Becker’s Healthcare Digital Health + Health IT Interoperability at scale: The path to smarter, connected care
Dec 31, 2025
Scott Sagehorn, Vice President and General Manager of Stryker's Smart Care Business Unit, dives into the future of healthcare connectivity. He discusses how COVID has amplified challenges in health systems, emphasizing the need for interoperable solutions. Sagehorn explores ambient intelligence and automation in clinical workflows, aiming to free up valuable time for healthcare professionals. He outlines essential tech components for building these connected ecosystems, advocating for open platforms to reduce fragmentation and improve patient care.
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Enterprise Problems Intensified Post‑COVID
- Hospitals face intensified enterprise-level problems since COVID that point solutions alone can't solve.
- Leaders now demand their smart technologies interoperate to address workforce, cost, and variation challenges.
Ambient Works Best When It Disappears
- Ambient intelligence is most valuable when it fades into the background and returns time to clinicians.
- Its value multiplies when combined with workflows, product data and system-wide communication.
Invest In Middleware And Real‑Time Events
- Build strong middleware as infrastructure to connect devices, platforms and workflows.
- Use event-driven, real‑time analytics so systems react immediately instead of relying on retrospective dashboards.