By Eric Utzinger, Chief Customer Officer & Co-Founder
As we move into 2026, the healthcare IT consulting industry is undergoing major transformation. Technologies once viewed as “nice to have” are now critical for operational resilience, innovation and care delivery models. For healthcare systems and organizations, the stakes are even higher: the need for digital agility, regulatory complexity, talent shortages and rising cost pressures mean consulting engagements must deliver greater speed, value and domain specificity.
While many consulting firms are broadening their industry portfolios, healthcare remains a high‐growth, high‐complexity segment—and one where consulting talent and delivery models must adapt rapidly. According to a recent forecast by Forrester, fewer than a fifth of healthcare organizations consider themselves “AI-ready,” indicating a major consulting opportunity in 2026.
In this article we’ll explore six major trends shaping IT services consulting in 2026, then dive into how leading health systems are responding, followed by a practical action plan for CIOs/CTOs. And finally, we tie back to how a marketplace like Revuud is positioned for this shift.
Traditionally, many IT consulting engagements in healthcare were defined by discrete tasks: “upgrade our EHR,” “migrate to cloud,” etc. In 2026, the model is increasingly shifting toward outcome-based or value-based contracting, especially in healthcare where outcomes such as patient experience, cost reduction or readmission rates matter deeply.
Why this matters:
Health systems increasingly demand consultants who guarantee results, not just deliverables. According to research on healthcare digital transformation, many organizations still struggle to measure value from prior consulting engagements.
For consulting talent, this means a shift: proficiency in defining and measuring outcomes…not just executing tasks.
Implications for healthcare IT consulting:
Healthcare IT consultants will need to bring not just technical delivery skills (EHR, integration, cloud) but also analytics, change‐management and outcome‐measurement capabilities (e.g., cost per visit, patient flow, readmissions). Platforms that support matching talent with that hybrid skillset will gain a competitive edge.
By 2026, AI isn’t just a tool—it’s integrated into consulting services and client solutions. According to multiple sources, topics such as generative AI, “agentic” models (AI agents that take semi-autonomous actions) and advanced analytics are rising to prominence in healthcare.
Why this matters:
Many health systems are now investing in AI-driven diagnostics, remote monitoring, workflow automation, but still lack the internal capability to deploy at scale.
Consulting firms are re-configuring to embed AI in their service delivery, shifting from “implementation only” to “insight and execution.” Forrester
Consulting talent will increasingly need domain knowledge and AI/analytics proficiency (e.g., translating clinical workflows into AI models, change management around generative tools).
Implications for healthcare IT consulting:
Consulting firms and platforms like Revuud must partner with or cultivate talent that bridges clinical operations and advanced analytics/AI. Projects will increasingly combine EHR modernization, AI-powered workflows, remote patient monitoring and outcome measurement that all require hybrid skills.
The “gig-consultant” model is growing, and 2026 will accelerate it in the IT services consulting world. Health systems no longer want only large retained consulting engagements. They also seek rapid access to specialized talent, on-demand, for shorter-term or burst models.
Why this matters:
Health systems face talent shortages, IT backlogs, legacy systems and budget constraints turning them toward consulting supply models that are faster, more flexible and lower cost.
Workforce research shows that health systems are expanding internal flexible staffing models, signaling a broader shift toward modular talent supply.
For healthcare systems, this shift underscores the value of platforms like Revuud, which deliver vetted, domain-specialized consultants through flexible engagement models that align with today’s project demands.
Implications for healthcare IT consulting:
Consultants should position themselves for shorter engagements or “strike-team” models (6-12 weeks) in addition to full-time roles.
Consulting firms should build models combining strategic engagements with access to specialized talent bursts.
Health systems will expect faster time-to-deploy and faster value return from consulting engagements.
With expanded digital health, connected devices, remote care and cloud migration, cybersecurity and regulatory compliance are no longer add‐ons—they are embedded imperatives. The consulting spend for cybersecurity, risk management and regulatory compliance is rising in tandem.
Why this matters:
Healthcare organizations are acutely aware of cyber risk, and consulting engagements now must assume security, governance and compliance from the start.
For consulting talent, expertise in cloud/endpoint security, IoT/edge device risk, interoperability and vendor risk management is increasingly sought.
