Health Systems Explore Agentic AI for Clinical Care

Executives discuss benefits and challenges of using AI-powered decision support and care coordination tools.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Executives from three leading health systems - University of Iowa Health Care, Seattle Children's, and Mercy - discussed their use of agentic AI, or AI with agency, during a recent HealthLeaders AI NOW virtual event. The panelists explored how they are leveraging agentic AI for various clinical care touchpoints, from decision support to care team handoffs. However, they also highlighted the challenges of data management and governance that come with implementing this emerging technology.

Why it matters

As health systems increasingly adopt AI-powered tools, understanding the benefits and limitations of agentic AI is crucial. The panel provided insights into how leading organizations are navigating the integration of this technology to improve clinical care, while also addressing the complexities around data, ethics, and oversight.

The details

The panel featured Jim Blum, MD, FCCM, AME, Chief Health Information Officer at University of Iowa Health Care; Zafar Chaudry, MD, MS, MIS, MBA, SVP, Chief Digital Officer and Chief AI and Information Officer at Seattle Children's; and Byron Yount, PhD, Chief Data and AI Officer at Mercy. They discussed a range of use cases for agentic AI, including decision support, care team coordination, and patient engagement. However, the executives also highlighted the challenges of data management, model governance, and ensuring the ethical deployment of these AI-powered tools.

  • The HealthLeaders AI NOW virtual event took place last month.

The players

Jim Blum

Chief Health Information Officer at University of Iowa Health Care.

Zafar Chaudry

SVP, Chief Digital Officer and Chief AI and Information Officer at Seattle Children's.

Byron Yount

Chief Data and AI Officer at Mercy.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

The takeaway

As health systems continue to explore the use of agentic AI in clinical care, they must carefully navigate the challenges around data management, model governance, and ethical deployment to ensure these technologies are used effectively and responsibly to improve patient outcomes.