5 Technology Priorities For The Future Of Ambulatory Care

America's healthcare system is quietly undergoing a seismic shift—patient care is moving out of hospitals and into clinics, urgent care centers, and even living rooms. But the technology supporting these ambulatory settings is dangerously outdated. athenahealth CEO Bob Segert recently outlined five technology priorities that providers must address to survive and thrive in this new landscape, from overhauling electronic health records to embedding artificial intelligence into clinical workflows. The U.S. has seen a steady migration of care toward ambulatory settings over the past decade. Medicare incentives, patient preference for convenience, and cost pressures have driven this shift. Hospitals now focus on acute and complex cases while routine check-ups, chronic disease management, and minor procedures happen elsewhere. Yet the technology backbone—EHRs, billing systems, patient portals—was largely designed for the hospital-centric model. These systems struggle to handle the volume, speed, and interoperability demands of ambulatory care. Segert, speaking at a recent healthcare innovation summit, detailed five priorities. First, interoperability and data liquidity: ambulatory providers need seamless access to patient records across different systems. Second, AI-powered clinical decision support: using machine learning to surface insights at the point of care. Third, consumer-centric patient engagement: tools that make scheduling, billing, and follow-ups as easy as ordering a ride. Fourth, value-based care analytics: dashboards that track quality metrics and cost performance to succeed under alternative payment models. Fifth, cybersecurity and compliance: protecting sensitive health data as digital footprints expand. athenahealth, a major cloud-based health IT company, processes over 40% of all U.S. patient records on its network. Segert emphasized that these priorities are not just theoretical; the company is already rolling out new AI features and an updated interoperability platform this quarter. "Ambulatory care is the front line of the healthcare system," he said. "If the technology fails here, patients feel it immediately." The implications are significant. Outdated ambulatory care technology contributes to physician burnout, medical errors, and wasted spending—estimated at $265 billion annually nationwide. Observers note that private equity and venture capital are pouring billions into health tech startups targeting exactly these pain points. The market for ambulatory care technology is projected to exceed $10 billion by 2028. But fragmentation remains a hurdle. Smaller practices lack capital to upgrade, while larger systems struggle with legacy integration. What happens next could define the next decade of American healthcare. Regulatory pushes like the 21st Century Cures Act and new FHIR standards are forcing interoperability. athenahealth's moves signal that major incumbents are finally treating ambulatory care as a first-class priority. Providers should watch for improved patient portals, AI-driven clinical alerts, and seamless data sharing across health systems. If these ambulatory care technology priorities are executed well, the result could be lower costs, better outcomes, and a more human healthcare experience. If not, the gap between the care patients expect and what they receive will only widen.