Implications for healthcare IT consulting:
Consultants working in this space must bring healthcare regulatory knowledge (HIPAA, HITRUST, FDA for devices), cloud security, IoT/edge risk and vendor risk management. Consulting firms should integrate cybersecurity and regulatory advisory into all IT transformation projects—not treat them as silos.
In 2026, the focus shifts from “just implement the EHR” to “connect the ecosystem,” leverage data and enable new care models across devices, wearables, home health and post-acute settings. A recent academic paper describes a concept of an “Intelligent Healthcare Ecosystem” using AI, interoperability standards and digital twins to optimize access, quality and cost.
Why this matters:
Health systems recognize that digital transformation initiatives deliver true value only when systems, processes and data flows are connected in a coherent ecosystem.
Consulting engagements will increasingly be ecosystem‐design focused: data strategy, interoperability, connected devices, vendor ecosystems and patient-centric flows.
According to research, health systems remain behind on analytics and data strategy maturity.
Implications for healthcare IT consulting:
Healthcare IT consultants will need stronger capabilities in data architecture, interoperability standards (FHIR, APIs), connected devices and analytics systems.
Consulting firms and talent marketplaces should highlight domain‐specialized talent experienced in bridging clinical workflows and enterprise systems.
Health system buyers will expect consulting partners who can work across care continuum settings (inpatient, outpatient, home/remote) and stitch together technology, people and processes.
Healthcare IT consulting in 2026 will face both rising demand and constrained talent supply. With digital, AI, cybersecurity, data and ecosystem consulting expanding, new hybrid roles are emerging and talent competition is fierce.
Why this matters:
Health systems plan major increases in IT/digital workforce investment while facing talent gaps in emerging areas.
Consultants will increasingly present themselves as “hybrid” talent – healthcare domain + specialized tech (AI, integration, cybersecurity, remote monitoring).
Platforms that can supply pre-vetted, specialized consultants quickly will meet market demand.
Implications for healthcare IT consulting:
Consultants should update profiles to reflect hybrid capabilities, outcome-focus and domain expertise.
Platforms like Revuud will become critical in matching qualified talent to evolving roles (short-term, bursting, hybrid).
Health system buyers will need strategies for internal upskilling, external consulting partnerships or “right-sourced” models (mix internal + external talent) for flexibility.
Here are ways forward‐thinking health systems are already adapting to these trends:
Some large health systems are building internal talent marketplaces (pre-credentialed, vetted consultants) and flexible staffing models to supplement full-time staff during major digital initiatives.
A handful of providers are piloting vendor/consulting contracts that tie payment to specific performance metrics (e.g., reduced readmissions, improved throughput, cost per discharge) rather than hourly execution.
Leading systems are creating AI/automation steering committees, vendor partnership decks emphasizing security, interoperability and clinical workflow integration before signing engagements.
Some systems are shifting budget from siloed EHR upgrades into data-platforms, API ecosystems, home health/remote monitoring integration and modular consulting support.
Recognizing the talent gap, systems are investing in training internal staff on AI, integration, data strategy and agile delivery models so they can partner more effectively with external consultants.
Instead of treating security as an afterthought, high-performing systems include cybersecurity and vendor risk mitigation as core components of any digital transformation project.
These examples illustrate how health systems are moving from reactive outsourcing to strategic partnerships and flexible talent models. For consulting firms and marketplaces, they signal where the demand is heading and the types of talent in motion.
Here’s a checklist you can use to get ahead:
1. Audit your consulting-talent strategy
Map internal vs. external talent gaps in hybrid roles (clinical domain + tech).
Identify opportunities for shorter, burst-model engagements (6-12 weeks) in addition to large projects.
2. Reframe your contracting model
Consider shifting to outcome-based engagements rather than time-and-materials.
Define clear performance metrics (clinical, operational, financial) for consulting partners.
3. Prioritize AI/analytics readiness
Inventory your AI pilots, automated workflows, data maturity and readiness to partner with external consultants.
Ensure vendor/consulting partners are prepared for governance, security and workflow integration.
4. Develop data-ecosystem and interoperability road-map
Review your architecture: Are EHR, home health, remote monitoring, wearables and post-acute data connected?
Define talent needs for data strategy, APIs, FHIR, analytics and ecosystem integration.
5. Embed cybersecurity & regulatory compliance into all digital initiatives
Ensure any consulting engagement includes vendor risk assessment, IoT/edge device risk, cloud security and regulatory compliance.
