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Artificial Intelligence

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Healthcare Innovation at IHA

IHA is committed to advancing healthcare innovation across Iowa hospitals and health systems. Through strategic collaboration, education and practical tools, we are helping members navigate emerging technologies, strengthen operations and improve care delivery.

A central focus of this work is artificial intelligence (AI), which represents a significant opportunity to address clinical, operational, financial and workforce challenges. IHA’s AI initiatives are designed to support hospitals at every stage - from early exploration to implementation and scaling.

Our work is guided by the Innovation Council and its AI Workgroup, ensuring alignment with member needs and real-world hospital priorities.

AI Toolkit (Launching Fall 2026)

As a cornerstone of our Healthcare Innovation strategy, IHA is developing a comprehensive AI Toolkit to support hospitals at every stage of their AI journey.

To support this effort, IHA has partnered with Huron Consulting Group, a nationally recognized leader with deep experience implementing AI solutions in hospitals and health systems, including several IHA member organizations. Huron brings a strong track record of helping providers translate emerging technologies into practical, operational improvements, along with the ability to deliver results efficiently and at-scale.

The toolkit will provide practical, ready-to-use resources, including:

  • Governance and oversight frameworks
  • Policy and compliance considerations
  • Use case examples across clinical, operational and administrative settings
  • Vendor evaluation guidance and due diligence tools
  • Implementation considerations and best practices

The goal is to equip hospital leaders with the structure and confidence to evaluate, adopt and scale AI solutions responsibly, grounded in proven health system experience.

Vendor Showcases (Launching October 2026)

To help hospitals better understand the rapidly evolving AI marketplace, IHA will launch a vendor showcase series focused on AI-enabled solutions.

IHA has partnered with John Lynn, Founder and Chief Editor of Healthcare IT Today, and his company Healthcare Scene, to help curate the showcases and bring forward relevant, high-impact vendors and use cases.

These showcases will:

  • Highlight vetted vendors and emerging technologies
  • Provide real-world demonstrations and use cases
  • Create opportunities for direct engagement and Q & A
  • Help hospitals make more informed, efficient technology decisions

Vendors and showcase topics will also be informed by member input, including survey data and engagement through the Innovation Council and AI Workgroup, ensuring a focus on the most relevant priorities for Iowa hospitals.

We plan to host our first showcase in conjunction with the IHA Annual Meeting, with additional opportunities to follow as part of our ongoing innovation efforts.

Education and Programming

Education is a key component of IHA’s Healthcare Innovation work. In 2026, IHA set a goal of delivering at least 10 AI-focused educational sessions and has already made significant progress toward that goal.

Programming to date has included:

  • Documentation that Matters – February 26 (Quality Residency Program)
  • AI Governance in Health Care: Measure Twice, Cut Once – March 10 (Governance Forum)
  • Microsoft 365 Copilot for Human Resources: Elevating HR Strategy with Generative AI – April 14 (ISHHRA)
  • AI in Human Resources: A Panel Discussion – April 14 (ISHHRA)
  • Employment Law for HR Professionals – April 14 (ISHHRA)
  • What Every Healthcare Attorney Should Know About AI in 2026 – May 5 (ISHA)
  • Harnessing the Power of Generative AI: From Theory to Practice – June 4 (ISHMPR/FPIH)
  • Unlocking Creativity with Human-AI Collaboration – June 11 (Rural Hospital Leadership Forum)
  • The State of AI in Healthcare: The Ecosystem, Use Cases and What’s Next – June 11 (Rural Hospital Leadership Forum)

These sessions reflect IHA’s commitment to providing timely, practical education across a range of disciplines, including governance, legal, human resources, communications and executive leadership, while helping hospitals better understand how AI can be applied in real-world settings.

Collaboration and Thought Leadership

Healthcare innovation, and AI in particular, is advancing quickly, and no single organization can navigate it alone. IHA is committed to serving as a convener and connector for this work.

Through the Innovation Council, AI Workgroup and broader member engagement, we are:

  • Identifying high-impact use cases aligned with hospital priorities
  • Sharing insights and lessons learned across the membership
  • Engaging with trusted partners and external experts
  • Supporting responsible, ethical use of AI in healthcare

Questions about IHA’s Healthcare Innovation initiatives can be directed to Abhay Nadipuram, IHA’s Chief Legal Officer, who is leading this work, or to innovation@ihaonline.org.