HIMSS 2026 Day 2: The Honest Truth About What's Really Happening

☕ Morning Keynote: AI + Interoperability

Day 2 officially started with the Opening Keynote on “The Strategic Advantages of AI + Interoperability.” The session laid out a disciplined approach to scaling AI paired with modern, standards-based data integration. The key argument: a computable data layer is what finally makes AI deliver measurable value in reducing administrative burden and improving clinical decision support.

It was a solid kickoff. But here's my honest observation: the energy in the room felt noticeably lower compared to what I experienced at HIMSS 2025. Fewer people, less buzz, and a different vibe overall.

🤔 Let's Talk About the Elephant in the Room

I'm going to say what a lot of people are thinking but not posting. The crowd feels thinner this year. The energy is lower. And after talking to dozens of people on the floor, I started hearing the same story over and over again.

New companies and first-time exhibitors I spoke with were asking the same question: “Where is the crowd? What's the ROI on our investment here?” These are companies that committed serious budget to be here, and they're looking around wondering if the audience showed up.

Is it just me noticing this, or is it a broader pattern? Based on my conversations, it's definitely not just me. Multiple people independently brought up the same observation. The shift from exhibitor to attendee, the cautious spending, the questions about value - it's a real conversation happening behind closed doors.

🏢 Venue Verdict: Caesars Forum vs. Venetian

I spent a solid amount of time at both venues today, and I have to be honest about the experience. Caesars Forum felt like where the real action was. Better layout, better energy, better foot traffic. The Venetian side, especially Hall G with “The Park” section, felt noticeably quieter.

For exhibitors who ended up in Hall G this year, the foot traffic disparity had to be frustrating. Location still matters - even at a mega conference like HIMSS.

🤖 The Agentic AI Takeover

Now for the good stuff. If there's one theme that absolutely dominated every booth, every session, and every hallway conversation today, it's Agentic AI. Last year was about generative AI and its potential. This year? It's about autonomous systems that actually execute workflows, make decisions, and operate independently within healthcare infrastructure.

I visited most of the major booths today to see what companies are bringing to the table. Here are some of the standout announcements that caught my attention:

🎓 Sessions That Stood Out

Beyond the expo floor, I attended some focused sessions today that were genuinely valuable. The Expo Hall Main Stage had a solid panel where leaders from athenahealth, Oceans Healthcare, and others debated whether AI and LLMs can finally solve healthcare's interoperability challenge. Spoiler: we're getting closer, but governance and trust remain the bottleneck.

Another session explored how AI regulation is struggling to keep pace with the technology's speed of advancement. The current regulatory landscape is fragmented, with the federal government stepping back while individual states are creating their own AI legislation, leaving providers and payers navigating a patchwork of rules.

🤝 Founder Conversations & Real Connections

Despite the lighter crowd, the quality of conversations today was outstanding. I connected with multiple founders who are building in the healthcare AI space, and each conversation went deep into real problems: clinical documentation fatigue, prior auth automation, patient engagement beyond the portal, and the economics of building health tech startups in a tighter funding environment.

I also reconnected with a couple of people I'd met at previous events and conferences. There's something special about seeing familiar faces at HIMSS. It means you're part of the community now, not just visiting it.

🙌 The Moment That Made My Day

This happened more than once today. My LinkedIn followers actually recognized me and came up to connect in person. I can't describe how much that means. It's one thing to post content online and see likes and comments. It's a completely different feeling when someone tells you face to face that your content has impacted them.

To everyone who reached out today: thank you. You have no idea how much that motivates me to keep pushing, keep sharing, and keep showing up on social media even when I'm exhausted from 17,000 steps on the conference floor. In fact, that's exactly why I'm writing this blog right now instead of crashing in my hotel room. You all made me do it.

🚶 The Step Count Keeps Climbing

Vegas conferences are no joke for your feet. Walking between Caesars Forum and the Venetian multiple times a day adds up fast. At this rate, I'll have logged a half-marathon by the time HIMSS wraps up on Thursday.

📅 My Day 2 Timeline

💡 Day 2 Bottom Line

HIMSS 2026 Day 2 was a day of contrasts. The content and technology on display are genuinely impressive - agentic AI is real and it's here. The founder conversations were deep and valuable. Getting recognized by LinkedIn followers was a personal highlight that fuels everything I do on social media.

But the lower energy, the shift from exhibitors to attendees, and the questions about ROI are real signals that the industry is in a transitional moment. Companies are being more deliberate about where they spend their conference dollars, and that's reshaping what HIMSS looks and feels like on the ground.

Either way, I'm here, I'm learning, and I'm connecting. Two more days to go, and I'm going to make every step count (literally).