Elevate this from siloed service to embedded expectation.
6. Build flexible talent models and partner ecosystems
Use marketplaces or platforms that deliver vetted, specialized consultants quickly.
Combine internal up-skilling + external consulting to create elastic capacity.
Track time‐to‐value metrics: how quickly the consultant is deployed, how fast value is realized.
7. Communicate and lead change
Set expectations with your executive team: 2026 is about agility, elasticity and outcome orientation, not just “more tech.”
Engage the talent strategy, procurement, clinical leadership and digital transformation teams early around these new models.
Pulling all six trends and system responses together, it’s clear the consulting landscape in healthcare is changing fast. At Revuud, we see three major implications for the year ahead:
The consulting model is shifting from static, long-term contracts to agile partnerships that deliver value faster. Health systems need flexible access to specialized talent, whether that’s for an Epic optimization, AI integration, or cybersecurity project. That’s why Revuud exists: to make it easier to find and engage the right consultants quickly, transparently, and without the overhead of traditional staffing.
Specialization and adaptability will be key differentiators in 2026. Healthcare organizations are looking for consultants who understand both technology and outcomes. Revuud helps consultants showcase those strengths, highlight outcomes they’ve driven, and get visibility into projects that fit their expertise and availability.
The next chapter of healthcare IT consulting will be defined by speed, clarity, and collaboration. The lines between internal teams, consulting firms, and independent experts are blurring and platforms like Revuud are helping bring those worlds together.
We believe the future belongs to those who can combine healthcare domain depth, technical fluency, and outcome-driven execution — and we’re building the platform to make that possible.
The healthcare IT consulting market is on a trajectory of strong growth, driven by AI, data ecosystem demands, flexible talent models and cybersecurity pressure.
Consulting engagements will increasingly be hybrid: outcome-based, shorter duration, tech-intensive, domain-rich.
AI/analytics, cybersecurity/compliance, interoperability/data and flexible talent will dominate consulting priorities.
Talent shortages will persist—creating opportunities for platforms that match niche talent quickly.
For health systems, consulting isn’t just an add-on—it’s central to enabling transformation in care delivery, cost structure, and digital capability.
What are the top healthcare IT consulting trends for 2026?
AI-driven delivery, outcome-based contracting, flexible/on-demand talent, embedded cybersecurity & compliance, and interoperability/data-ecosystem work will dominate. Health systems will prioritize speed-to-value and hybrid (clinical + tech) skill sets.
How is AI impacting healthcare consulting?
AI is moving from pilots to embedded operations: automating workflows, augmenting clinical and revenue cycle decisions, and reshaping project delivery. Consulting partners are expected to bring AI governance, change management, and integration with EHR/data platforms.
Why are flexible talent models growing in healthcare IT?
Tight budgets, skill shortages, and faster timelines are pushing health systems to mix internal teams with pre-vetted consultants for 6–12-week “strike” engagements. Platforms like Revuud help teams spin up the right experts quickly without long vendor cycles.
What skills will healthcare IT consultants need in 2026?
Hybrid skills: healthcare domain knowledge + AI/analytics, interoperability (FHIR/APIs), cloud/security, and measurable outcome delivery (e.g., reduced readmissions, faster throughput, lower cost per visit). Communication and change management remain critical.
For healthcare IT consulting in 2026, the old playbooks no longer suffice. The winning firms, the winning consultants and the winning marketplaces will be those that deliver healthcare domain depth, technology fluency, flexible delivery models and outcome orientation. As the digital acceleration continues, the consulting partner you choose, or the talent platform you join, matters more than ever.
At Revuud, our focus remains clear: connecting healthcare IT consultants who bring the right hybrid skills to the right projects—quickly, efficiently and with real impact. If you’re a healthcare system planning for 2026 or a consultant aligning your next move, now’s the time to act.
Learn more about Revuud at www.revuud.com today!
Eric Utzinger is the Chief Customer Officer and Co-Founder of Revuud, a healthcare IT talent platform transforming how health systems connect with specialized consultants. With more than 18 years of experience across healthcare software, products, IT services, and consulting, Eric has built a career at the intersection of technology and transformation. He’s an entrepreneur and sales executive passionate about helping healthcare organizations access the right expertise—faster, smarter, and with greater transparency.