TRIMEDX Vice President of Product and Portfolio Management TJ Kubricky was featured in a 24x7 Magazine roundtable reflecting on the biggest shifts in healthcare technology management this year. TJ detailed how AI is revolutionizing HTM and allowing providers & technicians to focus on meaningful work. His answers to 24x7 Magazine’s questions are below.
As the end of 2025 nears, leading voices in healthcare technology management (HTM) reflect on the innovations, challenges, and evolving responsibilities shaping the field.
Dan Miles, vice president of information technology at Intelas; Marley Pritchard, vice president of client experience and strategy at Intelas; Pat Rice, president of US and Canada services at GE HealthCare; TJ Kubricky, vice president of product and portfolio management at TRIMEDX; Rick Joslin, senior solutions architect at FSI; and Andrew Yamarick, general manager of medical technology management at Agiliti share their perspectives on the year’s defining technologies and pressures—and offer guidance on where HTM professionals should focus as they head into 2026.
What is the most impactful new technology, solution, or innovation to enter the HTM space in 2025?
TJ says: AI-enabled device analytics and the maturation of network-connected medical device ecosystems stand out. Generative and agentic AI help eliminate fragmented systems and shift operations from reactive break/fix to proactive, risk-based management with continuous performance monitoring. Remote diagnostics now allow issues to be anticipated and resolved before downtime occurs. As devices become increasingly network-connected, capabilities such as real-time telemetry, firmware updates, anomaly detection, and root-cause analytics are gaining traction. The integration of AI, machine learning, and data science positions HTM as a central enabler of safe, secure operations—ensuring model integrity, version control, and firmware security.
What was the most significant challenge HTM teams faced this year?
TJ says: Teams are grappling with three major challenges: rising cybersecurity risks from increasingly connected devices, resource and talent shortages, and healthcare costs that continue to outpace reimbursement. As devices become more software-driven and networked, maintaining security and operational integrity becomes more complex. Budget pressures and staffing constraints are pushing HTM teams to adopt tools that boost productivity and provide real-time insights. Automation, RTLS, remote monitoring, and AI models are being integrated into workflows to streamline operations, enable predictive maintenance, and improve device availability. These technologies also support revenue generation by reducing downtime and ensuring devices are ready for billable procedures.
How did the role of HTM evolve in 2025?
TJ says: The role of HTM evolved from being primarily technical fixers to strategic partners contributing to enterprise decisions through data-driven insights. HTM teams became more integrated with IT, cybersecurity, and informatics, aligning with broader infrastructure and cloud strategies. New roles emerged requiring advanced skills in technologies like real-time location systems (RTLS), computerized maintenance management systems, remote monitoring, analytics platforms, and AI automation, along with expertise in firmware, software, cybersecurity, and interoperability. HTM also gained greater executive visibility, influencing decisions around capital investments, operational performance, and clinical strategy. Looking ahead to 2026, this evolution is expected to accelerate, with HTM becoming more embedded in digital and clinical operations and enterprise architecture.
What shifts did you observe this year in how HTM teams approach risk?
TJ says: In 2025, HTM teams significantly evolved their approach to risk, expanding beyond reactive responses to embed proactive risk governance into daily workflows. Cybersecurity became a major focus, with teams implementing preemptive firmware management, anomaly detection using machine learning, and stronger network segmentation strategies. Dynamic risk scoring frameworks helped prioritize oversight of high-impact devices, while collaboration with cybersecurity teams and OEMs improved transparency around vulnerabilities and patching.
What emerging trends, tools, or approaches have the potential to shape HTM workflows in the near future most significantly?
TJ says: One major shift is the dynamic integration of device data—such as RTLS location, network activity, and utilization—into AI models and automation platforms, enabling more comprehensive and predictive device management. Standardized device health APIs and open data-sharing frameworks are also gaining traction, making it easier to connect device insights with hospital analytics and EHR systems. Augmented reality tools are improving maintenance efficiency by offering visual guidance and remote support overlays, while AI assistants are helping technicians diagnose issues, generate reports, and streamline vendor coordination. Sustainability is becoming a key consideration, with HTM teams increasingly factoring in reuse, refurbishment, and circular lifecycle planning.
What should HTM professionals be preparing for as we head into 2026?
TJ says: One of the most critical trends HTM professionals should prepare for is the accelerating convergence of AI/machine learning (ML) technologies and cybersecurity risk. Medical devices are increasingly powered by AI models for diagnostics, anomaly detection, and decision support, which introduces new responsibilities for HTM teams to ensure these models remain valid, secure, and uncorrupted over time. The attack surface is expanding to include threats like model poisoning, adversarial inputs, and firmware vulnerabilities, requiring HTM to develop proficiency in algorithmic risk mitigation.
Transparency from vendors around model updates, software dependencies, and patching practices will become essential. HTM teams must also adopt more rigorous oversight of AI-enabled devices, integrating cybersecurity frameworks and collaborating closely with IT and security teams. This shift marks a move beyond traditional mechanical and electrical maintenance into a more complex, software-centric risk landscape.