Patient safety strategies in 2026 will center on the responsible deployment of AI, stronger governance frameworks, and deeper integration of digital tools into frontline clinical workflows. Industry leaders predict that ambient documentation, predictive analytics, and virtual support systems will move beyond pilots into scaled implementation, helping reduce clinician burden, close care gaps, and proactively identify risk. However, sustainable safety gains will require disciplined oversight, interoperability, and measurable performance improvement—ensuring technology strengthens clinical judgment rather than fragmenting it.
Avalon Chief Medical Officer Kristie Ressler, D.O., connects these trends directly to the role of laboratory intelligence in advancing safety and value:
In 2026, advancing patient safety will depend on how well we transform lab data into actionable intelligence that improves both care quality and cost efficiency. When lab benefits management is guided by evidence and insight, it becomes a catalyst for safer, more precise decisions—ensuring every test, diagnosis, and treatment truly adds value for patients. The path to value-driven care begins with smarter, safer testing.
– Kristie Ressler, DO,
Chief Medical Officer, Avalon Healthcare Solutions
Read more at Patient Safety & Quality Healthcare.
