outcomes – watch for announcements of AI pilots moving to full deployment or being discontinued.
• M&A activity – track any announced restructuring or portfolio changes following Deloitte’s guidance.

The push to embed digital and AI tools within robust operational frameworks could determine whether health systems sustain patient‑care quality while navigating ongoing labor and supply‑chain challenges.