NHIA 2026 Recap: Infusion Workflow Automation Is Everything

There’s always a certain rhythm to NHIA. You move from session to session, catch up with peers in the hallway, and squeeze in “quick chats” that turn into deep dives.

This year followed that same rhythm, but the tone felt different. There was a new sense of urgency. We’ve been talking about compounding, AI, staffing, and billing for years, but this time we weren’t talking about what might be coming next. It was about what needs to change now.

And those conversations circled back to one thing: the need for infusion workflow automation.

What stood out at NHIA 2026:

• Documentation gaps are creating compliance risk
• AI adoption depends on cleaner, more connected data
• Disconnected systems are slowing clinical and billing workflows
• Better workflow design can reduce staff strain and revenue leakage

Documentation is where compliance breaks down

Compounding compliance took on a different focus this year, but not in the way you might expect.

The issue is that documentation still relies on manual steps, captured in different places, at different times, and often is completed after the fact. That’s what creates the scramble when an audit or inspection comes up.

There’s a growing recognition that documentation needs to happen in real time and be automated within the workflow, without adding extra steps. When that shift happens, compliance becomes far less reactive. It simply becomes part of the process.

AI conversations got more real

While AI was a major topic, there was less hype and more practical perspectives.

Instead of asking what AI can do, people were asking whether their data is actually ready for it. Is it clean? Is it consistent? Can it be trusted? Without that foundation, AI can’t deliver meaningful results.

That challenge is amplified by the diversity of the infusion market, ranging from independent pharmacies to a growing trend of hospital-affiliated and multi-site provider locations, each with different systems and data structures.

What became clear is that disconnected systems and inconsistent data are holding teams back. Before adding another layer of technology, there’s a need to get the basics right, which means bringing data together and making sure it reflects what’s really happening across the pharmacy.

Connectivity is the thread running through everything

Interoperability didn’t always show up as a headline topic, but it was everywhere.

You could hear it in discussions about billing delays, clinical coordination, compounding processes, and even workforce challenges. The common thread was information not moving the way it should.

The question is no longer whether systems can connect. It’s whether information reaches the right person at the right moment without someone having to go find it. In many cases, it doesn’t. Staff are still logging into multiple systems, re-entering data, and piecing together a full picture of what’s going on.

That kind of friction adds up quickly, and can overwhelm staff as volume and urgency grow.

Workforce strain is really workflow strain

Workforce challenges were acknowledged as far more than just a headcount problem. It’s about how the work is structured for the people you have.

When pharmacists and staff are constantly switching between systems, searching for information, or duplicating effort, the work feels heavier than it should. Over time, that bubbles over and leads to frustration, errors, and burnout.

There was a growing recognition that infusion workflow automation can ease that burden. When tasks are routed automatically and each role has a clear, focused view of what needs to happen next, the day-to-day work becomes more manageable. Meaningful change doesn’t happen by adding more people, but by making the work easier to navigate.

Revenue cycle pressure is still building

Instead of discussions that explain the challenges of the revenue cycle, there was more focus on how to solve them.

Audit pressure continues to increase, and expectations around documentation are only getting tighter. At the same time, payer conversations are evolving, with more emphasis on value and outcomes.

What’s making this harder for many teams is the disconnect between systems. When billing, clinical documentation, and reporting don’t align, gaps are inevitable, creating delays, denials, and risk. Staying ahead of these challenges depends on having workflows and data that are fully connected from start to finish.

Where this leads

Workflow is no longer just an operational detail. It’s the foundation that everything else depends on.

Compliance, AI, workforce stability, and revenue cycle performance all trace back to how work actually moves through the pharmacy. That’s where the biggest opportunities are right now. No one wants more systems, but imagine rethinking how everything connects and flows together.

Let’s compare notes

NHIA always leaves attendees with a lot to think about. What stood out to you this year? Where are workflows helping (or holding things back)?

If you’re thinking through how to simplify, connect, or strengthen your infusion workflows, we’d love to talk. Connect with our team to compare notes on what we’re seeing across infusion pharmacies and learn how our integration with AlayaCare is transforming infusion workflows.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is infusion workflow automation?
   True automation manages the manual, repetitive tasks that take up so much time in a clinician’s day. Create templates for custom formulas including compounding instructions, complex calculations, and automated degradation of inventory.
2. How can infusion workflow automation support compliance and audit readiness?
   Infusion workflow automation reduces risk and enhances care quality with electronic compound documentation and PN analysis tools that ensure accuracy, traceability, and adherence to clinical standards.
3. What does AI readiness require in infusion pharmacy operations?
   AI readiness requires more than just data. Pharmacies must have connected systems that make it easier to manage all the care coordination components of infusion care.

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