The move toward AI — built by clinicians for clinicians
One theme kept surfacing in conversations: AI only matters if it can be trusted, and if it shows up in the places clinicians already work. Wolters Kluwer is already prioritizing this need with our newest solutions, including UpToDate Expert AI, and the need to counter “shadow AI” with clinically validated tools.
“We are excited to show attendees how we are working with partners like Microsoft to power the future of healthcare with trusted clinical AI across the continuum and to help hospitals address the worries and risks around ungoverned ‘shadow AI,’” said Yaw Fellin, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Clinical Decision Support and Provider Solutions, Wolters Kluwer Health.
That sentiment resonated throughout HIMSS and ViVE. People weren’t looking for generic AI. They were looking for reliable, cited, and workflow-friendly intelligence that fits into the way care teams already document, communicate, and collaborate.
UpToDate + Microsoft: Trusted guidance, right in the flow of work
One of the most-discussed developments was the deepening integration between UpToDate and Microsoft’s AI-powered productivity environment, particularly Microsoft Dragon Copilot, Microsoft 365 Copilot, and Teams.
Instead of asking clinicians to toggle between tools or paste snippets of information, Microsoft and Wolters Kluwer are working to deliver trusted answers in the exact moment they're needed. The goal is simple: Cut down on friction while keeping quality high.
Wolters Kluwer thought leaders previewed this integration at HIMSS26, noting that attendees could see firsthand how real-time, fully cited clinical insights would appear directly in everyday workflows.
The integration will help provide answers “from a trusted source to clinicians within their workflow and relevant to the clinical questions they encounter.” Learn more about the partnership.
Pairing UpToDate’s clinical content with Microsoft’s ambient and generative interfaces seemed to hit exactly the right chord for organizations trying to move from experimentation to routine use.
Evidence-based AI takes center stage
A recurring theme across speaking sessions was how essential validation and transparency are becoming as AI tools scale.
Wolters Kluwer emphasized that its clinical AI solutions—including UpToDate Expert AI—are built solely from vetted, peer-reviewed content rather than broad internet sources. This commitment came up often in conversations about the need for trustworthy, explainable AI at the point of care.
We also showcased how our medication intelligence ecosystem is evolving, including advancements that support reliable, AI-assisted medication workflows through Medi-Span Expert AI. The interest around medication decision support underscored how many organizations see drug safety as one of the highest-value areas for AI investment.
Conversations that went deeper than the demo floor
HIMSS26 wasn’t just about technology. There were thoughtful discussions about what it takes to bring AI into care settings responsibly.
One session that drew significant interest was “AI in Healthcare: Guardrails, Decisions, and the Path to Value” with Dr. Albert Villarin and Dr. Amanda Heidemann, Senior Clinical Content Consultant, Clinical Effectiveness, Wolters Kluwer Health. The session dug into the checks, balances, and cultural shifts needed to deploy AI solutions aligned with clinical and organizational priorities.
Their dialogue echoed what many were feeling during the conference: AI’s potential is enormous, but so is the responsibility to implement it carefully.
A turning point for clinical AI
Looking back across the show floor, the demos, and the discussions, HIMSS and ViVE felt like a recognition that AI in healthcare is no longer a distant vision or a risky experiment. It’s becoming woven into day-to-day care—through validated answers, ambient guidance, medication intelligence, and increasingly collaborative platforms.
And with partnerships like the one between Wolters Kluwer and Microsoft gaining traction, the conversation is shifting away from if clinical AI will become mainstream and toward how well it can support clinicians without disrupting the workflow or compromising trust.
The recent debut of UpToDate Connect added to this sense of momentum. By enabling EHR vendors, digital health tech companies, and emerging AI platforms to embed UpToDate content directly into their own environments, Wolters Kluwer signaled a shift toward more interconnected, proactive clinical intelligence. Several attendees pointed out that this broader ecosystem approach, combining ambient AI, cited clinical recommendations, and platform‑level APIs, felt like a meaningful next step in operationalizing AI responsibly at scale.
In short: this year, AI felt a lot more real. And a lot more ready.
To learn more about recent UpToDate and Medi-Span innovations and how they can help you reach your goals, contact a solutions specialist.
