Health systems are entering 2026 with the same hard truths: demand is rising, labor is not, and margins cannot absorb continued reliance on premium staffing. In this panel, health system executives from both high-competition urban markets and resource-limited rural regions will share how they are rethinking workforce strategy through technology—strengthening culture, attracting and retaining tech-savvy talent, right-sizing schedules to reduce burnout, and enabling clinicians to work at the top of their license.

The discussion will compare advanced AI-enabled approaches with foundational moves like data standardization and workflow redesign, while exploring how generative AI is beginning to shape the next era of workforce planning and frontline decision-making—and where it falls short without the right data, governance, and operating models. Panelists will be candid about what truly scales, what fails in real-world deployment, and how these choices ultimately influence culture, retention, and access.

Attendees will leave with practical playbooks for prioritizing technology investments that deliver measurable improvements in staffing stability, patient access, and clinician experience over the next 6–12 months.